From Michelle. 2 July, 2010 10 a.m. PST
Dear friends and family,
What a road! It has been two weeks and one day since the accident. In the first twenty-four hours at Harborview, Steve was feeding himself and brushing his teeth. This morning I am told that he will be working on getting dressed! I cannot tell you how encouraging these small independent actions are to him. He is so highly motivated, however lack of sleep and pain continue to interfere with his rehab process. Please pray that his fever would subside, that the doctors would have unique wisdom as they concoct his pain management medications, and that tonight he would sleep like a babe!
Beside these independent triumphs, there are a host of other details, information and supports offered here that are already transforming our view as we look forward. We had a meeting with a psychologist that was extremely helpful in allowing Steve a space amidst all of the medical interventions to engage with his emotional process. Steve is a man uniquely able to know and express his inner life, as many of you know, and I think this will be an enormous advantage to his rehabilitative process. It was a holy moment, as Steve’s beautiful character shone forth in the midst of both reality and hope. We hope there will be many more. With the occupational and physical therapists, as well as recreational therapists (i.e. getting out of the hospital and having fun, while learning to negotiate the world in a wheelchair!), we are setting wonderfully intimate goals, like learning the movements for a few Wii games to play with the kids, and taking me out on a date.
We are learning about myriad wheelchair related issues, like what kind of measurements are needed to make a house wheelchair friendly, manual versus electric wheelchairs, etc. We are discussing childcare issues for the children. We are beginning to explore temporary living arrangements once Steve is out of intensive rehab . There is so much no one can predict. I wish I knew more about the future and could tell you all what to expect, however we are learning a great deal about trusting God with each day. He has been so very faithful with the details. While the work is enormous, if we do our part, we trust that God will do the rest. The physical therapist likened it to a car. As long as we keep it moving, God will be able to direct it as He wills. We are at His mercy. It is a good place to be.
As we laid in bed together this morning for a brief private and wakeful moment (these are few and far between!), I began to read to Steve from 2 Samuel 22: “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior… He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me… He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me because he delighted in me… This God, his way is perfect. He is a shield for those who take refuge in him… For who is God but the Lord? And who is a rock except our God? This God is my strong refuge and has made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me on secure heights… You gave me a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.” Good words for this new day.
I leave you all, as your wonderful words, prayers and encouragements carry us both, with a single word: SLEEP!
Love,
Michelle