Update on David's Visit with the Surgeon

David saw the surgeon this past Tuesday.  Here's an update from Michele.....

The surgeon was pleasantly surprised with David's recovery so far.  He didn't expect David to be eating solid foods quite yet like he does :)  In fact, he said as long as he is able to eat a considerable amount of calories, he can forego the tube feedings...which didn't hurt David's feelings at all :)  So he is free from his rolling pole friend. :)  David is MORE than happy.  He has to return to the doctor in 2 weeks.  We have been so blessed with amazing doctors and nurses thru all of this...everyone at the doc office knew him by name just from the doctor's mention of him and seeing his name over the last 3 mths...though they had never met him before.  I told him he's my MIRACLE MAN! :)  Continued prayers are desired, since he's still adjusting to eating food etc and regaining his energy.  Some days are better than others...but it is sooooo fun to hear him say  he's hungry...or to see him eat :)  Thank you everyone!!




Thank you for your continued prayers!  Please don't stop!  We praise God for the daily mercies He showers upon the Hewitts.

Out and About

Thank you for your continued prayers for the Hewitt family.  Here's Michele's most encouraging update.  Isn't our God unspeakably good!?

David had "David's (Dad's) day out today!! (last Friday) We went to lunch to get his favorite soup...then to get a haircut for him..then to the grocery store!! He was loving it and I was beside myself!!!  We came home to rest for the afternoon, then he decided he wanted to go out to dinner (we had a gift card to Panera's so he could get some soup).  So we had our first date in over 3 mths and I'm so happy I didn't have to leave him behind at the hospital on a Friday night.  He tires out quickly and starts sweating but the activity has been good for him I think...and more than anything, to get him outside and amongst "life"...Boy do we feel so blessed!!  I just keep smiling...and so does he!!

Michele also shared that David was able to eat solid food today!  Please pray for a good report when they see the doctor next Tuesday.

Also, by now the medical bills are coming in, and as I'm sure all of you can imagine, 3 months in the hospital with such a high level of care is not inexpensive.  Would you please pray for God's provision to pay these bills and for the hospital to be merciful and willing to work with this dear family?  

Please don't stop praying!  How humbling it is to see God work in such amazing ways!

Can You Believe It? He's Home!!!

Thanks be to God!  Isn't this exciting?

From Michele......

ok...i'm about to bust...I got to bring David home today! He is getting settled and is VERY tired...but I couldn't keep it a secret any longer! The doctor said this morning..."how about tomorrow morn?"....I gave him the sad puppy dog face and he said "ok"...we'll get you out of here today! :) HAPPY cannot begin to describe how I felt driving away with David beside me! :)




Isn't that wonderful??  Thank you all for your prayers.  The Hewitt family continues to need them, of course, as the road ahead is long.




Let's pray that God would bless Michele and David with some quiet time to get adjusted to everything, too.  I'm sure after 3 months with doctors and nurses and beeps and whistles, they must be glad to be together as a family again.


And, please continue to pray for healing and strength for both Michele and David.  Isn't the goodness of our God overwhelming?

Adjustments and Another Praise

Because of varying complications, the doctors have made changes to David's medications, and he won't be going home until they see that these adjustments are working for him.  David especially needs prayers regarding the chronic nausea he has been battling.

Michele received a wonderful report from her kidney specialist that she won't be needing dialysis at this time!  Thank you for interceding on her behalf, and please make this a standing petition.

May God bless you over and over for your diligence in praying for the Hewitts!

