Giving Thanks {One Thing Our Marriages Desperately Need Today ~~ A Husband's Heartfelt Words as His Wife's Heart was Weak for #HeartMonth.}

{To read Part 1, the beginning of the series:

"A Husband's Heartfelt Words as His Wife's Heart Was Weak"

click here first.}

We were faced with many discouraging and difficult days. There was pain and frustration and pressing on required a strength I did not have in and of myself. God was teaching us to continue to trust in who He is.

It is a painful process to be humbled. We can fight against it with hardened hearts or we can surrender  to the tender work the Holy Spirit of God desires to do in our hearts.

On October 9th, Jon shared his thoughts with the many who where praying to the God who sees, and hears, and remembers and knows:

One recent devotional reading reminded me again to "Learn to wait on God." 

It's not naturally what we want to do as people who usually look to action to bring results. It's an important lesson to realize that with God - waiting brings results. God wants us to wait on Him for His timing. ("Wait" and "Time"- words we've heard a lot this past month). This nurtures many godly disciplines in us that is part of our growth in this journey.

"My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. "

Psalm 62:5 

The word Rebekah uses to describe the last couple of days is "lousy".

After a week of positive trending and better sleep, aiding added energy and drive to move about and push forward, the smaller perspective dips again into the frustrating realm with a new catheter and saline flush to control a persistent bleed that has come and gone through our whole stay here. Measures are being taken to source this and stop it. A cystoscopy has been ordered for Friday to determine the source. Potential of blood thinners as a result or irritation of some kind. A somewhat minor set back to doctors here who see this from time to time but it hinders us at our level.

The ventilator weaning continues into the night hours now and is a combination of a psychological and physical battle to overcome this need of dependence for support. The doctors feel Rebekah will overcome. Again—time and patience here. 

Dr. David and I chatted again this morning and he is encouraged by the latest lung X-ray that looks the clearest yet. He sees all these other things as more minor nuisances that will pass and be dealt with. He always knew [that only having one functioning] lung would be the main issue moving forward. Staff is monitoring her volume levels at night with shallower breathing. They don't want to see blood gasses rising to high again. We don't want to go down that road again. That was rough! 

Rebekah's INR levels for blood thinning are finally in therapeutic range. Smaller changes now each day to fine tune this for constancy.

We have been in talks and initial process of looking into a transfer to Toronto East General Hospital which has a more detailed and very successful, focused vent weaning program for patients like Rebekah. This is not happening for sure, but discussion has it as a possibility at this point. It is set up as more of a rehabilitation program for longer term patients.

So we head into Thanksgiving weekend here being sustained by the goodness of God. Although greatly missing the walks through the fall leaves, and travelling to family gatherings, for laughter and incredible meals and time together, we do ponder the many bountiful blessings in our lives that cause our hearts to truly GIVE THANKS!! 

-Jon

~.~.~.~.~.

This is part 15 of the series:

One Thing Our Marriages Desperately Need Today ~~ A Husband's Heartfelt Words as His Wife's Heart was Weak

{for #HeartMonth.}

You can read Part 1, the beginning of the series here.

Read Part 16 here.

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