WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!

Yesterday was a very good day! Nothing really new to share with you. We had a number of visitors and Chris spoke with everyone of them. Pastor Goldman and his brother came as well and as usual Pastor Goldman preached a "mini" sermon. We had a very blessed visit.

Today as well was a very good day. In the morning when I arrived Chris was sitting in his easy chair and looked quite pleased with himself. He gave me a run down on the doctors' new information during their routine morning visit. This man is truly remarkable. He doesn't miss a beat. He really looks great and we enjoyed our morning visit. The afternoon visit went well, although he looked a bit tired. After sitting for a while he always seems to be a bit tired. We spoke about many things, the grandchildren, his boys, the church and his concern for their well being. I explain that all is well and everyone is working in unity. Praise God!

This evening I was able to stay a bit longer and he gave me a run down on what went on in the ICU. He keeps a running log on what goes on and thinks of ways there could be improvement...that's Pastor! He mentioned that he misses home and is looking forward to going back. When it was time for me to leave he said he would pray. He prayed for his family, his friends, the people from Ebenezer Centre and for our church, Rock of Salvation.

God bless and keep praying.

Psalm 116

Change of Guard

Today was my first day alone with Chris. John has gone home and Rod was unable to return at this time. I trust that I will be able to do as good a job as my wonderful sons have done. Aren't they the BEST!!! God has always been very good to me. I want to thank my sons for their dedication and their love to their father and to me. I can't imagine what I would have done without the three of you. May God continue to bless you and use your dedication for His glory and honor. I love you very much.
This morning John and I went to the hospital and it was very difficult watching John saying goodbye once again. I stepped out to give them some privacy and to pray for strength. God is good and all went well.
John and I then drove to the airport. We were greeted by Pastor Russell, his wife Liesle and their two children, Pastor Larry, Pastor Neville and Pastor Roji. John went to check in and was told he was late! His flight was at 12:30 not 1:30. However, there had been a delay and he could board as there was just one more seat available. John, being John said he would take it if it was first class. The attendant said it was! Then she proceeded to say that noone had told anyone why the delay in departure and that certainly: ONLY GOD WOULD DO THIS! Can you believe it? So John got off and he went first class! (As it turned out the attendant was a christian and has been visiting Ebenezer Centre. GOD IS AWESOME!!!)

Pastors Neville & Roji took me to their home where we had tea and then Pastor Roji took me to the afternoon visit. Chris was doing very well and we spoke for a while then I was picked up and taken back home to rest. The evening visit went very well and Chris looked rested.

I trust that you will all continue to pray for Chris and to thank God for his protection and faithfulness towards us.

God Bless,
Lali

Wheel him around

Yesterday Dad was put into a wheelchair!! They took him for a ride to the front lobby entrance and he was able to look outside. The ride was short lived due to him coughing. Since he has been laying down for so long he has a build up of phlegm that causes him to cough whenever he is sitting up or moved. But being able to sit in a wheelchair is a big step for Dad. One of the concerns was that he would not be able to hold his head up or have enough strength to keep his body upright....but it was not a problem for him. GO POP! As you can imagine he exerted a lot of energy during this process and was sleeping the rest of the day. He only had one request and that was a clear pair of socks:)
Today he sat in his chair again but only for an hour. He is still tired from yesterdays action. We talked with him today and he was mentioning the things that he has been missing. Some things he said he missed besides food of course where leaves on the trees and green grass! He told me he spends most of his time thinking about the church and sermons he is going to write....what do you expect he is a preacher!

Good Friday

The last couple days Dad has been tired. As you can imagine it is a tremendous adjustment on his body to be sitting for a couple of hours at a time. After he sits for sometime he seems to be very sore. This again is part of the process and the more he sits the more accustom his body will become to this position. In the meantime we continue with exercises to keep the flexibility in his body and to help regain its strength. I think it is safe to say he is officially off the ventilator. He has not required any breathing assistance (except the oxygen) since Monday. He legs have become increasingly stronger this week. He told me he could drive:)

Going for a drive.....

That's right he is sitting in a chair! When we went to visit Dad Tuesday the nurses told us that Dad had a lot to tell us. As we were walking into the ICU we could tell that something wasn't right. All the nurses were looking at us almost anticipating what we were going to see once we got to the room. Sure enough he was sitting in a chair. Before they sat him they took him for a little drive around the hospital in his bed. Dr. Britz orders were to give him a change of scenery. After his "drive" he was placed in a chair. He complained of dizziness but that is to be expected after 2 and a half months of laying down. He was in great spirits. The nurses were just as excited about Dad sitting in chair as mom and I were. They took pictures as well. Today was the same for him. A couple of hours in a chair then the rest of the time in the bed. He is now on oxygen only and doing well. I forget how funny he is. He has had Mom and I laughing all week. Although no sounds come out of his mouth, he is still as animated as ever. He is aware of how long he has been in the hospital and he still remains patient. Please continue to pray for him and strength for mom.

