Day 73 - August 27 - Ups and downs
Interesting day. Connor was absolutely exhausted from yesterday's exertions, and he was not in the best of moods as a result. Additionally, he continues to be depressed and listless about everything, which makes it difficult to encourage him. Cherié and I often feel completely unable to help him in any way. So this day was as difficult as they all seem to be, in that regard.
The only thing Connor worked on today was his ventilator weaning, which went really well. He spent more than 45 minutes on a different vent setting which required him to breathe on his own - it has an automatic minimum respirations/minute setting, which kicks in if Connor isn't breathing on his own. They set that on 5 per minute, and for most of the time he was pulling 8-10. This is fantastic! He wasn't striving on his own, his diaphragm was triggering by itself!
This is a first step - he's got much work to do before he gets off the machine - but the fact that his diaphragm works at all is a massive blessing, and I'm praising God for this success. Please keep the boy in your prayers over this, that he would continue to improve, that his diaphragm would work more and work better, and that he would be excited about these steps instead of being disappointed when he isn't yet back to where he used to be.
He spent the rest of the day in a state of despondency, although he perked up a bit this evening when we read together from scripture (Judges and 2 Timothy) and from the blog, then prayed before he went to sleep. I am praying that God brings him encouragement and hope every day - he needs it so badly.
No news on the facility search, except that after a very gracious ConnorFriend went and looked at Kindred Folsom for us, we won't be taking Connor there. Keep praying.
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posted by Eric Williamson @ 9:39 PM
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11 Comments:
Hi Family,
Just wanted to say good night to you and continued prayer for you here in San Jose. Love you guys. Oh, I noticed the video we made did not make it after all. Hopefully we will be successful the next time we try. Love to you!
Praying4TheWilliamsons
San Jose
This is a monumental step! The fact that his diaphragm is working and he is practically on room air seems to point to - it's only a matter of time before he comes off of the vent.
Of course, it sounds so simple but yet I can't even imagine how hard it is for Connor. I'll be praying specifically for his strength and endurance.
Connor - I'm not sure if your Dad went over all of 2 Timothy today... just in case you didn't cover the first chapter, I thought I'd go ahead and share these verses:
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. 13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. (NKJV)
Hold fast, my friend!
Lee
Eric, once Connor is moved to a facility where he sees and is around other patients who, like him, are paralyzed I think you will see a difference in his mood. Right now he is isolated pretty much except for his family and medical staff. I am praying he will be placed in a facility where he sees other young people going through similar physical problems he is experiencing, and who are encouraging each other.
His despondency is certainly understandable. And for that matter, so is yours and all the family. But I hope and pray that Connor will have an environment once he is moved that will not only give him quality care, but also be a happy, fun place for him.
I think he has something to look forward to and that is key for him right now. No one knows what the next "bend in the road" holds for each of us, but I pray it will be a good one for Connor.
Stay focused on the future.
In His Love,
MT
C'ville
Dear Williamson Family,
You all continue to be in my prayers. As many have said before, it is difficult for any of us who have not been in a similar circumstance to even come close to understanding how difficult this is for you. Yet, as part of the Body of Christ, we do share in your trials and rejoice with you for the graces that you experience as well.
May you continue to be blessed and may the Lord continue to shine His grace on you today. May doors that are seemingly closed at the moment begin to open.
Connor: I wanted to share with you about our Children In Action class last night at church. We had our normal lesson (studying Sudan at this time) and at the end of class, I always ask for any prayer request. Well, of course, your name was the first one mentioned. Then the questions started. The children wanted to know so much about you, and because of this wonderful blog, I was able to answer their questions. They sat in their chairs listening to every word. They asked if you could eat...move your head...if you had alot of machines around you...and on and on. I shared with them what a faithful believer that you are. I told them how I felt God was using you to touch others, and you did that last night without even knowing it. My kids were so concerned about you that when one of them led us in our closing prayer, he prayed for you twice! They are all praying for you, and I am talking about children that are in 2nd to 6th grade. Your name is brought up weekly when we have our prayer requests, and I never have to remind them. They asked if I would bring a camera next week so they can send you a pic of those that are praying for you. I hopefully will remember to do so, because it is important to them. They want you to know they are thinking of you and praying for you. Today I pray that you have a great day, and that you will realize you are never alone. So many people are here for you, even though you don't know many of them...and more importantly...God is there with you. Feel His loving arms wrapped around you. I also pray strength for your mom and dad. It is very hard for those who have never been in their shoes to even imagine what they are going thru. I pray for Joelle, because I know it is hard for her to have to leave her brother and parents, and pray that she is returned to you safe. Please know that you are loved...by many..even those whom you may have never met! God bless you Connor, Eric, Cherie and Joelle! We send our love from Texas.
