God has been very kind to us. I was working with Ian for about 15 minutes with his communication today. I had a board in front of him and would ask him questions. He had two answers to choose from and a spoon to point to the right answer with. He got every question right. This is something that the therapists have been working with him on, and their hard work is paying off. Some of the questions that I asked (and that he got right) were, where did you go for your internship last year, which tv show has jerry, elaine, george and kramer as characters, what month is my birthday, etc. But the best was when he remembered where we went for our first date.

He’s in there.

Thank you for your prayers.

Larissa

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We saw some good signs when we visited Ian yesterday. He had a session with the speech therapist who taped little electrode things to his face; the electrode things were attached to wires which were attached to a little device that sends a mild current through his face. The device is designed to stimulate the muscles in his face. I guess it’s just a little uncomfortable having a device outside yourself control your muscles, so he turns away from the side that’s being stimulated. On this particular occasion, Ian had some facial expressions for the speech therapist (all expressions he did himself, not the machine) that looked like he was trying to say something like, “get this evil thing off my face!” Then, he actually reached for the wires or the electrodes on his face and was fumbling to get hold of them presumably to pull them off. He never actually succeeded, but he kept trying throughout the session. That was the first time we had seen him try anything like that.

The bad news from yesterday is that, while the sores in his mouth and nose are looking better, we think that the yeast infection has traveled to his throat. He seems to be reaching for his throat trying to scratch it. The speech therapist isn’t comfortable forging ahead with certain therapies with his mouth, nose and throat in that condition. Please continue to pray that the Lord would remove the yeast infection.

It’s going to be messy this time of year, but we continue to forge ahead with the plans to build an addition for Ian. This weekend I worked on a design for the addition and was in contact with a friend who agreed to help oversee the project. It will be about 20′ x 24′ and will include a large bedroom for all the special equipment he’ll need. It will also include a large handicap-accessible bathroom. The addition will be accessed from the ground level and will include a sidewalk from the front. We’re hoping to start next week weather permitting.

I’ve been meditating lately on the fact that God because of Christ’s death on the cross counts me worthy (though I’m not worthy in myself) to be one of his favored sons. All true Christians, those who have by faith trusted God to save them only because of what Christ did for them, are considered by God to be his favored children. I’ve found real comfort in the fact that Ian is a Christian; he trusts in God to save him only because of what Christ did for him. He’s one of God’s favored sons. That means that God’s power and God’s care and God’s compassion and mercy and kindness and provision (etc.) are directed to Ian. God cares for Ian more than I do, and God is capable of taking care of him. Ian is in the caring hands of the Almighty God. I’m so grateful.

Pray for Ian.

Steve

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It’s good to hear again about the progress other people see in Ian. We hear about and observe the small changes happening in him, but we’re seeing him every day or two. Because we see him so frequently the progress is often not as striking to us as it is for someone who hasn’t seen him in a while.

Ian’s Uncle Dan visited him yesterday and could see the change from a couple weeks ago. He said he looks right at you, he’s gained some weight, and he really seems to try to talk to you. That is quite a change from a couple weeks ago.

Thanks for praying…

– Steve

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1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Luke 18:1-8 (ESV)

Jesus said that we should ALWAYS pray and NOT LOSE HEART. And to encourage us, he tells us of a wicked judge who had no reason to listen to a poor defenseless widow – he didn’t care what God or anyone thought. But this persistent widow keeps coming to him and crying out for justice. “For a while” he rebuffs her. But then he sees that this woman is not going to stop and that her “continual coming” will eventually wear him out. So he grants her requests.

The point of the parable is not that God is like this judge, uncaring and must be pestered into yielding. The point is that if even a wicked judge will respond to the pleas of a powerless widow who simply will not lose heart and give up but keeps coming to him, HOW MUCH MORE will God, who is sympathetic and caring about his blood-bought children hear our prayers! And not only will he hear our prayers, but he will not delay long in answering them. What may seem like a delay to us is not a delay from God’s perspective – in reality God answers us “speedily”.

“8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:8-9 (ESV)

Just as a farmer must sow and fertilize and water then wait, then water again, then wait until eventually he reaps, so we must keep sowing prayers for Ian and not lose heart and give up.
IN DUE SEASON WE WILL REAP – IF we do not give up.

We want to see Ian healed now. But if he isn’t healed today or tomorrow or next week, let us “pray and not lose heart,” and keep sowing, certain that “in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

-Mark

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Ian had an appointment today with his neurosurgeon who did his original emergency surgery. On the same floor, just down the hall from the ICU that both Ian and Steve had brain surgery in. Hated to be there. And making me cry on so many levels, the doctor told Ian that he is the sickest patient he has ever had who has survived.

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Below is a conference that sounds good, and applicable.  This may be encouraging for any of you who have also been affected by disability.

Disability Conference

Enjoy
I&L

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This post is titled Part 2 because I know that very recently I had a similar one titled “Ungratefulness.” Shocking- I’m still ungrateful.

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late last week we learned that ian has pre-osteoporisis in his lumbar spine and left femur. please pray that we’re able to do enough exercise for him that it doesn’t progress quickly.

thank you, always.

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Melville Mondays!!! Here is episode 3.

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