Monday, February 23, 2009

The Healing Process Continues

Dear friends:

A lot has happened since the last update. Kerry has been in a great deal of pain since her surgery on the tenth. She has had nausea, loss of appetite, and headaches. She was lovingly cared for by her mother- and father-in-law and Kerry greatly appreciates the tender loving care she received from them. On the eighteenth, Kerry saw the three primary physicians that have been attending to her during this ordeal. Dr. McCannel said that the retina is still very inflamed; but the good news is that there is 0-2 eye pressure, which indicates that there is some eye pressure. Thank you for praying... please continue praying. Dr. Miller, the cataract specialist was able to remove some of the stitches from the cataract surgery. This alleviated some of the surface pain. Dr. Aldave, the cornea specialist, was able to remove a cornea sutcher that was especially painful. However, he is concerned that Kerry's donor cornea is not attaching well to the surface of the eye. He has told Kerry to continue bed rest and to keep the eye closed. If the cornea is not looking better by the next visit (Feb 25th) he will have to do something to make sure the eye stays closed and he stressed that it would not be pleasant. Please pray that the cornea will heal as it should. Dennis' parents flew home to Oregon on the 18th. God is so good in providing help for Kerry since Dennis' parents have left. Several ladies have come to care for Kerry during the day while Dennis is at work, making it possible for Kerry to get the bed rest that she needs. The time spent with them has been very precious and special. We celebrated Craig's 18th birthday on Saturday. Kerry will again see all three specialists on Wednesday, the 25th. God has been so faithful in pouring out His tender mercies during this time; His presence has been very evident.

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you by My righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:10.

Pray requests:

1) Pray for no scarring of the retina
2) Pain to lesson
3) Cornea to heal properly
4) Prayer for continuing to homeschool Craig while all this is going on.

Thank you for your love, prayers and support. We are grateful.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Surgery a Success !

Dear friends:

The official word from the doctors is that yesterday's surgery was a success... thank you, Jesus! The doctors were able to inject just the right amount of fluid into her right eye to get the pressure up to a normal level. So, for now, we are thankfully receiving the good news that at least something is going right for Kerry. We were recently asked about the possibility of Kerry regaining her eyesight in this eye; the quick answer is that there is no immediate answer to this question. The doctors choose not to speculate at this point. They are merely saying that the eye now needs to have time to heal from all these surgeries. At some future date there will need to be a decision as to what the next course of action will be. Until that day, we again ask for prayer that Kerry's eye will soon become healthy. During this time of healing she continues to be on pain medication and antibiotics.

A special thanks goes out to Dennis' parents (Gerald and Lois Philpot) for coming down from Oregon to stay with Kerry during the day while Dennis is at work. You are wonderful parents ! ! !

God bless you all.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Urgent Situation for Kerry

Dear friends:

As mentioned earlier, Kerry will be going in for surgery on the 10th at JSEI (where else?). Today it was revealed by her doctor that the situation is actually rather critical. Due to the deleterious effects of the infection, Kerry's right eye cannot produce the fluid that keeps her eye pressure at a normal level; hence, her eye is losing pressure on a daily basis. The purpose of the oil solution is to temperarily bring her eye pressue up to a normal level to help the eye to be healthy enough to heal properly (this is the best explanation that can be derived from an engineer who's working with second-hand knowledge). However, if the natural pressure-regulating mechanisms do not return to their normal functionality Kerry will again be in danger of losing this eye.

Please pray for Kerry that her eye will be able to regain the functionality of the fluid glands that will allow her to keep this precious eye. She, quite understandably, has anxiety about this situation. Yet we are relying on God that His perfect will will be done.

Thank you all for your prayers on her behalf; you are a blessing to the Philpot family and especially to Kerry.

God bless you all.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Another Surgery

Dear friends:

Kerry will be going in for a another surgery on Tuesday, February 10th, to correct an eye pressure problem. The low eye pressure in her right eye has caused her a tremendous amount of pain lately. Correcting the eye pressure is expected to help alleviate the chronic pain in her eye and if it is not performed soon it could result in the loss of her eye. Please pray for a successful outcome (obviously) and that this will be the last surgery she will have to endure until they put in a combo lens/iris ring and artificial cornea several months from now. The doctors say that if Kerry is to gain back any eyesight it will only take place after the artificial cornea is put in place.

We would like to thank everyone for your faithful prayers and love. Kerry is resting in the Lord that He will be glorified and that He will see us through this difficult situation.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.” Psalm 103:1

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Attempt to remove sutchers

Dear friends:

Kerry started her day with very intense eye pain, which began very early in the morning. It was serendipitous that she had an appointment at the JSEI this afternoon. We are very grateful to God that the doctor said her eye was "normal" and that the pain was probably due to the stitches in the cornea. Unfortunately, the stitches couldn't be removed as of yet; the doctor was able to prescribe a topical anesthesia, however, which was a blessing.

Another recent challenge is that Kerry's eye pressure has been extemely low. Because of this the doctors will have to perform yet another surgery on her right eye... and this is again one of those urgent situations. In this case they will need to inject an oil-like fluid into her eye to get the pressure up to normal. Please pray that this procedure will be a success. Thank you, in advance for your prayers.

Dennis and Kerry would like to say a huge "THANK YOU !" to Kerry's father, Ralph Lawrence for coming from Boise, Idaho to stay with us and help Kerry through her health challenges this past week.

Also, as always, thanks goes out to all the angels who have brought meals. You have all been so wonderful to the Philpot family... thank you, thank you, thank you ! ! !

God bless.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Some good news from JSEI

Dear friends:

Today, Kerry had another doctor visit at JSEI... this time with a bit of good news to share! The more salient points are as follows:
  • The eye is showing signs of healing. The process is still expected to take several months, however.
  • Kerry was able to detect hand motion with her right eye! This was really encouraging for us. Up until now all she could see was a glimmer of light when a bright light was shined directly in her eye.
  • Her retina does not appear to be detached in the classic sense. That is to say, there appears to be a small pocket of fluid behind the retina in one particular area. The doctors will "keep an eye on it" (sounds silly, doesn't it?) to see if the fluid dissipates as time progresses.
  • The doctors were able to take Kerry's eye pressure today and it was on the low side, but still in the normal range.
  • The sutchers are still intact. However, the doctors indicated that they (the sutchers) will probably start causing Kerry to have some irritation before long.
  • Kerry is still having a lot of eye pain. Please pray that it will subside so that life can begin to get back to "normal."
  • For now, no more surgeries! She will have to go in for the next phase in about six months, but we will trust God for a good outcome when we cross that bridge.

As always we are very grateful for the angels that have brought meals and have served in so many ways... thank you, thank you, thank you ! ! !

God is good all the time. Kerry is in His powerful, loving hands.

Blessings to you all.