A much better day

Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers today. Some of you have even written your prayers out and emailed them to us. Those have been especially meaningful. We sincerely appreciate each and every prayer on our behalf. The family certainly knows that we can't get thru trials like this without lots of prayer and people standing beside us.



Overall Isy had a very quiet day today (compared to yesterday for sure). As you will recall, it's most important that she avoid bleeding so that she can avoid risky surgery upon uncharted territory. She had some significant bleeding (150cc, or 5-6oz) after midnight. It doesn't sound like much until you imagine it coming out of your lung! Thankfully she was on the vent and they could suction it out while maintaining a patent airway. We obviously were quite concerned about the midnight bleeding. We planned to meet with the surgeon at 1pm to see what he thought about it. AJ and Bonnie arrived around 10am. It's great to have them here! Unfortunately another family needed the surgeon and as of 8:30pm, he was still in surgery with that person. Isy rested quietly the rest of the entire day (on the vent) without any bleeding. Even though she was heavily sedated she was able to shake her head yes/no a few times to some of our questions. She even smiled when Tony talked to her (not when I did!). He's even more fully convinced that he is her favorite now. He is sure that she mouthed "love you" back to him. I could tell it was a tough day for Tony today. That was such a gift to him, it really was.



So that's really it. The day involved lots of sitting around and watching a "sleeping" person breathe or listening to other sad stories in the waiting room. Neither are great options. Someone asked if we were working at our jobs thru this week. The doc that I work with each day is out of state and so I was really needed at work. I worked full days on M and T and then just the mornings of W and Th. I will admit that there were a few moments when it was tough to hold it together but my colleagues are great and they know what to do with a few tears every now and then. They are also prayer warriors as well. Tony took this afternoon off in hopes of meeting with the surgeon. It's good for him to keep his mind busy at work. He has had quite a few losses in his life and when hospitals are uncommon ground to you already, it adds to the anxiety to sit by and not be able to fix the problem.



Our kids went to the Merrillville water park today with some wonderful moms who gave them a fun diversion for the whole entire day. We greatly appreciated this! Some of you are wondering about the Toledo softball tourney this weekend. Toledo is 2-1/2 hours away and feels too far for Tony and I so we aren't going. Tony was supposed to coach for the weekend but Tim has volunteered to help so we appreciate that as well. I'm not sure if Madison is going or not. We've given her a few options and she will pick the option she feels most comfortable with.



If all goes well tonight, Isy will gradually have the sedation lightened up tomorrow, be allowed to wake up and her cough reflex will return. Our goal will obviously be that she can be awake and not cough up blood.



Thank you again for your prayers. It seems so "easy" for me to say that, to type those 2 words. I don't take your prayers and your time lightly and I don't thank you "lightly." If I could sing them to you I would, I would write them in flowery letters or sky-write them so you understand my sincerity. I believe that prayers to God on behalf of others prompt God to move in ways that He might not otherwise move. He might intervene instead of letting nature take it's course. Examples of the effects of prayer is mentioned over and over again in the Bible and I believe prayer is still effective and relevant today. So, I sincerely say THANK YOU for your prayers on behalf of Isy and our family!



With love,

Leah