We are noticing more and more that when Ian is awake, he is awake. He has been communicating with us very effectively lately and he was nodding for the therapists again tonight. Also, his ability to sit on the edge of the bed is improving so much. Tonight it took him about five seconds to figure out how to balance himself. He was using his feet a lot to balance and he was holding our hands for support too- which is a good thing that he can figure that out. Steve pointed out that the way Ian was sitting, it looked like he was trying to figure out how to stand up. So I asked Ian if he was trying to figure out how to stand, and he gave me a long blink for “yes.” God will get us there.
I was reminding Ian today of all the surgeries that he didn’t have to go through because of God’s miracles. He never had to have the very dangerous and complicated surgery on his neck. He didn’t have to have the also long and complicated surgery on his knee. God healed him of diabetes insipidus, allowed him to learn how to breathe on his own and even allowed him to simply open his eyes again. I remember in Presby the first report we heard of Ian opening his eyes- God has delivered Ian from much so far and will continue to deliver him.
In light of all that God has healed in Ian’s body and all of the prayers that He has answered, we want to continue to ask specific prayers and have faith that God will answer. Ian has been having a lot of back and neck pain over the last few days- probably a result of the impact of the accident. While it is a great thing that he is even able to feel pain like that now, we don’t actually want him to be in pain. Please pray that God would heal any discomfort in his back and neck and that Ian could communicate to us when he is in pain and that we would somehow be able to help ease him of that.
“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead–by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. “
The last few days Ian has been identifying different parts of his body at the request of various therapists. “Ian, point to your hair. Point to your mouth. Point to your hair.” He’s done it successfully on several occasions, but the therapists have also reminded us that consistency is the key to serious progress. But, it’s progress.
Thank you for all your encouragement on the blog. It’s pretty overwhelming to see how many are praying for Ian. I read a bunch of your comments to Ian. There are so many I have to do it in groups.
Thank you everyone who responded to my post last night. While I’m writing this, there are exactly 300 comments- that’s incredible. And I know that’s not a full list of everyone who is praying. Ian would gladly lay down his life so that any of us could learn more about our Savior. That’s what’s happening now and these comments are an example to me of that.
I was thinking today that it would be really cool to be able to read to Ian a list of the people who are reading this blog and praying for him. So, if you read the blog and pray for Ian, leave a comment on this post with your name and where you’re from. I think it would be very encouraging for him as well as for us.
“Noah was so shut in that no evil could reach him. Floods did but lift him heavenward, and winds did but waft him on his way. Outside of the ark all was ruin, but inside all was rest and peace. Without Christ we perish, but in Christ Jesus there is perfect safety. Noah was so shut in that he could not even desire to come out, and those who are in Christ Jesus are in him forever.”
My good friend shared this devotion from Spurgeon with me and how it made her think of Ian. What she shared was such good truth to line up against my fears in this situation.
I have no idea what kind of place Ian is in right now, but the Lord has shut him in there in divine love and has shut Himself in there with Ian. Ian has expressed to us several times that he can feel God’s presence, showing us that his accident, in comparison to Noah’s flood, “did but lift him heavenward.” In Christ, there is rest and peace and there is perfect safety. To be experiencing this communion with the Lord is far better for Ian than to be back here with us. While we will continue to pray that he would return to us and continue to believe that it would be a good thing for him to be completely healed, there is sweet comfort knowing who he’s with in the meantime.
Ian has been nodding his head a lot for us today to communicate “yes.” We continue to see great steps like this leading us back to our Ian.
Ian has been on a different “wake up” drug for the last couple of days. We’ve noticed a big difference in the amount of sleep he gets now. I’m wondering if it’s the adjustment to a new medication.
He’s been swallowing more lately and doing it more quickly after being asked to swallow. That’s a good thing…like sit-ups for the tongue.
Ian had a good and busy day today. Heather reported that he responded well to her. Today he was outside with Lydia and he was kicking a ball with her while he was in his chair. I got to go out with him again tonight and we watched a huge thunderstorm from St. Bernard’s Church, which is on a big hill overlooking Indiana. And then after he got home we sat him up on the edge of his bed again. He did such a great job and we could tell that he was concentrating so hard on what he was doing. It’s a good thing that he’s so stubborn because it’s really paying off now:)
Seeing Ian sitting up is so encouraging. We remember his sessions at Children’s when he could barely hold his head up and it took two people to hold him up. Now he’s figuring out how to sit up on his own. God is healing him so much. I want to be quick to look back at where we were, because it reminds me of how far God has brought us.
“A sick saint is often used by God far more than the most eloquent preacher…let true religion be your life and then your life will be true religion…You, who can do no more than simply sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to His words will not be neglected or overlooked.”
We moved Ian from his back on his bed to a sitting position on the edge of his bed tonight with his feet flat on the floor. We had done that once before to try it. Tonight, while he was sitting with us holding him up, he worked really hard trying to get his balance. We coached him to use his feet and legs to steady himself both with his forward/back position and his side to side position. At one point he held himself for about 30 seconds while we were close by. Thank you, Lord!
What a strange thing to think about learning to balance yourself all over again.
Pray for grace for Ian to keep trying hard. Thanks.
As I’ve thought back to those last days and weeks in the Children’s Institute, I’ve realized how far Ian has come. He’s very alert. He cooperates most of the time with those who try to work with him. He tracks us now. He communicates afirmative answers through a long blink. He seems to know what’s happening around him. He seems to want to work hard. He’s swallowing. These all sound minor, but compared to those last days in the hospital he’s come a long way. Bringing him home was definitely the best course of action. I don’t know what’s around the bend, but I trust God.
Psalm 46 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” I wonder if a primitive Jew like the writer of this psalm could have imagined many other things more frightening than the mountains heaving up and sliding into the sea. Yet, the writer puts his confidence in the One who controls all things including the mountains and the sea. Though I don’t know exactly what’s around the bend, God is my refuge and strength.
Thank you for your continuing prayers. They have accomplished much.
We are noticing more and more that when Ian is awake, he is awake. He has been communicating with us very effectively lately and he was nodding for the therapists again tonight. Also, his ability to sit on the edge of the bed is improving so much. Tonight it took him about five seconds to figure out how to balance himself. He was using his feet a lot to balance and he was holding our hands for support too- which is a good thing that he can figure that out. Steve pointed out that the way Ian was sitting, it looked like he was trying to figure out how to stand up. So I asked Ian if he was trying to figure out how to stand, and he gave me a long blink for “yes.” God will get us there.
