Christian Photographers Community

God Bless you Etta Sue.  We are praying for you as well as Jerry. 

You take care of yourself sis, this could be a long stretch of back and forth to the hospital. 

Take time to smell the roses.

thanks for the updates.  You both are in our prayers regularly.  I do have a card for him (i've been carrying it in my purse for a week), and I will try to get it out to you monday are tuesday.  promise!!

When I got to the hospital, Jerry was sleeping.  The Chaplain came through and he said, "God Bless You All and pray for a boring day."  Then he said a boring day in Critical Care is good....no unexpected episodes.  No excited patients.  No excited doctors and nurses.  And boring it was.  Jerry slept more today than any time so far.  I asked the nurse if he was on codeine or morphine and she said he had his last dose of codeine in the wee hours of the morning.  So he was sleeping naturally...which is very good.  I really don't think he knew I was there today.  But the Social worker said they wanted to move him to Select Specialty Hospital which is part of Methodist but you enter from Capitol Avenue.  I went there to look it over.  It is on the 7th and 8th floor of the old part of Methodist but newly renovated.  It is a hospital all its own.  Fully independent from Methodist.  But it is for people who are stable but not strong enough for rehab.  So this is Jerry's next move.  But when I got back to his room, a speech therapist was working with Jerry and removed his oxygen mask.  Well, his blood oxygen went down within 5 minutes and wouldn't go back up when the mask was put back on.  So I imagine that after I left, he had the sealed mask put back on.  (They tell me what all of this is called but when I think about the names, they go swoosh....right off the top of my head.  Sorry!)  But the nurse said that he wouldn't be moved to Select today. 

Karma, Jerry's nurse today said she just got back from NC.  Spring Break.  Her parents live north of Asheville.  I told her I had internet friends that live at Canton and she knows right were you live.  How neat?

Hugs,
Etta Sue

Oh, Etta Sue, bless his heart.  I'm so sorry that he's going through this but God bless you in your faithfulness to him. 

I pray daily for you both, Etta Sue.

Still praying.

Etta, each and everyday, I am amazed at how small this world is getting . . .

Dear Jerry,

We pray God will be at your side, within you, above and below you; will be your strength.  We will pray for you in Japan.

shirleypix ~ Japan, hunh?  How cool is that?  Are you working there?  May I be bold in asking why you are in Japan? 

Etta Sue:  Thank you for the update on Jerry.  This is very stressful for you, I know., so please know that we are praying for you too.

Just below your posts, Etta Sue - I get a red X, inside a box.  Is anyone else getting this?

Usually, its a graphic of Etta Sue's name...must be something wrong with my computer....huh?

Jerry:  I am praying for you! 

Etta Sue:  Thank you for all the updates.  I do hope that Jerry has family visiting daily.  Very important at this time. 

Carol

Etta Sue - I am still praying for Jerry.  I hope the oxygen problem stabilizes soon.

Beverly

The doctors say there is no more that they can do for Jerry.  He has told them he doesn't want a tracheotomy or the ventilator put back in.  Also that he doesn't want shocked if his heart stops beating.  He was moved to Select Specialty Hospital because NeuroCritical Care could do no more to help him.  Today his stats (blood oxygen) was in the low 90's with just the nose oxygen thing on.  His BP was 131/80 something. Both very good.  He was alert and trying to talk.  But if he should get pneumonia or some infection in his lungs or any other unforeseen problem, that would take him.  On a better note, if he can keep the congestion out of his lungs and get stronger then he could be moved to rehab or a nursing home.  It is all up to God now...which it has been up to Him all along but we like to think the doctors can do miracles.

Address for cards...

Jerry L. Sowers
Select Specialty Hospital, Room 824
1901 N. Senate Blvd., Building C
Indianapolis, IN 46202

I am praying for comfort and peace for Jerry.  God Bless Him.

Hugs,
Etta Sue

Father, I pray You for comfort and peace for both Jerry and Etta Sue.  I thank You for Jerry and for all that his life has meant.  I thank You that he belongs to You, Father.  If it is Your best for him and for Your glory, administer to him a glorious entrance into everlasting glory.  If it is Your best for him and for Your glory, then, Father, I pray You'll keep him here longer and administer healing to him.  Oh Father, do these things through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Amen to Al's prayer.

My heart is so heavy.


God bless you Etta Sue.  My heart goes out to you as well right now.  Praying for you sweetie.

Amen to Al's pray

I am praying with you Etta Sue.

Oh,  how this hurts! Not only you, Etta Sue and Jerry, but also for both your families as well as all of us who love you both.

My prayers are with you.

Ruth Ann

I am praying too & sending over lots of hugs & plenty of love you Etta & be sure to tell Jerry we are praying for him in church too. Stay in touch when you can & I am always here if you need a shoulder to lean on.

Another Amen to Al's prayer for Jerry.  What a gracious petition to God's grace, I pray it is just as you say, Al.  Whatever brings glory to the Lord, is my prayer and I feel that is what Jerry is saying too. 
God bless you Etta Sue, no one could have a truer friend than you are to Jerry.  I know he appreciates it too. May he continue to do well with his oxygen and BP.
Blessings to one and all,
Love, Janice

Oh yes!  We need to go now, as tonight we are celebrating Sara's return from Brazil, by going to a dinner.  Our granddaughter returned home Sunday night, but other scheduling conflicts have hindered our getting together until tonight.  We are anxious to get her story of the mission trip, and to see her pictures (if she has them developed yet).