A full day....

The last few days Dad has been on Oxygen (T-Piece) for 2 hours at a time. He has been doing really well breathing without the assistance of the ventilator. When it is time for him to sleep at night they place him back on the ventilator to ensure a good night sleep. Today he was on the T-Piece from 7:00am till 8:00pm! Again they will place him on the ventilator during the night so he can rest. His lungs continue to strengthen everyday along with the rest of his body. He is trying to convince us to bring some chocolate in and let it melt on his tongue. If you know my dad he is not big on sweets so you know he is just craving something to bring relief from the straight protein diet he is currently on. Although the food is feed straight to his stomach through the peg...the after taste makes his eyes water.
As you can imagine Dad is pretty popular in the hospital. Since most of the workers attend Ebenezer Church and he has been here for 3 months, he has become friendly with all the staff. They really do take great care and watch over him constantly. This helps us rest peacefully:) Its a blessing.

Papa says "Happy Birthday Kiki!"

Happy Birthday!!

March is a busy month for the Santiago clan. It starts with a birthday on the 5th (mine) and the an anniversary on the 11th, Dad's birthday on the 13th, Kiki's birthday on the 15th, and Rodney's birthday on the 21st. Today Dad turns 68!! This morning the nurses had set up balloons around his bed. The church had also sent Dad a fruit basket with birthday balloons. He was quick to tell me to take what I want and give the rest to the nurses. Dad being Dad. They sang him happy birthday and then a nurse did a Zulo dance for him. The last two days he has continued to improve. The strength in his lungs is steadily improving. Evan came in to visit Dad yesterday. This young man who has had GBS twice has been extremely encouraging to Dad. He is able to relate and provide him a comfort level on his condition. No one else can provide that type of insite unless you have experienced this syndrome before. He told Dad to be ready when he is ready. Not to let the doctors or family rush him into recovery. He explained to him the importance of rest and to listen to what his body is telling him. Dad shook his head yes and then we began working on his breathing. The last two days he has done really well.

Happy Anniversary ( First Picture)

Today is Mom and Dads 47th Anniversary!! So Dad decided to have a little surprise waiting for her when we went to visit him this morning. When we entered the ICU the curtains to his room were closed. This usually means that they are preparing him and we have to wait till they are finished. But they waived Mom in and tada.....Roses and a candle with two wine glasses filled with apple juice.
Before Mark left, he showed me the exercises that he was doing with Pop. Bicep resistance, tricep raises and leg presses. I continued exercising with him today. He is considerably stronger than the last time I was here. Seeing him move his body around and being able to lift his arm when we put it behind his head is very encouraging. He still does not have enough strength to raise his arms or lift his legs on his own, but from the last time I saw him he looks like a different man. We try to be as accurate as possible in our blogging so that we can share with you and bring you closer to our experience. For those who have not seen him, you could never fully understand what kind of condition he was or is in now. From the beginning when it was hard to articulate his condition to now where clearly he has made major steps, his progress has been a blessing. He still has a long road a head of him. He is still on the ventilator but his body is regaining its strength and soon they will try again to remove him from the ventilator and give him only oxygen.
Dad was asking a lot of questions today. From the procedure they do to remove him from the ventilator to making sure Mark is calling his accountant....Mark make sure you call her:)..We also talked about the Mets spring training, going to the dentist after he is out, the cost of the medical flight, etc...you get the point. Then he said that in New York they would have not been able to diagnose his condition as quickly as they did here.
His memory has improved. He was letting us know how much he remembers before he was admitted to the ICU. Again we thank you for all the prayers and be encouraged because they are working.

God Blesses

Sorry for not updating the blog, but the past two days have been super busy. Mom and I have been going to bed at 1:30am each night; in fact it is currently 1:25am. Friday was a good day for Dad, he looked well rested and he slept throughout the day. In total he slept around 14 hours, without any sedation. As I said earlier he was exhausted! In between his rest Mom asked Dad if the Lord has been speaking to him. He said “The Lord hasn’t said anything.” And Mom told him to keep praying and to keep seeking.

