Thur. 2/28

Only one more day left in February; can you believe it? We've come a long way since December 19. Clem gets stronger everyday. Only two days of outpatient therapy and he can move his wrist a bit more sideways and up about 45 degrees. They are also working hard on strengthening his right leg and improving his balance in preparation for the prosthetic leg. So if you see Clem in his wheelchair and is pushing with only his foot, that is part of his exercise routine; his right arm is just fine!

Please to continue to pray for us, especially for Clem's rapid recovery. Also, I'm waiting to hear back from the life insurance company regarding compensation for his amputated leg. Please pray for a good settlement regarding the claim. Whatever the outcome, we're sure God will take good care of us, but it would be nice to know what has been decided. Love to you all and may God bless you all abundantly. DV 

Monday 2/25

Just a quick note to tell you that Clem is scheduled for his first outpatient OT this afternoon. We are excited to see what they plan to do to get his left arm moving again. He will be going to therapy 3x a week. We'll keep you all posted as we know more. Please continue to pray that his left hip is healed enough to be able to support a prosthetic leg soon. We will know more about that on March 6th. God has been so good to us throughout this trying time. It's almost embarrassing to ask for anything else! Love to you all, DV

Back on 2/22

I know that I've been away for a long time, so I hope that you still check in occasionally. Got great news. Clem had his external fixator removed on Wednesday and now he is only wearing a splint to support the left arm. They removed the fixator right at the orthopedic clinic. Got out a ratchet set and unscrewed it out of his arm. Ouch! But now it's out and it's nice to be able to help Clem put on his pants without fear of putting my eye out with the thing! 

He is scheduled to return for a follow up visit in six weeks, on April 2. On March 6 they will decide if his left hip is healed up enough to let him get started with a prosthesis for his leg. He still can't bear any weight with the left arm, but if he is cleared to be fitted, he can start learning to use the leg during outpatient therapy. Can't wait to find out if we can begin the next step. It's God's call, of course, so we are trying to be as patient as possible.

We would so appreciate your prayers that the fractures in his pelvis are healed enough to start this process. And if you are reading this, thank you for being so faithful to keep checking on Clem's progress despite my lack of attention to the blog lately. Love to you all, Debora

Thursday, 2/7

We went to LSU again yesterday and got another good report. The trauma doctor was pleased with Clem's progress and only wants to take one more look at him in two months. The plastic surgeon was also pleased with Clem's arm; it still looks pretty raw to me, but the Doc said it is healing exactly as he wants to see it heal. He also gave me a thumbs up on the cleaning and dressing I've been giving it. That was a relief because it looked funky to me and I wasn't sure if I was taking proper care of the wound. After all, I'm no doctor or nurse!

Clem's appetite is increasing and he is able to taste food again. He's even back to drinking coffee again (with sugar now). That pleases him very much. This is especially good because he had lost 30 pounds or more due to the accident and he needs to gain weight and muscle back. Working out with weights with his good arm and leg has helped a lot, too, with the added bonus of making him stronger and stronger every day. The coffee doesn't hurt his alertness, either.

Clem is so thankful for each new day and praises God in heaven constantly. We are both excited to see what God has in store for his future. Blessings to you all, DV

Mon., Feb 4

We had a busy weekend and I finally feel up to a short blog. Clem wanted you all to know that the flexibility in his fingers is increasing and he can manipulate them with his other hand with lesser degrees of pain. His OT did some sort of reverse massage on his left hand today which helped relieve the swelling and stiffness there. Clem works on his fingers many times a day (maybe not 1, 000x, but frequently) and is determined to bring it back to full use, if it be God's will, as he often says.

Clem is in good spirits and in his words, "it's been another good day," this one being one of many lately.  One of Clem's favorite pastimes is to watch the birds that gather at one of several bird feeders around our yard. Knowing this, a very good neighbor of ours made two thistle feeders and hung them up outside the picture window of our living room. His parents also brought a lovely bird bath. Clem is eagerly looking forward to seeing a variety of finches eat thistles and other birds splash around enjoying a bath. Clem has been blessed by many and is most appreciative of your prayers and attention. Please continue to keep him in your prayers, particularly for the restoration of his hand. DV

Thurs. Jan. 31

It was a long and productive day in Shreveport on Wednesday. Haven't blogged for several reasons, mainly because I'm wiped out. All the reports were good; his orthopedic surgeon instructed Clem to bend the fingers on his left hand to his palm (very painful right now) one thousand times a day. Yes, she really wrote on the OT order "1000 times a day". Her assistant told us that the flexibility he has before they remove the pins is the flexibility he will have from then on. No new information about the bones in that hand; they are basically where they were since the surgery--so no new time table as to when they plan to remove the external fixator. 

