Carol update, Day 12, Thursday Feb 9

It was another encouraging day with Carol. The girls and I were in the car at 6:30am again. Takes 1 1/2 hours to drive to the hospital. Our girls have been true treasures with our grueling schedule and drive. I am very proud of them. Somehow we are keeping up with homeschool and Shakespeare drama and other things, as well as snuggle time with Daddy.
Carol was eating yogurt and had scrambled eggs when we walked in. Tired but very happy to see us. 
Her big joy was that we brought her toothbrush and toothpaste and for the first time in 12 days Carol brushed her teeth! Very satisfying. Our daughters were more comfortable today and Siena combed Carol's hair.  Laili was very affectionate in holding Momma's hand. Teah put lip balm on Carol's lips.  I kissed Carol's lips. We all have our role to play :)
 
This morning with her Physical Therapist, Carol walked in the room!  Her body is responding well but Carol is very weak.
She has not been sleeping well b/c she has auditory delirium. Carol keeps hearing music in her head and it is disturbing her from sleep. When we walked in she asked me to turn the music off. I told her there was no music on. The neurologist wants to evaluate her tomorrow morning regarding this issue, as well as her eyelid.
 
Another effect from the lesions in the brain (dead brain cells) is that Carol's left eyelid will not lift up. Her eyes are fine but the left eyelid stays down (the nerve that controls this is dead or blocked). This may be stimulated again with therapy or may not ever raise.  Carol's left side of mouth is not fully responsive either but should be corrected by speech therapy.
So, for prayers please:
That the music in Carol's head stops.
That Carol sleeps well and gets stronger.
That Carol's left eyelid and left side of mouth are fully restored.
That Carol is home this weekend!
 
Carol is in a regular hospital room (praise the Lord) and my prayer is that Carol will be home by Sunday and we do her 3 hours of outpatient Physical and Speech rehab in Temecula starting next week!
Last Sunday was very low and difficult.  Today we stand in awe of God's restoration of Carol, Pastor Craig
^{Mt 20:32-34} Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. "Lord," they answered, "we want our sight."  Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Carol Day 11 further update

(Day 11, continued update on Carol) The doctors said Carol would never come out of the coma and so we should do a tracheotomy. But Carol came out of the coma 16 hours later.

The doctors said Carol's breathing tubes would not come out for 3 more days. One hour later Carol was breathing on her own and the tubes were out.

The doctors said Carol would not be able to recover her speech for 4-5 days. She was speaking the day she came out of her coma (Monday).

The doctors said Carol would maybe be able to drink chicken broth in another day. The nurse just told me tonight Carol is eating solid food.

The doctors said Carol would not leave the ICU, but tonight they are transferring her to a regular hospital room.

We are so very grateful for the excellent care the doctors have given but when they reach their end and can do no more, we know God our Creator is our Great Doctor over our bodies and brains.

God put Carol in a position where everyone said Nothing more can be done for Carol. So Jesus alone gets the glory for His restoration of Carol!

Carol's brother Martin, a medical doctor in England, shared the following verses at our Children's Awana last week. With praises, Pastor Craig
^{Mk 5:26-29} A woman had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

How can we help?

In light of recent events, many have expressed a desire to give a financial gift to the Postons to help with practical needs and to offset the costs of Carol's medical bills. Donations can be made as follows:

. Craig and Carol already receive a monthly income as part of their
missionary work with Global Church Ministries.

. Financial gifts to offset their medical expenses can be made through that same organization. HOWEVER, please include a note that identifies your donation as a SPECIAL GIFT to be used towards medical bills and other expenses related to Carol's illness. This may be helpful to Craig and Carol for tax reasons.

. To make a donation by check:
. Go to globalchurchministries.us
. In the top menu, click on "Donate"
. Follow the instructions to make a donation by check.

. To make an electronic donation via PayPal:
. Go to globalchurchministries.us
. In the top menu, click on "Donate"
. Click on the "Donate" link opposite "Poston Family"
. Specify an amount and sign in to your PayPal account
. On the PayPal screen there is an opportunity to add a note for the
Poston Family. Please enter the specific language regarding special gifts as noted above.

Global Church Ministries (GCM) will provide a donation receipt at the end of the year. GCM is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, and all donations and contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

If you need additional information or have any questions, please contact Rob Foster at Temecula Hills Christian Fellowship (rob.foster@temeculahhills.org). Rob serves as a volunteer board member for Global Church Ministries.

