I have been trying to keep everyone updated on the Journey we started on December 23. That was when we first noticed Gay was getting sick. Gay continued to get weaker and weaker until I finally had her taken to the hospital by ambulance on December 29th. I have been trying to keep all of my friends, ministry partners, and prayer warriors updated via text messages. This has proven difficult and inefficient. I am sure that I have not kept everyone in the loop as well as I could have. So, going forward, I will use this blog to post progress and prayer focus points.

PAST UPDATES:

Jan 9: Gay is feeling much better but still needs your prayers.  Her subsequent surgery is set for Wednesday, Jan 10, at 12:30 PM.  We are told she could be home resting in her bed by Friday. 

The infection is still under control, and we are on day 6 of 42 for the daily IV Antibiotics. Overall, God is working, and we are seeing a good outcome.  Satan is a liar and has no authority here.  Pray points for today:

1. That God will continue his healing process for Gay
2. That Gay’s appetite would return
3. That our home will be ready for Gay when she returns and will be a place of peace and restoration for her

Update Jan 10, 2024: Today, Gay had the second of three surgeries to save her leg. We hope this surgery will stabilize her foot and bones in a configuration that will heal properly and allow the soft tissue to heal up infection-free. We hope to be home tomorrow or Friday. This is where the hard work of rehabilitation will start.  If you care to pray with us, please believe with us:

• that this surgery will provide the desired result
• that we will be able to do infusions and rehab at home with the help of home healthcare workers
• that Gay’s appetite will return, her blood sugar will remain in the proper range, and she will grow stronger

Thanks for all your prayers and support – much love,

Chris & Gay

January 12 Update: We will not be going home today. Gay’s kidney function is just not up to par. We will stay for at least the weekend. 

Gay and I believe the Doctor will be amazed by what God is about to do over the weekend. We told him we were not worried because we had prayer partners and our God is a miracle-working God. We are excited about the opportunity to witness a sign and wonder that will speak to God’s goodness and grace.

Please focus your prayer time on Gay’s Kidney function. This is serious – We need a miracle.

January 14 update: Day 16 in the hospital. Gay will be released in the morning. We plan to go to our home in Seymour to recoup for six weeks until surgery number 3 of 3. She will complete a course of IV antibiotics while we are at home.  I will be trained on how to administer the IV via a PICC line and to dress the wounds from the external fixator on her left leg. Getting Gay well is our full-time occupation for this season, so please be patient with us. We may not communicate as quickly or as much as usual. As you pray for us, pray:

1. We will need help from several friends and neighbors to get through this season. Pray that we will be quick in asking (Matthew 7:7)
2. We will continue to praise God’s goodness all through this season (Romans 8:28 & Job 1:22)
3. We get to continue to serve God through Genesis 2:24 Ministries (Joshua 24:15)

Thank you to all who have prayed and helped already. Your love and generosity deeply move us.

January 15 Update: We were supposed to go home from the hospital today but did not.  We decided instead for Gay to go to gain a little more strength and mobility at a rehab facility near our house. We will move Gay to Lutheran Community Home in the morning, where she will continue PT she started at the hospital.

Please be sure to pray for Gay’s energy to level. She will need it because PT is hard, especially with the hardware attached to her left leg.

1/19/2024: We are at a rehab facility in Seymour, IN. Gay is doing rehab to get enough strength in her arms and right leg to finish recouping at our house.  We hope she will be home by the end of the month. God has already blessed us with kidney function returning to normal, her appetite returning, her blood sugar under control, the infections are gone, and the PTs are doing great work to get her home.  I have neighbors and friends helping me with some of my duties at home so I can stay with her and be trained to help her with transfers and such.

Please pray that improvements continue and we can go home soon. We continue to be amazed at what God is doing and believe we will see his glory throughout this situation.

Update on Gay’s healing

1-23-24: Many of you have texted me wanting to know how Gay is, so I think there is interest in an update.

She is still at the rehab near our home in Seymour. She is on day 19 of 42 or IV antibiotics and about to finish week 2 of 6-8 for recovery from the surgery she had on 1/10 and does PT every day. They are working to use medications to control some of the side effects of her condition and treatment, and her hemoglobin is low for some reason. The PT wears her out, and she needs to rest a lot. I stay here with her most days for most of the day. That way, I do not miss an opportunity to love on her, read the Bible with her, pray with her, and talk with her when she has enough energy to.

1-24-24: Today was very busy.  Today was our first time back to the foot Dr after surgery. He says all is well. He laid out what was next, and a couple of those steps were pretty hard.  Please continue to pray for our spiritual strength.  This is the hardest area to stay on task with.  Gay and I spent some time this afternoon in prayer in the chapel and came away with a good word from God to declare: “Circumstances WITH NOT change who I am!” Romans 12;12 – Isaiah 50:7 and Romans  8:18.