More progress. Connor, I know it is hard from your side to see how far you've come, but we do, and we know there is more.
For now, it's a small thing, and we're of course praying that you and your family won't have to trek this way much further, but check out the news at the 152/156 interchange. Our family has suffered through this for YEARS, but I don't think it's a coincidence that only now has God seen fit to get rid of this frustrating problem. If God can work miracles at the DoT, imagaine what He can do for you! More progres... :)
It must be so hard for Connor. I believe Science needs to be front and center here. The reality is.........
When I read how Connor prayed for 2 days to be able to move his arms, and when it didn't happen, he was completely destroyed, where is the reality here? Prayer is a wonderous tool, but the reality cannot be overcome by wishing it.
For Eric, the same applies. Prayer will not make it go away. That is why Eric is so confused? Where is God he writes? Right by your side.
Hey there Anonymous at 10:43 am,
I can understand that to someone who doesn't have a relationship with the living God, prayer can look like "wishing." (That statement sounds much more "in your face" that it is intended...I merely mean to acknowledge the fact that we have differing perspectives.) There is not a believer on earth who has not shared this feeling at some point. Each of us (people of faith) understands how you feel. We've all been there. God is not easily understood and cannot truly be known without the intervention of the Holy Spirit. We are limited by our finite brainpower and level of understanding as we try to comprehend an infinite God.
God addresses this disconnect in Isaiah 55: 8-9
"8 'For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord.
9 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.'"
Knowing then, that my answers will be less than complete, I plan to try anyway; cuz' I'm stubbon like that. So in the words of my late hero, Ricky Ricardo: Let me 'splain it to you, Lucy.
Prayers are not always answered in the way we would like, but they are always answered; albeit sometimes with a "no." God is good, all the time; even when our prayers and petitions are not answered in the way we would like.
You said "prayer will not make it go away." Again, because you (apparently) don't know the One who is the Object of our prayer, I don't think you understand what prayer does. Prayer does change things; God would not instruct us to pray without ceasing if prayer was without effect.
The fact that we don't always get our way (either in result or timing) does not change the value of prayer. God would not instruct us to waste our time with prayer if it was simply an exercise in wishing or visualizing our desires.
So, Anonymous - we disagree. Prayer is good; it is communication with the Creator of all things. Science is not the answer. Yes...God has instituted certain laws of nature that we call science, but make no mistake; science is simply man's explanation of God's creative genious. God is neither fully explained in scientific analysis, nor is He limited by our understanding of His work.
There is no limit to what God can do and I pray that you discover this truth for yourself.
Anonymous (10:43am) - welcome to the discussion (I'm assuming you haven't commented before)!
I've said this before in a comment for at least one previous post: prayer isn't really for God's benefit. He knows all things - how could it be for His benefit? Concerning what do we have the power to inform God? Prayer is for our benefit, in the final analysis - to bring us into alignment with the way God thinks (in as much as we can comprehend how God thinks, as Anonymous, 12:25pm noted), to make His goals our goals (i.e., that we seek His glory in all things, including through our life or death), and so on.
It is for this that we are created, and for which each of us yearns. There are many substitutes offered by the world around us which purport to be adequate - none are more than temporarily satisfying. Solomon tried them all - you can read all about it in the book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament. His conclusion? "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." Ecclesiastes 12:13 (ESV)
Along with Anonymous, 12:25pm (and many others who read this blog, I'm sure), I pray that you are able to discover this for yourself some day soon.
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