Amanda

Amanda's case is getting very confusing. They've decided once and for all to not do a big pelvic surgery due to the trauma to her abdomen. Now, we're just waiting. The new pelvic guy at MCG is supposed to get his credentials to practice in GA on March 5. Then he is to come up with a plan of action, laying out each step to get Amanda walking again - according to the Trauma doc, her attending physician.

They've told my sister that she won't be going home until that plan is clearly laid out. Meanwhile, (in another part of town) they received a visit from a hospital Social Worker who informed Amanda that she'll be moving from this hospital which is an Acute Care Hospital to another one in town, a private hospital, that is a Chronic Care hospital. When my sister explained what the trauma doc had told her, she flipped her lid. It seems that it's unheard of for someone to be in the hospital for 6 weeks these days. As soon as they are no longer acute, they're moved to a different facility.

However, Amanda still has some huge issues, not to even mention her 5 pending surgeries. She still has infection in her sutures as well as several other infections. She isn't getting enough calories so they're feeding her at night via her feeding tube, but she's having trouble tolerating it and is getting sick. She cannot keep her bowels moving. She'll go 4 or 5 days in a row without being able to void. She has no abdominal muscles to help with this process and this is a very significant issue.

There are many more issues, several of which have the potential to be life-threatening, but they still want to move her along to a different hospital. She's very frightened by this, particularly after her trip to Columbia.

This situation still needs tons of prayer. Pray for peace, against confusion, and for clarity for all the situations swirling around Amanda.

I'm leaving now to take my daughter on a retreat. We have a book and workbook by James Dobson on preparing for adolescence that we'll be working through this weekend.

Don will be going to England again soon. The paperwork is waiting for the necessary approvals. The next couple of weeks will be challenging with him gone.

On a lighter note, below are pictures from our vacation to Vail last summer. The ski slopes were unbelieveable as was the beautiful scenery. The last two pictures are from Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs - one at Whit's End (a ice cream shoppe) and the wardrobe from "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe", through which we walked into Narnia.

Hope you enjoy the pics. It's sure taken me long enough!