Returning

Posted on June 22, 2010 by Sean

22 June, 2010 2:15 pm

Dear friends and family,

I am riding high. I have just spent over two and a half hours with Steve. Steve’s nurse is allowing me to stay with him until the end of her shift at 7:30 p.m. This is a nurse dependent decision so please pray that the night nurse will feel the same and let me stay longer. Because Steve remains somewhat delirious and in pain, I sometimes wonder whether he cares or not about my presence or how much he knows. But I was deeply reassured when the nurse came in to ask him a few questions and check his mental state. She asked him where he was and he said, “North Carolina”. She asked him what kind of building he was in, and he said, “hospital”. Finally, she asked me who was sitting next to him (me), and he said, “my wife… the most beautiful woman in the world.” I wept with joy. He is here, he is returning.

Mostly, he does not speak, but he moans a great deal. He is in a lot of pain. The doctors have taken him off of all sedation and pain medication. His nurse has just given him a very small dose of something to take the edge off, however earlier he said that he could not even feel me stroking his head for the pain. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors in balancing the healing and his discomfort.

I am running back to Steve but wanted to share with you my joy.

Michelle

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  • Jody

    That is such great news! I cried too when he acknowledged your presence and said that you’re his wife, the most beautiful woman in the world. Will pray harder for God to alleviate the pain. God bless you and Steve.

  • shirley palmer

    May the Lord give you all the strength that you need, Michelle. We continue to pray for the miracle for Steve. The congregation and staff of The National Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC (attended by your father and stepmother on Sunday) is praying for Steve and his beloved family. May you and Steve know the Lord’s coming alongside. Earl and Shirley

  • Kerri

    Praying, praying. Praying through the good and all the challenges. Praying for you, for comfort, hope, peace and joy. Praying for your family, all of you, asking for His presence to comfort, strengthen, and guide you. Thankful that you have such an amazing family to love and serve and surround you all. And hoping, always hoping, for the best for each of you.

  • Joanna Feliciano Soberano

    Thank you for sharing this beautiful story, a glimmer of hope, an answered prayer. We have been praying since we learned of Pastor Steve's accident.
    –We are Joanna, Fernando and Mark from Chicago (Joanna is studying at TEDS).
    Joanna used to teach SS for children at UCM.
    Pastor Steve is fondly remembered.

  • Marilynjpascual

    Praises and honor and glory to our great, gracious, mighty,loving, faithful, and merciful ABBA!!!!!
    Our hearts leap with joy for this wonderful news … we are all with you in this journey praying with thanksgiving and hope.

    The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.
    They are new every morning; GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS!

  • Olive Hafenstein

    Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! Thank you Lord for answered prayer. We keep pressing into the Throne of Grace with our petitions and supplications. The Lord bless you and keep you all.

  • Jennie Spohr

    Most beautiful woman in the world – body and soul!!! I'm in tears of joy for you Michelle, for this small taste of Steve coming back to himself and to you and your family. Praises 7×70 be to our good God!

    Our prayers continue for healing, glimmers, rest and compassionate nurses. Your faith and devotion to the Lord and to Steve are encouraging my own, both to God and to David. Even in the midst of this “shattering”, the Lord is reflecting His light on those shards and it is dazzling.

  • Ragamuffingirl

    praises…so wonderful to hear you say “joy”.

  • Roca

    kakaiyak.. :) i will keep praying for u michelle and steve

  • Jodi Durr

    This post, as well as many others, has brought tears to my eyes. These were the first tears of joy though. – Jeremy & Jodi Durr

  • SarahBeuerle

    Dear Michelle, I am crying reading this. I am so happy that he is aware of you. You are a tremendous women of faith married to a man we all aspire to have the faith of! I will keep you all in constant prayer. Thanks for sharing your joy.
    Love,
    Sarah Beuerle

  • Tawnya

    What wonderful news that he knows his beautiful wife is by his side as always. Many more prayers coming to you from a stranger in Arizona…..

  • Lawrence Aritao

    thank you for sharing your joy with us. praying hard for steve and for all of you by his side!

  • Annemholt

    What wonderful news! I am sure that he feels your presence. We are thinking of you all constantly.