The plastic surgeon said that the left hand was fantastic. We go back in a week for the final look at it. I will be dressing it every other day to make sure that it stays clean and pliant. Clem can even get it wet now when he showers. I also will be cleaning his pins daily. He doesn't particularly like it, but he's a good patient nonetheless. 

On Tuesday night the hotel we stayed in didn't have electric. That was interesting. The lights finally came on at 2 a.m. and woke us up. Needless to say, we didn't get any sleep. We did have a few laughs. Clem's Mom and Dad were in fine form. They kept us in stitches. Don't know what got into them, but it was a lot of fun. Clem laughed so hard that his ribs hurt (in a good way, of course!).

Once again, God was at work on Clem's behalf. He is so good! Love ya'll, DV

Jan 29

Shreveport bound again. It's been a busy day for both of us. The occupational therapist really gave Clem a work out, much to Clem's pleasure. He even had to put on a t-shirt so he wouldn't work up too much of a sweat. He's got several new exercises to build up his right side in preparation for the left to heal. 

Today was the first day that Clem got outside to feel the breeze while sitting on our side porch. He was overwhelmed by the opportunity to enjoy this simple pleasure once again. As he said, "One day, I'll be walking around the yard again." Yes, indeed, he sure will.

Well got to do last minute stuff so we can get out of town before dark. I'll write again when we get back on Wednesday, as long as we don't get back to late. Remember, we'll be on LSU time again, and if you've ever experienced it, you know what I mean.

Many blessings to you; may you feel the wind on your face this day and God's hand on your lives. Love you all, DV

Monday, Jan. 28

The arm was unveiled and it was beautiful. Dr. Mike masterfully, slowly and carefully removed the gauze to reveal a work of art. This plastic surgeon is a genius. Even Doc couldn't believe how the surgeon was able to cover such a large open wound with the skin that was already there. Nor could any of us believe that we were once again seeing what normally looks like an arm. There was no doubt in any of our minds that God had delivered yet another miracle in Clem's already miraculous recovery. Praise GOD! Can't wait to see His work when the external fixator is also removed. 

On Wednesday, Clem has appointments at LSU for the orthopedic team and the plastic surgeon to take a look at him. Won't they be thrilled with his progress? 

Well, the new physical therapist is here to work with Clem, so I need to take off. Remember, God is Emmanuel, God among us. I pray that you feel his presence in your lives. Love to you all, DV

Sunday the 27th

Wanted to tell you that I've unwrapped Clem's arm and how it looks, but it's stuck tight to the gauze, even after I wet it with sterile water. We'll have to call a professional in to remove it, I guess. Neither Clem nor I wanted to pursue it any further ourselves. Wouldn't want to mess up our miracle!

Clem has been doing extremely well at home. He is definitely in the now and quite clear headed. As you all know, he's very independent normally and he hasn't disappointed us in that regard. His spirits are good and he's loving his visitors. Thanks so much for coming to see him at home. If you do come, you will be encouraged and blessed to see the many improvements in Clem. It's amazing how much God has healed him in an incredibly short period of time (by our standards, of course). 

We are adjusting very quickly to our new routines. We even accomplished a shower without soaking the floor and me in the process. The home nurses appear on a regular schedule two times a day. I've sorted out Clem's many medications into AM and PM doses and give them to him close to the same time every time. He is basically off the pain medicine and is only relying on Tylenol Extra Strength, mainly at night. Your prayers and God's answers have made it entirely possible to practically do this stuff standing on my head (can you picture that?).  

I will write again either later tonight or tomorrow morning to fill you in on the details about his arm. Dr. Michael T. will be visiting in a little bit so I anticipate it's unveiling. Hold on and pray for success; I'm excited! Love ya'll, DV

Friday, the 25th

What an amazingly awesome God we serve! 

