Ian continues to gain strength in his ability to sit up and hold himself there. He’s been using a bar in front of him to hold onto and balance himself. It’s incredible to see the progress that he’s made since he came home from the hospital.
So when is this going to end for Ian? That’s all I want to know and I feel like that’s all that I’m waiting for. We’re still holding our breath. I’m praying for complete healing on earth or for the Lord to return. I’m waiting for the day when we have a normal Friday night together, maybe going on a date or watching a movie together. And I’m waiting for the day in heaven when Ian will receive all that he’s waiting for.
Until then, we press onward, asking for more and more grace.
“Preserve me, o God, for in you I take refuge.” Psalm 16
Bill, one of the people caring for Ian, brought in a theraband to try out with Ian. It looks like a giant rubber band. Ian did really well with it. He was stretching his arms and then bringing them back to chest again over and over. Ian really worked with it.
“I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1
Today is my brother David’s birthday. I have the same prayer request this day as we did last year- That he could celebrate with Ian, his best friend.
Please pray with me that David could have what he most wants for his birthday – his best friend back. And continue to pray in faith for Ian’s soul to be encouraged and his complete healing.
-Beth
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; …those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.” Psalm 37:7,9
“This also comes from the Lord of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.” Isaiah 28:29
Here is a summary of the things we’ve been praying for Ian:
* That he would be motivated to communicate consistently with us. * More specifically, that he would be able to use his voice and words to communicate. * That he would make significant progress with both speech and physical/occupational therapy. * For the success of this new outpatient strategy. * For the healing of his body.
Thank you for standing with us.
Steve
P.S. I’ll be fasting tomorrow if anyone wants to join with me -Larissa
“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” Isaiah 53:4
Christ carried our griefs and sorrows when he hung on the cross. He hung there for my sins. My wicked heart, that so often gives in to the hourly temptations brought by this trial, is seen as righteous. I am clothed in righteousness because of Jesus’ blood and that is what God considers. In light of eternity and what was accomplished at the cross, this trial is so small. These daily situations that tempt me to sin are so insignificant in comparison to the cross. I am sickly aware of my suffering, but I desperately need the Lord to make me aware of my salvation.
Lord, help us to see the cross before all other wayward thoughts.
Ian’s throat seems to be feeling better. He has asked to have real food today and yesterday. Thank you, Lord, for answered prayer.
Please keep praying for Ian. Pray that he would be encouraged and that he would want to come back to us.
At the recommendation of Ian’s doctor, we’re changing our approach to helping Ian. Up to this point, we’ve had therapists and nurses coming into our home. Believing he’s fallen into something of a boring routine, we’re going to stop doing things that way and send him to outpatient therapy at the hospital beginning this week. We’re hoping the change of scenery, the scheduled trips, and the available equipment at the hospital will help him regain some motivation. Ian’s friends, Amanda and Heather (God bless them!), will continue to visit (hopefully!) to supplement the work of the hospital.
So, we say goodbye to those who have been visiting and helping Ian in our home. If you’re one of those who have helped him, we want to thank you for all of your help. We hope this new chapter will provide some fresh stories of progress for Ian.
Please pray for grace from God for Ian to continue to work hard. Pray for the success of this new strategy. Pray for wisdom for us as we walk through this. Pray for Ian.
Ian had a rather uneventful day. No therapy sessions. We went out for a little bit tonight and then he spent some time sitting up. He’s getting much stronger and better at sitting on his own.
To echo what Steve wrote a few posts ago, our hope should not be in any progress that Ian makes. We shouldn’t have more faith on Ian’s “good days” than we do on the bad. We have no idea if he will ever progress further than where he is now. All we have is the Lord.
That Ian would be encouraged and motivated to keep working hard. We know that he can do the majority of the things that we ask him to do, he just needs to want to do it. Pray that God would continue to give him the desire to work to come back to us. God has obviously given Him much grace and much encouragement, or else Ian would’ve given up a long time ago. Pray that Ian continues to receive that grace and encouragement.
Ian seems to really be getting the hang of sitting up and is getting much stronger. Steve and Bill built something so that Ian has a bar in front of him that he can hold onto and pull himself up with. The last two times that he has sat up, I’ve heard reports that he did incredibly well. He really seems to be figuring it all out.
We haven’t seem to have gained much in the way of communication. We know that he can do it, but I think that he needs to be in the right mood.
This weekend is the one-year “anniversary” (even though I don’t like to call it that) of the accident. So I apologize now if we don’t post for a few days. Thank you for your continual prayers…..
I will sing of Your mercy that leads me through valleys of sorrow to rivers of joy
