I know that is has been a week since the last update posted, but work has been crazy (its payroll week) and then I caught a nasty cold virus that I am getting over now. Anyway, my granddad will probably be moving to a nursing home later this week and will begin some kind of rehab for the stroke. The doctors don’t really think he is improving, but we (and the nurses) notice some responsiveness in him.

He had pneumonia as I think I’ve mentioned and also developed diabetes because of some complications. He has been moved down a step from thee ICU so that is good news. I’m not entirely upbeat with this update because we are still facing some difficult decisions that we don’t want to make regarding feeding tubes, etc if he doesn’t continue to improve. On the whole, though, everything isn’t as scary as it was before.

It was great to have my family from PA come down during all of this. I am convinced that we as a family can get through anything if we are together. My older sis, Deb, is in Peru still until April 1st, and may be planning to come down as well after she returns from that trip.

Thank you all again for your prayers for sustaining us as a family and for your healing prayers for my granddad. They are felt and appreciated. Love you all!

Hey out there…

As some of you know, I am updating some people about the status of my granddad…he is in the hospital now because of a stroke and subsequent heart attack. From now on I will update from here so check back as there won’t be anymore emails sent.

UPDATE

Everyone,

I know some people have been asking for another update, so here goes:

Thank you thank you thank you for all your prayers and food. God is upholding us as a family this week and it is thanks to the many prayers that everyone is sending up for us and my granddad.

Today, Wednesday, marks the first full day off the ventilator and he isn’t even using the oxygen mask anymore. He is very alert and held my hand for a long time yesterday during the worst of the “weaning” off the breathing machine. His heart is still a problem, but we know that God’s will will be done in all of this. There is the problem of the decision to insert a feeding tube tomorrow, so please pray for that. As always, we have been praying that God would make it VERY clear what will happen in the next few days. My mom and my uncles do not want to have to make a difficult decision without full peace and clarity from God that it is His will. Whatever that means.

Also much praise to Him that my uncle and aunt (and his 8 kids) could come down and be with here with us during this time. Yesterday with the whole family was such a blessing, we just realize how wealthy my Granddad really is for having such a wonderful family who loves the Lord. What riches!

Thanks again, and hope the update helps.

Joanna

Hey out there…

As some of you know, I am updating some people about the status of my granddad…he is in the hospital now because of a stroke and subsequent heart attack. From now on I will update from here so check back as there won’t be anymore emails sent.

UPDATE

Thank you everyone for your prayers. My granddad is in stable-ish condition, although he does have pnemonia. My uncle and co. are driving in from PA tomorrow - pray for their safety - to say goodbye. Right now we are praying that God takes him quickly and not drawn out as we don’t want him to suffer. Thank God for such wonderful friends as they are providing us with food and prayers.

Joanna

Hey out there…

As some of you know, I am updating some people about the status of my granddad…he is in the hospital now because of a stroke and subsequent heart attack. From now on I will update from here so check back as there won’t be anymore emails sent.

I just wanted to give everyone an update about my grandfather (my mom’s dad). Some of you may or may not know that he suffered a massive stroke on Thursday morning and was brought to the hospital near my parents home. He was not very responsive, although he was (we think) responsive to us as a family and even joked with us a little bit on Thursday and even more on Friday afternoon. However, on Friday evening just after Josh and I got there he had a lot of trouble breathing and it turns out his lungs were filling with fluid. He was then moved to the ICU and there we found out that he was in the middle of a massive heart attack. We were told that he may not make it through the night so we stayed there until very late, even bringing in my grandmother to say goodbye. He did make it through the night, but the doctor believes that he will contract pneumonia which might be merciful.

Please pray for us as a family that we will know in a very clear way what the Lord wills in all of this. There are very difficult decisions that my mom and uncles will have to make regarding all the complications that will occur in the next few hours and possibly days.

Please pray for my family, for peace and comfort. We know that we will see him again in heaven and that of course is worth more than anything to know that. We don’t want any suffering and it is so hard to imagine that someone you love could be suffering like this. Please pray that we all will just concentrate on the peace that God has promised us in all of this. It is so easy to lose sight of that.

I was very close to my grandfather, having grown up with him in the house for most of my life. Our whole family is very close. Please also pray for my sister as she is on a trip to Peru right now and will be unreachable for several days, although she is aware of what happened yesterday. Please pray for my grandmother, for her to have peace and be comforted. Last night she was more comforting for us but I know that it hasn’t hit her yet.

I know this is long, but all of this is just very much on my heart right now and I wanted to share it with you. Thank you for your prayers.

Joanna