Sunday, January 31, 2010

He's Home and Thank You's!!!!


YES... you read it correctly... Greg is home from the hospital as of Friday at about 3PM!!!

This caught us all kind of off guard, but the doctors felt that he had reached a "status quo" with his fluid status and that he could manage his condition from home at this point.  He will be seen in the heart failure/ transplant clinic weekly, with the first visit this Wednesday.  They will do lab work, interrogate his ICD (i.e. download all the information that the device in chest has recorded about arrhythmias and paced rhythms, etc). , and evaluate his general condition.  Additionally, within about three weeks, he will have another cardiac cath to more closely look at his heart function.  He's also going to be having a speciallized stress test while having the pressures measured inside his heart.

At home, he's going to be working on just getting his strength back, exercising as tolerated,  making huge changes in his diet (following a heart healthy, low sodium, fluid restriction diet) and he and Elise will be figuring out a new "normal" for their lives at this point.  As you might imagine, that's a pretty challenging thing to do. At the time of his surgery last week, his heart was functioning SO poorly and was SO overloaded with fluid that the doctors believed he was going to need to have a transplant ASAP.  That's why they wanted to apply for the 1B exception status on the transplant list that I told you about in an earlier email.  At this point, the good news is that he responded REALLY well to the extreme diuretic therapy that he was given in the hospital. As a result, he is listed as a Level 2 on the list, which means that he will definitely  need a transplant in the future, but at this moment, he is stable on oral meds.  Additionally, the changes made to his pacemaker are probably contributing to his improved status. Just for clarity -- he is ON THE LIST - for sure- as of Friday morning.  It was voted unanimously by the review board on Thursday that he will need a heart transplant.

It's a huge blessing that his condition has improved so much and he and Elise are grateful, as we all are. But it is again a huge adjustment, since they had just wrapped their heads around the fact that he would be having a transplant in the near future.  It now is something looming out there in the future, with no real defined timetable on it.  The doctors have explained that the longer Greg has his own heart in his chest, the better it is since the transplant brings with it real risks and we all understand that, but delaying it also brings with it a sense of life being "on hold".  Please pray for them as they work their way through this time of uncertainty.

He and Elise will be returning to their jobs when they can, as dictated by how he is progressing.   They are anxious to return to life and continue their ministry at Mason.

Smitty and the boys arrived on Friday evening and we've had a GREAT time all being together.  As I type this, they are all sitting behind me at the table, playing a boardgame and it's so good to hear them laughing together at their own humor that is not QUITE as funny to anyone else but them :)  Elise got a chance to go and ride her horse this morning and we're so glad that she is getting a little break.  She continues to be an amazing, loving support to Greg.

 We will all be leaving to head back to Pgh this afternoon and resume life.  I'd ask for prayers for all of us as we leave - it will be hard to be apart again.  We are SO grateful to the CRU community here in Fairfax and how they have shown love and support to Greg and Elise.  They will continue to love and care for our kids in our absence and we are so grateful for that.  I'd like to especially thank Randy and Pam Newman for hosting Smitty and me in their home for almost two weeks.  What a huge blessing to not have the additional financial burden of a hotel and even more importantly the love and care they showed to Smitty, Elise and me during some really tough days was an immeasurable blessing. Randy even came to the hospital to watch football with Greg and he enjoyed that SO much!  Also thanks to the Mason CRU staff and students who visited, made banners, sent cards, letters, gifts and left messages on this blog -- you made Greg and Elise feel SO loved!  I've also been amazed at all the support shown to them from the regional CRU community - this organization is truly a living example of the body of Christ caring for each other.  And again, thanks to Tim Henderson (Penn State CRU director) for designing this blog and all the other forms of assistance he has given us.

Finally, thank you to our families, friends and  the HZUMC/ Zelienople community who provided support, meals and financial assistance for our family  -- you are too amazing!!  I know that my family has been eating alot better in my absence than when I'm home!  Sincerely, thank you for helping us get through these two weeks. .. we love and appreciate you so much!

This blog will continue to stay in existence and we will update as new developments/ updates emerge. Please continue to leave your comments/ greetings/ prayers.  It really helps to know how many people care and are praying!

Have a wonderful day!

Love,
Becky

PS - some of you have asked for their home address, so here it is:

Greg and Elise Boros
11105 Gainsborough Court  Apt. 8
Fairfax, VA  22030








Thursday, January 28, 2010

Transplant Meeting Outcome and Other Thoughts

Hi Everyone,

As you know, Greg's case was reviewed by the transplant committee this afternoon and he was accepted as a good transplant candidate.  That was awesome news.  On the heels of that, we found out that at this point, they have him classified as a "Level 2" since his condition has improved alot with the use of high dosages of IV diuretics.  Carolyn, the transplant coordinator, only had a moment to speak to us after the meeting and said that she'll be back tomorrow to discuss status and applying for "exceptions".  Since we only a had a VERY limited conversation with her and Dr. Lefrak (the surgeon), it's hard to anticipate what's going to happen, but it's left us kind of "reeling".  We're caught between feeling grateful that his condition has improved  and disappointed that he's not going to be on a "faster track" toward transplant and return to a more normal life. He's doing a great job of accepting this new turn of direction, but it is another dip on the emotional roller coaster.
 