Hoping

Michele sent an update last night:


I THOUGHT I'D SEND A LITTLE UPDATE..EVEN THOUGH I GUESS THERE'S NOT REALLY TOO MUCH CHANGE...HOWEVER, DAVID DOES SEEM TO KEEP IMPROVING...GETTING 
STRONGER, MOVING BETTER, THEY ARE WEANING HIM OFF OF THE TPN (IV) FEEDINGS, INCREASING HIS G-TUBE (ENSURE) FEEDINGS IN HOPES THAT HE WILL GET NATURALLY HUNGRY AND HAVE AN APPETITE TO EAT REAL FOOD.   HE EATS A LITTLE BIT EACH MEAL...IT MAY JUST BE A FEW BITES, BUT I GUESS AFTER NOT EATING FOR 10 WKS...IT WILL TAKE A WHILE FOR THAT TO GET TO NORMAL AND FOR FOOD TO START TO TASTE GOOD AGAIN.  HE HAS HAD A FEW BITES OF A SANDWICH, SOME FRUIT...THINGS LIKE THAT. THE DOCS TOLD HIM TODAY THAT HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO HOME THIS COMING WEEK.  HIS DAYS ARE GETTING LONGER IN THE HOSPITAL SINCE HE'S FEELING BETTER, SO BOREDOM IS STARTING TO SET IN. LOOKING FORWARD TO HIM COMING HOME THIS WEEK HOPEFULLY! THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!! YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME. (PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO ANYONE YOU KNOW WHO HAS BEEN SO GENEROUS IN PROVIDING OUR FAMILY MEALS EACH WEEK...THAT HAS BEEN A PRICELESS BLESSING TO US..THANKS JILL FOR INITIATING THAT!! YOU'RE AWESOME)


Also, would you please pray for Michele?  She has a visit this week with her kidney specialist, and there's concern she might have to start dialysis.  Please pray she would not have to go through this again, but rather God would bring healing and strength to her body.  Pray, too, for peace and a thankful heart whatever the circumstances.


Words cannot express how thankful we are for your fervent prayers.  May God bless you over and over for your service and sacrifice to the Hewitts.

Bring on the Solid Food (and the Discharge Papers, too!)

What we do every day becomes a moment of celebration when you haven't been able to do it for 2-1/2 months.....eat solid food!

Yesterday David was able to eat solids for the first time.  What did he eat?  Fried chicken, of course! (You have to be from the south to understand....) Yum!  Yum!  Here's more from Michele.....

David seems to be doing well. His main challenge at this point for himself, as well as his doctors, is his ongoing nausea.  They did another CT scan yesterday and were pleased with what they saw.  They started introducing the "new" feedings again today (it's like Ensure) thru his new G tube they put in during his surgery last week.  They are doing smaller amounts at a smaller rate.  So far this evening when I left him, I don't think he had gotten sick from it like before.  I think this is probably his last major hurdle to overcome before being able to come home!  He has become more mobile and seems determined to do so, so that is good :)  That is good because I know he is on his way to independence...which is good place to be after you have lost it for so long :)

All else is good with the Hewitt Family.  We continue to be amazed at how generous and wonderful people are to us. We feel very blessed that people avail themselves so freely, to help chip in and meet the needs of others.  Thank you so much for you prayers and words of encouragement that mean so very much!!

Love to you all...those whom we know...and those whom we don't...

AND.....

woohoo!!! The surgeon cleared David to try REAL FOOD today with no restrictions....so he wanted a couple bites of my fried chicken and it didn't even make him sick....Doc also said they hope to be able to send him home after the weekend!! Sure hope that works out :) I think I was more excited about his fried chicken bites than he was :) First real food since Christmas Eve!! I think that's worth celebrating :)

Thanks be to God from whom ALL blessings flow!  Michele shared, too, that she thinks she feels better than she has in several weeks.  So, LOTS of good news going on here, and so many thanks sent your way for being faithful prayer warriors for the Hewitts.

Please don't stop praying!  

Answered Prayers!

Here's some wonderful news from Michele that she sent late last night.

I wanted to let you know the latest on David....He is doing well.  They removed the vent yesterday about 10am...he loved having that out.  He had a good day today.  He actually got up and sat in the chair for a little bit.  They tried feeding him the "ensure" nutrition today thru his system but unfortunately it made him sick so they had to stop it.  He continues to have a lot of nausea and pain and has been running a temp since surgery. They moved him out of ICU this evening...woohoo!    I can't wait to bring him home!  It feels like forever since he has been here.  

Thank you so much everyone for your prayers!  We appreciate you more than words can say!!