Let Everything that Has Breath,
Praise the Lord!
3-28-02 Let Everything that Has Breath Praise the Lord
Friends and Family,
Praise ye the Lord!
God's mercies are new every morning, and they were especially new this morning for Samuel Womble. We have just received word that Samuel has come out of surgery. The only words that come to mind to describe the conversation we just had with Rees is God gave us a FULL and COMPLETE miracle today.....
Rees stayed at the hospital with Samuel last night. Samuel slept for almost 11 hours straight. He was only awake for maybe 15 minutes during the night. What a blessing for him to have restful sleep right before surgery! Another miracle!
Around 6:30 a.m. his pain increased and he became agitated. The doctors were administering a lot of antibiotics into him through the IV. It was burning pretty badly. The nurses gave Samuel something to calm him down and proceeded to take him to surgery.
Before surgery, Samuel and Mommy were able to be see each other for the first time. Two nurses wheeled Cindy on her hospital bed into the corridor where Samuel would be passing on his way to surgery. Samuel's bed was wheeled up next to hers. Cindy was able to finally see her son, hold his hand, comfort him and touch him!! Thank you, Father, for your Tender Compassion to the needs of Your children!!
Rees said just seeing Cindy relieved a lot of stress, anxiety and pain for Samuel. "He became a different boy." Rees said, "He was the most lucid he has been so far." It was a very, very good thing for Cindy and for Samuel to be able to see each other. Both received a release that was desperately needed. Thank you for your prayers!!
Samuel had wanted to be baptized while he was in the States on their last visit, but it had never worked out. Jeff wanted to take care of that before Samuel went into surgery. So with a congregation of family, doctors, nurses and the host of Heaven atching...Samuel was baptized there in the corridor of the hospital. Jeff was able to pour water over him while protecting the wound areas. After his baptism, they had a prayer, and Jeff picked Samuel up from his bed and carried him to his Mommy. Cindy was able to kiss her son and send him off to surgery with her love. Jeff then carried Samuel and placed him into the arms of the anesthesiologist. Samuel was then taken to the surgical room by the medical team.
Samuel went into surgery this morning around 8:45 a.m. The pre-opp took quite a while so the surgery did not actually begin until around 11. Surgery was completed around 5 p.m. and he was in recovery until 6. Samuel is now back in his ICU room. He is breathing on his own. He is talking. He is peaceful.
The doctors report: the surgery was extremely successful! There has been very little damage to the brain. There should be few side effects. Healing is already taking place in the brain. Infection was removed. Wounds cleansed thoroughly. There was no damage done to the eyesight or hearing nerves. There was one piece of shrapnel the size of a bb removed. It was taken to the family in a vial to view. The path was able to be cleaned thoroughly. When they went into the other part of the brain to remove the shrapnel, there was none there. The path was infected but the doctors were able to clean out the wound and infection. The only medical explanation of the missing shrapnel was it had apparently gone in from one side and out the other, and that the x-ray may not have been clear. Our explanation? God answers prayer!!
There is now a critical 10 day window. If Samuel can remain infection free, he should be out of the woods at the end of the window. We need your prayers. Specifically, we ask you pray intensely there will be no brain swelling, no ruptured blood vessels nor bleeding, no infection. This 10 day window is critical!!!
Cindy
"Cindy is doing fantastic." She had physical therapy earlier today. She was
able to walk around her hospital room with a walker. It has been determined
that both of her ear drums are burst. She will require the same surgery as
Jeff. Both of them plan to wait on surgery until they return to the states.
Cindy is only using Ibuprofen for pain management now. God is working a
miracle in her rapid recovery. She was smiling and relaxed as she ate her
dinner tonight. Rees said she was looking forward to a good night's sleep.
We NEED prayer coverage Cindy will continue to improve daily and no infection will be allowed to enter her body. Cindy is off all antibiotics due to her reactions to them. Infection setting in continues to be our greatest concern with regard to her medical condition.
Jeff
Jeff is doing well, continuing to heal day by day. It has been quite a day
for Jeff, for all of us! He is spending the night with Samuel in the
hospital. Pray for both of them to get good rest and to enjoy being together.
Grandparents
Rees, Frankie and Susan are elated with the news. They have had quite a
day!! They are back at the apartment and preparing to get a good night's
rest. "Thank you for the prayers..."
Helping Hands
The Wards are there with the family and being a tremendous blessing to them,
especially to Emily and Luke. The children are spending the night with the
Wards tonight so Rees, Frankie and Susan can get some good sleep.
Cindy's brother Jared, his wife Molly, and his son Peter have arrived here with us. They had a good trip and our visit has already been a blessing! We were all able to receive this good report and rejoice together of God's Goodness and Grace.
Our God, the Divine Physician, has worked miracles today! We thank Him and Praise Him for His miraculous intervention. You have all been so faithful to pray. Our hearts are full to overflowing with gratitude for each of you...
"Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD." Psalm 150
Praising the Lord,
The Nickersons
