Hospital Day # 19 - 12/20/23 AM - God Answers Prayers - A Good Start!
Shortly after posting last night, Brittney’s troubles increased with a heart rate over 150 and very low blood pressure. Although that was quite a scare, she has recovered and rested well thru the night. So far I haven’t heard her complain about her headache in 12 hours, a first!!!
Thank you for praying! God answered just when we needed it.
Ways God has answered your prayers:
We are still receiving awesome care in ICU
All the CTs and ultrasounds still show no new brain bleeds or clots
They’ve been super thorough in giving Brittney ultrasounds of her legs and arms today
She was able to read and did her best yet at occupational therapy
She ate a good breakfast
She got her hair shampooed and brushed by a sweet nurses assistant
I’m feeling much better after working thru my feverish chills, but appreciate prayer for complete healing - most importantly Brittney seems to be avoiding my sickness too! 🙌🏻
Psalm 4:1 “Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!” (ESV)
Hospital Day # 18 - 12/19/23 - A Bad Day - Brittney Collapsed Like a Rock in the Bathroom
So while videos of Brittney walking are encouraging and uplifting, the real picture of 95% of her days are of her curled up in darkness on her bed with a quiet cry when she’s awake (but she threatens me if I take a picture of her like that).
Today was a bad day. Don’t get me wrong, we are blessed in many ways…alive, no new stroke or clots, and still in the wonderful stroke ICU care.
But Brittney is worn out from fighting. She need’s God’s strength and healing.
She is frustrated with her inability to read, write, or do math yet (it takes awhile for her brain to heal)
She is tired of hurting and being weak. She is afraid.
She collapsed in the bathroom at the sink, but thankfully me and the nurse were able to drag her into bed without her being injured or losing consciousness.
Plus I picked up a virus. Please pray that Brittney doesn’t get sick (she was exposed to me while I was contagious before I showed any symptoms). We want to be together 100% of the time at this point because of the seriousness of her situation. I need healing. Brittney needs protection.
It is so hard to watch her progress and then regress. It is so hard to have no answers. But God is with us, so we will move forward and stand firm in His strength. But we treasure your prayers. We are hurting. Thank you for all of your love and prayers.
Ways to Pray:
No new brain bleeds (they just rushed her back for a new CT scan) or blocked arteries
Continued care in the ICU as long as we need it (it was a blessing that we had the extra care today…if Brittney had fallen and hit her head the results could have been devastating
A private/individual room whenever we get stepped out of ICU
Wisdom for the doctors to help Brittney
God’s miraculous healing hand upon Brittney
Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (ESV)
Here is a place where I’ve archived the posts from our 18 days of hospital stays so far. www.jonathancarl.org
Hospital Day # 17 - 12/18/23 PM - Two More Weeks of Hospitalization To Go
Brittney did really well today. She ate well and was able to walk around the ICU 4 times. She was awake much longer and impressed her therapists, nurses and doctors with her progress. We are so grateful for your continued prayers and encouragement. Her headache pain was more manageable thankfully, but unfortunately she is now also struggling with severe leg cramps.
Brittney’s situation has been described by her surgeon as “uncharted waters” since there is no conventional way to navigate. Her situation is tricky because she has to have blood thinner so that her 4 stents don’t clot up and cause her to stroke. Simultaneously, her blood thinner cannot be the normal amount since she has already had a brain bleed stroke for unknown reasons. So we will remain hospitalized for two more weeks in order to ensure adequate monitoring, testing, and adjustments to Brittney’s blood thinner medications.
Two more weeks. It is a lot to think about, but we trust the care team who is helping us. We will take it all one day at a time and know that God will give us and our family the strength for each day. We covet your prayers as this is an especially hard season to be away from home. Lord willing, we will
Ways to Pray:
For Brittney to get an INDIVIDUAL ROOM for the next two weeks (most rooms are double occupancy outside the ICU and we will be “downgraded” out of the ICU tomorrow)…an individual room would be a huge blessing for much needed rest
For the next two weeks to fly by both for us and the girls
For continued protection from brain bleeds and blood clots
For relief from headache pain and leg cramps
For a great nursing team in our next destination within the hospital
For great physical, occupational, and speech therapy - for Brittney’s stroke recovery to progress rapidly with a full recovery ahead
For the long term health and protection of Brittney’s arteries throughout her body
Matthew 6:27,33-34 "And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?... But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (ESV)
Here is a place where I’ve archived the posts from our 17 days of hospital stays so far. www.jonathancarl.org
