Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Moving Onward....in amazement!

As Danina and I drove into my home town we both noted how odd it feels to go from the MD Anderson world to everday life, it's hard to mesh the two.  Life does not have a pause button and you have to keep up. In this season of my life it seems very rare to have a dull let alone a quiet moment, however, today I find myself at home with a sick boy rather than at bible study.  As I sit here listening to the music of hammers out my window as my brother and the JBU boys hang sheet rock I find it surreal that life has this way of moving onward - yet my heart stays with my sister who lays in her bed and fights for a new normal in life. Fights for Strength to just sit up and walk, to breath at a normal rate....before Danina and I left she said "who knew breathing would be such hard work?!"  She had a rougher day yesterday (2/5) with her pain management and little sleep as she had heavier traffic than normal in her hospital room.  The physical therapist came to bring her a walker and a wheel chair that reclines so she can sit up a little more... this alone is a miracle. The initial treatment for her post surgery was that she would be unable to sit for almost 3 months but due to the fact they they did the incision horizontally versus vertically she is able to have more movement than we had anticipated.  The Occupational therapist also came and made her a compression type belt that wraps around her stomach to give her support and she feels that has made a huge difference in the pain when she is up and moving. Yesterday she walked about 20 feet beyond her hospital door!!  Her ostomy nurse stopped by to assist in the training as well as her regular check ups from the breathing team, the acute pain doctor and her nurses.  Doctor Levenback also came in for a visit.  He told her he tends to always vow to never do one of these surgeries after he's completed one. They are hard surgeries to do and for the patient to recover from but she had the best of the best with the 4 top doctors working on her.  He told her that typically after such a surgery the patient gets depressed and stops trying but he sees that Kristi is a strong girl who has a large support system and a deep faith as he took note of the verse hanging on her wall “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 As many of you know we have faithfully prayed that Kristi's story would be a testimony to all who enter her room and despite her pain and suffering she continues to be a light for Jesus... in my friends words "though her adversity is great she inspires others to question who this Great God in her must be!"  

Today (2/6) is a new day with new hope and new beginnings!
Lamentations 3:22-24
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”

She has already taken a walk this morning for about 150ft and had a shower! They are hopeful they can remove the tube draining her stomach today.... if not they will need to begin to feed her intravenously. Kristi would love to get that tube out of her nose so pray her stomach gets to moving and can handle the fluids in it without making her nauseous. 

As always grateful for all your prayers and support!  Kristi is a strong girl who's stubborness pays off :)  She's bound and determined to win this battle and she does it with a smile!   Amy

3 comments:

  1. Kristi and family - you are such an amazing and beautiful person and family. You have taught everyone one who crosses your path an unforgettable lesson in faith. So proud of you !!!! Not a day goes by that you are not in my thought, heart, and prayers.
    Loves and hugs.
    s

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  2. Yes, Kristi, what a Great God you serve with a smile on your face. I know the LORD is your strength and your joy. Praying for others to know that as well.
    Keep fighting, keep working! Sending love and support as you make gains each and every day.
    Love, Brian Hyde

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  3. It has been wonderful not just to see the good news about Kristi's surgical outcomes but to read the spectacularly sweet notes from her two sisters and others. My heart exults in what family, especially the Nay family, means to us! Yesterday I taught on prayer to 7 guys at the Tiglin addiction recovery center here in Ireland, who have problems the MD Anderson folks can't fix but God does daily surgery to take out the bad stuff and help the good stuff to grow. What's really funny is that we live at Green Meadow Farm! Resting in Green Meadows is a daily event for us! Love you, Kristi and fam!

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