Update

We thought we would replace the picture with a current one so everyone could see how awesome Jim looks after all surgeries are completed and his scar heals. He's feeling better every day and we are waiting for the all clear from the Dr next month! We will keep you posted.

God is AWESOME and I hope everyone can see His GLORY in all of this!

We wish you a Blessed and Prosperous New Year!

Post Surgery Update

Today Jim got his 60 some staples out of his head and two stitches. They said that it healed up very nicely and he can start to get it wet now but with no direct water hitting it for a few weeks. It wasn't very painful at all and he feels so much better now that they're out.

Next appointment is in January to see the surgeon and determine what the next step will be.

Thanks for the love, cards, prayers, calls, and continuous support! We are tremendously blessed!

#2 Surgery Update

Jim was getting a cold before surgery, and it came back in time for Thanksgiving. We put off celebrating until Sunday since his appetite was not back yet. Glad we did, other family members were sick as well.

It took him a full week to start feeling like himself again and getting his appetite back. He had quite a bit of swelling and bruising, but is looking like himself again. He's getting stronger and able to go up and down stairs, SNEEZE!, cough, bend forward, and blow his nose with no problems at all. He was so excited!!! The headaches are getting further apart which is a great sign! He goes to the dr in a few weeks for another evaluation, but overall he is doing well.

Thanks for your continued prayers, support and comments. We'll keep you updated as things happen or until the final release from the Dr. HOPEFULLY in January.

#2 and Final Surgery Update

JIM IS HOME!!!! THE FINAL SURGERY IS FINISHED!!!!

Physical Therapy assessed and released him to home care and the Dr. was happy with the progress he had made and decided he was ready to go home!

So, he is still at a ten pound restriction for several weeks and no stairs till he's a little stronger. He has stitches and staples that will stay in for three weeks with another assessment from the Dr. at that point. He can resume driving in April, 2010 due to his seizure in September, 2009. Michigan law prohibits you to drive for six months after suffering a seizure.

What an incredible blessing we have received having him home before Thanksgiving. God has truly blessed us thru this entire process and we are eternally grateful. We appreciate all the love, prayers and support from everyone and could never say Thank You enough. We will continue to give weekly updates until the final release from the Dr.

#2 Surgery Update

Jim is now in a regular room and still had quite a bit of pain this morning. The Dr. removed the compression cap and the drain and had to put in two stitches because it was bleeding pretty good. Those will stay in for two weeks, and the 50+ staples will stay in for three weeks.

As soon as the cap was removed, his pain level came down about 25%. He is still on pretty heavy pain meds, but is resting comfortably. He is back to no appetite because the food tastes terrible but we're pretty sure its the anesthesia that has him messed up. He has some swelling with a mild fever and is on antibiotics. The Dr. said he may come home tomorrow depending on how much bleeding he has from the drain hole, but worst case is Monday.

We are so grateful to have our father and husband on the other side of this surgery and know that God is still in control.

Post Surgery Update

Jim had a rough night following surgery with alot of nausea and pain. The morning wasn't much better, but they did figure out that the Morphine pump was causing him great nausea. So, they got rid of that and started giving him Tylenol and Norco which is what he takes for his headaches. We had to ask for something for nausea as well and that finally got better into the evening hour.

The pain didn't let up all day so they finally gave him something more powerful which knocked him out for a few hours. He rested the remainder of the day and is scheduled sometime tonight for a CT Scan to ensure all went well with surgery. We will get those results in the morning.

He is starting to swell again and still has his compression cap on which is the main cause of his pain. They are hoping to take the cap off tomorrow so we will be able to see all his staples again. He had them shave his entire head this time!

Please continue to pray for a speedy recovery and that the pain subsides. Thanks again for all the love and support and prayers.

Surgery was a Success!

Jim was cleared for surgery today, and went in around 11:30am, and was finished around 1:45pm! Everything went perfect, just as God planned and he is currently in recovery. Another drain (similar to the EVD) has been temporarily put back in his head. So he should be in the hospital 2 to 3 days depending on how recovery goes. We will keep you posted as we find more information out! Thank you for all the continued prayers!!!! GOD IS GOOD!

Today is the Day! - Surgery #2-Cranioplasty

Well, here we are 4 months after Jim fell ready to go back in and put the skull together again. Two days ago, Jim started getting a cold with a runny nose and a bit of a sore throat, but no fever. The hospital is aware of this and will evaluate him when we arrive at 9:00 a.m. If he has a fever or they feel he's too sick, there is a possibility that surgery will be delayed for several weeks. We are trusting God for whatever happens because he is still in control and he is much more wise them us.

Jim is anxious about this surgery, but looking forward to getting past this and being able to sneeze, blow his nose, bend over, etc. As usual, we ask for your prayers to be with Jim, the Drs, Nurses, and all staff that will be in the operating room with him and caring for him before and after surgery. His surgery is scheduled for 11:15 this morning and should last a few hours. We won't know anything before 2:00 p.m. and we will try to post something immediately. We thank you all for the love, support and prayers thru this entire process.

Weekly Update

Jim has been kept very busy by meetings, birthdays, going out to eat, church, etc. Well here we are at the final week before surgery and he is healthy and looking forward to being put back together.

We appreciate all your prayers that have gotten him to this point and thank you so much for continuing to pray thru this next surgery. This is a two hour surgery and should be only two days in ICU if all goes well. We expect that things will go very well and he will be home in time for Thanksgiving. What a glorious Thanksgiving that will be!! God is still in control and we know he won't desert him now. God is faithful and true and thats all I need to lean on.

Weekly Update

Jim has had some lazy days of sleeping in, not getting out much due to headaches and he's had some great days where we run around most of the day and he gets worn out and sleeps really good.

All in all, can't complain. He's avoided all the flu bugs so far and we're still on track for Nov. 19th. Keep up the prayers, we're going to need them as the 19th approaches. We're still trusting that God is in complete control of this and feel very confident that things will go well.

11 more days!!!

Tuesday & Wednesday Update

The last few days have been pretty good with few headaches. Jim spent some time at church, with friends, co-workers and family. Of course his favorite activity is eating and yes he has gained about 20 pounds back from the original 40 he lost.

15 more days!

Monday Update

Jim received the results from the Sleep Deprived 8-Hour EEG and the Dr. said that there were spikes in the brain waves which could indicate seizure activity but they were inconclusive. So, they are leaving him on the seizure meds for six months with another evaluation at that point. So, we are trusting that God is taking care of this and we will focus on staying healthy until surgery.

Monday was a lazy day, but a headache day all day for Jim. He was able to whip up a batch of his amazing chocolate chip cookies after dinner, so things did get better.

Please continue to pray that Jim stays healthy and headaches are at a minimum until 11/19/09.

16 more days til surgery!

Sunday Update

What an incredible sermon this sunday! Went to church and out to lunch with amazing friends, then home for some relaxation and reading. Hoping to hear some results this week from the 8-Hour EEG.

18 days til surgery!

Friday & Saturday Update

Friday started off with breakfast with the folks to begin celebrating our 27 Year Anniversary! Next, off to Sears to purchase a snow blower for me to use since Jim has been ordered never to shovel snow. Then, home for some rest before heading to dinner and then Candypalooza at the church in the evening. Several people shared how they had been praying for Jim and was so glad to see him doing so well.

Saturday was a great day to sleep in. Jim was nice enough to cook us breakfast and then we had a wonderful visit from Bobby & Tonia! Its been a blustery Fall day full of relaxation.

20 days til Surgery!

Thursday Update

Wow, what an early morning! Ashley did a great job of keeping dad up and he only caught a couple of minutes of sleep on her watch.

We arrived at the hospital a few minutes after seven and it took them 45 minutes to hook up all the electrodes they had on his head. He was sporting quite a look with 28 wires hanging all over his head. Yes, I have a picture! He slept thru most of his test which is what they wanted. The nurse said there were some abnormal spikes but the Neurologist would have to read the whole test to see if there was anything to be concerned about. We'll find out next week what those results are. The whole family is exhausted and is turning in early tonight.

