An Update as of 9/26/12

Today was a happy day! Bob was more alert and more responsive than he has been since he was sedated for the second time at Riverside three weeks ago. His eyes were showing recognition of us, and he could communicate by blinking his eyes. By the end of the day, he was able to nod slightly, make facial gestures, and mouth simple questions like “What happened?” and “When?”. He got a case of the giggles this afternoon, and his silent laughter was infectious even though it caused all kinds of alarms to go off on the breathing apparatus, and sent him into coughing spells.

Bob is still extremely weak from laying in bed for four weeks without moving. The muscles they are working most diligently to strengthen are his diaphragm and those related to his breathing. They put him on a two hour trial with only minimal breathing support this morning, and he did so well that they extended it to four hours this afternoon. He has a good strong cough and is often able to clear his passageways himself. Tomorrow they are talking about a trial of taking him off the vent for a period of time with only some oxygen over his trach. Bob can move his fingers and toes now more consistently, and with some assistance was able to move one of his arms up to scratch an itchy nose.

Bob really seemed to remember things that we talked to him about, like running marathons and where he grew up, as well as the family and friends that we talked about. His short term memory is not as good and may take some time to recover. So I answered his questions about what happened, when,  and where we were many times throughout the day. I also told him again and again that thousands of people around the world were praying for him. He often mouthed “Wow” when I told him that. As I was getting ready to leave this evening, Bob kept mouthing something that I didn’t understand. I reassured him the best I could that he shouldn’t try to figure it all out tonight and that he should try to get some rest, but he didn’t seem satisfied. It was breaking my heart to leave him seeming so unsettled, but it was shift change for the nurses and time for me to go. When I turned back at the door, I suddenly understood what he wanted. He was saying “I want to pray.” When I finally understood, his eyes lit up and he nodded. I came back and offered a heartfelt prayer for Bob’s healing.

One of the miracles that Bob was privileged to be a part of during his years of ministry was when he prayed with a man in the hospital who was discouraged because he had just received his second kidney transplant but his body was in the process of rejecting it as it had rejected the first. It was close to the point where the new kidney would be damaged beyond saving. This was a good man who, like Bob, spent his life helping and serving others. In talking with him, Bob realized that this man thought it would be somehow inappropriate for him to pray for his own healing. Bob assured him that God would be pleased to receive his petitions on his own behalf. From that very night, the man’s body mysteriously stopped the rejection of the kidney, and the transplant was ultimately successful.

I remembered that story this evening, and I reminded Bob that even though he could not speak out loud because of the trach, God would certainly hear his prayers for his own healing.  The anxiety melted away from his face, and I was able to leave him in a much calmer state.

So I am pleased to add one more heart to those thousands lifting prayers for Bob’s healing, that of Bob himself.