Someone asked exactly where Ian is. He’s at the Children’s Institute in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh. Again, if you’re interested in visiting him, please call us at home. Visiting hours are 9am to 9pm when he’s not in therapy, but you need a special code to get to see him. Thanks.

Pray for Ian…

  Filed under: Uncategorized
  Comments: None

We’ve been through two full days with Ian at the Children’s Institute, and here’s what’s happened:

• He got a shower – first one in 9 weeks. His hair and his head look noticeably cleaner.
• He’s wearing real clothes instead of a hospital gown – first time in 9 weeks.
• He was sitting in a chair for an hour; I’m not sure if that was a special hospital chair or just a regular wheelchair.
• He’s been to speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy twice. He’s scheduled for every day. He hasn’t had that pace up to this point.
• The doctor at Children’s talked with the orthopedic surgeon who originally operated on his knee, and they’re planning further surgery that hopefully will allow him to bear his weight. Talks begin December 27. Ian’s doctor told the surgeon, “he’s waking up.”

Just to be clear, Ian hasn’t emerged from the coma. Medical people use various methods to describe the various stages a patient goes through in a coma, and Ian is at about a stage III on the Ranchos scale. He is still in a coma, but we’re encouraged by his progress. Please continue to pray that he wakes up and recovers completely.

Steve

  Filed under: Uncategorized
  Comments: None

Yesterday, we asked you to pray because the doctors at Children’s Institute couldn’t get Ian’s trach out to replace it with a new one (he moved to a rehab center on Wednesday). They said that if they couldn’t get it out, they would have to send him back to the hospital so they could replace it.

They tried again this morning, and (thank God!) they got it out! This is God answering another prayer! Now Ian won’t have to move again; thank you for praying.

It’s a huge answer to prayer that Ian is even where he is. We really like this new rehab center because they treat Ian very aggressively; they give him three hours of rehab a day. Pray that the rehab would be effective, and pray that his right leg would heal – it’ll need surgery at some point.

Here’s some helpful, short thoughts on prayer. Check it out here.

Thanks again,

-Ben

  Filed under: Uncategorized
  Comments: None

Ian and I started dating a year ago today. When I look back at all God has done for us in a year, I am amazed. I’m amazed by all of the ways that He has used us in each other’s lives. I’m amazed by His love for us and compassion toward us. He has taught us so much in our young lives in a way that gives me excitement for the future. I am amazed by how He is using our lives now. I can’t wait to tell Ian what God has taught me and I’m looking forward even more to hearing how Ian has experienced God since the accident.

I have been so comforted lately thinking of the care that God has poured out especially on Ian’s life in the past two months, even in the seemingly small things. Holding his hand the other night, his skin was soft and healthy- I remember just weeks ago when it was dry and had pieces of glass in it. Every day he looks more like himself and it’s only by God’s kindness that he is still with us. What a unique experience to see God’s healing hand move through Ian’s body and to see His mighty hand direct hearts to Himself.

God is so good. Even if He were to stop healing Ian today, our hope in Christ would remain, and I would await the day to laugh with Ian in heaven! Times of trial on this earth are just a blink compared to the wonder that is waiting for us in heaven.

“I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.”Psalm 34:1

-Larissa

  Filed under: Uncategorized
  Comments: None

Ian was transferred to Children’s Institute this afternoon- praise God! He’s now in his own clothes and tonight he’ll be getting his first shower- yay!

Ian’s new doctor said that he looks really great. However, we have a need for prayer. His trach needs to be replaced and when his doctor tried today, she couldn’t get it out. She will try again tomorrow, Thursday, but if she still can’t get it he will need to see an ear, nose and throat doctor, which would require him going back to an ER and hospital room to have the surgery done. Please pray that the doctor at Children’s would be able to remove his trach tomorrow so that he doesn’t have to be transported again.

Thank you all for your prayers.

-Larissa

  Filed under: Uncategorized
  Comments: None

Ian was supposed to go to the Children’s Institute this morning, but it didn’t happen. Yesterday, everything was all arranged. Today, we learned he had a slightly elevated reading very early this morning, and that was enough to put the brakes on for another day. Readings that followed were normal. We’re supposed to show up at Children’s tomorrow morning to receive him.

There’s a sovereign, good God who rules even over slightly elevated sodium levels. I don’t understand what God is up to, but I have to keep my focus on His character.

Pray for Ian.

Steve

  Filed under: Uncategorized
  Comments: None

“It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.” (Psalm 119:71)

Ian’s coma is good thing. Ian’s wreck was a good thing. The difficulty that we are going through is a good thing. Anything that points us to Christ can only be a benefit. It may not seem like it, but we can confidently declare with the Psalmist, “it is good that I am afflicted, that I may know you better!”

We’ve seen God in ways we never would have imagined. We’ve been given the amazing opportunity to learn to rely on and trust in God’s character like we couldn’t have otherwise. We have a greater reason to pray more fervently. We’ve gained a greater appreciation for Christ’s church. We’ve seen God’s care for us. We’ve seen several thousand (literally!) people pray to our God. Through this very trying time, we’ve come to know God to a greater degree.

Although we don’t always see it, we know that God is working this for our good. We have a great Savior who shows himself greater through hard times. Keep praying to this God of surpassing worth!

-Ben

See also: Psalm 119:36-37, Romans 8:28

  Filed under: Uncategorized
  Comments: None

“If He were to deal with us always as He does sometimes, we should faint outright and go down hopelessly to the gates of death… Bear up, for the Lord will bear you up and bear you through. He who made you knows how frail you are and how little you can bear. He will handle tenderly that which He has fashioned so delicately. Therefore, be not afraid because of the painful present, for it hastens to a happy future.”

– Charles Spurgeon

Spurgeon captured what God is like. He doesn’t always deal with us as he does sometimes. He knows we couldn’t handle it. Spurgeon titled this devotional “What is Painful Will End.” I know Ian can hear us; he was responding today to Mary reading long portions of Scripture by moving a lot. Don’t be “afraid [Ian] because of the painful present, for it hastens to a happy future.”

We’re not sure about the move tomorrow. They’re still working on stabilizing some things. Keep praying for Ian…

Steve

  Filed under: Uncategorized
  Comments: None

Ian continues to lay in bed in the same state of consciousness – sometimes more “awake” than others. His eyes are frequently wide open, and he really looks at us now. When I look at him, I really want to pull him out of bed and annoy him or shake him or talk to him till he wakes up. He looks like he’s just being lazy and out of it, but I have to remember he’s been through a terrible trauma. I’m really looking forward to getting him into rehab. I’m very aware of my need for the help of the Holy Spirit to stay patient.

The hospital staff people are slowly learning to regulate his sodium levels. They said if they take too much control and bring the levels down too quickly he could have seizures. The goal is to get him to rehab on Monday, but it may be more like Tuesday or Wednesday.

Pray for Ian…

Steve

  Filed under: Uncategorized
  Comments: None

We got a call today from the surgeon who operated on Ian’s knee. He said he visited Ian today and was disturbed to discover the “external fixator” gone from Ian’s knee. Another doctor from LifeCare removed it thinking it had been on long enough for the healing to have taken place, but he never checked with the original surgeon before doing it. The original surgeon intended for it to be there for an extended period of months to have it prepared for further surgery. His knee is extremely unstable, but his chart said he could have rehab on it – the opposite of what should be happening. An immobilizing brace is going to be placed on that knee now.

Please pray that there would be no further damage to his knee. Please pray that the Lord would heal Ian’s knee. Please pray that he could forge ahead with rehab. Thanks…

Steve

  Filed under: Uncategorized
  Comments: None