Thanks for all your awesome prayers! We'll publish the results as soon as we hear.

21 more days til surgery!

Wednesday Update

Started the day attending a funeral for an 18 year old beautiful young lady who lost the battle to cancer. Very emotional as Jim walked past the casket knowing how close he came to lying there. God definitely has a plan for him and the journey has just begun. Tomorrow is the 8-Hour Sleep Deprived EEG which means he stays up all night tonight. Ashley is on dad duty to keep him awake so mom can sleep. Thank you!!

Please pray that anything that needs to be revealed will be and that God's will be done during this test.

You have my heart
and I am yours forever
You are my strength
God of Grace and Power

Tuesday Update

We received the pre-op blood work and CT Scan results from the Dr. His hemoglobin is a little on the low side, but nothing to prevent surgery and his CT scan showed no change from the 9/13/09 scan which is great! He is officially cleared for surgery on 11/19/09, so now we just have to keep him healthy so nothing else prevents that.

Tuesday we got up and went out to breakfast and visited with a few people at church. Spent the afternoon relaxing and napping and an amazing dinner with friends. We are so grateful to God for how far Jim has come. We are so thankful for all of you that have continued to pray without ceasing for his recovery. As the surgery date approaches, we are excited for him to get his bone plate put back in, but he is a little anxious to go under the knife again. So, we just ask that you continue to pray and that God gives Jim a sense of peace about this.

1 more day until his 8-hour EEG
22 days til surgery

Monday Update

Jim woke up with a headache today and stayed in bed until noon. He ran one errand and was back in bed with another headache. Woke up around the dinner hour and felt much better. It will be an early night for bedtime and hopefully a good day tomorrow.

3 days til the EEG
24 days til the cranioplasty

Thanks for your continued prayers

Saturday & Sunday Update

Saturday started out with a meeting at church, lunch, then home for a two hour nap. Then it was off to dinner at the folks and an early bed.

Sunday morning went to church, lunch, then home for a two hour nap and then dinner and bible study. It was another early bedtime for Jim.

The goal was to get him out everyday and keep him moving so we were sure he'd be tired enough to sleep thru the night. Mission accomplished! He's slept thru the night for weeks and hasn't had a sleeping pill in 10 days!

3 more days til the 8-Hour Sleep Deprived EEG.........
25 more days til the Cranioplasty...........

Thursday & Friday Update

Thursday morning we met some friends for a fabulous breakfast at a nearby cafe, a quick run to the store and home for a nap. Relaxation and reading the rest of the day.

Friday started out with breakfast with a friend, home for a nap, reading and more reading and then off to a fabulous potluck dinner at church. Awesome chicken dip and dirt cake!

Tuesday & Wednesday Update

Tuesday was a relaxing day, a visit to church, and early to bed.

Wednesday was a good day until early afternoon when the headache began. Hopefully a good night sleep will remove it completely. Weather related? Maybe.

Monday Update

Jim had a Dr. appt. with his primary Dr. as a follow up check to see how things were going. His blood pressure, strength and meds are all good, so we won't go back to the primary dr. until after his surgery. After that, he had coffee with a friend, home for dinner and relaxing and reading until bedtime.

31 more days til surgery!

Sunday Update

Awesome day at church today with a great message and inspiring music. After church, we went to lunch and went for a walk. That pretty much tired him out, so its been a relaxing evening on the couch watching movies and poker tournaments.

32 days til surgery!

Friday & Saturday Update

Friday was a lazy and quiet day and the first time Jim was left alone since July 19th, but only for an hour. He was fine with it, but we were nervous. We made him promise not to do anything but relax and I think he was happy when we finally left. Of course when we returned, he had taken a nap and was just fine. He stayed home all day and did some reading and relaxing.

Saturday we met the folks for breakfast, out of town friends for lunch and more friends for dinner. I didn't have to cook all day on Sweetest Day! Needless to say, Jim is tired, but he did get to take a two hour nap before dinner.

33 more days til surgery!

Thursday Update

Today started out good with Jim sleeping in late and then going to lunch with a co-worker. After that we went to the hospital for some blood work, urine sample and CT Scan which are the final tests he has to take before his November 19th surgery. So, if we hear nothing in the next two weeks, then Jim is good to go for the19th.

On the way home he developed a headache and took a two hour nap, got up for dinner and is spending the rest of the evening on the couch under a blanket. Thanks for all the prayers!

Wednesday Update

Jim has to go for a CT Scan on Thursday and some bloodwork which should be the last of his tests before surgery. We're hoping he has no excess fluids which would be a reason to delay surgery. So, we're praying everything looks good and that Nov. 19th will still be the day for the Craniotomy.
Not sure when we'll get these results, but we'll let you know when we find out.

Thanks for the continued prayers and support! We know God is still in control and we trust him completely.

Tuesday Update

Today was a headache day until into the evening hours. He took lots of naps and meds but the headache never completely left. Hopefully a good night sleep tonight will be the cure!


I am yours regardless of
the clouds that may loom above
because you are much greater than the pain

Monday Dr. Appt. Update

The surgeon was very pleased with Jim's progress and had no hesitation in setting the date for his Crainiotomy for November 19th. Before this surgery he has to have another CT scan and more blood work to ensure everything is within range.

This surgery should take approximately two hours and his stay in ICU will be two days. They will be re-opening the original cut and replacing the skull and stapling the cut back. They will leave the staples in for three weeks since its an area that has already been opened. He will no longer have to wear his helmet and will be able to do those things we all take for granted such as: coughing, sneezing, blowing his nose.

We appreciate all the prayers and look forward to the 19th!!

Important Dr appt in the morning

Unfortunately, Jim has a headache tonight. He has a very early appointment in the morning with the Doctor to see when his bone can go back in his head.

I would like to ask that everyone please pray that everything goes well and that his healing process is right on target.. or even better than expected!

we'll keep you updated.

Friday & Saturday Update

Our goal is to get Jim out of the house to gain some stamina and to give him new walls to stare at.

On Friday he slept in very late and then got up and went to lunch with his daughter and some friends. After that he came home and relaxed and went out to dinner.

Saturday morning was a breakfast meeting at church (right up Jim's alley) and we spent the rest of the day completely relaxing, watching movies and the Michigan game.

Wednesday & Thursday Update

Wednesday was a very relaxing day for Jim. He had a lazy day for most of the day, but we finally got him out of the house in the early evening just to make sure he did some moving around. We took him to dinner and then came home for some more relaxing.

Thursday he woke up with a headache (weather related) and laid around most of the day again fighting it. It was one of those nagging headaches that didn't want to go away so we got him out again to go to dinner and a movie at a friends house.

He is very anxious to go to his Dr. appt on Monday to see when the bone flap is going back in and hopefully get rid of these headaches. He received a letter from the Neurologist that scheduled his 8-Hour Sleep Deprived Video EEG to increase his seizure medicine to ensure he has no more seizures.

Thanks for your continued prayers and support. You'll never know how much we appreciate you all.

Monday & Tuesday Update

Monday was a lazy day with a headache in the afternoon that lingered into the evening hours. He was unable to sleep, but finally called it quits about 5:00 a.m.

Today we went to breakfast with the folks and lunch with friends, then spent the rest of the day taking naps while relaxing, watching tv and reading. Hopefully tonight he will sleep much better.

Sunday Update

Jim woke up with a small headache that seemed to linger throughout the day, but manageable with meds. He was able to go to church, then out to lunch and relaxed for the remainder of the day. We are still thinking these kinds of headaches are weather related since they don't put him to bed. We will hope for sunshine tomorrow so the nagging headache will go away.

Jim continues to meet new people who share stories of a family member or someone they know with a brain aneurysm and are amazed at how remarkable he is doing. We are constantly reminded of God's Glory and know that God has a plan for Jim.

everything you hold in your hand
still you make time for me, I can't understand
Praise you God of earth and sky
how beautiful is your unfailing love

Friday & Saturday Update

Friday Jim had a relaxing day and slept 12 hours! He developed a headache in the afternoon but was able to sleep it off after a two hour nap. After that we had some homemade chicken noodle soup and then went to church for a meeting.

