One Step at a Time
3-25-02 One Step at a Time
Friends and Family,
What a day!!! After the good report of Samuel's surgery, we began to start the detailed update. However, our daughter Nicole (6) was injured while walking, "running," our dog. She was running ahead of him pulling him on the leash. She was watching him instead of the picnic table. At least HE was shorter than the table! She cut her chin and received a hard hit to the neck leaving a bad scrape on her neck. The doctors at the ER examined her and decided not to put stitches in her chin, but were a little concerned about her neck. There is some swelling. They told us to watch her closely for breathing difficulty. Please pray she will heal quickly and that she won't have a scar!!!
Jeff
Jeff is feeling better daily. The doctor wants to go ahead and do surgery on
one of his ears tomorrow. However, the family doesn't want the surgery done,
because it is not critical (life threatening) and they feel Samuel needs Jeff
more at this point. Samuel responds a lot better when Daddy is there to
comfort him. The surgery would require a four week recovery time, and it is
something that could wait until Samuel is doing better. We have been told no
more damage will be done as a result of waiting.
Jeff's leg will be operated on tomorrow to remove a piece of shrapnel. It is floating near the skin, so it should be a quick procedure requiring only local anesthesia. If that goes well, they will officially release him from the hospital. Once released he will be able to spend more time with Cindy, Samuel, Emily and Luke. Continue to pray for his healing.
Samuel
For the past couple of days, a knot had been forming on Samuel's knee. Rees
kept telling the doctors, but they were more concerned about his head. Last
night, the knot swelled to the size of a golf ball and Samuel had a lot of
pain. As Rees moved his knee for comfort the knot burst. Rees insisted that
the doctors examine it. Thank God that Rees has been there!!! After
examining Samuel's knee, the doctors decided they needed to go in, remove the shrapnel, and flush the joint. They did so and were very pleased with the
procedure. Samuel is now resting. Continue to pray that his pain will
subside and for his complete healing.
Cindy
Cindy is praying they will get to come home soon. She has asked us to make
this a critical prayer request. It has been difficult for the family to care
for three in the hospital and two at home 24x7. The language barrier makes
it even more difficult. It would be much better if they were home in the
States. Their physical support group would be larger and responsibilities
could be shared among more people. The bottom line is the troops are
physically weary and need some rest. Pray the right people that need to make
the right decisions will talk to the right doctors to come up with the right
plan to bring them home.
This morning when Cindy first tried to get up she said her head felt like it was full of cotton and she was dizzy, but this afternoon they tried it again and she was able to walk ONE STEP AT A TIME with her walker. Cindy would take one step away from the bed and then go back. She did it four times. She said her feet were tingling and she could feel them. When she asked to do it again, the physical therapist said they'll do it again tomorrow. Cindy said, "Okay, and maybe we'll dance." :) One step at a time...Cindy will soon be able to walk again. What an answer to the prayers that have been lifted up! Another praise is if her walking goes well tomorrow, SHE WILL FINALLY BE ABLE TO SEE SAMUEL!!!! We are all praying she will! God is Faithful!!! The doctors have said that her bone is beginning to heal. It is happening a lot quicker than they anticipated. God's Healing Hand is touching her. Thank You God!!!
Susan
Rees said she has been a "rock." She stayed all afternoon and evening with
Samuel yesterday and again all day today. It is a huge blessing to have her
there. Thank You God, and thank you to all those who helped her get there so
quickly. May God bless you abundantly. Pray for her emotional strength as
it is difficult to care for a little one in pain.
Rees and Frankie
Continue to pray for Rees. He said, "I only have two responsibilities:
- 1) Serve the kids here (at the apartment) and at the hospital, and
- 2) Get rest, so he can serve the kids here and at the hospital."
Emily and Luke
Emily is doing well. She informed us "She is helping take care of Grandpa."
She is praying a lot. She is thankful that Grandpa Rees, Grandma Frankie and
Grandma Susan are there. She is particularly thankful that Grandma Susan is there because she knows Grandma Susan doesn't usually ride on planes. It was special to her that Grandma Susan would come so far any way. She said it was hard to see Samuel, but was encouraged he didn't look too bad. Neither Samuel nor Cindy have any wounds to the face, because Jeff shielded them and God protected them. She enjoys going to the park everyday with Grandpa and riding the bus. She hopes to be back in America soon because she really liked her teacher in school at BSBA and is looking forward to seeing her
again. She really misses her friends in America too. Continue to pray for
her emotional healing. God is doing a work in her!!!!
Luke is adjusting well to the changes too. He helped Ms. Elizabeth wash
Cindy's hair this morning. He did the shampooing. He was thrilled to get to
do something to help. When Elizabeth had to leave today, Luke said he didn't
want her to go. He prayed for her before they parted ways. Thank you
Elizabeth for being such a blessing!!! We have heard reports from all the
family on how MUCH of an encouragement and light of hope you were to them.Thank you!!! Thank you, Tim, for sharing her!!
Melissa
Melissa is Cindy's younger sister and she is about to have a baby. She went
to the hospital tonight because she was in great pain. The pain is constant
and goes up with contractions. She is 3cm and 50%, but the contractions are
not regular. After checking her and the baby, they decided to send her home.
They feel the pain is being caused by the flu and did not want to induce
labor in a sick mommy. Please pray for healing and that the baby will come
soon.
Thank you
Thank you for the words of encouragement, Scriptures, love and support you have been sharing in e-mails. We are so blessed to be a part of the family of God! Please continue to share with us how God is working in and through
this situation. It is so uplifting to hear how God is turning this tragic situation into something good, into something that is bringing Him Glory and Praise. It is blessing all of us to hear from you. Jeff and Cindy have both said, "Our prayer is God will be glorified." May He be glorified in you and in us....
The passage below was shared with us by one of you today. Thank you for sharing how God has touched and is touching you through His Word. May it touch all the rest of us as well!
Psalm 145
"I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.
Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is
unsearchable.
One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.
I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous
works.
And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy
greatness.
They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing
of thy righteousness.
The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great
mercy.
The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.
They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;
To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of
his kingdom.
Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout
all generations.
The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed
down.
The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due
season.
Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.
The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him
in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their
cry, and will save them.
The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he
destroy.
My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy
name for ever and ever."
Blessing His Name,
The Nickersons
