Growing and Growing

That’s right! CaveBear came from MSP to BNA via NWA! Did you get that? In other words, for the abbreviation-impaired, my brother Chris came from Minneapolis to Nashville today by Northwest Airlines. He’s here to take a little bit of the stress for the next couple of days. [ ... Thanks SisterFargo for loaning him to Mom again! ... ]

“It’s 3:30pm and there still are no updates on Pastor Ray’s condition,” you say.

“It’s Sunday … you should be spending time with your family and kids,” I say.

World, here’s something to ponder while I type up this afternoon’s medical update:

“My problem with life is not that it is rational or irrational … but that it is almost rational.” (G.K. Chesterton).

If you are new here, then make sure you surf around to see what’s been going on with Pastor Ray and with our little family [ ... Get it? That's a joke. "Little" family ... ha ha ha ... ].

Hey Dad! Since they can’t see you … they wanted you to see them! Dr. Rehab 1.0 says “slow is good,” but we are going to crank it up a notch for a minute. Get ready …

• Call from Pastor and Mrs. JacuzziScream … old friends from New Mexico
• Visit from Pastor and Mrs. Dark-M&M’s … old friends from New Mexico … now living in ‘Bama … drove up for the day
• Dad was resting big time as a result of the 4 hour WindSprints
• Dr. Rehab 3.0 says that right lung sounds “pretty clear” and left lung sounds “less dense” = LungJunk may be clearing up soon … keep praying …
• Nurse Fill-In cleaned out Dad’s ears … lots of yucky stuff in there

BTW, Dr. Rehab 3.0 says that he has “seen lots of miracles come out this hospital.” We agree … we’re one … and will be one!

Dad and Mom’s devotion – which I read because Mom was cribbing at home last night – talked about rejoicing and celebrating in distress. [ … Whatcha talkin' bout, Willis? … ]

Well, ArnoldJackson, if you know Pastor Ray, he’s talking about: “Rejoicing the Lord no matter what your circumstances.” After we read the Scripture and prayed, Dad began tapping his feet at the foot of the bed and his right hand on the pillow. I asked him if he was in pain … he shook his head, “No.” I asked him if he was dancing … he just kept tapping. I think he was rejoicing and celebrating in distress.

Tech Spirits checked in on Dad (and me) all night long. Nurse IrishMama came in to say goodbye this morning … she was tired after a 3-day shift and was looking forward to some downtime. Respiratory therapist GottaGo … went. Nurse Riddler stopped by, not to answer any questions, but to “check in on Pastor Ray.” Here’s the update:

• Dad was a little bit restless. He kept tugging at his LungRobot tube.
• Dad had a minor fever this morning. He got some TempJuice (…Tylenol…)
• Dad’s eye is clearing up … little by little.

Today, Dad will be cared for by Respy RedWisdom (like BlondeWisdom at the “other place”* but red), Nurse Fabulous, and Tech Help. As of 8:30am, Dad started a 4-hour WindSprint, which you will remember is like life without a LungRobot. It’s part of the weaning process. Prayer requests today:

• Continue to fight the LungJunk
• Clear the fluids from Dad’s mouth, throat, and lungs.
• Allow Dad to control any pain, as they are trying not to give him any NoHurtJuice

…………

*We’ve learned not to mention the “other place” by name around here. It just makes people upset because they think we are comparing the two. Note to TheSelectStaff, you are going a good job … your job … your job is not to be the TraumaCondo … that’s the TraumaCondo’s job.

Picture: Motherloom Studios

Ms.Teach, please accept my apologies for limiting your recovery. I would like to call your husband MotorLife … because he will continue to grow everyday and live strong.

From the very beginning of the Word we are told that “the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Gen. 2:7) So, too, with your hubby, God has the power to breath life into MotorLife and return him to a living being.

