Wednesday – Midday

< being renewed. >
Yesterday (Tuesday), the morning began with me picking Dad up in his truck and crossing the street that they didn’t make it across April 4th. Still a bit surreal every time I cross it. We headed over to get some coffee in the Cafe in the Student Center. I tell you what – so many people (faculty, staff, and students alike) have come into the Cafe to see Dad. It really touches his heart each time.

This morning (Wednesday) we went over to the Seminary cafeteria to grab some regular type breakfast before we stopped by the Cafe to get Dad some coffee. A group of his Orlando students are in town for a workshop this week. They told me that the folks who work for the Seminary guest house have been looking at them funny, because they have been asking about Dad so much. Well, they finally got to see him this morning at the Cafeteria when we went in to grab some of Sheila’s and Ms. Alice’s grits and eggs. It meant so much to Dad. They all gathered around him, like 20 of them, with a look of admiration and support. Very thankful.

Back to yesterday, when the visiting was over in the Cafe and the first cup of coffee for the day had been consumed, we headed to see Mom. When we got there, they were bathing her. We sat in the hall and waited.

When we went in, she was so lively. Still not moving much as a whole, but parts of her body are definitely showing signs of progress – except for turning her head and moving her feet and shifting her legs and slightly lifting her arms and wiggling her fingers (which is AWESOME – more everyday!). She even began to mouth a few full sentences to us yesterday, unprompted. Dad and I focused in to try to read her lips. Here’s what we could discern:

“I need some pain medicine. My bottom hurts.”
“I need to go to the bathroom.”
“Can I get over in a small chair?”

This one she said in the context of needing to go to the bathroom. She didn’t want to go in the bed. Good sign!

Finally, right before we left, she mouthed to us:

“Will you bring me some strawberry ice cream?”

We will deliver some to her today.

We are about to head that way, so I will wrap up. Just giving you an update on the logistics real quick. We should hear today news about moving Mom to another facility here in town. If we can, we will. She is not ready yet for the Brain Injury Rehab Center (the BIRC) in Orlando. They are now very familiar with Mom’s situation, and they are working with us to move toward eventually getting her there. In the mean time, we are trying to stay focused with the medical staff to help Mom’s infections and bedsores resolve. They are really a hold-up for her overall progress. The BIRC confirmed that. Please pray with us for wisdom and for the open door to move her to a facility that we feel like will work with Mom more attentively and strategically.

Dad had been a bit discouraged over the last few days, so I thought it would be fun for us to go for a drive and breathe some fresh air. After we left Mom’s yesterday, we did just that. You can read about it and see some pictures on my blog (click here to visit there). The picture attached to this post is of a steeple that was damaged from the wind and surge from Katrina. The church family is still “renewing” their campus from that storm.

We are thankful that Mom and Dad are being renewed, as well.

I will post at you later. We are about to “walker” Dad out to the truck and cross the river to see Mom. He walked with his walker more yesterday than he rode in the wheelchair. Great stuff! Keep praying. We are seeing prayers answered everyday. Mom mouthing full sentences, for instance. Dad’s heart being refreshed yesterday, for instance.

Thank you.
-jason

Don’t forget to check out Jason’s blog (http://jasoncdukes.wordpress.com/).