Rnporter’s Weblog

Rosa is stronger today after that exhausting day of surgery and recovery.  Last night I went to stay with Phil and Kathy Qualls of Apex.  Phil is Senior Pastor of Apex Baptist Church.  I told Rosa when I got in the bed that I crashed and didn’t have any trouble sleeping.  Just knowing that the care she is receiving here at Duke I didn’t have to worry about that.  Then, this morning I attended Church there and it was great to be refreshed in worship of Our God and His glorious Son.  Phil’s message was taken from the passage in Luke’s gospel about the Lepers and the point that he made of the one who returned to give thanks is what stood out most to me.  He said that we often fail to take advantage of the one moment that God may give us  to do something significant and worthy of a life in Christ, because we to caught up in the things of this world. And that, we want the  approval of the world more than we do blessings God can and will give us.  A “moment” so precious and filled with such goodness that we had rather miss it, because we are too afraid of what the world may think or say, or, not feel as though we fit in.  What a tragedy!

What I know is that I don’t want to miss even the moment that God may be showing Rosa and I what His divine purpose is in all that we are going through right now.  As hard as it has been, is right now, and even could be, for I look around me here in this hospital and see those who are in a lot worst shape than we are, and know that but for His grace and mercy, we haven’t been there.  Not yet any way and can only hope and pray that we don’t have to go there before we arrive at the place He is taking us.

God is Mighty and He is in Control. Amen.  Roy

First of all let me thank all of you who prayed for us today.  Rosa went through the surgery very well. I am proud of how she has taken all of this. With much Faith in the Lord and His will be done.  We both know that without our Faith and how much that God loves us, we wouldn’t have fared through this quite as well.  They were a lot more aggressive is trying to get at the root of the infection this time, although, Dr. Friedman says that it shouldn’t be doing all that it’s done because it’s just not that bad of a bacteria.  But they washed the surgery site out again and this time put in an irrigation system with antibiotics flowing through her head and being pumped out the other side.  Then she is on two other antibiotics by IV.  This will go on for the next five days.
So all we can do is continue to pray and give it all to God’s great plan and purpose of mercy and grace for Rosa.  Again thank you all for praying for us and we love you all.

Rosa will have a heplock put in sometime today.  She will have to be on antibiotics for six weeks at home. The reason is that there are bacteria growing where she had the surgery and that comes as a result of her immune system being very low.   I’m learning that you can teach an old preacher new tricks.  From shots in the stomach to B-12 shots in the arm and now this.  What next.?  Therefore, pray that the antibiotics kill the bacteria and fight off any other infections that she may be faced with.  Being in a hospital when you are sick is bad, but to come out with something else to have to deal with is bad too.  Rosa’ faith remains strong and we know that our God is in control.

Rosa remains in the recovery but that has not been a bad thing. She has received one on one care and they have been very good to her. Of course, who could not be good to sweet Mrs. Rosa. We are not sure when she will go to a room and what area that will be in. We expect that it will be a step down room from here and we are not sure how long she will be here. What we do know is that the infection is bacteria and is multiple in its form. So they are giving her more specific antibiotics to help fight it. She also has a drainage tube attached to her head. We will keep you all informed as much as possible and continue to need you prayers. We ask that there be no visitors except for immediate family until we know that she is out of risk of further infection. Thanks for understanding and we love you all.

I just talked with Dr. Friedman at 7:10 P.M. and he was finished.  He said, and I qoute, ”It wasn’t as bad as it looked,” end qoute.  She will be in Intensive Care over night and then we go from there.  Thanks for all the prayers and support that just keeps on. Love to all of our, family, church family and friends.

I don’t mean not to keep everyone who wishes to know uninformed, but the truth is, we haven’t heard anything yet today as to when they will take Rosa back. This was one of those things that you could only hope wouldn’t happen, but it did. Infections do happen and the one good thing about this one is that it hasn’t grown any serious culture. If you can call something that would cause you to have to go back into surgery, good. We are thankful however and praising the Lord that it is not a worse case senereo.. As I write this we have just been told they will be here in five minutes. Greater praise! I’ll let you know when it is over.

This is Tess writing for dad.  While they were at the doctor in Rocky Mount.  Duke called and asked them to come there to have the area evaluated.  They are going to be headed that way soon.  Please continue to pray.  We see this as an opportunity to pray and trust.

Rosa got the staples out of head today.  Said she felt everyone too.  After we got home she was sick for a bit but improved as she rested.  We are hoping that with them out her head will not hurt as much.  That is better as well, but I’m thinking it’s because she is taking the medicine regularly and not missing a dose.  Maybe in another few days she will be better with that as well.  She is being a good girl and staying in the bed most of the time and sitting up to eat, and read a little.  She gets up and walks but doesn’t stay up to long at a time.  We are not trying to rush things to fast.

Rosa’s head has not hurt as bad today and the medication has worked better to keep it under control.  Thanks again for all the prayers and we all know that God is the one who has made the medicine to work.  Looking forward to even a better day tomorrow with lots of sunshine.  Remember to worship Him and give Him praise for us.