Praise God for His Healing Power

Good morning! Just to give you an update on Ken & Rhonda. Ken has really been having a tough time. He listened to a Victory Christian Center healing CD all night last night. He is trying so very hard to understand all of what is happening to him and to stand in faith believing that God is healing Him. Of course, it is impossible to understand, but we do know that God is an Awesome God and we know that He heals the sick in body.

Ken has been in a lot of pain with his back. The Physical Therapist (Jason) finally came yesterday and worked on him quite a bit. It seemed to help some. Jason is going to try to come back today or tomorrow. The nurse came yesterday, also, and reinserted the catheter. This has been a big help for both of us.

Jeffrey has been a wonderful help this week. He will be going back to school soon and we will sure miss him. Tresha & the grandkids came over today and helped so I could go to the church this afternoon to get some of my work done. It was a nice break.

Thanks so much for your prayers for Ken & Rhonda. Here is an copy of a post from Retha about my niece, Rhonda:

August 7, 2007

Jeff talked to the doctor this morning; he said the biopsy they did, show 3 out of 9 lymph nodes they tested, were cancer free. That’s a pretty good chance they got it all. Rhonda will still have to take Radiation and Chemo after she recovers from surgery. She will be in the hospital about a week after she gets out of the Critical Care Unit; and recover about 6 more weeks before she can start the Radiation and Chemo.

She had a test yesterday and her stomach doesn’t seem to be leaking anywhere from the surgery. They will probably do a test today to see how good she can swallow. They may take the stomach drain out tomorrow; they’re not in a hurry to do that. Her biggest complaint is the large stomach drain tube in her nose. She has absolutely no patience for recovering; she wants the drain tube out of her nose and she wants out of the hospital, like yesterday.

Please pray also for her anxiety; she constantly pulls at the tubes and tape on her chest and nose. She has a port on the right side of her neck for the I V’s to enter the blood; and another drain tube on her chest to drain off the old blood from the surgery; about a 3 inch wound on the left side just below her neck where they entered; and several stickers that monitor her heart beat, etc. She has a long wound from her breast bone to the lower part of her stomach that has staples. She just can’t keep her hands off all this.

Thank you so much for your prayers; I believe she will make it through this.
A special thank you for Betty's daughter, Cheryl, and Neil's wife, Kathy, for staying hours with Rhonda to give Rhonda's daughter, Sarah, and me a much needed break this weekend.
I Love You,
Retha

WE PRAISE YOU, LORD, FOR YOUR MIGHTY, POWERFUL HEALING POWER. WE ASK YOU NOW TO TOUCH AND COMPLETELY HEAL AND RESTORE KEN AND RHONDA! THANK YOU ALMIGHTY AND WONDERFUL GOD!!

WE'RE HOME, AGAIN!!

Sorry I haven't written in a couple of days. I have had my hands full getting Ken settled in his new bed, etc., etc. etc. Yesterday was definitely a challenge. It all started Thursday when I went back to the hospital. His other doctor (internal medicine) came about 6:30 p.m. and said, "You're going home!" Wow!! We were so surprised because the heart doctor said that he had to wait another day. Well, everything went into high gear at that moment. I went over to Barb's house to get my belongings and came back to get Ken's things all packed up. Needless to say, it takes forever to get discharged from the hospital and we didn't leave there until about 11:00 p.m. . .that put us home about midnight!! Our son-in-law, Mark, came over and helped me get Ken in the house and into the bed. I thank God for a wonderful son-in-law who is always willing and ready to help us do anything we need. I wouldn't trade him for anything!!

Yesterday was a really rough day for both of us with the new routine of sleeping in the hospital bed and the fact that his legs were completely immobile by this time. He was in bed for 8 days in the hospital, and only got up in a chair twice on Thursday--the day he went home. Ken has been in a lot of pain with that sacroilliac muscle but finally today he got himself adjusted in the bed where it relieved the pain somewhat. He has to wait until Monday or Tuesday for the Physical Therapist to come out. The Home Health nurse got him resumed with treatment yesterday and drew blood to check his count. To our surprise it was 4.0, but they said that it was normal for the blood to get too thin as they are still trying to get it adjusted. . .2.0 is the target.