  • Hyacinth_125

    weeping with joy! praising and thanking GOD for miracles!

  • violet

    Praise God for that truly good news! Praying…

  • Florence

    Such encouraging news. Praise God and thank God. I remember Pastor Steve preached about the mere presence of him while you (Michelle) were pregnant. He could not do much about your physical discomfort but his presence was enough… and I am sure it means the same to Pastor Steve now. Praying that God will cause the nurses to let you stay and increase Pastor Steve tolerance of pain. Thanks again for sharing the joyful news. Will not stop praying.

  • Dave Ginter

    Add Union Church of Guatemala and The Bridge International Congregation (Kuala Lumpur) as 2 more sister churches praying for your recover,y Steve! God's awesome power will restore you and help Michelle to be strong in the strength of His mighty power.
    Dave

  • Kathryn (Dodson) Campbell

    I am praying. For Steve and for you Michelle no words can describe what I am feeling, but both you and Steve have been great mentors and rocks in high school and in my early adulthood. I wish there was something more that I can do or say but I hope that knowing that the whole family is in my every thought and prayer is enough for now. I look forward to more good news.

    with love
    Kathryn (Dodson) Campbell

  • laurie eller

    We're praying for Steve! This is wonderful news!
    laurie eller

  • Leahponio

    Wow! We share in your joys and pain Michelle. I have sent this link to family and friends across the seas, they too are praying with us. We love you, Leah

  • Robin

    Wow this is an amazing update! Glad to hear he is talking.

    Praying they can get his pain under control. Hugs to you both!
    Robin
    Bellbrook, Ohio

  • Rainier

    Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful news. Indeed God is answering our prayers! I will continue to pray for Pastor Steve.

  • Patti Harris

    Basking in God's goodness! Thanks for sharing such encouraging news, Michelle.
    Steve's pastoral desire to have God's people join together in prayer is being answered through this crisis. Members from our supporting churches around North America are praying for his healing.
    Love to you,
    Patti

  • NappyKaye

    God never fails! Praying for continued recovery!

    Kaye – Philippines

  • opheliatongco

    Thank you, Michelle for sharing the good news. I continue to pray for Pastor Steve's full recovery. I thank God for the strength He has given you and I pray that His grace in you will continue to shine in this temporarily dark days. I am committed to be with you in prayer and in other ways as we look forward to days or weeks of preparing him to resume active preaching and teaching and shepherding the flock in Manila.

    Ophelia

  • Jon Las

    There are people you don't even know praying for Steve and you. We do not lose heart, we are in God's big hand.

  • Mila Jucutan

    Thank you Michelle for sharing the good news! Praying for Pastor Steve's recovery,, wisdom for the doctors and extra dose of strength and courage for Michelle. Praising the Lord for His mercy and compassion. God is still in the business of miracles.

    Mila J

  • Shana

    Beautiful Michelle,

    What wonderful progress! Hurrah! I'll be continuing to pray that the nurses would be touched to use their “discretion” and let you stay longer with Steve.

    I'm also praying that Steve would be physically comforted. I don't understand why the doctors have taken him off all pain medication. Is this to help determine his mental acuity? Will they give him more pain medication once that is established?

    So much love,
    Shana
    Makati, Manila, Philippines

  • Chipsg

    Michelle, what a great sign! Steve even in his condition is still the same great husband that he is. His hand movements are also a fantastic sign of hope right? How Steve's and your faith, and how it continuous to bring you hope, is a shining example for us all. I believe in miracles, and have seen a few happen with my own eyes. So Akiko and I are praying that he is going to stand up and walk again. We are begging and imploring God for this miracle. The parish priest in San Antonio included Steve's healing in the prayers of the faithful at mass. So now there are least two churches praying for him. =)
    Your family is in our thoughts and prayers everyday. love Chips

  • Jehan Manansala

    i just love reading this part >>>>Finally, she asked me who was sitting next to him (me), and he said, “my wife… the most beautiful woman in the world.” I wept with joy. He is here, he is returning.

    your in my prayers.

    ptr steve and the rest of the family.. :)

    jehan
    Philippines