Thank you for praying for us and for your patience in waiting for an update. Yesterday was a very eventful day, so I never had time to write an update.
Matthew was discharged from the hospital yesterday (Wednesday, 3/4) at 2 p.m. PST. Hallelujah! He had been in the hospital for 46 days, so this freedom is lovely!
After getting his discharge instructions, I picked up the prescription medications at the pharmacy across the street. Praise God for good health insurance with low co-pays on the prescriptions!
Matthew is on nine medications, so it takes a complicated chart to keep track of when he needs to take what when. The dosage and spacing are critical to neither overdose nor underdose and to stay ahead of the pain. He has to set alarms in the middle of the night or early morning to wake up and take a couple of medications; otherwise, the pain can get too bad, and it is better to stay ahead of it rather than to chase it down later. The pattern has been that mornings have been low pain, but afternoon and evenings have been excruciating. Physical activity is good for his blood flow and mental health, but also tends to wear him out quickly.
Yesterday after discharge, we went by the apartment he shares with Jonathan to get some paperwork, bedding, and clothes. We then got moved into the rooms of our dear friends in Walnut Creek, CA, who have been so kind as to open their home for us. I'm not sure what we would do without saints like this who love us as members of Christ's Body.
Then we did a run to Target to get some groceries. My kind sister-in-law, Kim Sharp, sent me a list of low-fat meal ideas to help this clueless cook who hates shopping And our host family brought us low-fat Chipotle for supper!
Here are the next steps, Lord willing, along with praises and prayer requests:
Praise God that Matthew was discharged from UCSF Parnassus!
Praise for friends with whom we can stay in Walnut Creek, CA.
Praise God that Matthew's car is still drivable, even after being totaled when rear-ended at New Year's and shot up by a rifle by someone in Oakland in early January.
Pray for wisdom whether to drive Matthew's car back to KC or sell it in CA.
Pray we would know the best option for either selling Matthew's furniture in Oakland, or else transporting it to KC, and the best way to do that.
Pray for Matthew to sign up for California State Disability Insurance successfully and that it will get approved in time for his next appointments.
Pray for Matthew's doctors' appointments on the 11th, 13th and 17th, that:
his pain will be low and that the pain management team will know the best way to help.
his amputation wound will heal without infection or complications.
his surgeons will begin nerve testing right away and know the best options for nerve reimplantation, transfer, or graft.
his neck will heal, he won't need spine surgery, and he can take off the neck brace he has worn for over six weeks.
Matthew can regain full range of motion in his other arm (right arm), that the pinched nerves or whatever are preventing that will heal.
Pray for Pam as she packs up in Croatia to come back to KC to begin our family medical leave and home assignment in the US, and to know which date to change our flights to
Pray for a house for us to live in KC, preferably 3+ bedrooms and office space, near Blue Springs, available for 12-18 months.
All the Bible storybooks in Arli have been distributed or spoken for so there is a need to print more! Pray for wisdom, logistics and the budget to print more.
Thank you for your love and prayers,
Todd
