CJ did well with the last procedure. The fluid was drained from around the wound and the abcesses are healing well. Between that and the infection clearing, his white blood cell count dropped dramtically. He came home from the hospital Friday night.It was so good to finally bring him home after two long weeks! I don't know if anyone is familiar with n "open wound", but I sure wasn't. Because of the staples being removed just a few days after the surgery because of infection under the skin, CJ now has an open wound. Once it is opened back up that way, it can not be reclosed with staples or stiches again. So, the wound has to be packed and a "wound vac" is attached into it with a tube to drain fluid out and keep it from drying out. He also has another tube attached to continue draining out the fluid that had built up around the wound. Home Health Care will come out twice a week to tend to the wound and make sure everything is going okay. When the wound has to be fooled with, he is in terrible pain! He has pain meds and 3 different antibiotics to fight off infection. He can eat pretty much what he wants now, but doesn't have much of an appetite after not eating for 2 weeks. He can walk around slowly and carefully, but he gets dizzy and tired easily. He really can't do much of anything right now but watch TV and play games on the computer. The doctors say it will be a slow healing process, but I choose to believe the report of the Lord! CJ has defied everything else the docs said so far! From the way everything happened, CJ should not be alive right now! He is truly a miracle! I am so thankful to God for all He has done! He is so faithful!

Please continue the prayers because CJ still does have a ways to go yet. He gets frustrated and fearful at times. He has been thru a traumatic experience and he has been a real trooper! He surely is a lot tougher than I ever was! Also, keep praying for me since I have to go back to work later this week. I have to get back in the routine of getting up at 3AM again!
I want to thank everyone again for the countless ways you have blessed, strengthened and encouraged us! We could never have made it thru this without you! The most important thing was the prayers that were coming even from around the world! You may never know this side of Heaven the impact your prayers have made! But, I can tell you that those prayers saved a life ~ the life of my son ~ and I will be forever grateful!

I just wanted to let everyone know that CJ came home from the hospital last night ~~ thank You, Jesus! He is going to be okay, but he has months of therapy ahead before he is totally healed and back to normal. I will probabaly not be on here much, but I will check in from time to time to read messages and comments. They bring us so much encouragement and strength! Thank you all for your prayers. Please continue to pray for us!

Yesterday the doctor removed the tube that was pumping out the toxins from CJ's body because he is no longer septic ~~ thank You, Jesus!!! CJ was so excited to get that tube out of his throat! Now he can talk again! What is really amazing about that is he has no pain in his thraot from the tube! If anyone has ever had one, you know what it's like! When that tube comes out, your throat is very irritated and sore. CJ said he has absolutely no pain in his throat! This morning, for the first time, CJ was allowed to have a meal. He had apple juice, broth and jello! That really made his day! He hasn't eaten for the last 7 days! I guess he was right there with the churh doing his own fast ~~ just not voluntarily! This morning they took away the pain medication that he was getting through the IV and through the pump. Now he has to start on pills when he needs it. He has refused most of the pain meds because he doesn't like the way it makes him feel. But, as of this morning, he began physical therapy, so he might just decide he needs some help with pain. He has not been doing his breathing exercises as often as he is supposed to, so they put him back on oxygen. There is always the chance that pneumonia sets in if his lungs are not working properly. For them to work properly, he has to do the breathing exercises and move around as much as he can. They try to take him on 2 or 3 walks up and down the hall if he feels up to it. They have to help, of course, but he has to start trying to move or he won't be able to.

CJ continues to amaze the doctors with his quick recovery. According to the doctors, he should still be in ICU! God is truly CJ's Healer! We have seen one miracle after another! He is faithful!

Once again, I want to thank the Body for the prayers, visits, cards, balloons, gifts and most of all the love of the Father that you have shown to CJ and me and our family! God has used you to bring healing, strength and encouragement to us! May He shower you with blessings as you have done to us! Please continue praying as CJ still has a ways to go yet. We love and appreciate all of you!



Blessings,

Cheryl

I want to give an update on CJ from his car accident on July 4th. His intestines ruptured and he had to have emergency surgery. Everything from his colon backed up ito his stomach and it caused him to be septic. The surgery went well. We were told that he would have to be in ICU 3 or 4 days and 8 to 10 days total in the hospital. After less than 48 hours, CJ has been taken out of ICU and put into a regular room ~~ thank You, Jesus!!! He is still very weak and is not allowed to have any drink or food yet. He still has a ways to go. He is still being monitored for being septic. They have to meke sure the poison is not getting into his blood stream. The tube is still down his throat, pumping out the toxins from his body. He still has a catheter attached and really can't get up or walk on his own. But, the prognois is good and the doctors are amazed!!! His healing will be a process and it will take time. But, God is faithful! And I know that what seemed to be a setback will be an awesome testimony to the faithfulness of God! Also, I want to say thank you to everyone who is praying, visiting, calling, sending text messages and sending cards and other things. You have NO idea how that has encouraged CJ, lifted his spirits, strengthened him and shown him the Love of the Father! That is just what he needed and the Lord used you to do it! Isn't He awesome? Please keep up the prayers and visits! He needs grace and strength and the love and support of the Body to get thru this! Thank you all once again! I will update you when I can.
One more thing ~~ please be praying for Jessica and me as we spend our days and nights at the hospital taking care of him! Thanks again!