Thank you for your prayers

I had an experience that surprised me as I was thinking about the anniversary for my stroke.  I was reminiscing over the last year by reading all the posts that my wife had posted on Facebook.  It was interesting to remember where I was in my recovery, post at a time. My friends often comment on how good I seem to be. Day by day, I don’t always notice that, but to see how I was then and to see how I am today, was encouraging.  It didn’t surprise me. It was encouraging, but not surprising.  What surprised me was what happened to me when I got to the first post that Suzanne posted early in the morning, telling you I had a stroke and asking people to pray. 

As I started to read the comments from the posts, all of them were people who were praying,  praying for me, I was overwhelmed with emotion and started to cry.  I wasn’t expecting it.  After I regrouped, I went on and read all the comments.  About 400 of them.  And I felt so much love from those prayers. 

I don’t know how I didn’t read those comments earlier.  I guess it was because I couldn’t read for several months.  Anyways, I am so glad I read them right now.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  

A couple people had reposted what Suzanne wrote, one of them, Chris Taylor was posting updates on his comments as Suzanne was posting what she was hearing from the hospital.  I had already read all the updates before reading the first post.  But I did not grasp what was happening.  As people were praying, updates were being given, and then more people were praying, then another update, and more people praying.  But I didn’t really see what was happening until I read the updates as they were reported “live”.

People were praying as I laid there on the operating table, sleeping in the ICU, while doctors didn’t know if I would wake up, while the nurses were taking my vitals, telling Suzanne that my left eye, which was blind, could now see a little bit, telling her that I was eating with the left hand, I could answer questions.  As it was playing out, people were praying.   

I recognize that I have not said anything remarkable. You prayed.  You stopped what you were doing and prayed.  You did that as I laid there.  I don’t know if it counts as remarkable, but it meant something to me. I feel so much gratitude to all of you.

I feel like I should share what was in those updates. 

Early that morning,

Surgery to remove the clot was unsuccessful, the extent of the blockage was much greater than originally anticipated. There is clotting from the base of the brain into the neck. He is in ICU now, carefully monitoring blood pressure to ensure his brain is getting enough oxygen from other routes. The nurse says that he is responsive through head nods and hand squeezes and able to move his arms and legs, although the right side is much weaker than the left. Thank you so much for your continued prayers for miraculous healing! 

That afternoon,

I am overwhelmed by all of the loving support from friends and family! Thank you so much! God is hearing our prayers! I just spoke with the nurse and there is an improvement in his pupils! Earlier he could not see at all out of his left eye and he was not able to follow her finger. she said that now he can follow her finger!!!  He is having some problems with understanding and responding.  But I got to FaceTime with him and he was able to tell me that I was asking him too many questions! Lol He does not have any plaque and the doctor thinks the clots were a result of an undiagnosed intermittent cardiac arrhythmia.  Keep the prayers coming! God is so faithful and he is the mighty healer! Love you all!

That next morning, 

Update on Karl –

Nurses say he is continuing to improve! He was able to feed himself this morning using his left hand. He has gotten some movement back on his right side. Starting OT, PT and ST today. He is still showing signs of expressive aphasia, however has been able to communicate by nodding and pointing to written words. Waiting for more test results and will talk to the neurologist later today. Thank you for your continued prayers!

Praise the Lord for his mighty healing! 

Later that day, 

Doctors are very impressed with Karl‘s progress! And we had a wonderful FaceTime today where he was smiling and answering some simple questions with short answers. He was definitely connecting with us! He was also frustrated not being able to express himself fully but this is only day two! I was so encouraged after talking to him today! Thank you so much for your continued prayers! 

I am overwhelmed, for with my amazing wife’s faith that morning, for your prayers, for God’s hand on my life.  And I saw a picture as I read your comments.  As I thought of your prayers.  I saw a man getting another chance for life.  This is what I saw as I read what was happening “live”, for lack of a better word, actually I can’t think of a better word for that.