I have great news about my niece, Rhonda. She came through the surgery very well, but it was a very long surgery and she has a long way to go, but I know God has been with her and the doctors, and will "never leave her or forsake her". . . .that is our promise from the Word of God. Here are the latest updates from her Mom:

August 2nd:
They took the tubes out of her mouth; she still has one in her nose and one in her chest; she looks a lot better. She could talk a little, but most of the time she is out. Sometimes she talks and doesn't make any sense when she is half awake. She's still in a lot of pain. Jeff stayed this morning; I stayed this evening and Sarah is staying the night. I'll probably relieve her around 3 or 4 am.

August 3rd:
Rhonda got up and sat in a chair a while this morning; the nurse was amazed because she didn't have to help her at all. She also got on a pain pump this morning. All her hair is falling out all over the pillow; I guess she will be bald in a few days. We have a pretty good routine; Jeff stays days with Rhonda and picks up Jeffrey in the evening from day care and keeps him until morning; Sarah stays from about 8 pm till 3 am; I stay a while between their times; like...3 am till 9:30 am and 4 pm till 8 pm.

Thanks for your prayers, phone calls, and encouragement for Ken & Rhonda.

We love you all!!
Ken & Mary

More on Ken & Rhonda

Ken called a few minutes ago to tell me that he will not be going home today because now they have his blood too thin. It was 2.3 which is a little over the limit. They said they would keep him another night to take care of the overlap on his blood. They are trying to get him stabilized at 2.0. The bed was just delivered and set up in his favorite spot in the living room (in front of the TV). I got him satellite for Christmas last year and he is really enjoying the selection of channels and the nice clear picture. We had an antenna before and most of the channels were snowy, etc. Ken sounded in good spirits, but he is sure wanting to come home. I have his bed all made up and ready for him. Maybe tomorrow..... I will be staying in Muskogee tonight with my dear friend, Barbara, who lives just a few blocks from the hospital. She has been such a wonderful friend through all of this and has been to see Ken often. I praise God for Barb and for all of my tremendous friends and family. We would have never made it without you!!! Ken and I cherish all of you.
Love,
Mary

My precious niece, Rhonda, came through her surgery. Here is a note from my sister, Retha, Rhonda's mother: (Photos of Rhonda and her baby, Jeffrey, and her daughter, Sarah & Jeffrey; both taken about 2 years ago.)

I just got back home from the hospital; I went there right after midnight last night. Rhonda did pretty good for the shape she's in. She has tubes in her mouth and nose and her face is really swollen. Every time she starts to wake up, she starts breathing too fast; they said it was from the pain. She can breath on her own but they are leaving the breathing tube in her lungs until they get her pain under control. I got back home at 8 am and Jeff is going up there after he drops off Jeffrey, Rhonda's 3 year old, at the day care. Jeff brought Sarah to my house about midnight to rest because she was up the night before the surgery helping her mom pack, and she stayed at the hospital all day yesterday. They brought their stuff to my house before they left for the hospital. They will stay with me until Rhonda recoups. Rhonda will be in St. Anthony hospital for about a week. I don't know when or what room they will put her in after CCU. (critical care unit) I thought it was ICU. (intensive care unit) Guess I'm behind times. Go figure.
Thanks again for all your prayers; I love you,
Retha

Ken Is Still In the Hospital

Ken did not get to come home yesterday as they are still trying to get his blood thin enough. There are standards they have to go by and his count was 1.6 yesterday and it has to be 2.0. I am home right now waiting for a hospital bed to be delivered. He has been having back pain from that sacroilliac muscle that was pulled and the bed will help him a lot. It will have a trapeze bar so he can pull himself up in bed. That will help tremendously. He is also getting a bed tray delivered. He will get physical therapy again when he gets home so he can get back up in his wheel chair and on the walker. His legs are so weak from being totally bedfast for the last 7 days.

My niece, Rhonda, had her surgery yesterday and it lasted a long time. I am waiting to hear how she did during the surgery and how she is today. If I hear from someone before I go back up to the hospital to be with Ken, I will write it on a post.

Keep praying for Ken and Rhonda. Thanks so much.

Love,
Mary

Ken May Come Home Today

This has been a long six days and I came home last night to get things ready for Ken's return home. They have had him on blood thinners to dissolve the clot in his left lung and the doctor told me last night that he may send him home today. Ken had been having a lot of pain in his back from a pulled muscle (sacroilliac). Also, he is experiencing pain in his right lung due to the cancerous nodules. He needs a lot of prayer.

