Day 15 - June 30 - Despatch from the front
Quick updates on a number of items -
First, we got the call at 0130 that they were going to put Connor on this new bed. He gets to hang on his belly for three out of every four hours. The bed looks like a cross between one of those pressing machines at a dry-cleaners and the pod that Neo climbs out of in The Matrix. OK, maybe not as goopy, but it's still pretty intimidating. Anyway, after we got the call, we (surprisingly) didn't get an overwhelming need to rush to the hospital. We began to pray about the boy, and felt a peace that God was taking care of him. Cherie had Phillipians 1:6 impressed on her, that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it. Every time I came close to consciousness, I heard the first verse of "A Shelter in the Time of Storm" - and we spent the rest of the night resting in confidence provided by the Lord.
When I got to the hospital this morning, my extended family tried to head me off as I went to see Connor. I told them it was OK and that I wanted to spend some time with him by myself. When I went into the room, the nurse tried to head me off too. Apparently, everybody here thought that seeing this newfangled machine was going to depress me - and I can see why they would think that. What they didn't know, however, was how God had carried me all night. Seeing Connor's numbers only confirmed what I had been confident of all night - that God was using this machine to accomplish the answer to prayers we'd been praying the last few days. His saturation is in the high 90s and his O2 has been tweaked down to 90%. How's that for an answer to prayer?
Please continue to lift Connor up - that his lungs would recover sufficiently enough to get back into a normal bed and begin weaning off the respirator.
Briefly, on other fronts -
Cherié's heart is fine, confirmed by a cardiologist. They are running bloodwork to make sure everything else is OK too, and we're trying to reduce her stress level as much as possible.
Joélle's issues with Moody have been resolved, although not exactly as she would have liked. Still, she will be able to take a leave of absence from the school and return to her program of study in the Spring semester. Thank you to all you who took steps to help us get this straightened out. A particularly heartfelt "Thanks, brother" to the Dean of Undergraduate Studies at MBI for his compassion and assistance.
Please pray that we'll know what to do about me going back to work. I can't stay out indefinitely, yet dread being that far from the family. Not to mention the awkward fact that many there have been following my journey here, recognize that I'm not the same man that left a few weeks ago, and will be watching to see if my words here will have any truth in the "real" world.
Please pray that we could get the boy close to home soon, and into the best possible place for him.
I'm sure the ride has more surprises coming - hold fast.
Labels: status
posted by Eric Williamson @ 8:45 AM
8 Comments
Links to this post
8 Comments:
Williamsons,
We all prayed this morning in church, both for Conner and Joelle and Eric and Cherie. It was good to hear the congregational prayer and the pause after it where you felt that these people were also concerned.
I must say that not a moment goes by but that I have you all in my thoughts and prayers. It is hard for me to even express my inner feelings, since I don't believe I have ever been there before. In the middle of the night, I awaken and there they are again. For between 1 and 2 hours, I try go back to sleep, knowing that the only thing that I really can do is give those concerns up and trust.....but I do it reluctantly. Not even when Norm was ill did I feel that sense so greatly. I of course know that it is because Conner is so young, so ready for life, so full of life and in such a time when there is so much in the world that is ready to see and hear the message that his life contains.
I DO BELIEVE IN MIRACLES. He CAN make a turnaround that will bring him back to all who need to hear the good news from his lips as well as his body....We all have faith that this can happen....and each time I envision him moving about, I say, thanks to God for even the smallest evidence that this is happening.
I never want to be where you are, because somehow grandchildren seem so much like true gifts from God, each sharing with us in a different way the strength of that knowledge. Conner's picture is so telling, a young man so ready to face that world. The contributions of your children in the blog are so very articulate...well written and descriptive. Each one has a gift to give to us. And I am grateful to be one of those who is a recipient to the blog list, even if I cannot send my thoughts in basically because of my lack of tech ability.
We will continue in the next months to pray for conner at our church. He will remain on our prayer list. Next week, I will be heading off to Costa Rica with Stephen and a bunch of the kids he teaches in St. Helena, and we will all be attending a three week Spanish immersiion class for three hours each day, exercises for 2 hours and some time off to watch THEM play soccer and fo a little sight seeing. I chose to do this since Stephen came back from the trip last year and could not stop talking about how great the experience is. My plane arrives back in the US on the 26th. You will continue to be on my thoughts, and I will hopefully be able to pick up the blog in Grecia, where we will be.
Again my love to ALL.
Enid Pott
Tex, Cherie, Connor, and Joelle, I just got back to Bayside from Gasquet and the first thing I checked was the blog.
I thought about you all many times over the weekend, and you all remain in my thoughts and prayers.
I hope Connor's lungs improve and that he can be transported to a place closer to home soon.
John aka pinkie
Please know that I've been on this journey with you since day 1 and I intend to stick around til the journey ends!?! It indeed has it's ups and downs,{ and I thought the roller coasters at Silverwood were bad!] but I and I'm sure more people than you can even imagine are praying continually for ALL of you.I can't even begin to know what you all are going through but rest assured that our God does and I ask that all your needs be met.
Much love and prayers to you all,
Jeanie
Oregon
Praise God!
Praise God!
Praise God!
The great dragon was hurled down--
that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
"Now have come the salvation and the POWER and the KINGDOM of our God, and the AUTHORITY of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.
THEY OVERCAME HIM BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB AND BY WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."
(Revelation 12:9-11 niv)
Way to fight Eric!
Way to fight Kingdom of God!
Thank you Jesus for another miracle!
Marcie
Virginia
I cannot help but be called over and over to Hebrews Chapter 11 when I read about Connor and his family. I think the phrase, "By faith..." is used 15 times followed by examples of extreme faith when all seemed lost and hopeless. But the first verse is at the heart of it all, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." I know what we are all hoping for with Connor as does his family. Being certain of what we cannot see is 'where the rubber meets the road' so to speak. I don't know what is going to happen to Connor physically. I do know that what happens to him spiritually - to all of us - through this...is a strengthening and a unity through Christ as we all beseech Him on behalf of Connor, who from what his uncle, Dan Patterson, tells me, is an exceptionally faithful and devoted Christian. Our firefighter family up here in the Northwest, will NOT cease in hope and prayer. We are with you every day!
Thank you, God! This is a wonderful sign that He is answering our prayers. I will continue to pray for Connor.
Eric - you will also get special prayers today. Be patient... He will guide you to do what is best for you and your family... Just listen.
Mary - Hollister
Hi Eric. In addition to the prayers for Connor and the family, Michael and I will pray specifically for you as you decide on work and your "transition" back into the real world. Once again, the honesty on your struggle is a blessing to me.
Sherri
Tex, I have been following along, reading all the posts and praying for everyone! I God is watching over you and your family, bringing you guidance and comfort in these trying times. God bless all of you!
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home