Afternoon (updated 5:46 ET)

J slept a solid (for a hospital) 3 hours with no nausea: PRAISE! They turned the suction back on at 1:28 pm. At 2:24, the doc came to check it. He said, “Since it was 1:28, let’s check it at 2:30 and assess.” He came back 2 minutes later and said, “I didn’t realize what time it was,” and chuckled!

At 3:30, the output from the suction was identical to 2:30. He consulted those higher up on the chain and the word came back: TAKE OUT THE NG TUBE!! Hallelujah!! Glory to God for tube OUT!

It was barely out and he said, “I’ve ordered you a plate for clear, liquid diet.” I think J thought he was being punked. The plate, as of this writing, has not arrived, but he was drinking water. A friend from church has come to visit. He just popped out as I’m typing, informing me J is drifting to sleep. That’s good…his body is healing and soaking in every Z it can get.

Thank you for the messages; what a HUGE blessing they have already been to him. He keeps thanking me for being here. I don’t think it’s me…I think it’s “us.” When the heart has an experience of “God is before us” …such a beautiful thing! You are a boon to him. What a blessed community the Lord has established!

Praises!

• True, solid sleep. What a restorative gift sleep is!
• A was able to get fresh air and sleep, and she has a friend bringing her dinner with peaches (which has her giddy with joy)
• Passing the digestion tests, NG tube OUT! OUT! OUT! and food being approved!
• Morale is started to improve…seeing the needle move, your prayers, and getting access to food!

Prayers

• Morale. I’m just going to leave this one here on the prayer list indefinitely. Consider that Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days fasting, on purpose. J has been without food for more than half that, not on purpose, with 3 surgeries, and he is NOT Jesus. Please pray that the healing scriptures and Psalms and songs playing in the room wash over him.
• For oral food to be consumed in moderation and make it through the digestive system without hindrance.
• For all output to be “normal” such that no medication is necessary to speed up or slow down anything.
• For improved cognition and energy to sleep and exercise.

What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?]

Romans 8:31
AMPC

Morning

Why this image? Cause I’m proud that I finally found my chair hidden in plain sight after the room was cleaned this morning!

Mornings should be refreshing like a cold breakfast cereal commercial, but alas, in this current environment, it starts with a night of interrupted sleep, shift changes, bed changes, vitals being taken, not just of J, but everyone on the floor. It’s busy and exhausting from 6 till 8:30. Then PT came and worked Jonathan so hard!

That’s what is needed for his digestive system to wake up and do all that’s being asked of it. The NG tube can come out when there are healthy signs of digestion. PT is key in that and Tom-crack-the-whip PT guy had J walk the floor, walk up and down a flight of stairs, and do 5 squats. They also did strength band work in the chair to work on his abs, important given the location incision.

The doc came in and realized the NG tube had been clamped for PT and never turned back on. How serendipitous, as she wants to leave it off so that it’s 3 hours without. Then she’ll turn it on for an hour to measure the output. If it’s significantly reduced, she clear him for oral liquid (i.e., clear protein shake)!! When (not if) he keeps that down, that will be the corner turned!! Hallelujah!!

Praises!

• More output this morning visible in-room and on x-ray.
• A quality workout with PT. And that J finds somewhere in the weakness of his body to still do the work!
• They moved his room overnight, but it’s probably the most calm and least disruption thus far.
• He’s gotten nearly an hour sleep this morning
• His beautiful bride has lined up 3 visitors today. Our intention is to have them walk with him on each visit so he’s moving and increasing strength

Prayers

• Morale. This is HUGE! Consider that Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days fasting, on purpose. J has been without food for more than half that, not on purpose, with 3 surgeries, and he is NOT Jesus. Please pray that the healing scriptures and Psalms and songs playing in the room wash over him.
• For A to eat solidly to keep her strength. For her body to not cramp or have unnecessary ick from sleeping in THE most uncomfortable chair every night for the last 3 weeks.
• For the digestion tests to go well, with no nausea and vomiting.
• For oral food to be approved, be consumed moderately, and go through the complete digestive process.
• For all output to be “normal” such that no medication is necessary to speed up or slow down anything.

My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings. Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh.

Proverbs 4:20-25
AMPC

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Evening

Evening summary TBD