Because of his back and other conditions I am trying to get a hospital bed delivered so it will be here when he gets home. He has to sit or lie in a reclining position to relieve the pain in his back. Tresha, Mark and I are going to do some furniture rearranging in the back part of our living room today. I will have to store some of our furniture. Ken did not want to be stuck in the bedroom and I don't blame him.

Also, the doctors removed the catheter on the weekend that he has been using for about 3 months now. This also presents a definite need for a hospital bed. I don't think they are going to reinsert it because Ken continues getting urinary tract infections.

As far as the Poly MVA goes, I will have to give it to him orally in bigger doses because I cannot transport him back and forth to Edmond now. It is 300 miles round trip three days a week. It would be very dangerous to transport because of the blood thinners that he is on. Also, right now he is not well enough.

God is still in the miracle business and Ken and I have not given up hope for his complete healing and restoration. We both need strength--spiritually and physically. We appreciate all of you for your prayers, concern, and encouragement. God bless you.

Added note about my niece, Rhonda.
I just found out that Rhonda is having surgery today for esophagus cancer. They are going to completely remove her esophagus and pull her stomach up to make a new one. She will have to learn how to eat all over again. Please pray that God will guide the hands of the doctors and that Rhonda will have a complete recovery soon. Her teenage girl, Sarah, and her little three-year old boy, Jeffrey, really need their Mom. Rhonda is a sweet young woman and deserves to be able to be here on this earth for her children.

Ken Is In The Hospital Again!!

Ken is in the hospital again in Muskogee Regional with a blood clot in his left lung!! Thursday evening he began coughing and having severe pain in his chest. My son-in-law, Mark, was here when this all happened and he & Jeffrey helped me get Ken in the car to take to the hospital. He seemed to be having problems in his lung and we thought he might have pneumonia. I started driving toward Muskogee and got almost to Eufaula and the pain in Ken's chest was so severe that he was screaming in pain and I thought he was having a heart attack. I put on my flashers and drove through Eufaula extremely fast passing everyone in the way and got him to the Eufaula Hospital. They determined he was not having a heart attack but knew something was definitely going on. The nitro they gave him did no good so they said they needed to send him to Muskogee if they had a bed in ICU. I am a member of Air Evac and told them that I wanted Ken lift-flighted by helicopter (which Mark had already alerted Air Evac). Ken had his first ride in a helicopter ambulance. The paramedics were wonderful and Ken said that ride was so much better than the ones he had had to take by ground ambulance.

Ken is still in ICU and will remain there through the weekend. We didn't find out until last night at 6:30 what was wrong with him. They pain has subsided somewhat, but he is still in pain when he takes a deep breath or coughs. They have him on blood thinners to dissolve the clot. He had all kinds of test taken all night Thursday night and all day yesterday. I will find out the results of the cat scans, etc. today I hope.

After being up all night Thursday night (except for sleeping about three hours in my car and many times dozing off in a straight-backed chair in his hospital room) I was exhausted and came home last night to get some sleep. I slept for about 4 hours and then become wide awake so thought I would update everyone on Ken's condition. Please keep him in your prayers and he desperately needs them. Thank you so much. God bless you all.

Mary Ellen

P.S. I received a wonderful praise report yesterday on my voice mail from my friend, Barbara, that I had requested prayer for concerning cervical cancer. Praise God that her test came back negative for cancer. Thank you, Lord for answered prayer!

Also, I received a call from my granddaughter, Andrea, yesterday morning with the announcement that Ken and I were going to become great grandparents for the first time in about 7-1/2 months! That means Karen will be a grandmother. Oh my goodness, are we old enough to be great grandparents?!? Probably not, but we're going to be and are excited!

He's Looking Good!

This photo was taken last Wednesday night after church. We celebrated a surprise birthday party for a member of our church, Al, who turned 77 years old on 07/17/07.

Ken really looks good doesn't he? He has gained back about 8 pounds and the color in his face is good. God is so faithful to our prayers!!

Friday Ken had his 9th Poly-MVA treatment. This morning Ken and Jeffrey went to a men's prayer breakfast at our church. They had a good time and then came home and started working on the hot water line to our bathroom sink that needs fixed. Ken is teaching Jeffrey how to do some plumbing!

Tomorrow we will be going to church for Sunday morning service and then for another Poly treatment on Monday. More later . . .