As Mom would say to my brother and I everyday as children, “Keep your corners up! … [ … the corners of your mouth … as in SMILE …]

I did not know this was going to happen, but as I was typing out today’s (albeit tardy) update, a bunch of LeftOvers came into the family room. That sounds so impersonal, so let me explain. Remember, LeftOvers are the family and friends of trauma victims … the ones left behind to wonder and worry. Let me make these LeftOvers a little more personal:

(1) FarmFam have been in this boat for about a month. FarmDad, around 32-years-young, suffered a stroke that resulted in a severe brain injury. The farm is about two hours away, but FarmFam’s church has helped them temporarily move to the MusicCity. FarmMom stands by her hubby’s side … praying over him.

(2) MotorComa has been playing this skewed game since his motorcycle accident. His beloved, Ms.Teach, has been fighting, loving, crying, living, sleeping, dazing, and just getting by for about 2 months now. Each day brings a new set of circumstances for these LoveBirds. I admire her love, determination and fight for her guy.

Tonight, this circle of LeftOvers, including Self, shared a little bit of their heart with the others. We laughed. We got awkwardly quiet. But we did not cry. [ ... I guess that's because Mom is not here ... ]

Why post this? I guess I just wanted to share that there is a lot of hurt and pain and sorrow and desperation out there in the World. People crave hope–they want to know that everything is going to be okay. Sometimes it takes trauma to bring them to this realization, but people want to know that there is a God. Such a harvest.

I told you it would be hard to keep updates from work. But you didn’t believe me. You said it could be done. I said, “No, World, I have to get back to business.” You whined, “But we neeeeeeeeeeeeeed you. We need to know what’s happening with Pastor Ray.”

It’s now 10:00pm … MyBeloved has said goodnight … Mom should be asleep, but is probably giggling with CalvaryGal … and I am at TheSelect for the night. Let’s get this UPDATE rolling!

Last Night: Dad (and Mom) were taken care of by a very special nurse technician, Tech Spirits. In Mom’s own words, “She’s awesome. She checked in on us every 2 hours. She was meticulous. She did not miss a beat.” Mom also had a good conversation with Nurse B.Anthony1, who has now been renamed Nurse IrishMama because of her spit-fire child. Our respiratory therapist, Respy Mouse, was quiet as a … you know … mouse. Here’s last night’s update:

• Dad slept well most of the night.
• No fever.

This Morning: Today, Dad began his WindSprints under the direction of Respy SunShine (back again). By mid-morning, Dr. Rehab 1.0 came in for daily rounds and reported the following:

• Very pleased that Dad went the night without a fever.
• Lungs sound a little less congested.
• Doesn’t feel an immediate need to perform the bronchoscopy, as originally ordered.

Mom also asked Dr. Rehab 1.0 about the new antibiotics that SisterFargo was pushing. He indicated that the “gunk cultures” taken the first week had identified the target bacteria and Dad was receiving the appropriate antibiotic. Dr. Rehab 1.0 emphasized onced again, “Slow and boring is good.”

This Afternoon: S-Therapy 1.0 stopped by Room 509 today for some “swallowing trials.” Dad is not ready for ice yet, but it was reported that he could smile on command. Update on other responses:

• Dad can stick out his tongue on command.
• Dad cannot open his mouth all the way.
• Dad can mouth words, although we struggle to know what those words mean.

This Evening: Dad began the evening with 3 hours of WindSprints. In case you don’t remember, that’s part of weaning process where he is taken of the LungRobot and is breathing entirely on his own. We are happy to report that both Nurse IrishMama and Tech Spirits are back tonight. The respiratory therapist, Respy GottaGo, was in and out like a flash.

[ ... Just as I was finishing this post ... Nurse Cutz (the former hair-cutter dude) asked me what I was doing up at this time ... I told him about you guys, World, and how you made G&G the best website of year ... He said, "Cool!" ... ]

Tomorrow: How do you expect me to report about tomorrow? It has not happened yet! Good night…