Update : 7pm

Yesterday and today, I felt like I had lots to make me happy. Happy that Dieter is on a full schedule of rehab with great therapists who love his hard-working attitude. Happy that he seems medically fine now, with no further complications. Happy that we were able to celebrate birthdays – Dieter’s, Conrad’s, and my dad’s – all together. Happy that Dieter has a doctor who communicates well with him and with me.

But instead, I was sad and fearful, worried about the future, sad about all the losses that come from this stroke. Dieter comforted me, which was a great gift, because it is too easy, and incorrect, to think it should be the other way around. Also, his speech therapist showed Dieter the progress he’s made since last week in his writing, and that impressed both Dieter and me.

Please pray specifically for the mobility and coordination in Dieter’s right hand. Thank you for the support you give us. When I don’t ask for more of that support, it’s because I don’t know what to ask for, not because I doubt your offers or am trying to do everything myself.

Update : 10pm

Who knows how to get perspective on this whole thing with Dieter having had a stroke and the bumpy road of recovery? I don’t, but after four bad days, today was a good one, and I’m grateful for it.

Eleven things attached to Dieter’s body were removed today. He moved back to the rehab wing of the hospital, and he is now clear to walk again. A short walk outside in the sunshine was great. His stomach and lungs are clear and his blood remains healthy today. Rehab classes resume tomorrow. Dieter has a good rapport with his rehab doctor.

Please pray for Dieter’s body to remain healthy as he moves forward and for protection from any more strokes.

Update : 8pm

Dieter’s stomach stopped bleeding completely!  Today’s procedure turned out to be, instead, an opportunity for the doctor to look around and confirm that the stomach is completely healed and clean.  Dieter seems much more comfortable, and his blood levels are healthy again.  He was moved out of ICU into a quieter room, and I’m hoping he’ll get a good night’s sleep.

So his lungs and his stomach are fine, which is great.  Dieter hasn’t eaten since Thursday, so we hope he’ll be able to resume eating in a few days and head back to rehab.

Getting good news and a sense of direction for the next few days feels so good.  So does coming home to have dinner with our boys.  We all look forward to the time when Dieter can do that, too.

Update : 11pm

Thank you for all your prayers. Dieter’s bleeding has slowed down. By tomorrow, we’ll know if it has actually stopped, but, if not, the slowing at least means a procedure can be done to stop the bleeding.

I don’t know what to ask for at this point: To get back to rehab quickly, but not too soon? To have clarity on what is best for Dieter and the strength to pursue it?

Thank you again for standing with us through all of this.

Thanks,
Val

Update : 9pm

Please pray specifically that the bleeding in Dieter’s stomach would stop.  It lessened just slightly today, but he has still lost and is losing blood, enough to have required several transfusions.  If, with the new blood, his body can heal the area that is bleeding, then we won’t be looking at more radical approaches to solving the problem.  I would really like it if Dieter didn’t have to have anything too radical done to his body for a few days, so let’s pray it doesn’t come to that.

On the good side, chest Xrays have confirmed that Dieter’s lungs are completely clear.

In spite of everything, Dieter was not dealing with much pain today and seems refreshed, or more alert, as a result of the transfusions.  I am hoping that tonight and tomorrow can be times of rest for him.

Update : 7am

Yesterday was frightening for both Dieter and me, and it was a setback, though perhaps not a huge one and certainly not an unusual one. In order to stop the bleeding in Dieter’s stomach, the medicines he had been on for several days were reversed. He needed a blood transfusion. Hopefully today the source of the bleeding, which was found yesterday, can be fixed. Dieter is back in ICU and resting well; I think we did not realize how weak he had become from the bleeding.

Please pray for his body to heal and for his mind and heart to be at ease. Please pray for today’s procedure to fix the bleeding to be successful.

Also, please pray for wisdom for me. As we saw yesterday, each medicine has side effects and each procedure has consequences. When you start having more medicines and procedures to fix the results of the last set of problems you tried to fix, the regret that comes with hindsight can hinder decision-making. I need wisdom in talking with
doctors and making decisions.

Also, please pray for our family. It is very discouraging to feel that we have lost a week’s worth or more of ground gained.

Thanks,
Val

Update : 10am

Urgent Prayer Request

Last night Dieter fainted. This morning we found it was due to internal bleeding based on the blood thinning drugs used to clear the clot in his leg. Dieter is back in the ICU to stabilize.

Val asks for prayer around the following:

1. For Quick Stabilization
2. For Val to make good decisions
3. For the doctors to locate the source of the bleeding

Thanks

Update : 9pm

I am concerned for Dieter today.  He has a stomach problem, isn’t eating much, and is losing weight.  I thought I had an answer on it this morning, but some new details in the afternoon made me realize I need to take this to his doctor again first thing tomorrow and try to get some clarity before the weekend.

Please pray for Dieter’s strength, physically and emotionally.

Dieter is still not allowed to get up and walk, but I did get permission to take him out in a wheelchair today, hoping a change of scenery would do him good.  It did, but it also tired him out.

Some days, and today was one of them, I have clarity that my priorities right now consist only of our family.  I appreciate your prayers for me along those lines, and I appreciate the logistical help from so many of you that makes it possible for me to let go of things like meals or walking the dog or doing laundry.

Thanks,
Val

Update : 9pm

Dieter continues to receive therapy daily and is doing as well as he can with it, given that he is still on bed-rest. It would be great if that restriction were lifted tomorrow. We’ll see.

Please, I need to ask again that you not come visit him in the hospital. This is a time for family. I don’t know how to express adequately that we feel the concern you have and all the tangible ways it has been expressed, and yet we need to have this time for us to be with and encourage Dieter.

Perhaps a shift is coming for the five of us, in that Dieter has a schedule for each day. Therefore, we can plan a little bit how we will spend our days and make sure we include rest for ourselves, too. Thank you for praying for me after the day I was so tired. I’m more refreshed now.

Quite a few people have emailed me about yesterday’s article on music as a therapy for stroke. Thank you. I’m encouraged because Dieter’s speech pathologist gave it to me as well. Thanks to our boys, Dieter’s iPod and its speaker are with him, so he has his music.

Val

Update : 6pm

Today, Dieter has a clot in his right leg, which is not unusual for someone who has been in bed for two weeks, but still, the news is sharp and discouraging.  He must stay on bed rest until the proper blood-thinning medications work, which could take anywhere from 1 to 5 days.  In the meantime, no walks.

So instead, he is getting speech, occupational, and physical therapy at the bedside.  His recovery of motion and strength continues to progress pretty well, but recovery of language is slower.

Kyle came home when Dieter had his stroke, then went back to school to arrange a leave of absence for the rest of this term.  He arrived home again today, and I am really grateful to have the boys all here together.  Please pray for our family.

Val