Clem's surgery was a wonderful surprise. Not only was it successful, it was completed without a skin graft from Clem's right side. The wound had closed up enough and his skin was pliable enough for the surgeon to stitch it together with the skin around the opening. After three days I am told that I can remove the gauze from the area and leave it to breathe and to heal. We still won't be able to get it wet, but in a week when they look at it we may be able to wash it during a shower. This is really exciting stuff, folks. We never even dreamed that closing the wound could be possible without the skin graft. God is so gracious to spare Clem additional pain from the area where they would have had to harvest the skin. Clem's Mom and Dad and I were so relieved and grateful for God's grace. Many thanks for your prayers that reached God in answer to your petitions. Can't wait to see what God has in store for us next.

We arrived home Thursday afternoon about 4 o' clock. It was pretty hectic, but Clem was so excited to be home that is was worth it. A very good neighbor of ours had a spaghetti supper ready for our evening meal; Clem's Dad adjusted Clem's bed to his liking, we got the shower bench leveled out, the on-call home health nurse did everything necessary to set us up for care over the next month, Clem got a shower and we finally got to bed. Clem slept very well, only got up once. It's amazing that he didn't have any unusual pain. I had an ear open for any problems, so I slept lightly, but I did get some sleep. Naturally, we have a lot of adjustments to make as a family, but Clem's first night home turned out well.

Today, with the sleeting rain and overcast sky, was a somewhat quiet day. A home health nurse came to check out Clem and give him his shot this morning. I buzzed around the house cleaning here and there, lining out Clem's medicines for the next week; the medical supply came and switched out Clem's air mattress for a regular one and delivered a new wheel chair. The other chair's breaks were not sticking well enough, so for safety sake I insisted we get another. This one is smaller and fits through our doorways better. I also ordered a thick cushion for the seat and Clem is much more comfortable because of it. The insurance man came so we could settle out on the motorcycle (it was totaled) and our last visitor was another home health nurse for another shot (two a day for up to 7 days--blood thinner) and to test his blood levels. Dinner was simple, but Clem's taste buds are on the fritz so a lot of the things that he would normally eat taste yucky to him now. Lots of phone calls and a short visit from a neighbor filled out our day. That's how Clem's first full day at home was and it was nice to do mostly normal activities under extraordinary circumstances.

Daily, Clem and I pray for God to give us strength and He pours out all that we need. Your prayers have lifted us up on a cushion of God's grace and we are so grateful. Please continuing praying in faith, not only for our needs, but for everyone that you love and even for your enemies. Keep us posted on how we can pray for your needs. It would be as much a blessing to us as your prayers have been to us. All our love, DV & CV

Wed., Jan 23

Today is the day! 

Last night, the hospital bed was delivered and set up. Today I will try to get to the hospital well before noon to pack up Clem and prepare to take him out of St. Francis. He should be released by noon; that depends on doctor's orders and when we get Clem's medicines to take home with us from the hospital's pharmacy. If the weather is decent, we will bring Clem home for a couple of hours to unpack him and make sure everything is in place before we leave for Shreveport (we may be back late on Thursday from Shreveport). Clem and I and his parents will stay overnight in a hotel and bring Clem to the hospital about 6:30 a.m. for his surgery.

Many thanks to Clay and Mike P. for getting the ramp built, for installing grab bars and all the other things that needed to be done so that Clem can move about safely through the house. I know that Clem will be excited to know that everything is prepared and ready. Thanks also to Clay for providing the materials for the ramp and his return trip to make the ramp skid proof. Thanks to Terri, Becky and Karen for taking care of our girl when we are away. Thanks to you all, everyone of you for your prayers and everything that you have done to make all this possible and to allow us to focus on Clem and getting him home. Words cannot express how grateful we are to you all. We just cannot say enough.

Please continue to pray for safe travel, a restful night, a smooth transition back to the hospital, contact with people to sew up loose ends at LSU, a successful surgery, and Clem's ability to be ready to come home quickly after his surgery. Also please pray for all those loose ends that always crop up even after careful preparations. Your prayers are what have uplifted us and kept us all strong. God has been faithful to bless us with His careful attention to our needs and with His love which is from everlasting to everlasting. We serve a great God. DV

Monday, Jan 21

Clem was in great spirits this weekend. He is finally sleeping quite well. We've figured out just the right combo of timing and meds. Who wouldn't be feeling better? 

Clem is getting stronger everyday. I know that I've said that before, but you wouldn't believe how far he has come. It truly is miraculous. We see God's hand in Clem's healing very clearly. 

