thursday morning, february 14

the first dialysis treatment has been bumped to this afternoon; the surgeon who will insert the catheter had a surgery this morning. all of the specialists on board are all glad that dialysis is beginning because they think it will really help "move things along." it's better to start it now than to let the kidney(s) get any worse. we're praying they'll have life left in them.

it's possible that his left kidney is "kaput." it was the one that was most damaged, traumatized during the rupture. i believe it was closest to the aneurysm. one of his doctors DID say it's possible that with the dialysis treatments, the left kidney COULD all of the sudden decide to work again. you just never know. pray this will happen. you can live with one kidney, obviously, but two is always better than one!

as i wrote yesterday, they'll do one dialysis treatment today, friday, and saturday taking sunday off. then they'll resume the treatments on monday, administering them every OTHER day until it's "no longer needed." we pray there is a "no longer needed" in the near future.

they mentioned it might still take two to three days for the all of the different drugs and toxins to leave his body once the dialysis begins. i must admit, we are all relieved, but simulataneously nervous concerning the treatments. but this is what will make him better, so we are anxious!

things are still critical. i say this not in a pessimistic way, but realistically, to keep you all aware that your prayers are still hugely coveted by our family. dad is still a very sick man. i've received several emails mentioning that dad is better. truthfully, he has taken positive steps, but he is FAR from being "better." i just wanted to clear that up so that we don't stop praying heavily. there are days full of highs. there are days full of lows. the past few days have been exciting because for a week and a few days, we were all afraid we'd never see dad move another muscle...so just to see him twitch those eyes made our hearts almost burst. but he has many mountains left to climb. he is not in the clear.

but our God has proven himself over and over since that fretful sunday evening when this all began. He's gone so far to even place two longtime family friends as his nurses when he was being admitted for surgery and two afternoons in the CCU. He's constantly whispering His presence to our hearts.

mom is handling everything so gracefully. it's amazing how God is calming the waters of her storm; i'm not saying the waves don't threaten her frequently, but she trusts the Lord even still. her heart is set and determined for dad. i have no doubt dad feels her love, strength, and resolve. they've been valentines for 40 years.

it's beautiful to see...

more later...