At Friday evening’s visit one of the nurses came to us and asked us if she could allow a visitor, who admitted that he did not know him or us, in to see Dad. The nurse explained to us that the visitor said he received a call from “his people” in Peoria and they told him that he needed to visit with a Pastor who was hospitalized in GreenAcres Hospital in Port Elizabeth. Mom and I hesitantly agreed and the man came in the room and explained his purpose for coming. Immediately my spirit connected with him and I was able to discern sincerity and God’s love in him. He went on to say that he has dedicated a good part of his life counseling people in various venues and that he is an elder in his church who simply wants to be used by God. After we gave him a brief history of Dad’s situation he asked us if we would allow him to pray for Dad. We agreed and he asked if we could hold hands and of course we agreed. As soon as the man started to pray the presence of the Lord filled the room. When he was done he said “Did you notice that the Lord didn’t have me pray for healing?” Mom and I shook our heads yes and he turned to Dad and said “I really feel the Lord impressing on my heart to tell you to keep up the good work you’ve already started.” He also said that this experience was going to give Dad a wonderful testimony that he can share with the world and that God will speak to him while he is lying in the bed. He then said "Don’t give up, God will speak!” Mom and I were flabbergasted. Then as quickly as he came in he left, it was as if we were visited by an angel… in fact, we were.

Saturday was another good day for Dad. He looks great! His body is coming alive. His muscle tone continues to improve and his muscle movement is improving everyday. He’s actually gaining a little (very little) weight on his legs. We continue to do resistance training every day and I can see the improvement each day, it is awesome to see.

John arrived today and it was great to see him. He seems ready for his second tour of duty and I am sure he will do a terrific job, just as he did before. I can leave knowing that Mom is in good hands and that John will continue to work with Dad while he visits with him in the hospital. It has been a month since I landed in SA and I must say that, surprisingly, I find it a bit hard to leave. The people that I’ve met here are incredible and it will be hard to forget them and these weeks spent in SA. This expereince has helped me to mature in several areas but most importantly I've learned that God blesses, even in our darkest hour. All we need to do is seek him and trust him. What an awesome God we serve. Keep praying and trusting the Lord for Dad's safe return.

Off again - On again

Today started off with great news. When we arrived in the morning the nurse told us that the long plastic tube used for the tracheotomy would be removed and a shorter metal tube or “metal-tracheotomy” would be put in its place. This makes the patient more comfortable and allows the patient to speak. It is the last step before closing the tracheotomy all together. As you can imagine Mom and I were super excited, and we were looking forward to eventually hearing Dad speak again. Dad on the other hand looked exhausted. He did not sleep at all during the night and he was very anxious and angry during our morning visit. He was extremely inpatient and argued with us for the whole visit. When we arrived for the afternoon visit the nurses had just installed the new metal tracheotomy and Dad looked extremely uncomfortable. He was coughing a lot and he had broken out in a cold sweat. As we walked in the room the nurse asked him to relax since he needed time to adjust to the new equipment, but he didn’t pay any attention to what she said and began mouthing words a mile a minute. He then became extremely agitated when we couldn’t understand what he was saying. After we attended to him and made sure he was comfortable, Mom and I decided to leave the room so as to not agitate him again. We felt that this would allow him to relax and better cope with his new set up. When we returned for the night visit not only did they re-install the plastic tube, but he was also back on the ventilator! Needless to say, it turned out to be a very disappointing day. The Dr. came to speak with Mom and I and he was equally disappointed. He explained once again that sometimes it can take up to 3 to 4 tries before a patient comes off the ventilator. This was Dad’s second try. Let’s pray that the next one goes better. The doctor said they will try again in approximately 2 weeks. When we left Dad this evening he was very drowsy, hopefully he’ll sleep tonight. If he doesn’t they will give him a sleeping pill.

Almost Forgot...

Happy 35th birthday booshky baby!

A.k.a. John

Watchman

When we arrived this morning Evan (the man who had GBS twice) was already at the door of the ICU waiting to see Dad. We greeted him and he gave us a bag filled with literature regarding GBS and he went in with us to visit Dad. Dad remembered him and was happy to see him. I showed Evan what Dad is able to do with his arm and Evan was very impressed. He said that was a great sign. Pastor Neville also visited with Dad today and spoke a word into Dad’s spirit; he also prayed with him and encouraged him.

Dad is still off the ventilator and has been off for three and ½ days, and he is doing great. All of his vital signs are normal and his oxygen saturation is averaging 99%. He is, however, having trouble sleeping.

Last night Dad didn’t sleep much (3 hours) and he looked tired and drained in the morning. In fact, he looked exhausted all day, but he refused to sleep. Tonight just before we left he asked us to make sure that the ventilator was nearby and ready to be turned on in case he needed it during the night. It seems as if this is the reason he is not sleeping. He is worried that he might stop breathing in his sleep. Mom and I explained that the ventilator has never left the room and that the nurses keep a constant surveillance throughout the night. She also reminded him that his entire body is hooked up to monitors and machines that check his breathing and other vital signs so if anything goes array alarms sound and the whole ICU is alerted. He shook his head up and down in agreement, but his facial expression and his tapping fingers said, “You just don’t understand”. Mom kept trying to convince him and he kept shaking his head in agreement (and tapping his fingers) but I could tell that he wasn’t buying it. Finally the nurse came in and assured him that she was his “watchman” (her exact words!) and he gave her a courtesy smile. So, all you spiritual watchmen out there please pray that God will help him have a good nights rest, he desperately needs it.

