January 30, 2012

They are supposed to arrive at the hospital at 5:45 in the morning.  He will be coming by ambulance.  The surgery will be 2nd Floor on East Tower of Tupelo Hospital.  He will be listed under Roy Easley.  Mrs. Doug will be able to wait with him for a while before surgery.  During the surgery, she will either be in the waiting room on the 2nd floor or the ICU waiting room, she's not sure yet.  Once he's out of surgery he will go to ICU.  The surgery should begin around 7:30.  I will post updates once I hear that the surgery has begun and once it's finished as well. 

Johanna and children are here.  She's going to be able to stay all week and go home on Friday.

He's been up for most of the day.  He's been able to stand up longer and support himself more, with the harness on him still.  From the waist up, he's completely unsupported and able to stand straight and tall.

Speech therapist reported that she had given him a tablet and asked him to write his name and he wrote it really clearly with his left hand.  Then they played tic-tac-toe and she won one and he won the next two.  He really started concentrating and acted like he wasn't going to let her win again. 

All reports are that they are doing whatever he's asked them to do and been really cooperative.  They said that Thursday and Friday he had been a little more sleepy and acted like he might not have felt as good, but he seemed better today.

Mrs. Doug shared too that there is a lady there at the nursing facility as a patient who Mrs. Doug believes needs to hear the gospel and that God is wanting her to share with her.  Mrs. Doug asked us to pray that God would give her the words to say and that her heart would be open to what the Lord can do for her.  The lady has already expressed what a blessing the Easleys have been to her.

We are praying in faith for God to guide the hands of the doctors and nurses tomorrow as they do the operation, that God will see Bro. Dale through the surgery and all will be well.  We are praying for peace and strength for Mrs. Doug and the family as they wait to hear and that all present will sense the presence of the Lord with them.  May God receive all the glory and honor through this situation.  We put our trust in Him.

I feel the need to review what Mrs. Doug claimed as their "theme verse:"

"¹⁷ Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
   and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
¹⁸ Even when I am old and gray,
   do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
   your mighty acts to all who are to come." Psalm 71:17-18

<sup>I look forward to being able to report the marvelous deeds God is going to do tomorrow with Bro. Dale.  He is our strength and shield, in whom we trust.  

6</sup> Praise be to the LORD,
   for he has heard my cry for mercy.
⁷ The LORD is my strength and my shield;
   my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy
   and I will give thanks to him in song.
 ⁸ The LORD is the strength of his people,
   a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
⁹ Save your people and bless your inheritance;
   be their shepherd and carry them forever." Psalm 28:6-9