The next few days I will be frantically preparing for his return home. Today I have some people coming over to help. Good friends of ours, Clay and his family, will be building the ramp so we can wheel Clem into the house and helping me clean the room Clem will be convalescing in, as well as the rest of the house. Several other friends from Dayspring have also offered to help out. I've also got lots of loose ends to sew up in preparation for our trip to Shreveport on Wednesday. Please pray that I will be able to do everything necessary to make Wednesday and Thursday go smoothly and that Clem will have the strength to endure the trip in my van. 

Blessings to you all, DV

Jan. 17

Clem is healing well and getting stronger everyday. He thinks that it's slow-going, but the rest of us are amazed at his progress. We are confirmed for surgery on Thursday. On Wednesday the 23rd his parents and I will pick Clem up after he is released from rehab and drive straight to Shreveport. We'll stay in a hotel and get Clem up to the 6th floor at LSUHSC for out patient surgery on Thursday morning. According to the surgeon's staff, he will be able to return home that same night. 

Still can't believe Clem is coming home so soon. I was mentally prepared to be at LSU for a good two months. Thanks be to God we didn't have to do that. He knows exactly what we can handle and what we need. He knows when to stretch us and when to give us rest. What is important is to see God working in all situations, even in a crisis. Keep your spiritual eyes open and your heart prepared. As was written in the devotional I read today, "Jesus calmly awaits our discovery that God is in fact sovereign and Jesus Himself does in fact remain Lord." Please continue to pray for Clem and his patience with his progress and himself. 

Jan 16

First of all, Clem has really enjoyed all his visitors; thanks for coming. If you're short on time to visit, you can call his room. I won't post the number here, but you can call or email me for it. If you plan to visit, daytime is hit or miss because of his therapy schedule, but after afternoon therapy and a bit of rest, around 3:30 p.m. or later is when you are most likely to catch him.

Yesterday I wrote that we had a doctor's visit. This particular doctor is especially skilled on evaluating medications for a patient's specific condition. He came by around 11 p.m. on Monday night and stayed until almost midnight. After his visit, I was extremely relieved to know that Clem is receiving the meds he needs for sleeping, pain management and for his memory. You all know that he slept through the night, but I hadn't posted that it was after the doctor's visit. Now you probably have a better idea why I was so relieved to see the doctor that I had requested to see on Friday when Clem was admitted. 

Talked to Clem this morning and he told me that his hip was hurting him, so he didn't sleep well. They took an XRay of his hip on Sunday and it revealed that he has some arthritis in that area. The pain could be because of the arthritis, or a result of all the therapy, or a combination of both. Prior to this Clem hasn't had much pain (which is surprising to me) so this is the first time we've had an issue with pain. Also, as a matter of interest, yesterday his missing foot hurt, a first real taste of that phantom pain we've heard talked about. 

I know that a lot of you are concerned about Clem's reaction to his missing leg. Most of the time it's not even an issue and some times he even has a sense of humor about yet. Yesterday, while I helped the OT give Clem a shower, was an instance of this humor. After being seated on the tub chair and offered the hand held shower head, he sprayed the empty space where his leg would have been and said, "Let's wash this one first" gave it a quick squirt and went about his bathing (he also sprayed us once or twice; not sure if it was entirely an accident)! 

Well, need to continue working on getting the house prepared for Clem's return, as well as paperwork and calls to insurance companies, his work, the hospital, etc., etc.

Your prayers are greatly appreciated as well as your friendship and support. Please continue to keep Clem and us in your prayers. Looks like next week on the 24th Clem will have surgery on his left arm back at LSU. It is an outpatient surgery so we should be back the same day.

Everyday is a miracle but in times like these we most feel God's presence and see His hand doing mighty works. God not only has a purpose for Clem's life, but for all our lives. Jeremiah 29:10-13 promises, " 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the Lord." 

Open your hearts to God's will and He will show you your way. Keep the faith friends and blessings to you, DV

Jan. 15

Hoorah! Clem had a good night's rest last night. They doubled the new dose of his sleeping aid (two pills within a few hours). He said that he feels much better. No wonder! Let's pray that we've found the right med and dosage that he may continue to have many more restful nights.

Today, Clem will have about 2 1/2 to 3 hours of therapy. Combined with his new medicines, he should sleep again tonight. Also due to the therapy, he is having a good deal of soreness. Of course, this is good because he will become stronger because of the exercise, but bad because it may slow him down. But you know Clem, not too many things deter him from his exercise. Not to mention the fact that he wants to go home ASAP. 