He didn't sleep good at all Friday night, but we were still able to make it to a memorial service for a wonderful man. He came home from that and took a two hour nap and went to church for a great sermon and then out to eat with some friends. Hopefully tonight he will sleep much better after good conversation, laughs and great food.

Thursday Update

Jim had a very busy day today which started with breakfast and reading, then off to lunch with a co-worker. After that he showed off his grand daughter to his co-workers and back home to rest for a while. For dinner, we went o A&W for his first root beer since his surgery and he still likes it! After dinner we went to church for a meeting and Jim enjoyed listening to the band practice for the weekend service. He even got a bonus because they were celebrating a birthday and he enjoyed a piece of bumpy cake and ice cream. He came home and was exhausted and a slight headache and went to bed by 8:30. We just pray that he sleeps thru the night and wakes up feeling refreshed and no headache.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2-3

Wednesday Update

The day started with Jim cooking breakfast and then relaxing and some reading. He developed a headache and took a nap for a few hours. After that we spent some time with our granddaughter and took her for a walk. Jim felt well enough to assist me in some yard work by holding the bag open while I pulled the plants up that no longer produce vegetables. We worked up an appetite and went to dinner with one of our daughters at Bob Evans where Jim was spotted as that guy in the newspaper. Its great to be able to share his story with so many people and talk about God's Glory. Sleeping is still going good and we're SO grateful for that.

His 8-Hour Sleep Deprived EEG is scheduled for late October, so we'll have to see what comes first, the test or the surgery for the bone flap. Of course we won't know this until his appointment with the Surgeon in a few weeks.

Tuesday Update

Yesterday was a good day for Jim. We got out early in the morning to go to breakfast and he came home and put in several hours of reading. After that, we went for a short shopping trip and spent some time with our granddaughter. Then it was dinner and off to church to hear Bob Dutko and Dr. Grady McMurtry. Stopped in for a late night snack at the coney island after church with our daughter and he still sleeping thru the night. Life is good and God is Great!

All your promises won't let go of me....
I am walking the path you have made
I am seeking the truth everyday

Monday Update

Today was a cool, breezy and rainy day which seemed to give Jim a headache for a majority of it. He got up, had some breakfast, went back to bed for a couple of hours and took it easy the rest of the day. We put him to work this evening cooking his awesome bacon for some BLT's while the tomatoes are still fresh from the garden.


I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain

Sunday Update

Today was a nice relaxing day for Jim. Went to church this morning and enjoyed a fantastic worship service and songs then went to lunch with some friends and came home and relaxed the rest of the day watching movies. Sure felt good to do nothing for once!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
and the things on earth
will grow strangely dim
in the light of his glory and grace

Saturday Update

Jim slept pretty good last night and slept in pretty late. Woke up with a nagging headache that didn't go away until more meds and a nap this afternoon. He woke up early afternoon feeling much better and was able to help prepare a roast beef dinner and enjoy an apple pie tonight with friends.

The only thing I need I already have
The fullness of Your mercy in my hand
The only One who loves me as I am

Friday Update

Jim didn't sleep so good Thursday night and we had a full day planned on Friday. We met the folks for breakfast again in the morning and a friend for lunch. During that lunch, we received a phone call that we had a Neurologist appt. in 45 minutes! Someone forgot to inform us that we had an appointment so we rushed out to Troy to see the Dr.

The Neurologist wants Jim to take an 8-Hour Sleep Deprived Video EEG since the regular EEG came back Normal. They want him to have a full day the day prior to the test, go to bed at the regular time and get up at 4:00 a.m. and come to the Main Hospital for this test. They have ordered this because they suspect he is having small seizures especially when he's "excited" the brain too much and this is the only way to find out. That will be some time in late October and will not interfere with the plan to get the bone flap back in. The Dr. said the bone flap was the number one priority.

The trip to Troy is the longest he has taken in a vehicle. He did fine on the way out, but on the way back we ran into some heavy traffic and it was stop and go on I-75 (what a surprise!). This caused Jim to have a MONSTER headache by the time I got him home and he spent the rest of the day in bed. We watched him carefully to make sure there were no issues with slurring, seizures and drooping on his left side. So far, so good!

Keep up the prayers, they definately work. This is such an unpredictable situation and we are still learning what brings on the headaches. We still believe that God will fully restore Jim and can't wait til he's back in front of people talking about how Awesome God is!

Lord You know our hearts don't deserve Your glory
Still You show a love we cannot afford

Thursday Update

Jim had a very busy day today being up and out and about. We met the folks for breakfast first thing in the morning and came home and spent some time with the girls. After that we took Jim for a haircut, he sat and read for a while and took a short nap. Then I got him out again and we went to dinner and then visited mom and dad for a cup of coffee. Hopefully he will sleep good again tonight!

Sleep has been so much better since Monday!!!! God is so good!!! Its an amazing difference when he rests. His voice is stronger and he's feeling so much stronger and confident about everything. We really see a daily difference now toward him getting stronger just on three nights of sleep. I just pray that this continues so when we see the Dr. in mid October to get approved for the bone flap going back in that its good news and immediate surgery.

Lord You know
Our hearts don't deserve Your glory
Still You show
A love we cannot afford

Wednesday Update

Jim had another good night's sleep last night! He woke up this morning feeling pretty good and made us all breakfast which he LOVES to do. After a little bit of reading, he laid down for a nap due to a small headache and ended up sleeping several hours! He woke up, ate some dinner and met with some of the men from church.

All in all a pretty good day! He's getting back to normal because he sent his daughter for a Taco Bell run a few minutes ago!

And still we praise our saviour
in spirit and in truth
For we cannot say enough about you

Tuesday Update

What a fantastic day this has been! Jim woke up from a pretty good nights sleep after taking the prescription for sleep that the Dr. suggested. It started out with Jim taking me out to breakfast for my birthday, then having lunch with friends. After that we visited his work to say hello to everyone which was great. Then he got to sit back and watch me baptize a good friend at church and ended the day eating our favorite chinese food from Shong Hey. Yum!

I received the most precious gift of all and that was time with my husband ALL DAY. I thank God that he's here to share it with me. I am tremendously blessed to be married to such an amazing and wonderful man.

Monday Update

Jim went to his Primary Dr today and he suggested a safe combination of meds to hopefully help him sleep. He was exhausted from very little sleep last night and the Dr. said he definitely needed something to help him sleep so he can heal.

He came home and took a nap for a few hours and felt very rested. He felt good enough to make some spaghetti for dinner and is currently making chocolate chip cookies! He's amazing!!

God is good all the time and he is STILL in control!!

Sunday Update

Jim started out the day feeling good from a restful nights sleep with help from a sleeping aid. He was able to go to church and worship and reconnect with some of his friends. After church he went down for a short nap and then spent the evening at my surprise birthday party! I didn't know he could keep secrets! What a blessing it is to have such a wonderful family. God has truly blessed us!

Saturday Update

The day started out with exhaustion from no sleep the night before. He even took an Ambien and that didn't even help. Frustrating! He spent most of the day in bed trying to fight feeling tired and a headache. He finally perked up about the dinner hour and we kept him busy grilling burgers and dogs. We're hoping for a good night sleep tonight!!!

Thanks for the prayers and continued love and support.

Thursday / Friday Update

Jim has had a few days of no headaches, thank God! We've started a new routine of walking a few times a day and keeping him busy during the day more. He tires easier because of this, but he will get use to it and get stronger. We've enjoyed our daily walks together with our granddaughter and the beautiful weather.

He tried Benadryl for a sleep aid and that didn't work at all and last night Ambien didn't work either! He slept one hour on Thursday afternoon and that was a thoroughly restful sleep, but the sleep at night is patchy and down very few hours. We will get a handle on this eventually!! We're going to go ahead with keeping him busy during the day and eventually he will have a good nights sleep.

We appreciate your prayers for continued healing and sleep and know that God will resolve this as he always does, if we let him.

Wednesday Update

Today we started a new routine to help Jim tire throughout the day. I woke him up around 8:30 a.m. and we ate breakfast and then went for a walk. After that he became dizzy from his seizure pill which is new and took a short nap. Then he sat and read for a while and then had lunch and then we went for another walk. He sat and read some more until the dinner hour and finished the evening out on the phone with several friends.

All in all a pretty good day and a good start for the new routine.

Choose to be thankful in all circumstances, and God will give you peace. God deserves your very best praises!

Back Home Again!

Jim came home last night after they did an echo of the heart. They are leaning more towards a seizure and want him to follow up with Neurology for a full seizure work up outpatient. He is now on seizure medicine just in case until the work up is complete. Sometimes you can have small seizures in your sleep and not be aware of them which is what they suspect has happened.

The Dr. truly feels that sleep deprivation was the main factor for the setback and decided to give him a sleeping aid. Thank God! It was also stressed that we need to develop a routine to train the body to be up for a certain amount of time and down for several hours of sleep. So we will work on developing that plan today.

Each time Jim goes to the hospital we get good information from the tests and doctors and get more educated. They said within the next 3 to 4 weeks there should be no problems putting the bone flap back in based on what they saw. So when he goes for his appointment in October, it should be good news to set a date to do that.

Thanks again for your diligent prayers, love and support! God is real, He is Awesome and has never let us down. I love how we're all praying so much for this healing and hopefully some of us are developing that habit of praying more every day.

Sunday and Monday Update

Jim had an awesome and emotional time on Sunday at church. He spoke at both services and then we both baptized our youngest daughter that we've been praying about for over a year. What an incredibly blessed day we had!

After church we enjoyed some food, talked with our youngest about her New Life and Jim went down for a 2 1/2 hour nap. He woke up around 6:30 said he felt rested and was excited that he slept for that long. Around 7:15 he noticed his speech began to slur and he had some drooping on the left side of his face. I immediately called the Dr. and was connected with the Neurosurgery Dept at Henry Ford. They advised me to bring Jim in to get some tests on him to see if they could determine what was going on. Within a few minutes of being at the hospital, one of the Dr.s that worked on Jim when he came in on 7/19 was on call and ordered tests STAT. Within 45 minutes we knew it was not a leaker from the original clips or another aneurysm. He began to improve within an hour and the slurring was gone. They ordered an MRI, found nothing and decided to admit him for further testing in the morning.

On Monday, they did an EEG and another Angiongram which were both normal. This verified that there was no seizure, stroke or spasms. We questioned what had caused this and the Dr. feels that sleep deprivation is a large part of it because the body needs sleep to heal. We asked if his talk over the weekend was the cause of this episode and they didn't feel it was. They said if he felt fine while he was speaking and immediately after then this was not the cause of this setback.

They informed us that drooping of the face was a normal thing that they see and its the body saying I need more rest but when its accompanied with slurring then its a possible seizure or stroke. He is hoping to come home tomorrow as long as his potassium levels are back to normal.

We appreciate the continued prayers and love and support. God is still on the throne, he is still amazing and he is still in control of Jim's healing. We are believing that Jim will be fully restored and continue to talk about God's Glory!

Back to Church!

All together, Jim had a great day. This afternoon he had a pretty bad headache after his haircut, but he recovered just in time for church! He did a FANTASTIC job and we are extremely proud of him!!

Jim got a chance to meet some of the paramedics that helped save him on July 19th and got a chance to publicly honor them. He also recognized the Medical Response Team at church and the 2 people that performed CPR. It was very emotional for everyone to see him on stage for the first time and also emotional for him, not a dry eye in the house! He ended his talk with a prayer, and this time, he said AMEN!!

He is excited about the 2 services tomorrow and can't wait to see everyone.
Hope you can all make it!!

After some nice family time, it took Jim forever to get himself to sleep last night. So today wasn't a very active day for him. He took about a 3 hour nap this afternoon and woke up with a headache. It finally went away after some time.

On a lighter note... Jim had some awesome Chinese tonight, again, and loved every bite of it!!

The family can't wait to see every one this weekend at church!

Thursday Update

JIM GOT 7 1/2 HOURS OF SLEEP!!!!!!

We were so grateful to God for allowing him to FINALLY get some rest. Before he fell asleep, we talked about the frustration of not being able to sleep thru the night and how he needed be thankful for each minute God allowed him to sleep. We reminded him that God is giving him what he needs and to utilize the time awake for God's purpose. Its amazing what happens when we fully submit our problems to God and BELIEVE he will take care of it.

Jim walked almost a half mile tonight with his daughter and granddaughter!!! What amazing strides he is making!! We are tremendously blessed by God's Grace! So, we're hoping that all of this activity makes him tired enough tonight to sleep good again.

Thanks for all the prayers, love and support!!

Wednesday Update

Jim had a rough time trying to sleep last night. His biggest hurdle is still insomnia at this point. He's averaging about 4 hours a night which results in long days. He was up most of the day today trying to relax as much as possible and grilled some awesome chicken for dinner. Yum! Still hasn't lost his touch!

Unfortunately, the Dr. won't allow Jim to have any sleep aids or benadryl or tylenol p.m. or anything due to the severity of his surgery! Warm showers wake him up, he hates warm tea and warm milk. We ask for continued prayers that he gets over this hurdle soon and has at least a six hour sleep.

The whole family is excited about the weekend as Jim prepares his thoughts to Honor the Medical Team at church on Saturday @ 6:00 p.m. and Sunday @ 9:45 and 11:30 a.m. Hope to see you all there!

Tuesday Update

Today was a day of headaches from the moment Jim got up until late afternoon. He spent the entire day in bed but finally was able to shake it. We're wondering if the weather has something to do with it. Hmmm.

Monday Update

Jim had a couple of good days and has enjoyed some wonderful home cooked meals. He received a special treat which tasted good, a Cherry Arctic Freeze from DQ!

He has done well riding in a vehicle over the past few days, so things are progressing forward! Still learning how to manage the headaches, but we're getting better at doing so.

Hope everyone had a safe holiday. We are grateful that Jim spent it with us!

Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow.....

Saturday Update

What a great day Jim had today!

He didn't sleep very well at all last night, but rested a majority of the morning and early afternoon. We took a walk around the block after he woke up and rested some more. He felt well enough to go to church this evening and enjoy the awesome music from the praise band and wonderful teaching from Pastor Brett. He was thrilled to see so many of the people he had been missing for too many weeks.

We are so grateful for how God continues to heal Jim and allow him to progress forward a little every day. He is looking forward to returning next week and being able to honor the team of people that saved his life.

God is so good!

Small friday night update

Last night, Jim had the longest night sleep since he has been home. Unfortunately, he developed a small headache in the morning and went back to bed for a few hours. He woke up and felt much better in the afternoon.
Jim didn't feel like getting out for a walk today at all and we are hoping that it will not interfere with his sleep tonight. Other than that he had a restful day, some good Chinese food and is taking another headache pill and heading off to bed!

Again, words can't express how touched Jim is with all of the love and support given by family and friends.

"You hold my life
You know my heart and you call me by name
I Live To Say, God You Reign!"

Thursday Update

Well Jim increased his activity today by walking around the block rather than just four houses like he has been. He did great and no headache or weird feeling at all. Yeah!!

Jim has a goal now to feel better so he can be at church the weekend of 9/12 and 9/13 to Honor the Medical Response Team that saved his life. His goal is to be stronger and be able to endure the car ride to church which is 20 minutes. This is very important to us all and we are behind him all the way to push himself, but not too much, and be able to get back to church.

Mark your calender!!

Wednesday Update

Jim had a pretty good day yesterday with some relaxing, tv, reading and sitting outside for a bit and enjoying this awesome weather.

His current battle is sleeping thru the night. He hasn't been able to do that for some time and we can't give him sleep aids because its a neurological issue. He doesn't drink tea, so thats not an option and his activity is limited. Frustrating to say the least!

So, we appreciate all your prayers especially for this battle because lack of sleep brings on those monster headaches. Thanks for all you do!

I'm waiting
waiting on you Lord and I am hopeful
Waiting on you Lord though it is painful
but patiently I will wait....

Tuesday Update

Sorry I forgot to post last night! Jim had a good day with a morning visit from a friend, afternoon nap, short walk, more relaxing, reading, dinner and THEN a five minute car ride! I got up to 25 mph with no headache or dizziness. I know it sounds silly, but these are great strides forward for Jim.

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures......

Monday Update

Today started off a headache but he was able to take some meds, get some rest and just lay around for several hours. He got up late this afternoon and felt much better, went for a short walk and even tolerated a two minute car ride! Now, I only drove 15 mph, but it worked!

Baby steps forward, but its in the right direction. We give thanks to our Lord and Saviour for continuing to heal Jim. We are so grateful to have him here with us and love watching his progress.

In the chaos, in confusion
I know You’re Sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give me grace to do Your will......

Sunday Update

Another good day today visiting with family in the early part of the day, enjoying the cool breeze, went for a walk and enjoyed a fantastic dinner that was brought by good friends.

The family is getting spoiled rotten with all these dinners and treats that keep arriving. We appreciate it so very much and thank you all for the thoughtfulness.

I can feel your presence here with me
Suddenly I'm lost within your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of your touch
Here in this moment I surrender to your love

I surrender to your grace
I surrender to the one who took my place

Saturday Update

Another great day for Jim after an awesome night sleep. Enjoyed old favorite movies with his daughter, reading, sitting outside and enjoying the breeze, naps and chinese food.

We are so grateful for the progress he has made and continue to makes. We know God is still in charge and always will be.

You reign, Glory in the highest, you Reign.........

Friday Update

Jim slept thru the night with minor problems and was able to keep his breakfast down. He sat around for a while, relaxed, watched tv, and read and felt much better. He was able to eat some Chinese food tonight which surprised us all! He said today is a much better day than yesterday and some of the swelling has gone down also. I'm sure there's a correlation there somewhere.

Thanks for your prayers and well wishes, we truly appreciate them all.

I am yours regardless of the clouds that may loom above because you are much greater than my pain.

Thursday Update

Today has not been a great day for Jim. He woke up with a huge headache, took some meds, took a nap and still had it when he woke up this afternoon. He has only had a piece of toast all day since his tummy feels yucky too. Its been a day of drugs and ice packs to no avail.

We pray that as the evening wears on, he will get some relief and develop an appetite.

I can feel your presence here with me
Suddenly I'm lost within your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of your touch
Here in this moment I surrender to your love

Wednesday Update

Jim's latest lab work came back with all ranges Normal for the first time since surgery. Its amazing what trauma does to the body and how long it takes to recover. Its even more amazing to receive God's tremendous blessings and give him all the glory!

The family has enjoyed amazing quality time together, so this has been a wonderful blessing. As I type, he is cooking some bacon so we can have some delicious BLT's! Its hard to keep him down all day, so I figured cooking bacon was ok.

Tuesday Update

Well, Jim slept thru the night for the first time since July 18th. We are so excited about that because that means his bladder is back to its normal capacity and he's feeling more rested.

Still requesting his favorite meals and enjoying them which is good to see. Had to go buy him some jeans today that don't fall off of him when he stands.

He spends his days sleeping, reading, short walks, eating and watching tv. He's getting that wonderful hearty laugh back and its AWESOME to hear. God is good all the time!!!

Monday Update

Today was a good day. Jim took a few naps, ate good meals, took a short walk, and visited with some neighbors. Its awesome to see him get stronger every day and request his favorite meals. He wanted to go for a walk around the block, but since we've only walked four houses, I nixed it. I know, how mean am I!

Sunday Update

Jim had a rough night with tummy aches and headaches thru the night. He did not sleep well at all and then slept a majority of the day today. He perked up after the dinner hour after some delicious BLT's!

He is starting to get antsy, wanting to get out some, so please pray for patience for Jim. Our goal is to try and make it to church in a few weeks, so we'll see how things go between now and then.

Thanks for the continued prayers, meals, cards, calls and texts.

Col 1:11
We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need.

Saturday Update

Today Jim walked four houses, visited with neighbors while on his walk and ate a pretty good sized dinner. He requested his favorite chicken dinner and ate too much, of course.

He seems to be down to a nap in the late morning and a nap in mid afternoon. He is amazed as to how tired he is for doing nothing all the time. We have encouraged him to read more and play some computer games to see if that helps exercise the brain.

We are hoping in a few weeks to return to church services, but until then he listens to sermons online and worships to the music we were given while he was in the hospital.

Friday Update

Jim is doing very well. He is eating a few meals a day now which is helping him gain strength. Each day its awesome to watch him grow stronger and stay up longer.

He finally looked at all the pictures we took of his progress starting from all the dedicated people who stayed with us thru the night of surgery until the day he came home. He just sat back and said he can't believe what we went thru and was sorry for any pain or worry he caused. That is so Jim!!

Thursday Update

Jim had a good night sleep last night and was able to stay up for several hours today without a headache. He is taking shorter naps during the day and able to enjoy reading while awake.

The entire family is enjoying all the DELICIOUS meals that are arriving every day. We are getting spoiled but we are so grateful for all the hard work that is being put into preparing them.

Thanks again for all the continued prayers.

Wednesday Update

Jim is starting to stay up a little longer each time. He walked outside today using his walker without a major headache, so we are progressing! He only walked two houses, but its progress!

He ate a ham and cheese omelet for breakfast today and some chicken stew for dinner last night. I think the appetite is coming back. He did discover that the Double Stuf Oreo cookies that he LOVES tastes really bad now. Not sure if that is the meds he is still on or the operation itself. Time will tell, I suppose.

Thanks for the cards that continue to pour in each day. Its so nice to see how often he is thought of.

Tuesday Update

Not much new to report today. Jim is starting to figure out what he needs to do to minimize pain so this is a very good thing. He ate a really good dinner tonight and is getting braver by not using the walker all the time. He enjoyed some time outside catching up on some much needed reading. He is still sleeping about 18 hours a day so visits are still a ways off.

Thanks for your continued prayers, love, support, food, hugs, calls, and texts.

Monday Update

The Nurse came by this morning and took out his pic line which frees him from any foreign objects hanging on his body. It will be nice for him to take a shower tomorrow without being wrapped in plastic wrap! Press N Seal works pretty awesome!

He is still very tired but was able to visit with family from Shanghai for a short time to bid them farewell and a safe flight home.

Jim is averaging about 18 to 20 hours of sleep per day so its tricky to say when he is up and available for visits. Some of those hours are at wee hours of the morning too. The Dr told him to rest in a horizontal position as much as possible so we are trying to make sure that happens. His headaches come on like a freight train without warning so when they hit they are fierce.

Thanks for the continued prayers and patience. God is good all the time!

Jim is still very tired today. His level of exhaustion is excessive and the headaches are MONSTERS! He slept a majority of the day yesterday which is what the Dr. says is the best thing for him. Today will be the end of the IV Infusions since his Meningitis is cleared up. This will give all of us an opportunity to sleep thru the night and catch up on some much needed rest. PRAISE GOD!!!!

Jim is missing his church family and friends and says to tell everyone hello and he appreciates all the prayers, love and support. He's hoping soon that he'll be up for visits from everyone.

Thanks for your continued prayers! God is Awesome and his Glory continues to shine!

Good News it is!!

Jim is back home again! All the tests they did confirmed he is on the road to recovery regarding fluids and pressure in the brain. They are saying that his dinner upset his tummy and that we did the right thing to bring him in since the symptoms are the same for increased brain pressure. He is resting in bed with a pounding headache so we don't expect much activity from him today. They did confirm that the Meningitis is clear so that was more good news!

Thanks again for your continued prayers, love and support. We know that God is sustaining us all and that he sends his angels to check on us all the time and we love you all so much for that.

Day Three Update

Well, we had a small setback Friday evening. Jim started with a headache around 5:00 p.m. and nausea and vomiting after dinner. Since those are symptoms of increased brain pressure, we put him in the car and drove him back to Henry Ford ER.

God is so awesome!! The doctor that was on call tonight, was the same doctor who took care of him in ICU!

They first did a CT scan, which came back even better than the scan from the day he was discharged.
However after the CT scan, the assessment showed weakness on his left side. So they decided to do a CT Angiogram. The results haven't came back from the CTA yet, but we will post them once we find out the (GOOD) news!

Satan is finally realizing how BIG of a mistake he made, so he's going to do whatever he can to bring our hopes and faith down..... HAHAHA! Does he really know who he's messing with!?

We ask for your continued prayers as we wait for the CTA results, and for the rest of Jim's healing process.
God is SO good!! We know he'll be there to protect Jim every step of the way!

Day Three Home

We had our first stressful morning since Jim's been home due to IV's not cooperating and taking twice as long to infuse. A Nurse I am not! Jim's strength is slowly returning as we see him being "brave" and not using the walker all the time. His appetite is also becoming more normal and he is requesting foods. Yeah!

Jim asked to be taken to church to see the spot where he fell. He also was able to see a video of himself at the early church service to "prove" he was there. Pastor Ron and some friends were there with us and prayed over that spot and rejoiced that Jim was able to stand this time. We were wondering if this would spark any memory of being there at all, but of course it did not.

Nine infusions to go before he gets his pic line out on Monday; he can't wait!

Day Two Home

Jim's appetite is slowly coming back but he fills up very quickly. We are guessing he lost 15 - 20 pounds in the hospital and his stomach has definitely shrunk. He stayed up a majority of the day yesterday which resulted in the fluids around the brain to drain more than it has so we are encouraging him to start taking a few naps a day to stabilize those.

Its wonderful to see Jim reading the Word and his books again. We've had some awesome family discussions about what happened, how everyone felt and how incredibly grateful and blessed we are to have each other.

Jim spent a long time looking at all the cards and posters everyone has sent and shakes his head in awe of all the love and support and changed lives that has happened because of this. God is Awesome and Amazing and the Olson Family is on FIRE FOR HIM!!!

First day Home!

Jim was VERY happy to sleep in his own bed last night. He's only sleeping a few hours at a time trying to retrain the bladder so his level of exhaustion is still very high. He gets pills every 12 hours and IV meds every six hours so unfortunately we are waking him alot during the day to administer those.

He had an egg, bacon, hash browns, toast, coffee and juice this morning and seemed to enjoy it but we know that the antibiotics are altering his taste buds. After breakfast, he showered and that took alot out of him. The Home Care Nurse showed up this morning and approved how we are caring and administering meds thru the IV, so we were happy about that. We are hoping to get the stitches out of his head tomorrow when they draw blood to check all the levels and kidney function.

He's Home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We made it safely home with the precious cargo and he is exhausted and resting in his favorite spot with the remote control in hand. He developed quite a headache from the bumps, stopping and going on the ride home so we've given him some meds to knock him out for a bit.

I know everyone is anxious to see Jim, but we're asking that you give him some time to get acclimated to being home again and develop a sleep / relaxation routine. We will keep you posted as to when he's up for company, so we truly appreciate your patience and understanding on this.

We can't begin to express how grateful we are to have Jim back home. We are forever grateful for the prayers, food, gifts, money, hugs, kleenex, love and support that we continually received thru this ordeal from family and friends. Most of all we are grateful that this happened because so many lives have been affected and God's Glory has shined thru every step of the way. God heals according to his will and we are thankful and eternally grateful.

HE'S COMING HOME!!!!!!!

The results of the CT scan came back as stable, which clears him to GO HOME!!!!!!!!

A VERY SPECIAL Thank You goes out to Everyone for all the prayers, love, and support!!! It not only was a huge blessing for the family, but a tremendous blessing on Jim!!! We love you all so much & couldn't thank you enough for how much help we've received!!!!

Stay tuned for more updates later after he gets back HOME!!!!!!!

Tuesdays Tests

Jim had a conversation with the Dr this morning about being kept over one more night. He strongly encouraged the Dr that he MUST go home today so we need prayers that is CT Scan will come back perfect and he can come home! His test is at 10:00 a.m. and I'm not sure when we'll get results, but we'll keep you posted. Thanks for the prayers!! God is so AWESOME!

No Visitors Please!

Jim's spinal went well!! The brain pressure is in the perfect range, so now we're waiting for the results on the meningitis which may not be until tomorrow. The test happened later than expected, and due to a later procedure, he must now lay flat until 10pm. Because of this, we are asking for no visitors tonight so he doesn't feel tempted to raise his head!

Physical Therapy also came in this morning before his procedure and did their assessment, and released him to go home as is since he is doing so well getting up & down on his own! The pic line is back in his arm, so the only thing holding us up now is the result from the spinal!

THANKS AGAIN! for the prayers, love, and support!

Tomorrow should be the BIG DAY!!!!!

The Final Test

A spinal tap is scheduled for 9am tomorrow (Monday) to check the pressures on the brain, and to make sure the antibiotics are fighting the meningitis properly. After the procedure is finished, Jim will have to lay flat on his back for 8 hours. The doctors will watch him for an additional 8 hours (after laying flat) to see if his brain can handle the new pressure being put on it once the fluids start to reproduce.

This will be a challenge for Jim to lay flat for 8 hours, and we all know Jim loves to interact with everyone; so we please ask for no visitors until after 6:00 p.m. so he will not be disturbed or tempted to raise his head during this time. This is the final test for Jim's return home! So if all goes well, then the doctors should then give the "all clear" for him be discharged Tuesday morning!

We ask for your continued prayers, and we of course are confident that God will be with Jim and the doctors throughout his procedure.

So.......Stay Tuned For Good News!!!!!

He's Almost There!

Today was yet another relaxing day for Jim, with lots of visits from family & friends! His blood pressure is slowly coming down, sodium levels are finally back to normal, and potassium is still low, but progressing. He is getting up & down much easier now, all on his own! He is scheduled for a Spinal Tap on Monday morning, and as long as it comes back normal, then the target day to come home is Monday night!!! Talk about an AWESOME GOD!!!!!!

One Step Closer to Home!

Exciting news!!! Jim is now in a regular room! He's had clean cultures for 72 hours, and we are entering the last step of his recovery which is Physical Therapy. If he progresses as well as he has with everything else, then he should be home Monday or Tuesday!!!!! He is really enjoying all the visits from everyone, which has helped keep his spirits up & encouraged!
A Special thanks goes out to everyone for all the outpouring of love, support, and prayers throughout Jim's recovery process!

Jim is still doing well. The cultures from his blood work are due to come back tomorrow and hopefully the doctors will come back with good news. Jim still tires very easily and around 8 pm he is settled in bed for the night to sleep. He is enjoying visits from friends again. Char & Jim want to thank everyone so much for all the "angels" that have visited each day and have brought such wonderful gifts, goodies and awesome food!! The blog is going to be mostly updated now by Char and the girls. My sister and I are so glad this blog became such a great success. We can't wait for when Uncle Jim is able to read this and see what an impact he has left on each of our lives. We are so thankful to God that our Uncle Jim is here with us. He is one of the best uncles anyone could ever ask for! We love you!!

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. Romans 1:8

A Step in the right direction

Jim is in a step down unit! He was moved there around 5 am this morning. It is a private room and Char said it is about 90% quieter than the ICU.He will stay there through the weekend and then be moved to a regular room. He tires very easily and the doctors said he will be this way for at least 6-8 weeks. The doctors found another bacteria which they believe came in through his PIC line. The line will be taken out for about 72 hours so in the mean time he will receive his medication through a regular IV. Keep on Praying!

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever."Psalm 28:7-9

Happy News

Today Jim did not seem to be in any pain. He had a CT scan about 930 this evening and it came back normal! The doctor said if all goes well in the night he will be moving to a step down room on Wednesday. He will be in step down for about a week and Physical Therapy will work with him to make sure he is able to walk and get out of bed on his own. He still has no appetite and the meningitis is really taking a toll on him. He stood up for the first time since Sunday and he became very dizzy and nauseous. He is very exhausted and sleeps for most of the day. Thank you all so much for your prayers and well wishes. Please continue to pray for his full recovery.

1 Chronicles 16:8 Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.

Jim had a much needed restful day. His brain is handling the increased pressure which is great news! His blood pressure and heart rate are back to normal and his fever broke around 6pm. He has a stiff neck but that's from the meningitis & his appetite is not quite back to normal. His pain is being managed with medication and he is on 3 different antibiotics to fight the infection. His doctor would like to get him into a step down room soon but for now they are watching closely to make sure the meningitis does not irritate his brain and cause seizures.
Char wanted to share a conversation she and Trisha had with Jim's doctor on Monday. He pulled up 3 different brain scans and asked them to look at them and see if they could find any difference between them. He told them to look at the darkness in each picture. Char and Trisha could not find anything different as they all looked the same. The doctor said the person in the first scan died 4 days ago, the second person died 2 days ago and the third person is Jim!! The doctor said Jim had the largest most massive bleed anyone could have. It was in the most strangest place of his brain that it took them 3 hours to find the aneurysm so they could repair it! It is medically impossible that Jim is alive. All three patients had the same aneurysm & the same treatment yet Jim is the only one who survived. The neurology team at Henry Ford is amazed. The doctor remarked he had heard that this must be some "divine intervention". The doctor also said he always has at least 14 cases a night and he only had 2 cases that night so he is able to literally watch Jim breathe on the monitors and if anything happens he will be right there to assess the situation. The doctor thinks Jim has some "guardian angel" watching over him. Char said it was divine intervention, GOD performed a miracle.

Psalm 121:1 & 2 I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth

A Quick Monday Update

Jim's heart rate and blood pressure are back to normal. The EVD was removed to close the opening in his head to prevent more bacteria to enter and help the meningitis heal more quickly. If Jim can't handle the increased pressure to his brain the doctors will have to put the EVD back in. He will be watched very closely today and checked every hour for any signs of head aches, confusion & strange behavior. He has a low grade temperature and the doctors are managing his pain with medication. Thankfully, his pain is nearly gone. He drank a whole Vernors and ate a few bites of a sandwich for lunch. His doctor was very surprised he was able to eat as they thought he would be out of it today. Char said "Jim looks 100% better compared to late last night." Thank you Lord for listening to our prayers!!

Psalm 75:1 We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds.

Sunday's Setback

Jim had 50+ staples removed earlier today and his incision has healed well. But as the day continued he developed a headache and a 101 fever. Jim also started to have very high blood pressure and a high heart rate. Eventually he was over come with tremendous pain and the doctors immediately moved into action and started running tests. He had a CT angiogram test which showed some fluid has collected on the brain. The fluid was drained which helped to alleviate some pain. Jim has been diagnosed with Meningitis. The high blood pressure, high heart rate and pain are all caused by this. Please note that this type of meningitis Jim has is NOT CONTAGIOUS! It is very common for patients to get the kind of meningitis he has after the type of surgery Jim had. The doctors still plan to pull the EVD (drain in head) tomorrow so they can treat the infection. Please note that because of this situation ONLY IMMEDIATE FAMILY will be allowed to see Jim until further notice. The doctors will be checking Jim every hour tonight to ensure he does not have any vasospasms. They alerted us that at anytime he could have an emergency Angiogram during the night or day. He is already being treated with antibiotics.

We so appreciate all the prayers, love and support. Please continue to pray for Jim to overcome this.

Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Saturday's Update

Man can not live on bread alone and in Jim's case it's hospital food!! Jim dined on his favorite dish from his favorite Chinese restaurant this evening. He is doing very well and continues to eat and grow stronger each day. He had several stitches removed today but all of his staples are still in. Jim is very tired during the day. He is not resting well at night because the ICU is not a quiet place and he is now very aware of his surroundings. His hips are sore as well from lying down for such a long time.
We are remaining hopeful Jim will continue to heal as quickly as he has. He is looking forward to being able to go home to sleep in his own bed! Thank you for your prayers!

Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Friday's Fabulous News!!

Jim's doctor has decided he will start increasing the pressure to Jim's brain on Monday instead to ensure that the high risk time frame has passed for spasms and stroke. Shortly after, the EVD will be removed as well as his catheter. Then Jim will be moved to a step down unit for only a couple of days and it is very possible Jim will be HOME in a week or so! He will receive outpatient Physical Therapy after he gets home.

What a miracle this truly is!! We are so happy Jim has healed so quickly.

Matthew 8:7 Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him."

Thursday's News

The doctors plan to challenge Jim's brain through the weekend via the EVD. They will continue to increase the pressure to see how he handles things. If all goes well they would like to take the EVD out on Monday! Once the EVD is removed the doctors will evaluate Jim once again and then determine if he is ready to be moved to a step-down room. This means he would no longer be in the ICU and would be one step closer to coming home!
Jim is sitting up again today but he has not walked around. His hips are still very weak. He is exhausted and sleeps quite a bit...but he is in good spirits!

Wednesday's Update

Jim has already had a full day! The doctors had him sitting up in a chair for three hours and then had him walk around the entire ICU! All this activity has wiped Jim out as now he is taking a much needed nap. The central line in his neck has been removed. Also, the swelling in his head has gone down substantially. Because of this, you can now see that the whole frontal right portion of his skull is missing. No worries though! This will be put back in place once he has fully recovered!

Tuesday's Triumph

Today Jim was able to sit on the edge of his bed and after about 5 minutes he felt well enough to stand up and WALK to the bathroom which is about 10 feet away!! He has absolutely no more vasospasms and his doctor has nick named him "Mr. Sunshine".
This evening Jim shaved off the rest of his hair. So now both sides match. The doctors are thinking Jim may possibly be able to go to a step down unit on Monday. He may even have the EVD (drain in his head) removed before Monday as well!

Psalm 136:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.

Our God is an awesome God!

Jim had a very quiet day today with very few visitors and received some much needed rest.
Char and Jim got a chance to talk with his doctor in depth.
The doctor commented on how remarkably well Jim is doing. The Doctor said Jim will be in ICU for at least another week.
His Doctor also stated if you look at his medical file from day 1 to day 8 it looks like they were mixed up with another patient as it does not seem possible that Jim should have progressed this well with coming in with such a massive brain bleed.
Another miracle is that the vasospasms have dissipated significantly. Jim is half way through the 14 day period of the danger stroke zone.
The doctor told Jim if he could bottle what he had that was healing him, he and Jim would be multi billionaires sitting on a beach doing nothing. He said if you figure out what "that" is you let me know. Jim commented to Char he would have some one on one time with the doctor so he could talk with him about this "bottle of stuff" that he wants. Leave it Jim to never miss a chance to share the gospel and possibly change a life!!
Sometime this week Physical Therapy will be in to see him as Jim wants to get out of bed! The doctor stated this just doesn't seem possible and this is not normal to be this far progressed as most patients are still unconscious!

Thank you for your continued prayers!

Psalm 30:2 O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.

Monday's Update

Today the doctors plan to challenge Jim's brain by increasing pressure to the cranium. They are hoping his brain will re-absorb the fluid it creates instead of draining it all out. The doctors warned this may cause Jim to have headaches and confusion. A physical therapist will be in Jim's room later today to start exercising him. He has been wanting to get out of bed but needs the physical therapy before that can happen. Jim's appetite is back to normal.

This afternoon Jim's doctor told him he is doing remarkable well considering the massive bleed that he had when he first came into the ICU. God answers prayers!

Just a quick update

Jim ate all of his breakfast this morning! His brother Bobby called Char and said he is doing fantastic and is in great spirits. Jim is finally back to himself! What a relief and what a difference a week can make!

This week has been a roller coaster of emotions. We could not have gotten though it without the love and support of all our family and friends. It is amazing to know that there are thousands of people in different cities, states and even countries that are praying for Jim's recovery.