I’ll Pray!

Dad’s been off the ventilator for 32 hours and all is well. His lungs are coping, his heart rate hovers around 93 (which is normal for him), his blood pressure is perfect (much better than mine), and his oxygen saturation is nearly 100%. These are all great signs that he is returning to normal.

One of the male nurses in the ICU (Desmond) brought in his hair clippers the other day and gave Dad a really nice haircut, so he looks more like himself. He actually looks great! For the past few days I’ve been focusing on his exercise. It’s really been a challenge since he doesn’t have much movement, so I’ve been trying to do resistance training with him. I’ll work his biceps, triceps, quadriceps and hamstrings and it’s been working. I can see his muscles tightening and twitching as I lower them or raise them and I can feel his resistance as he fights against the movement. I’ve noticed that his triceps (the back part of the upper arm) seem to be the strongest, so today I tried something new. I took his right arm (by far the strongest part of his body) and I raised it so that his elbow went past his head. Then as I held his arm in an 'L' position I asked him to try and lift his hand up over his elbow. He struggled a little and then he lifted it without my help! I shouted in approval, of course, and Dad smiled the biggest and happiest smile I’ve seen since I’ve been here. I asked him if he wanted to try again and he said yes, so we did it again and he did it even better this time, it was more controlled. It was great to see him move a body part on his own, but it was even better to see the look of accomplishment and satisfaction on his face. When the nurse came in the room we showed her what he could do and she smiled and praised him, it was a really great moment. When our visit came to an end, as usual, Mom explained to him that we needed to leave but this time before I could begin praying he quickly said, “I’ll pray!” and before we could respond, he closed is eyes and started to mouth a prayer. Mom and I looked at each other, surprisingly, and then quickly turned our faces back towards him so that we could watch his lips and come into agreement with each word we could make out. He praised God and thanked Him for healing. He prayed for Brenda and each of my kids, for Gina, Rodney and each of his kids, he prayed for John and he prayed for Mom and me.

Today was an experience I will never forget!

We Have a Battle

God is faithful and he is gracious, all the time!!! By God’s mercy and grace I can call today a victory, thank you God! The Lord used me today to minister and speak a word to His church and to the leadership. Apparently the Lord has been dealing with the church leadership in the area of discipleship and that was the topic of the message that the Lord led me to preach. After I preached, Pastor Neville led an awesome altar call and many people came to the front for prayer and encouragement. In addition, four people gave their hearts to the Lord. After the service several people came to me to tell me how the message blessed their lives and how they had learned something new. It was a wonderful experience, praise be to God! Later in the day we received a text message from one of the leaders in the church that read: “Hi Pastor Lali. Please tell Pastor Mark I thank the Lord for the Word this morning. My spirit was lifted. I came with pain, swelling and discomfort in both my legs. (I’ve been like this since December). God touched me during the service…when Pastor Mark said at the end we must stand, I got up without pain! I could move without discomfort! I have so much energy now to do my housework! Glory to God! May God bless you all! Regards to your husband, we are praying for him. Elizabeth, part of the Church Leadership.”

Here are two pictures of me behind the pulpit and a few additional photos of the church. When I prayed to God for an opportunity to minister outside of our church I had no idea that he would take me half way around the globe to minister in another country. God is too much… I am overwhelmed.

When we went to the hospital this morning we told Dad what God had done and he was all smiles. In the morning we found him off the ventilator and on the oxygen and he was doing very well. At the afternoon and night visits he was still on the oxygen and he seemed to be coping extremely well. It seems as if the lung infection is gone. At the night visit Debbie (the bubbly lady that I spoke of earlier) came to visit with another ex-GBS patient (Evan) who not only had GBS, but has had it twice! It was great to hear their stories and to see them speak with Dad. They were very straight forward with him but they were also very encouraging. I think it did Dad a world of good to speak with them. At the end of their visit he seemed encouraged. At one point during their visit Dad looked at Mom and me and said with determination “We have a battle in front of us” and I told him “Yes, but we will win in Jesus’ name!” and he smiled in agreement. Debbie gave us a stack of literature regarding GBS and Evan gave us his contact information and said that if we ever needed any help to please call him. Evan is a part of the GBS Foundation International and is starting a support group in Port Elizabeth. His and Debbie’s passion to inform and assist is something to behold. Where are all these wonderful human beings coming from?