I'll write again later today. We were able to see a doctor that I requested to see earlier late last night and I will post about it later. May God bless and keep you. DV

Monday, January 14

Bet you were wondering where the posts went. Sorry about that. Once Clem got into his room on the 8th floor, there was neither time nor wireless available to write and post. A lot has happened in the last week. I won't write about all of it, but I will first tell you that Clem was moved to rehab in Monroe on Friday, January 11. If this is incredibly awesome to ya'll, I'm with you on this one. Clem escaped the jaws of death on December 19 and here it was on January 11, only 24 days later, that he is in in-patient rehab. Unbelievable! But as a fellow Dayspring Church member is known to say, "And why are we surprised?" Our God is an awesome God. The blessings that He has lavished on Clem and the entire family are more that any of us deserve, but that is what grace is all about.

As of today, on Thursday the 24th Clem is scheduled to return to LSU for a skin graft on his left arm. From what they tell us, that's also his tentative date for his release from in-patient physical therapy. At some point between now then, Clem will be fitted for his prosthesis. The doctors are projecting 90% efficiency of the use of his leg in 2 1/2 to 3 months. 

He is having problems sleeping, however. Hasn't really slept since he's been out of ICU. Sleep medicines don't seem to help. Please pray that Clem will be able to regularly get a good night's sleep. And continue to pray for his healing, especially of his left arm. The arm is holding Clem back from a much quicker rehabilitation because it will take a minimum of 2 more months to heal well enough for them to remove the external fixator which is holding his wrist and hand bones in place while the missing segments of bone grow back. Right now, he can not place any weight on this arm. But I tell ya'll, if he can keep the arm and it be functional, it is well the worth the wait.

Also please continue to pray for patience for all of us and continued strength. Personally, I've been struggling the last few days and could also use prayer for peace and focus as I prepare for Clem's return home. Pray that I am able to take care of everything that needs to be done. 

Well, I've got to run. Last week I spent 5 days and four nights at LSU with Clem, "sleeping" in a chair with a stationary back! Family members took care of Clem this weekend while I recouped from last week. This is the first time I've had the opportunity to seriously make all those necessary calls to make sure insurance, hospitals, etc. have what they need and so I can sew up the many details that need attention. It's a good thing that we have two phone lines so I can juggle calls coming in while other calls come in.

I'll leave you with this scripture from 2 Corinthians 4:7-11, which was a comfort for me today. "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be  revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body."

May God's power be revealed through all of you on this day. DV

Jan. 7

Just to let you all know that Clem is a room again, this time on the 8th floor. So far I've not been able to hook up to their wireless, so I can only blog when I get a chance to run back to the hotel. Please excuse the choppy writing, I'm in a hurry to get back.

Only one drain is left and it will be removed sometime today. He is moving his left arm and fingers a lot and they are becoming less stiff. The abdominal incision is healing very well, no infection or questionable spots. They removed the "bandage" on it this morning. His lungs are much improved. He is eating well now. He will be given a sleep aid as he needs it. Clem only slept 3 hours last night and was fidgety but tonight he should sleep much better. He needs to get his body clock adjusted to day and night again and the sleeping med will help. We will be talking to the physical therapy case worker either this evening or tomorrow to find out the what and where about his therapy schedule. Dr. Simpkins said that it looks like his lungs are stabilized (the Xray they took today should tell) and if they are, now is the time to reassess what they will do next with the left arm. Dr. Simpkins was very pleased about how Clem has improved. Tomorrow looks like it may be a very exciting day. 

Thank you for all your prayers. Haven't looked at comments since Sunday morning, but I can feel the power of your prayers. God is continuing to work many miracles with our miracle man Clem. Praise Him, for He alone is worthy of our highest praise. To God be the glory. Blessings to all. DV

January 5

Clem is progressing steadily. He is being weaned off oxygen; so far he seems to breathe the same without it. However, his breathing is still too rapid and shallow. They did do the procedure to place a screen into his inferior vena cava (artery to his heart) yesterday, and yeah!, they removed the catheter so SNAFU on that one. The physical therapist visited with him also, and explained that being in bed drains Clem of energy, so they are already beginning to exercise his right arm and leg to strengthen them. The occupational therapist will work with his left arm and leg. Before you know it, Clem will be in wheelchair moving around. They haven't given us a time frame, so I'll keep you posted. 

