Urgent Prayer Request for My Young Cousin, Severe Head Injury - Update at #2982

My family | Thursday January 25, 2007 | GretchenM

[GretchenM]

My aunt and uncle sent this out to our family at 6:30 AM today. Carrie is my young cousin, a very gifted artist, and the second eldest among her siblings. She and her family are in Michigan.

Prayer reqeust from my aunt and uncle (Carrie is their granddaughter).

This morning on her way to work Carrie's car slid on the highway and into a tree. She has very bad injuries, especially to her head. Her brain is swelling and she is now in surgery. They plan to open her skull to allow for the swelling, and she is not responding.

They don't give her parents a lot of hope. We are telling everyone so you can join us in praying for our dear Caroline. They called her parents about 7:45 this morning and they're at the hospital now.

[silent_jonny]

Continued prayers for Carrie and her family.

This really jumped out at me:

D and I are led to do some spiritual warfare on our home and property in the coming days. We are in preparation for it now. Please pray that we would be led and directed by the Holy Spirit in this endeavor. We need discernment and power from on high!

Specific prayers for that warfare. May it be won decisively through our Lord Jesus.

Prayers as always for you too, Gretchen--and your PC :)

(((God bless you)))

[Kitty Mittens]

Thank you for Every Update, as we Look to our Loving Lord of Grace.

Fairest Lord Jesus {Lyrics: Münster Gesangbuch, 1677. Composer: Schlesische Volkslieder, 1842}

Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature,
O thou of God and man the Son!
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
Thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown.

Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring:
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer
Who makes the woeful heart to sing.

Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight,
And all the twinkling starry host:
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels heaven can boast.

Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
Now and forevermore be thine!

[TASMANIANRED]

Prayers continue.

[LadyDoc]

You are still in our prayers.

As for the cuff, ask for the newer plastic ones that don’t use a cuff.

It might just depend if the tracheostomy hole is healed or ot. But you don’t want the trachea to get injured from the baloon.

And ask about postural drainage to help her get up her secretions. Is she able to cough?

Finally, is she swallowing saliva? Some medicines (Clonazepam for seizures) increase secretions. Most medicines that dry saliva also dry the lung secretions and make them so think you can’t get them out, but some docs are using botox to slow down excess saliva.

[pandoraou812]

Prayers for Carrie & family ~Pandora~

[GretchenM]

I’ll copy and pass all of this on to her family. Thank you very much.

[pandoraou812]

Prayers for Carrie & family ~Pandora~

[GretchenM]

I sent your information on to Carrie’s parents and got this in reply.

“Thanks, Gretchen, that is some good advice.
Her ENT ordered a couple of new trache collars, and they are the newer ones that don’t have a balloon. But he won’t install them for a couple of weeks. That is an interesting point about botox. She is on an anti-seizure drug called Keppra. I will check to see if it has similar side effects.
Very interesting. Please tell your friend thank you for us.”

[pandoraou812]

Prayers for Carrie & family ~Pandora~

[pandoraou812]

Prayers for Carrie & family for the weekend as I will be away ~P~

[GretchenM]

Update Friday, May 4

From my uncle and aunt

On Tuesday Carrie had another blood test to see if her system was proper for undergoing an operation. The results came back favorable, so the surgery to replace her skull piece is scheduled for Tuesday, May 8. We don't know the exact time, but probably in the early morning. We are pleased this can be accomplished. Please continue your prayers for her complete recovery.

Carrie is getting very good care here at home. There are [still] nurses on a 24-hour basis, but there are things here that are superior to being in a hospital. She gets her rest in the night time. She is continually being monitored by some very capable nurses. She seems to be doing well. M has arranged for their family doctor to make house calls for Carrie. Also, a neighbor, who is a pulmonary doctor, made a visit here last week. Everyone really likes the physical therapist who comes twice a week.

D, and A, our high school senior, are on their way to visit ***, a college in a neighboring state, and a university in Michigan today and tomorrow. Both schools have accepted her. This tour should help her make a decision. Yesterday they found out she received a nice scholarship for 4 years. She hopes to study [in a specialized field of science / medicine / engineering].

Love, [my uncle and aunt]

[GretchenM]

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed;
save me, and I shall be saved;
for thou art my praise. - Jeremiah 17: 14

I love that verse. We used to sing it in one of those "little hymns" of worship at church and it still runs through my mind at times.

It all really does come down to God saying the word, and Carrie's healing will be fully evident to all.

For that day we wait, and praise You, Lord, now -- and when Your richly healing word comes.

[GretchenM]

I forgot to ping everyone to this update @ 2,371 for Carrie’s surgery:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1773590/posts?page=2371#2371

[Tribune7]

prayers continue

[Lead Moderator]

More prayers going up for her. I updated the headline.

[AmericanMade1776]

Thanks for the update, Keeping Carrie in prayer, and especially Tuesday.

[freema]

I’ll bump that!

[GretchenM]

Thank you; it really helps to have the latest news so easy to locate via the title.

[Lead Moderator]

You’re very welcome :)

[Colorado Buckeye]

More prayers for Carrie.