Wednesday Afternoon

Ora Lee Wilson just called to ask for prayer for her daughter-in-law’s niece. Trisha’s niece, Annie Ford, will be three on the 12th and was diagnosed with a brain tumor today. She will be going to Children’s Hospital in Dallas tomorrow. Her parents are Bently (Trisha’s brother) and Melissa Ford of Tyler. Texas.

Tricia

Please put Chance O’Hern on your prayer list once again. He is having complications. We are going for heart cath soon. No date yet. We are hoping the protein enteropathy can be fixed through heart cath. Otherwise we will have two start giving him two shots a day in the stomach of heparan. Long term, once we start that therapy we have to look at heart transplant. Your prayers are appreciated.
God Bless,
Alice

Updates on the Dukes

Tuesday, April 7, 2009 6:39 PM, EDT

Dad is scheduled for a CT on his arm tonight and surgery on his arm 1st thing in the morning (they estimated 7:30). They just did xrays on Mom’s arms. They have become very swolen and are showing bruising. They think they may be broken. We will know soon.

We are hoping and praying for signs of improvement in the next 48 hours. Thanks so very, very much for all of the prayers and support from so many places. The New Orleans Seminary family has provided us places to sleep and meals. Thanks to them for their local support. We love you and feel your love.

-Jason and Erik

Wednesday, April 8, 2009 1:21 PM, EDT

Update:

Pop is out of surgery. Seems good. Struggling with pain as expected.

Mom is still in a coma, but the doctors encouraged us this morning that they saw some very small progress in her CT. They said they thought she would have disabilities if she makes it, but they ARE HOPEFUL that she will make it.

Keep praying!!! It means so much. We love you

-Jason and Erik

Wednesday, April 8, 2009 4:31 PM, EDT

Erik and I left the hospital this afternoon for a few minutes, just to get some fresh air and a cup of coffee, before we head back to be with Mom and Dad. Neat little coffee shop on the corner of Camp and Girod called PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans. The white mochas aren’t as good as yours Josh, but I dig the spot. In the heart of downtown NOLA.

Anyway, you didn’t ask for local entertainment and eatery recommendations I know. So, we thought we would put a new post here to update you on Mom and Dad. With Erik here with me, I will be able to give you a better description of the medical side of what’s going on. Sorry if stuff is redundant. Days and news are starting to run together, and we’re a bit tired. Sorry if stuff is redundant. Days and news are starting to run together, and we’re a bit tired.

It’s Wednesday afternoon I know now. It’s funny. I thought it was Thursday earlier today. I even texted one of the college students I teach on Thursday mornings to update them on mom and dad, and tell them I hope they enjoy class with the amazing substitute that’s coming. Thanks, Bill Faulkner. But it’s not Thursday. It’s Wednesday.

Dad came out of surgery around noon central time. He was quite groggy. Same kind of reaction as from the surgery Monday. Struggling to come out from under the meds and struggling with the pain. But his left arm is now on the way to recovery. They surgically repaired his humerus (the bone between the shoulder and the elbow). They also fixed his ulna (in his wrist). He will probably be transitioned out of ICU tomorrow, at least we think so, into a step-down room.

It was kind of funny and tough to take all at the same time. In a matter of 20 seconds, he looked me in the eyes and said, “You stole money from me…(a few second pause)…I love you so much.” We are praying he will get good rest today and tonight and be more like himself tomorrow.

Mom is about the same, as far as you would know if you visited her yesterday and then again today. Still in what the doctor called a “deep coma.” The doctor that talked with us this morning explained a little more about the next steps, assuming Mom continues to progress, even if it is really, really, really small baby steps (this is going to be a long road). He said she would need a tracheotomy (for breathing) and a peg tube (a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube) for feeding. They told us that the swelling was down some more, and that on the CT they could see the ventricles in the middle of her brain carry fluid to and fro – something they had not been able to see before because of the swelling. THAT’S GOOD NEWS, EVEN IF IT IS A VERY MINOR PROGRESSION. At least it’s some kind of progress. No word yet on when they think she could leave the ICU and transition to a long-term care facility. She is still not responsive.

Erik and I sang some hymns over her together. Jen sent me a voice mail with the kids wishing her “get well’s” and asking her to come play. I played it for her twice today. One time this morning in the left ear, then one time this afternoon in the right ear. Just in case she can only hear in one of them.

People continue to pray and send cards and emails and texts and facebook messages and twitters and more. THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH. Erik and I can’t thank you enough.

We spent time once we got to the apartment last night reading through your amazing notes on the guestbook of this site. We were able to get through 8 pages before being too sleepy to read anymore. We plan on reading more tonight. WE ALSO PLAN ON READING THEM TO DAD ONCE HE IS SETTLED IN A ROOM. I have shared some with Mom, already, as I have been able to, just so she could be encouraged by your love.

With all the sincerity I can muster – your prayers mean so very much. We don’t take them lightly, and we don’t take them for granted.

Thanks to everyone from so many places. Keep praying, please.

OH, BY THE WAY – my dad taught for me on Sunday morning at Westpoint’s worship gathering (our local church there in Orlando) back on March 29th. I asked him to teach that day, because of the specific passage of Scripture we were on. We are walking through 1st John right now, and it was the chapter on how the Father lavishes His love on us and calls us His children. I wanted him to teach that passage, because he has been an amazing picture of the heavenly Father as both a father and grand-father. He did, and it was awesome!

So many of you who were there that Sunday morning have commented to me in some form of how much it meant to you. If you were there, could you please take a minute to go to my blog where I am also posting this update and leave a comment for Dad. Click on the title of the post (“april 8th update on mom and dad”), then leave a comment below the posting – something about what His teaching that day meant to you? I will read it to him after he is more himself. That would mean so much. My blog is www.JasonCDukes.com

Thanks so much. Erik and I love you. Thanks for loving on Mom and Dad and Erin and Jen and the kids!!! It has been an amazing display of the love that Christ desires from His church.

-jason and erik