Thinking of you, Jerry!

Peace,
Carol

Etta Sue:  I have copied down Jerry's hospital address, and will get a card and note off to him tomorrow.
Not likely he will know who I am, BUT - his family will read it, and know that someone in Canada cares and loves him!

Please know that I am thinking of, and praying for you too.

How far are you from Indianapolis?  Its very tiring, going back and forth to the hospital'

Love,
Judy

Etta Sue, thanks for the update.  I understand your saddness but am praying that Jerry will be able to gain some strength and ward off any infections. 

Thanks for giving us the mailing address.  I will try to get a card and note in the mail to him tomorrow. 

Oh, Etta Sue!  Please know we are all with you in prayer and in spirit, rooting for Jerry every step of the way.  I agree with Al's prayer, too, and add my own.  Bless Jerry, and bless you, dear one, for your friendship which means so much to him.  I am hoping for the best possible outcome from this.  ((((((((hugs))))))))

As for cards....I have read everyone of them to him and tell him who they are from and if he knows who they are.  He always nods a definite 'YES'!  So he knows.  Today a doctor was talking to Lynn and I about his rehabilitation.  He asked us a question that we didn't know the answer too but Jerry was shaking his head 'No'.  So the answer was no.  He understands and I know it must be truly frustrating to only communicate with someone by nodding yes or no.  I made a card for him from Ali and Inky with their pictures on it.  He asked...New?  I told him, Yes...I took the pictures last night.  He was so happy.  I asked him if he wanted me to leave the card there and he nodded a big 'YES'!  Bless His Heart!!

Etta Sue, it is good that Jerry can make these decisions for himself.  While the decision may not be the one you or his daughter would have made it is his decision. 

Yes, I am glad that Jerry made those decisions himself.  I would make the same decisons for myself but I don't know if I would want to make those same decisions for someone else. 

I found Jerry today about the same.  Maybe a little less alert but about the same.  His BP is low.  The nurse took it three times and it was low each time.  He is getting real weak and tires so easy.  I did get a code word to find out information when I call.  I will see how that works before going to bed...see if they give me any information.  I did call for a nurse twice today and it was 15-20 minutes each time before someone came in the room to see what was needed AFTER I told them on the speaker.  Also when I went in the room, his oxygen mask was not on his face.  Jerry doesn't like it and pulls it off.  I told them they need to restrain his right arm when there isn't a visitor with him and she said they didn't like to restrain their patents.  What do you do then?  Camp out in the room?

On a better note, I was walking down the hall to get myself a Pepsi and the doctor from Critical Care was walking towards me.  I said, 'My, you get around a lot.'  He stopped and asked me how Jerry was.  Talked to me for maybe 5-10 minutes.  It was real nice to find out a doctor remembers names and that a patient is not just a body in a bed.  Very heart warming. 

Yes, Etta Sue, that is very reassuring.  Dr. Cone stopped and talked to Diane and me about Beth  like that one evening in Amarillo, and it meant a lot to me.

Stay strong, dear one!  We are all pulling for Jerry and for you!  ((((hugs))))

I just came in to check on Jerry and you, Etta Sue.  I remember how it was with Ron after his stroke.   It seemed, as you noted, that there were things that no one was doing but me.  I wondered how he made it when I wasn't there.  I'd remind the nurse, when she came in, of what had happened, and she'd nod.  I just had to assume that when I wasn't there, they were checking on Ron more often. 

I'm praying for you, Jerry, and his family.  Nita

Thanks, gals.  It sure means a lot.  I just got a call from Lynn...it doesn't sound very reassuring. 

Etta Sue:  It must be very upsetting for you to see that Jerry isn't responding the way you wish he would.  Thankfully, he isn't suffering, and more importantly, he knows the Lord as his Savior.  Please know, dear Etta Sue, that both Norm and I are remembering you in prayer as well as Jerry.

I am so happy to tell all of you that Jerry is much better today.  He looked great.  Tried to talk.  Seemed overly alert.  Was trying to tell the nurse and I how old Johnny Cochran was...he heard it on the TV.  Jerry shook his head 'Yes' when I said 67.  I said 'Same as you' and Jerry shook his head 'Yes'.  The physical therapist came in and they sat him up in a chair.  Then the speach therapist came in and gave him some ice chips with lemon on them.  He hadn't been swallowing before but today he wallowed the chips around until they melted and then swallowed so she has ordered ice chips 3-4 times a day now.  He still seems rattle-y but is able to cough it up now.  They are holding off on putting a hole in his stomach to feed him.  Seems the stuff would come back up into his mouth and since he wasn't swallowing, the stuff went into his lungs.  Not good.  But today he was swallowing.  His left hand was swollen from being down so much so the therapists massaged his hand and put it up on a pillow and when I left, it was almost back to normal.  He had the nose thing for oxygen and his blood oxygen was in the high 90's all the time I was there. 

I have hope for him.  So keep on with all those prayers....they are working!!!  Thank you, one and all and God Bless each one of you.

Hugs,
Etta Sue

Thank you, dear God, for this good report.  Please continue the healing you have begun in Jerry's body until he is totally healed!  For this we give You all the glory, thanks and praise.  Amen.