Nov. 9, 2011 - Additional update

I've spoken with Mrs. Doug and Joanna.  They both sound like they have been able to get some rest and are staying strong, so that is good to hear.  We can thank God for holding them up through this!  I have a little more detail on how Bro. Dale is doing and what they are expecting over the next couple of days that I wanted to go ahead and share. 

The surgery yesterday was to remove a portion of the skull that they then inserted into the abdomen to keep alive until he is ready to have it back where it belongs.  This apparently is a pretty common procedure that is done when there is swelling on the brain.  Everything that they went in to do yesterday went as planned and it appears to have been successful.  The swelling seems to be under control and has not gone beyond the opening that they made.  They do not believe that there is any bleeding, that the swelling is just excess fluid.  They have inserted a drain to remove the extra fluid.  The drain will be there for a couple of days, at least.

He is currently on a ventilator and is being kept sedated so that they can control his blood pressure.  They hope to be weaning him off the ventilator over the next couple of days.  They will reduce the sedation as they are able to according to how his blood pressure is doing.  However, the pain is easier to control as long as he is sedated as well. 

Sometime today they will be inserting a feeding tube into his abdomen.  Even though he is able to swallow some, they do not yet know how much control he has over it, so the feeding tube is necessary.  This will help him to be as strong as possible as he begins to come off the sedation. 

They are pleased to see the movement in his right leg.  Again, they do not yet know how much control he will have over it, but the fact that it is able to move is a good sign. 

I think the best news I heard today was that as Mrs. Doug is able to go back and visit with Bro. Dale, she brings her Bible.  She said they have a devotion together where she prays and reads to him.  They are reading through some of the Psalms and the Beatitudes.  She talks to him and gives him a hard time just like she always has done.  She told him that he looked like he'd had a c-section and she wanted to know where the baby was!  :)  Mrs. Doug and Joanna both expressed how much they appreciate all of the prayers.  They feel them!  And they are able to check the website as they can and read your sweet comments.  They know they are not alone as they go through this and appreciate everyone so much. 

The road ahead is clearly going to be a long one, but I know that all of us will want to keep updated on how Bro. Dale is doing and how we can be praying and helping out.  It will probably be most productive for me to make updates after lunch, since they will see most of the doctors by then, unless of course there is any significant changes that we need to be aware of.  Thanks for helping me get the word out. 

"16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms..."  

^{Ephesians 1:16-20}