Friday at Big Springs

Good evening to  Miriams' prayer team! 

Your prayers are so much appreciated.....thank you!

First, I must explain that the blogsite had a crash early this morning and the most recent posting( when Miriam woke up!) was temporarily removed. It has since been restored, but unfortunately all comments were lost for that day! So, I apologize to those of you who who sent praises and rejoicings following Miriams "Big Day"!
here is the latest from Alex:

Dear Family and Friends,

Mom/Miriam is slowly recovering. She is back sleeping a lot. The recent event when she woke up crying was a painful reality for her. Miriam wanted to verbalize and move but couldn't. I told her that this is our moment to glorify God. There is no turning back. We will trust Him and believe His will for our family. I reminded her of Joshua 1:9 " Do not be afraid, Do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

We miss her so much.  The other night, Howie dreamt of our family with happy and healthy Miriam having a great time in Disneyland. He woke up and realized that it was just a dream. Howie cried. The pain is hard to describe but God saved her and He has a reason. We continue to rest and wait upon the Lord.

 In His Time,

Dad/Alex

 

Give thanks to the Lord,call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.

Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord  rejoice.

Look to the Lord and his strength;

seek his face always.  

Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,O descendants of Israel his servant, O sons of Jacob, his chosen ones.

I Chronicles 16 : 8-13

Praise The Lord !! Miriam Woke Up!!!

Dear Family and Friends,

Miriam woke up in her wheelchair this afternoon! Praise the Lord!!! I have seen her right eye open several times but this was the first time I have seen Miriam crying and tried very hard to say something but couldn't. She looked at me in the eye as I explained to her what happened to her, why it happened, the surgery that was done to save her life, where she was in January and February and what her treatment plans are. I told her that she is now in Big Springs, a skilled nursing facility because she needs 24/7 of nursing care. Howie updated her about his school and his upcoming graduation. I also updated her about Warren. Then our sweet neighbor Laura walked into the room. Miriam heard her voice and she looked at her in the eye. She is responding slowly but surely.

She has gone back to sleep again but she did it again when she was transferred back to her bed. She is slowly improving and she will get better. 

Mom and her sisters were crying and I am reminded of the scene in Jesus's empty tomb. John 20:11-13 " But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping, she stooped and looked in to the tomb; 12 and saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus been lying. 13" and they said to her" Woman, why are you weeping?" 

Please do not give up praying for her. She is getting better!!!

In His Time,

Dad / Alex

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

Dear Mom,

Happy Mother’s Day!

I love you so much. I treasure all the wonderful moments we’ve shared. I cherish our laughs, our cries, and our long conversations. You have  taught me and Howie many valuable life lessons. No matter what obstacles we face, we have to trust God and remember His faithfulness. I praise God for my loving family and thank Him so much for blessing me with a God-fearing, God-loving mother who loves her husband and children with all her heart. You are the mother described in Proverbs 31:28, “Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”

Love you always.

Your son,

Warren

4 Months Since January 4th Stroke

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been 4 months since Miriam's catastrophic stroke event. This fierce storm remains unrelenting but we continue to live by faith and not by sight. There has been some progress. Miriam has attempted to open both eyes when her dear friend Vilma came by to bring her some fresh flowers. She perked up and turned her head towards Vilma. She opened both eyes and stared at the beautiful flowers and her dear friend.

Last Wednesday, Alabama was hit by multiple successive tornadoes. Tornado warnings one after another. God spared us. Grace, Joyce, Mom and I were at Big Springs Specialty Care Center from 1 pm - 8pm. It was too risky to leave. Then Huntsville had a city wide blackout. That has never happened before. Miriam and all the other patients were moved to the crowded hallways. Miriam was starting to sweat a lot and the kind SNF administrator offered a small air conditioned dining room as her temporary bedroom for two days until a second generator was brought in from Nashville, TN. That was a gift from God.  We got our power back 5 days later. 