Today, he was switched from the high dose IV diuretics to oral diuretics so we'll be anxious to see how he responds in his daily weight tomorrow.  His pacemaker was readjusted today and it is now pacing the top and bottom chambers of his heart.  We're hopeful that this will also aide in his cardiac function.  The surgeon came in this afternoon and removed MORE tape from his chest (OUCH!!!!).  He is beginning to name the faces on his chest and abdomen made from all the surgeries.  He'd probably enjoy any suggestions you might have :)

He was moved from the CTSDU (Cardiothoracic Stepdown Unit) to the Cardiac Telemetry Unit on the third floor.  He will likely spend a bit of time here in the future since they care for alot of the heart failure/ transplant patients.  His new room number is 316.

So... on a totally "mom indulgent" note, I'd like to encourage all of you who have children or really to all of you who have ANYONE you love --- give them a hug right now and tell them that you love them!  Their lives are all so precious and we often take those we love so for granted. My heart breaks sometimes when I look at Greg struggling through all these procedures.  And I must say that I marvel at his attitude and tolerance and courage for all that he's endured.  He is a great patient - sweet and appreciative to all who care for him.

Along those same lines, a tragedy back in Pgh further compels me to say "I love you".  Three of our son's (Tim and Nate's) classmates were killed in an auto accident on Tuesday night.  I keep thinking that we have this HUGE network of people praying for Greg's life because it seems to be so threatened by heart failure.  Yet, those student's families and friends totally expected that they would kiss them goodnight and see them the next day.  Life is so very uncertain and fragile and therefore we are reminded that the only sure place to put our hope is in the Lord.  That is where we are resting right now - trusting that He knows the plans for Greg and the path that we need to walk. We so appreciate your support and care as we walk through this whole thing.

Greg is SO looking forward to a visit from his brothers and Dad this weekend!!!  I feel like I should warn the nurses of the noise that will undoubtedly erupt from  his room, as they launch into their usual enjoyment of each other's humor!  Please pray for Smitty and the boys as they travel down tomorrow and for us all going back on Sunday.  I need to return to work next week and it's going to be hard to leave here, although I look forward to being back with the rest of the kids.

That's it for now! We'll let you know how tomorrow goes.  Don't forget - tell someone that they're important to you and that you love them.

Love,
Becky

PS  He and Elise are TOTALLY enjoying all your comments, so keep them coming!

 



What's all this going to cost?

For those of you who are interested I wanted to briefly explain what Greg and Elise will need to pay for his surgeries. The short answer is a lot.

Greg's insurance has two categories of out of pocket maximums. One category has a $5,000 cap which he will certainly hit. The other has a $10,000 cap which he may hit as well. Their expenses will not exceed $15,000 for covered services in any given year.

So, for services provided in each of 2009, 2010, and 2011, their out of pocket expenses will be somewhere between $5,000 and $15,000. For 2012 and beyond, assuming there are no further complications Greg's share of his total medical expenses will likely be $5,000 per year.

That of course is a large amount for them to bear, while still a small fraction of the total cost of a heart transplant. If you'd like to see some eye popping numbers for the total cost of heart transplant surgery, this is the most detailed site I have found.

In all they are facing, I'm sure I'm sure it would be a blessing to know that the money for these bills is provided. If you chose, there is a link to the right where you can contribute to their account with Campus Crusade. From that account Greg and Elise can reimburse 100% of their medical expenses tax free. You can be certain that your gift will benefit them directly. I know Elise has many other things on her mind right now so if you have any questions about this feel free to write me directly at tim.henderson@uscm.org. I'd be happy to help however I can.

Tim

1 Day Post- Surgery

Hi everyone,

I wanted to give you an update on how Greg's doing today.  Yesterday, he had surgery to replace his ICD/pacemaker and to add a new lead- this time going into his atrium (he already has one going into the ventricle).  The doctors wanted to increase Greg's heart rate so that he gets more blood and oxygen pumped through his body, but while his existing ICD could increase his heart rate, it wouldn't give his heart a strong pumping and filling action.  The hope is that the new dual-chambered ICD will increase his cardiac output and keep him out of the hospital longer (and off of more severe treatments) while he waits for his new heart.  The surgery went very well.  God totally answered our prayers in that at the last minute the surgeon was switched from a doctor that we've had very bad experiences with in the past to one that we like a lot and who performed Greg's atrial ablation last spring.

Last night was tough for Greg.  He was in a lot of pain and the nurses had to wake him up frequently to check his vitals, give him IV antibiotics, and administer his pain medication.  One blessing was that the night-time nurse let me shower in Greg's bathroom!  It was such a blessing to be able to get a hot shower without having to leave the hospital and deal with traffic.

Right now Greg is getting an x-ray to make sure his new ICD looks good.  The doctors will be in later today to test it.

Because of the fluids that Greg was given during and after surgery yesterday, he is retaining more fluid than he has over the past few days.  The goal is to get him "bone-dry" before he leaves the hospital, so its hard to say at this point when he'll be going home.