Regarding his left arm, Clem can't use the elbow right now; it remains to be seen how much use of it he will have. They say it could take a year before they know. When they dressed his arm yesterday, it was still looking healthy and healing. We found out that he did loose some bone in his arm from the accident and that they may use a skin graft to close the wound, but that is a long way off. The wound is open now and it is healing from the inside out. Of course, this is why the threat of infection is possible. Much prayer is still needed for his left arm. But for now, things are looking very hopeful.

While Clem's body heals, his state of mind, especially his patience, will need much prayer also. If you know Clem, he is so focused on the final result that the steps he will need to take to reach his goal are not being addressed. Aren't we all a bit like that? Pray that Clem will have the patience and determination to move from step to step, instead of trying to jump from the starting line to the finish line in one big leap. Pray for him not to become frustrated when the pace moves from rapid to slow and steady. 

God is still working miracles for Clem and it is because of the strength and intensity of your prayers. Keep running the race for the prize through prayer. Love to you all, DV

6:18 pm Jan. 3

Clem is doing fine, breathing a little easier, but a bit on the quiet and sleepy side. He had his leg, one abdomen and one chest drain removed. They also removed the gauze from his left leg. All that is left are a few butterflies to hold a small area in place and complete healing. His Mom tells me that it looks pink and healthy, so now I'm starting to think about what rehab will be like when his new leg is ready. 

As of this time, they have not done the procedure to place the screen in his artery to prevent further clots from breaking off and moving through his body. After the procedure they plan to remove his catheter, but not yet on that either. And finally, no report on the XRay on his left elbow. Basically you could say that today somewhat uneventful.

Nonetheless, we have a long way to go. Hold on tight, pray warriors, don't ease up on the intensity of your prayers. We've got a long road to travel. I know that I've said that before, but I'm hoping ya'll will be with me in this for the long-haul. Thank you for the many encouraging comments, the outpouring of love and for your care and concern for Clem and our family. Please pray for Clem's peace of mind, his increasing strength, the healing and the strengthening of his lungs, and of course, the jury is still out on the left arm. Still looking good as of the wound care that he received this morning. Take a peak at Psalm 139 (my mother-in-law's favorite) for a glimpse of the depth of God's love for each one of us. Be steadfast in your dedication to grow in your personal relationship with our Lord and Saviour. Peace to you all, DV

Evening, 1/2

Got more information at the 4 pm visit. The head surgeon in the trauma unit met with me and Clem's Mom. Here it is in short form 1) Clot in lung small 2) Clot in leg large 3) Continued use of anti-coagulant 4) Screen put in tomorrow. We're still waiting on radiology to report on the elbow XRay.

Clem was breathing easier and he signed the release for radiology to put the screen in. I got to brush his hair; he really liked that. And his Mom fed him some vanilla ice cream. He REALLY liked that! He told us that he slept for about an hour and half. That is big--when you are on pain meds and sedatives, you are not really sleeping. That means that Clem did not have a real sleep for 12 days. I can't imagine. 

Thanks to BB for the encouragement and the scriptures. Much appreciation to our cuzs in Delhi--love you, too. Ya'll, I really would like to write back to you all and to people that Clem knows at work, so if anyone would like to visit by email, send your email address with your comments. 

My thoughts are with my brothers and sisters in Christ at Dayspring tonight. I read NP's email and I know that you will be praying for us as well as our church. What a wonderful community of faith to be a part of! God is so good. He has blessed us with so many wonderful people to surround us with prayer and to care for our needs. Keep us in your prayers and also all the seriously injured people and their families on the third floor. Love to you all, DV 

mid-day, 1/2/08

Clem was doing much better when we saw him at the 10 am visit. He is much more calm and rational; much like the usual Clem. This was a relief. But the CAT scan they ran revealed that he has a pulmonary embolism in his lung. He is on the full dose of an anti-clotting/blood thinning med and is still on oxygen. They do plan to reduce and finally eliminate the oxygen over a period of time. They said that there is a clot in his left leg and that a portion of it broke loose and moved up to his lung. Their next move is a procedure that will place a "filter" in the artery to prevent any further clotting. Unless radiology opens up today, they will do the procedure tomorrow. Right now Clem is doing well, but it is potentially serious, so serious prayer is needed to keep further clotting from occurring, for the clot that is there to "go away" and that there not be any additional complications.

We all had a great visit with Clem. His sister, Mom and I got a chance to talk with him and hold his hand. Oh, and I did get a chance to give him that "suga" and to love him up. Thanks to our family in Hot Springs for your message today--much love to you. And thank you, thank you, thank you to so many for all your love, prayers, assistance and support. We just couldn't do this without you. The Lord is answering all our prayers. Keep strong in the faith. DV

January 2

 After a sound sleep, I can think and write more clearly. One thing that I wanted to add was that Clem's neck brace had been removed. This means that his spine had also been cleared. The brace had been placed as a precaution from the beginning, so except for Clem's comfort, we weren't looking for trouble here. Either because of the precaution or because so many things had changed so fast, the lack of brace had missed our immediate attention!

Also wanted to add something that Clem had said that was funny. Ya'll know how observant Clem is. We've seen him intently watch what the doctors were doing and what was going on around him. Yesterday, you could tell by his expression that his mind was ticking away. Clem's sister asked him, "Are you thinking about something?" His response was, "Always!" Just thought ya'll would appreciate a "Clem-ism."

Visiting time hasn't arrived yet, so I can't report how Clem's night went. I will post about the status of his lungs as soon as I can. In the meantime, pray hard for great improvement on his lungs. It is possible that they would have to replace the ventilator if other means aren't effective. We really would like to avoid it. Another thing, an RN friend of our described a common condition of "ICUitis" (I forgot the proper term that she used!). Patients become disoriented, confused, even somewhat paranoid. Clem is experiencing a degree of these characteristics. Please pray that his mind would clear, etc. This could take time so please pray continually for this and the restored health of his lungs. 

It says in the book of Joel 2:25, "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten." Twelve days in the ICU have taken time from Clem but God promises He will restore to him what was missed and even more. And God is faithful. I also request prayer for me as I care for Clem at this time; I am beginning to tire mentally and physically and need that extra "God boost." Love ya'll. DV

Late, January 1, 2008

Is it still New Years Day? Whew! After a brief rest, we returned to the hospital. Clem was visiting with family and his breathing had improved in our absence. However, by the end of the day, Clem was back to short, frequent breaths. The head of surgery in the trauma unit and two other trauma doctors stopped by to check on Clem. They determined that Clem needed to return to the ICU. This was a relief for us. It was very difficult to watch Clem ourselves. Clearly he needed more more tests run on his lungs, breathing treatments and to be watched by experienced medical personnel. So we're back in the ICU and we all believe this is a good thing for Clem.

Please to continue to pray for Clem's lungs to clear, for his left arm (the doctors will be taking a closer look at his elbow) and for his peace of mind. Keep your eyes focused on the prize, Clem's restored health. May all that we do glorify God. DV

New Year's Day

Almost noon and I'm finally getting a chance to blog. What can I tell you about yesterday? One miracle and answered prayer after another! Here's the list 1) Ventilator tube removed 2) Feeding tube removed 3) Moves fingers on left hand 4) Clem can talk and ask questions 5) Moved to room upstairs. 6) Eats real food. Wow! 

We were so excited that they moved him to a semi-private room, and it happened so quickly, we didn't have time to think about what we were in for. Naturally, there was an entirely new and different set of doctors and nurses. But what we didn't account for was that they had completely taken Clem off his pain meds and sedatives (narcotics, by the way) so he went cold turkey. He talked nonsense and was extremely restless. At one point he told me that he was aggravated. So he had a difficult night, but the good news is that by this morning it seemed he got through the worst of it. He is making sense again and even had a long conversation with one of the doctors! We were able to leave him with a clear conscience with his nephew and niece for a bit to get showered and rested up. Praise God!

One of the coolest things we got to see was Clem's left arm unwrapped. Don't get me wrong, it's not pretty, but his skin and tissues were pink and clean. The orthopedist got a chance to not only see Clem wiggle his fingers (you could even see the muscle in his wrist move), but to also find out that Clem could feel the doctor touching his hand and wrist. A very good sign, folks. Clem of course took it all in, watching the doc unwrap, clean and rewrap the arm.

I know that you all wonder if Clem knows about all this, especially about his leg. He has been told several times but keeps asking about it. The news is starting to sink in and you see mixed emotions in his face. Let's pray for Clem to be able to fully accept the loss of his leg. We are doing everything to reassure him about all this. I know that prayers will ease the pain and help Clem to be Clem--a man with a determination to move on with life. 

We love you all and your prayers have made all the difference. Please continue in prayer for complete healing of Clem's arm, for his peace, and for a long journey on the road to recovery. DV