Post-Surgery Update~Please Pray

David was put in the ICU yesterday after surgery because the surgeons wanted to keep the ventilator in longer.  David is having A LOT of trouble with gagging with the vent in.  Sadly, there's nothing they can do.  Please pray for a calm spirit for David and for strength for Michele, as it is very difficult to watch him struggle in this way.  

David's hands are restrained, and he attempts to communicate with Michele by sign language.  They've had him sedated, but as soon as the sedation wears off, he starts to get agitated with the vent.

Thank you for your continued prayers!  They are so appreciated!

Surgery Success

Right from Michele.....

They just finished David's 3 hour surgery.  Docs said "it was pretty messy" but David did great, and they hope this will fix the problem.  Another drain had to be put in temporarily, and the surgeons also did a procedure to allow all feeding directly to his intestines.  They're hoping David will be able to eat real food in a couple days.  They project he'll be in the hospital another one to two weeks, and then, homeward bound. Woohoo!!  Thanks to everyone for your prayers.


Praise the LORD for His goodness and mercy to David today!  The prayers of a righteous man availeth much!

Surgery Tomorrow~Please Pray!

Per Michele earlier today....


Davids surgery is set for 4 tomorrow. They will be making a vertical long incision in his stomach...yikes! I don't envy him...(and no baby afterwards!) :). Please pray for a smooth operation with his breathing and no complications or infection. I am quite nervous. Hoping to see the surgeon tomorrow before the surgery. Thanks for everything over these last 8 wks! Its been quite a ride :)


This is 4 o'clock Eastern time.  Thank you for your faithful prayers!  Words cannot adequately express our thanks.  

Upcoming Surgery and Transition to Home

I'm so sorry not to have posted an update recently!  There's lots to catch up on, so I'll get right to it.

The surgeons are planning to drain two more pseudocysts next Tuesday or Wednesday.  Hopefully, a few days after the procedure, David will be able to go home.

Per Michele.....

"He will come home with IV nutrition, his drain and some other IV things.  Home Health will come in periodically, but for the most part we will be responsible for his medical routines which does make me quite nervous.  It will be good to have him home though.  He said the doctors said he is improving faster than what they anticipated, but that since his case is an unusual one in severity, they are not quite sure of some of the things such as whether he will continue to require insulin...how much pancreatic function he has, etc.  An Endocronologist came by today. He will be monitoring David's insulin needs and said he was ordering a blood test that will tell us how much pancreatic function he currently has.  As I understand it, he will continue on the IV nutrition for approximately 6 more weeks.  As long as he is on that, he cannot eat real food. His current diet consists of a half cup of juice twice a day, and some ice chips. " 

Michele has improved but is VERY tired, so prayers for continued strength and energy and healing for her are greatly appreciated.  Both David and Michele are deeply grateful for the love that has been shown them and the many prayers poured out on their behalf.

Thank you for not growing weary in praying!  

Requests, Praises, and Thanks!

Straight from sweet Michele!

PRAISES.

• David is getting stronger as he is able to walk and be more progressively mobile
• He is receiving good care on this floor
• He was able to drink some cranberry juice today and keep it down
• His pain level has improved, thus requiring less pain med and allowing him to be more of "himself" and alert, etc
• Meghan is being treated for bronchitis (after battling this for a month after doc said it had to run it's course a month ago) and is finally starting to feel better
• The time with my mom and other family member's and friend's visits have been priceless and such a comfort
• I am feeling better :)
• The continued support from friends and family continues to bring tears to my eyes EVERY time I get a message or card etc....PEOPLE ARE SO KIND AND THOUGHTFUL

PRAYER NEEDS:

• Obviously for David's healing to continue and no complications to occur
• Extreme wisdom for those involved in planning his discharge and continued recovery care
• Comfort for David and patience for him as he continues his hospital stay and medical care (he gets easily frustrated and is still an ENGINEER!)
• Mental, physical, emotional and spiritual strength for me as I process David's care, My health, the kids upcoming graduations, the whole Disability situation, etc etc 

Thank you everyone for your past and continued prayers!  We are so grateful for each of you and your commitment to our family!  I cannot even begin to tell you how good it feels to know that each of you are standing in the gap for us!   God is so true to his promises to us to never leave us or forsake us!  His word does not tell us we will not experience hardships on this earth....the Bible is a clear indicator of that as his people endured hardships all the time...not to mention his very own only son...going to the cross and enduring a horrible crucifixion death....for US! I am just so thankful that His mercies are truly NEW every morning and that He has not given us a spirit of fear...but of love, and of power and of a sound mind.   Bottom line is...HE IS GOOD....but sometimes our situations on this earth can be BAD and cause us to look to him for strength and peace.

Love and hugs to each of you...those we know...and those we will one day meet!!

Blessings and a grateful heart,

Michele :) 

Have Mercy, O Lord

"Trust Him in the dark,honor Him with unwavering confidence even in the midst of mysterious dispensations, and the recompense of such faith will be like the molting of the eagle's plumes, which was said to give them a new lease of youth and strength."
~J.R. MacDuff


David is doing well with his move to another floor of the hospital.  Michele was again reminded by the infectious disease doctors that this is the worst case of gall bladder pancreatitis they've ever seen.  This makes God's deliverance of David even more amazing and should be much cause for praise and rejoicing!

Michele still hasn't been able to see David, though.  She is battling a fever and really needs our prayers for God's healing so she'll be able to minister to and take care of David.  Please pray for complete healing very soon, as she is quite sick.  We ask God for His mercy that Michele would not need to be hospitalized as well!

Their daughter, Meghan, is also battling an illness which has been going on for about a month, so prayer for her healing is appreciated, too.

God bless every one of you for your faithful intercession!

Continued Improvements

God continues to pour out His mercy on the Hewitts!  Here's the latest update from Michele.

~Praise the Lord that she does not have pneumonia!    She does have to still be fever-free for 24 hours, so please continue to pray for that.

~David was moved out of the ICU but to a different floor this time, which should offer him much better nursing care.  When Michele spoke with him on Tuesday (sorry this is a bit delayed), he sounded the best she's heard him sound since being sick.

~He's been up and walking!

~A good friend drove in from NC to spend the days with David at the hospital while Michele is recovering.  Isn't that generous?!

The Hewitts continue to be blessed with cards, messages, food, gift-cards, visits..

"We are truly in awe of the generosity and thoughtfulness of each of you!  Thank you sooooo much!"

Thanks be to God!

Continue to pray fervently!  Please don't get lax in your praying since things are improving.  David still has quite a long way to go.  So, thank you again, for your gifts of intercession!!