John 5:8 "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk."

 I believe in God.  I know that He exists, and I am a witness that He hears and answers prayers.  A day ago my father was on a ventilator with a touch of pneumonia in his left lung in the ICU.  He was responding hit and miss with positive signs (hand squeezes, nods of the head, etc.), but 90% of the time simply asleep.  The doctors were planning for days more in the ICU and contemplating a tracheotomy if my father’s dependence on the ventilator continued.

                Friends and family have been praying and sending their love.  My mother asked our family and anyone who would care to join to fast on behalf of my Dad.  Almost immediately my father ripped out his ventilator and remained stable (See last post), and began speaking!  Last night my sister Andrea and I were giving him little sponge tastes of orange juice (lots of coughing at first but after a while his swallowing improved and the hoarseness in his voice improved as well!).

                This morning he took my mother’s hand in his and kissed it in greeting.  He also ripped out his N-Tube (nasal feeding tube) on his own (that took some guts!), and begged for juice, melon, and anything else he could think of!  Luckily he passed his swallow test first thing so that he could imbibe!  During his first physical therapy session they asked if he could get out of bed.  When he responded “Yes” they put a belt on him and with a physical therapist on both sides of him he WALKED DOWN THE HALL AND BACK!!!  This is the same man who 24 hours beforehand needed the help of 4 physical therapists just to stand like a wet noodle and immediately be put back in bed.  He’s still a little weak on his left side, but WOW! 

                My father recognizes everyone by name.  He is lucid.  He is stable, and he’s going to be moved out of the ICU once the doctors make their rounds today!

                It was one week ago today that my father had his surgery and was admitted to the ICU.  At that point the physicians were bracing us for the very worst.  One week later my father is walking (albeit not on his own), sitting up in the hospital recliner, and conniving for juice and food stuffs - all this with no apparent permanent damage to his mental or physical abilities.   Within the last 24 hours we have been witnesses to an absolute miracle. 

                My family and I are keenly aware that more righteous, faithful, and deserving men and women have been called home to their Father in Heaven in similar circumstances.  The mysteries of God are great and I don’t pretend to understand them.  I do know that I’ve witnessed a miracle and that my family and I are grateful for the outcome. 

My father should be strong enough VERY soon to accommodate visits and phone calls (I’m so happy to say!).  We’ll announce that time with bells and whistles when it does!  Thank you for your continued prayers, thoughts, love and patience!  It’s made ALL of the difference!   I’m in awe of the capacity for love and compassion that I’ve witnessed among all of you that my family and I are proud to call friends.