He just got back to the room so I'm going to end this email!  Thank you so much for praying for us, for the encouraging cards, emails, and blogposts, and everything else you're doing to support us. 

We love and appreciate you!
Elise

Back from surgery

Good morning.

Elise asked me to send out an update because they were unable to access the internet last night.

Greg's surgery went well and he returned to his room last evening. Prior to the surgery the medical team decided to replace his pacemaker/defibrillator. Post-surgery xray indicated everything is well with the device and electrodes.

The transplant meeting is this afternoon.

Thanks for your continuing prayer support.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Pacemaker Upgrade Tomorrow - Praises- and Answers to Questions People Keep Asking

Hi Everyone - It's been 48 hours since we last wrote and I wanted to try to update you with what's been going on.

First, as the title shows, the doctors have decided that they need to upgrade Greg's pacemaker tomorrow.  Until now, he has only had one lead, down in the lower chamber of his heart that can pace when it needs to or shock him out of a bad rhythm.  Tomorrow, they will add a lead into the upper chambers of his heart that will hopefully increase his cardiac function.  Their hope is that this will buy more time before they need to take any further, more aggressive invasive measures to increase cardiac output. It is also possible that they will replace the pulse generator up in his shoulder, if they feel it is warranted, although that's not their plan right now.  This is scheduled to be done around 2PM, so please pray for a safe and effective procedure.

He has been stable for the past 48 hours, in terms of vital signs. His chest wound is continuing to heal, he is working hard at walking around the floor to increase his stamina (tonight's record was 5 laps!),;he is using all the respiratory equipment that makes his take deep breaths and cough (even though it hurts so much); he is diligently recording all the fluids that he drinks and his output; is observing "sternal precautions" so that he doesn't open his chest wound; is trying to learn to observe all the dietary restrictions that have been placed on him and generally being a really good patient.  Please know that ALL those things I just mentioned are done under the loving encouragement of Elise -- his best cheerleader!

The days and nights bring emotional rollercoasters with them as we walk through the teaching of what to expect of life before and after the heart transplant.  There is an AWFUL lot to swallow - especially when you're 24 and just want to live a normal life.  But again, I marvel at how both he and Elise are handling all of this - clearly your prayers are carrying them and all who love them through this difficult time.

It's been very interesting to watch and listen as they explain what they do for a living to those who don't have knowledge of Campus Crusade.  I've told Elise that although they're not able to do their ministry as they might have planned, God is certainly using them in this setting AND back on the campus of George Mason as the students watch this unfold.  Last week, they made a HUGE banner at their weekly meeting and MANY, MANY of them wrote notes on it.  It's clear that they are loved and missed on campus right now but that their interactions in the past and now are a living example of trusting God, even in the hard times.

And now the praises:
We found out yesterday that the transplant will be covered under their health insurance!!!!!!!!  YEAH for CRU health insurance which is turning out to be excellent!!
The monthly cost of post surgery meds is also covered in a major way, although they will still have a significant monthly cost FOREVER.  He will be on these meds for the rest of his life. Additionally, they will have MANY clinic visits, tests, procedures leading up to and following the surgery, so please continue to pray for financial provision.

Today, a gentleman who received a new heart in July came with his wife to visit!  His wife is actually an RN in the CTICU at this hospital and heard about Greg from one of the nurses who cared for him. They were so kind in coming and answering many questions and we were all astounded by the energy he describes himself as having. His preop and post course was relatively uncomplicated and we would ask for prayers that Greg's would be the same.

We have also received emails from several of you with contacts of people who are post heart transplant and are experiencing wonderful, healthy lives.  Thank you for that encouragement -- it means alot.

Today, Greg received a literal STACK of get well cards and he and Elise were so excited to open and read them!  They are now adorning the once plain walls of his hospital room!  Thank you for caring to post commetns on this blog too -- they are SO excited to open the computer and hear  from old friends, new friends and family. 

If anyone is receiving this note via email and you're unsure what a blog is or what to do with it, here are directions:
In the browser bar where you type website addresses, type          gregboros.blogspot.com
At the end of each post (which are emails that we send in) there is a button that has a number next to the word comments.  Click on that to read others comments and/or to write your own.  If you enter your email address where indicated under their picture, you'll receive an email if we have posted a new update that day.

Lastly, Answers to Questions People Keep Asking

How long will Greg wait for a heart? -  the doctor indicated that the average wait is 6-15 months.  Pete, the gentleman who was here today and just had a transplant in July, waited 7 months and we pray that Greg's wait is on the shorter side as well.

Why do contributions for Greg's health care have to go through their Campus Crusade account?
Greg and Elise pay for their medical care through their staff account in a way that is similar to a flexible medical savings account - i.e. they are not taxed on that amount.  The funds donated to their account must be reviewed and notated by CRU through the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability which assures proper use of donated funds.  Rest assured that they will receive the funds that you donate, just as they receive monthly funds from those on their support team. Should you decide to help Greg and Elise in this way, they want you to know that they love you, and appreciate you more than they can express. