Another Lighthouse Update

For those following this miracle with me, here's a recent update from Toben on his wife, Joanne, whose story I first posted on January 13th in an entry entitled Lighthouse. I don't know what you think about such events when they defy what's logical, typical, and even - on some level - real but, as for me and my house, we will praise the Lord.

For Joanna. And for Congresswoman Giffords. Two neurological catastrophes on their way to restoration. For medicine. And gifted doctors. And for the ones I hold dear who need Joanne's story to fall into the "win" column after a season of some tough hits to faith.

Really, it's proof of what was true all along. Of what's always true.
He is good.

So Much Good News

"Ok, here's the deal: Joanne's new neurologist came to see her
today. Looked a the MRI, the EEG and did some tests (basically involving
pinching Joanne hard to see if she would respond to pain) and the long
and the short of it is that she expects Joanne to have strong recovery
including use of much of her left side. She may have weakness in her
left leg but the left arm is looking pretty good. Speech may be slightly
effected and she may process a little more slowly then she used to, but
she is battling her way back! Ultimately only time will tell, but this
is the best news we have heard so far.

Everyone is heavily emphasizing that this is going to be a long
process. Joanne will probably be in some form of intensive, in patient
rehab for the next three months. But with a lot of work, she can make
significant process.

At this point Joanne is still pretty much unconscious (not opening
her eyes much) because of brain swelling but she is reactive. She may
remain so for the next couple of weeks "until her brain is ready to turn
itself back on." But what we know for sure is that she can hear us and
and respond to us.

So, encouraging news for sure!

Prayer requests:

1. Joanne will have a tracheostomy tomorrow and will have a feeding
tube surgically inserts at 10:30. Simple procedure and easily reversible
and will make her much more comfortable and less prone to infection.
THis is a good thing for Joanne and she will probably need the support
that these devices provide for the next couple of weeks, after which she
will be weened off of both.

2. The next decision is rehab or LTAC (long term acute care). Hoping
to have this decision by the end of the week and is entirely dependent
on the progress that Joanne makes over the next few days. Pray that the
next facility will be as awsome as the one we are at now.

3. PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE!

Toben"