I will also be posting more information on ways for people to help out with meals for the Postons within the next day... Stay posted!! And thank you everyone for all of your prayers and offers to help!!! The Poston family is loved and we are going to pray Carol home fully restored!! :)

Katie

Carol update, Day 11, Feb 8, 2012

(Carol, Day 11) Woke girls up at 6am and they washed and dressed and we were in the car heading again to hospital at 6:30am this morning, with oat bar in little hands. It is a grueling drive and early mornings and is taking an emotional toll on girls. Plus the emotions of seeing Momma. We leave at 6:30am, return at 9:45am and start homeschool at 10am. Days are full and long.

These hospital visits have stirred our Filipino daughters' memories of their train accident last year (when a train hit their taxi en route to US Embassy for the adoption and an orphanage worker died in the taxi). Last night as I snuggled in bed with them all three were telling me of when they were in hospital.
I still sob in the mornings getting through the emotions of last week and the seeming certainty of Carol not being with or being in coma (thinking of her pain and of life without her). I knew God could raise Carol, but did not know if God would raise Carol. The joy of now is sweet but the pain of the last 9 days went deep.

This morning we had a good visit. Carol is tired but said she felt stronger. She was not strong enough to leave the bed yesterday and sit in a chair but hopefully this afternoon. There are more tests today to evaluate the lung infection.
The infection on Day 8 (last Sunday, a horrible day) was very bad. Dr. told me today that Carol's white blood count went from 12,000 to 34,000.
That explains why so many antibiotics and why Carol said today 3x: When I woke up I thought I was going to die.
I told Carol she had stopped breathing and was on a path to die...But God had mercy on her, and on me.
I know exactly what the Apostle Paul means:
^{Phil 2:27} Indeed my friend was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.
Carol continues to be astounded by everyone's prayers. Today she said: I am honored that so many people would pray for me.

This morn the doctor said they hope to transfer Carol tomorrow out of ICU, if her lung infection stabilizes. And they hope to put Carol on chicken broth--another great sign.
^{Isaiah 40:28} The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak...those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.

Big question is how much physical rehab and speech rehab Carol is able to do now and if it can be done from home (yeah!!) We will know more tomorrow. --A much lighter Pastor Craig
(Photos: Girls praying for Carol this morning, homeschool coop celebrating that Carol woke up!)

Carol, more from Day 10 visit

(Day 10 visit with kids) Our daughters were clearly shaken to be ICU and see people's condition and then shaken to see Momma so weak. None of the girls would touch Carol, so I had to encourage them to hold her hand.  Carol was so thankful to have her girls with her and her family holding her. But she is very weak and tired.  The girls cried with sorrow for Momma as we each took turns praying for Carol and thanking Jesus for His mercy.
From my perspective, I am leaping for joy!  The nurses and Doctors are astounded and smiling with our joy.  I let Carol know how many people were praying CONTINUALLY for her all around the country and world.  Carol replied: THAT IS ASTOUNDING!
The photo shows the blanket many ladies made with their hand prints sewn on so that they are laying hands on Carol as she is covered with the blanket. Carol was blessed by this lovely gift.
For me, to see Carol without the tubes in her or the 5 antibiotic lines into her veins and arteries is so wonderful. And the Doctors will be having Carol sit in a chair today and continue to strengthen her brain and body muscles. Hope tomorrow to have a plan to move Carol from ICU.  YIPPIE, Pastor Craig
 

Carol update, Day 10, Feb 7th

(Carol, Day 10, 7am) Thank you for your prayers. I just spoke with Carol's Nurse who said: Carol woke up at 5:30am and did not know where she was and slurred her speech.  But by 6am Carol knew where she was and IS SPEAKING NORMALLY!!!!!!
I am heading out right now to bring our 5 daughters to see their mother, first time in 10 days.  
^{Lament 3:23} God's mercies are new every morning. Great is God's faithfulness! A very excited and Jesus-thankful Pastor Craig

Carol, more good news

Carol has more good news. She has been on the breathing machine for 9 days, after she stopped breathing. Since the brain was not sending the right signals, Carol needed help to breath. It is 2 tubes going into each lung and a tube to her stomach to feed her.
The Dr was hoping in the next few days to take it out if Carol was able to breathe on her own.
Nurse just rang me and said they HAD ALREADY TAKEN THE BREATHING TUBES OUT and Carol is doing well and breathing on her own!!!  Keep praying.
At our church prayer time for Carol I shared that Jesus told Lazarus, who had been dead and buried for 4 days, to come out of the grave. And that day Lazarus went home and had dinner with his sisters. Full restoration!
God can do that for Carol, we pray, Pastor Craig