Monday, January 24th

Hello to all of you.  Peace and prayer can describe our day.  Laura started her journey this morning being transferred to the Trauma unit from the ICU.  This was not good news.  The details of the day are hard to remember clearly but I will tell you that she is still in very critical condition.  When I had to go pick up our children tonight I was miserable.  Being a dad to two wonderful little guys while trying to be there for my wife felt like trying to literally split my heart in two.  Justin Pritchard: Thank you for your words of encouragement in that moment.  I did not know what to do.

Around 7 this evening it was scary for all of us.  Laura had fluid in her lungs and she was headed towards needing a respirator.  This was not good news either.  The day went up and down all day so I will try to get to the current status for you all.  Laura and I agreed yesterday that she would rather be told what's going on.  So, I left my conversation with the respiratory therapist and walked up to my wife and told her that her health currently revolves around her drive to push her lungs, as well as that if she does not improve a respirator would be necessary, and this is a very bad sign for her.  I told her that she is considered very sick.

This is where knowing the depths of how your spouse ticks is so valuable, because it slightly pissed Laura off and she doubled her workout loads on the "stupid machine."  Hence, a promised improvement by both her and her respiratory therapist.  She has improved in this area as of now.  The other major concern is her pancreas.  There was no improvement for much of the day, and at one point it was worse.  So the doctors gave her a medication around 7 this evening that almost completely shuts down her pancreas.  At first, there was no sign of improvement, but then her 8 p.m. lab results came back with a small improvement.  The doctor said we have a long way to go but this was a VERY SMALL step in the right direction.  We had not heard that yet at all so that was great to hear.

A very specific prayer request from Laura today is that God would remove her thirst.  She is not allowed even an ice cube, so she is really wanting something to drink.  Her labs will now be taken every 4 hours or so -- so around midnight tonight and so on.

This will not end soon, so please check in with me here, Holly Tomlinson (sister), Kristine Pritchard, or Carrie McChesney.  I will post as I have time but will at least attempt my own thoughts every night.  We have a long way to go so hang in there with us, and please continue to pray for Laura, Kaitlyn, and Kaden.  ALL of you have been amazing.  Everything from a great hug and cup of coffee from a trusted friend to the meals for us and a run for and with our husky -- I so appreciate you all.  The community surrounding my family is an amazing gift from a Healing God!

I would like to leave you all with some of my own thoughts today that became clear in moments of fear.  Currently,  I wish I could give my wife a real hug without things and cords in the way.  I miss her dearly and am anxious for her return home.  She is a rock in our home and I cherish her so much.  It seemed so obvious to me today to work for her more, to love on her more, to shower her with prayer more, to stimulate her passions and to honor her in my actions more.   We can do these things with our own famliles and with our friends.  I will do these things more...join me.