Philipians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Sunday

After Jim's angiogram doctor's tested his strength and he was actually STRONGER! It was also the first time Jim said he was not in any pain! The doctors said if they find these weaknesses soon enough the procedure can actually reverse and repair itself. So he may very well have several of these to ensure he can recover 100%.

This morning Jim's nurse said he rested very well last night and had a great night. This morning he is in very good spirits! What a relief to know he is doing so well after only one week!!
His appetite is back which is wonderful as now he can gain even more strength. His brother is bringing him a Bob Evans breakfast this morning, he will be very happy not to have to eat hospital food.

Thank you again for all your prayers and support!

Procedure was a Success!

The procedure is done and Jim is now back in his room. No blockage was found. He did not have a stroke. In fact, the dye that was injected in his vessels showed nothing was out of order! Praise the Lord! He does hear your prayers and He is answering them! Thank you! As a precaution, the doctors put Jim on medication to open the mini-vessels in his brain. This was done just to ensure they too are working properly. We will keep you posted as the day progresses.

Saturday Morning

Extra prayer is needed this morning. Yesterday Jim experienced some weakness on his left side. (The left side of the body is controlled by the right side of the brain. Jim's aneurysm was on the right side.) At midnight last night doctors did a CT scan. Thankfully, it did not show any negative changes. Right now he is going in for an "angiogram". This procedure will allow them to look at the vessel they clamped off to stop the aneurysm. They are looking to see if it is leaking or if any other vessels are trying to close. As Jim continues this journey he will have to undergo several more "angiograms".

Please note: Due to the risk involved with this procedure and the fact that he will be under sedatives all day, doctors are not going to allow anyone to come back into his room today. (With the exception of Char and his girls.)

Jim's neck continues to bring unbearable pain. Please pray that this will go away. One praise this morning: Jim's fever is down!

Friday Morning Update

This morning Jim ate a few bites of scrambled eggs, a bite of bacon, a few sips of coffee and OJ. He still has a bad head and neck ache but he is sitting up more in bed. He is able to hold a conversation for a few minutes but he is still very groggy.
Today one of the nurses came in to say hi and Jim said "you look familiar". The nurse told him he was his nurse on Tuesday so this means Jim's short term memory is getting better!
He wants to get out of bed but he has to wait until Physical Therapy can evaluate him. As of 9 this morning his doctor said he is doing very well! We will update more on any new developments and his progress later this evening.

Thank you for all your prayers!

The Power of Prayer

Some wonderful news!!
This morning the doctors said they would need to keep a close eye on Jim since they were increasing the pressure to the EVD but, at midnight the doctors told Char that Jim tolerated the increased pressure to the EVD and he is doing remarkably well!!

Luke 1:37 "For Nothing is impossible with GOD"

The Latest

Jim received his first Heparin shot today to help prevent blood clots in his legs. He will receive these 3 times a day. He told the nurse to be careful because his 6pack abs might break the needle. We are so glad Jim has not lost his sense of humor!
The swelling in his face is nearly gone. His head and neck hurt a bit more today as the doctors have increased the pressure to his brain so it can absorb more fluids.
The spasms are increasing which is expected, but it does give a bigger risk of stroke. His fever is back as well but this is probably a neurological fever. Please continue to pray for Jim to over come this uphill battle! Thank you all for your prayers, support and well wishes.

Thursday, July 23rd

Today the doctors have raised the top of Jim's bed up in order to decrease the amount of fluid that is draining out of the "evd" (the tube at the top of his head that is draining fluid out). They want his brain to be able to absorb more of this fluid and slowly ween him off of the drain tube. We are thrilled that the doctors want to take the "evd" out soon!
Today, Jim has been able to eat some scrambled eggs and banana bread. We continue to pray that his appetite will increase. Jim is still experiencing a lot of pain in his head and neck. Please pray that this pain will go away so he can rest.

Doctor's Orders

We are so thankful for each and every one of you who have come to show your support at the hospital. The doctors are very pleased with Jim's progress! Tonight, Dr. Mahmood (Jim's doctor) has requested that only immediate family members come to Jim's bedside. He explained to us that Jim's brain needs time to repair itself. He wants all of Jim's energy to be focused on healing. We thank you for your continued prayers, thoughts, support, and love! As soon as Dr. Mahmood gives the okay, we will announce when the party starts once again in Jim's room!

Wednesday, July 22

Jim has developed a fever of 100.7 degrees - please pray that it will dissipate! While doctors are concerned about his fever they are happy to report that his white blood cell count is at a satisfactory level. Jim has experienced several spasms today but he continues to grow stronger. He can now lift his head on his own and lift himself up to hug his daughters. His face/head has continued to swell but the doctors assure us this is normal. Today Jim had a small vanilla shake but does not yet have his normal appetite. Pray that his appetite grows - he needs to eat in order to stay strong.

12 days of prayer!!!

Jim needs extra prayers for the next 12 days. Doctors say he is in day 2 of 14 days that are the most critical for his recovery. For the next 12 days he is at his highest risk for a stroke. Jim needs to reach day 14 (Monday, August 3rd) without a stroke!!! Right now Jim is in a lot of pain. He is also suffering from vascular spasms in the brain. This is a normal reaction as his brain recovers. However, it is very important the spasms do not turn to a stroke. Please specifically pray for this!

Doctors say they are going to try to feed Jim "normal food" today. If he keeps it down that will be another praise as God continues to touch and heal is body.

He does not completely have his short term memory back yet. He continues to ask what happened to him and is surprised each time he hears the story. Today when he was again told what happened he asked, "Did I scare everyone when I fell?" (Even while in excruciating pain Jim continues to show concern for the well-being of those around him.)

A Special Moment

Charlene wanted to pass along a special moment she and Jim shared at the hospital last night:

"Jimmie kissed me last night before I left. Words cannot express how much that meant."

Tuesday July 21, 2009 10:40pm

Good News!! Jim's IV's were taken out with the exception of the Central Line. He also ate JELLO and was able to keep it down!! What an improvement from 48 hours ago!! GOD is truly giving him the strength to heal!! Praise the Lord!

Tuesday, July 21st

If it hasn't been said before, I'll say it now. Jim is a fighter! Less than 48 hours after brain surgery the breathing tubes came out, he regained consciousness, can respond to your questions and knows who every person is that comes into his room. Praise the Lord!
As expected, he has a bad headache and his head/right eye is swollen. The doctors took his bandages off to allow his incision to breathe. He has somewhere between 40 and 50 staples in his scalp that are now clearly visible. (Don't look if you have a faint stomach!) This afternoon the doctors gave him his first drink of water. Jim took a long sip and said in a whispered voice, "That's the best water I've ever tasted!"

Monday: The day after brain surgery

The doctor's are very happy with Jim's condition after surgery. Jim started to respond to the voices around him and even started to open his eyes for a few seconds! Shortly after he could move his toes and squeeze your hand. Later in the day, he started to mouth words like, "I love you" and "bye-bye". Dozens of friends, co-workers and family members came to visit. We are so thankful for each and every one of you! Thank you for your prayers!

What Happened?

It is safe to say that Jim's life changed on Sunday, July 19th. Near the beginning of Southpoint's church service Jim was praying over the offering. Near the end of the prayer he slurred a few words and then was silent. With heads bowed, the congregation was waiting for "Amen" but it never came. Instead, Jim fell backward, hit his head on a monitor and collapsed on the stage. Thankfully, numerous medical professionals and concerned friends immediately came to his aid. It appeared that he was having a seizure so CPR was administered. The church's defibrillator was hooked up to him but he did not need to be shocked. The ambulance arrived soon after.
Jim was taken to Oakwood Southshore in Trenton where it was discovered that he suffered from a brain aneurysm. He was intubated and then transferred to Henry Ford Hospital in downtown Detroit. Late Sunday night it was decided that Jim had to undergo "surgical clipping". This means that part of his skull was removed so that surgeons could close off the blood vessel that caused the aneurysm. (Jim will have this piece of his skull put back on in a few months.) He was out of surgery around 2am, Monday morning. Doctors said the surgery would last at least six hours but Jim was only in surgery for four and a half hours. (A very good sign!)