Everyday, I look forward to seeing my dearest wife and sweetheart.  She continues to bless me even though she is unable to carry out a conversation or respond. I know she continues to unselfishly pray for me, our children, her family and her friends. Every visit is a special day for me. I am grateful to God for making it possible for me to see her and thank her everyday. 

Miriam has firmly planted her seeds of unconditional love to me, our children, her family and friends. Those of you who have been blessed by her and get to see her, please talk to her and get her updated with your life. She loves all of you very much and I know she continues to pray for everyone.  Her memory is impeccable and she remembers all of your prayer needs. She trusts God and has always been faithful to Him. 

"When you walk through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.." Isaiah 43:2,3.

In His Time,

Alex

Easter Saturday - Update

Dear Family and Friends,

Miriam has recovered completely from her urinary tract infection. She goes thru daily therapy as well as neuropharmacological stimulation. She seems to open her right eye more frequently and now she would occasionally open both eyes. She looks/stares at the pictures of friends and family who have visited her on my iPhone. She seems to track with her right eye but not consistently. Progress has been slow. The brain needs time to heal.  The past week has been uneventful.

We continue to wait for her to fully emerge from coma. Talking to her everyday, keeping her updated and playing familiar music are good sources of stimulation. I also read to her the cards and notes left by her visitors.

The pain remains deep and all your prayers are very much appreciated. Please do not give up praying for her.

With Easter coming up this Sunday, I have told Miriam that I would like to renew my wedding vows with her when she fully emerges from coma. I told my boys about that and they are both very excited. If possible, I would like to have the same Pastor who married us to officiate the ceremony in the same church where we got married 28 years ago.

Sally, I will be needing your help again.

In His Time,
Alex

Saturday April 9th

Dear Family and Friends,

If Miriam could, and with her beautiful smile, she would want to thank all of you who are praying for her unceasingly and to many of you who have come to visit her at Big Springs Specialty Care Center. She gets her PT, OT and ST in the morning so afternoon visits would be preferable. Please leave your name in the guest book. Writing a note will help since I read them all to her and I keep them for her. When she fully emerges from coma, I intend to show her all the notes and cards you have left for her. She will be moved to tears as I am always. She has touched many lives and we intend to continue to glorify our Lord in this painful journey.  If I could speak for her, her voice will be trembling with deep gratitude and with tears rolling down her eyes. She would also want to thank many of you who have been and are still quietly praying for her. 

After being discharged from Huntsville Hospital on March 25, Miriam went back to the SNF facility with UTI and on Cipro.  5 days after her last dose of Cipro, a follow up Urinalysis demonstrated moderate amount of bacteria and large amount of leukocytes. That maybe the reason why she her heart rate has been ranging from 95-120's. She is now on IV antibiotics and will have her foley catheter exchanged with a new one after 48 hours of IV antibiotics. Her IV antibiotic regimen will run for 10 days. 

Miriam still gets her daily PT, OT and ST in the morning.  Pray that her tachycardia will improve. Miriam was very athletic. She worked out everyday and ate healthy too. Her normal heart rate was in the low 60's. In Atlanta, her normal heart rate ranged in the 60's-80's. We definitely notice tachycardia during the time she had neuro storms and when she is in pain. She has complex medical needs for now and UTI's will be a recurring problem. God will have to intervene. We are still waiting upon the Lord.

That is all I have for now. Please do not give up praying for Miriam.

In His Time,

Alex

Has it Really Been Three Months?

Hi Everyone,

Hard to believe , but it has been three months since Miriam's stroke. There has been very little change in her condition this week.

Alex is able to visit her everyday after work and occasionally at lunch break. This evening he was talking to her and showing her pictures .He loves to sit and talk with her each day.


Still hard to understand all this...we miss her so much!
We are thankful to God for all He has done and we wait ....not always patiently, but we wait upon The Lord, and trust in His Almighty Power.

Thanks to all of you for your much-needed prayers and also to those who are able to visit with Miriam.
Please continue to pray for Miriam and her family.

With love and thanks,

God Bless.....Sally