Updates on Tom

We're praying dad wakes up soon - they stopped sedation a day or two ago. The nurses put the phone up to his ear about two times a day so we can talk to him. Several of the nurses have said when we talk to him that he flutters his eyes more. So, again, praying he wakes up soon and can begin the healing process.  The x-rays of his lungs have shown improvement as well. They continue shifting the ventilator settings throughout the day so he can do more work with breathing, and then rest as he gets tired, and then work them again, etc. Physical Therapy and OT comes in throughout the day to move him around to help him with recovering and building strength.  Lord, we pray that you would make dad stronger each day- thank you that he is doing well today. We pray he continues improving and makes great strides each day. We pray you would help him wake up and become aware soon, and that he would be calm. Please strengthen him with your mighty hand and allow him to breathe better and bett...

There is not much of an update because they are weaning dad of sedation so he starts slowly waking up. Once he's awake, he can work on breathing more and growing stronger. His numbers are good. Thank you for continuing to pray.

I'm thankful the tracheostomy went well today. They will begin slowly weaning the sedation. We're praying that this allows him to breathe better and get stronger each day. I'll continue to update you when there are changes. Thank you so much for praying. 

My dad's vitals are good. They are thinking the tracheostomy will be sometime tomorrow (Wednesday).  Thank you so much for surrounding the doctors, nurses, and my dad in prayer that this goes well and provides an opportunity for his lungs to fully heal so he can recover.  Your love, support, and prayers mean the world.  Thank you, Lord, for going ahead of my dad and for guiding the doctor in the surgery, for it going smoothly, and for opening my dad's lungs to breathe well so he can gain strength and recover. Thank you for being with my dad, right there with him. Lord, please put your healing hand on him. In Jesus' name, amen. "The Lord Himself goes before you; he will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged."  Deuteronomy 31:8

  (Scroll down for the most recent update.) I love this picture. I love my dad's smile in it. I love my family, and that we're in Destin- one of our favorite places in the world. I also love that Brooklyn and Bates are standing right in front of dad. I'm reminded of when they were fighting for their lives in the NICU in 2011 and how the Lord made a way and how they're thriving now. Lord, would you make a way for my dad? Lord, would you heal him? Would you be his strength? Would you help him fully recover? Would you strengthen him and heal him with your powerful hand? Thank you, Lord. In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you to each of you for caring and praying for my dad. It means so much to us.   "Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." Jeremiah 32:17  

2/22: After taking the ventilator tube out a week ago, he did will for a few days, but then just got too tired, so they had to put the tube back in. It's so hard and so difficult that this happened, but I also don't want him struggling. Being able to visit and just be with him him and encourage him this past week has been a blessing. I love him so much and I'm really glad that I was able to speak hope and love into him. The plan is to do a tracheostomy sometime this week to give him air more directly. The doctor said that all his organs look good- his heart, kidneys, etc. - it's just that he needs more strength. So, the doctor said the tracheostomy will allow him the time to build up his strength to hopefully be able to breathe on his own and have it removed and then do rehab to recover fully. Oh that is my prayer. Sometimes it just feels so surreal. I can't believe we're in this place. My dad, so strong, a runner, one of the strongest, wisest, funniest, loving ...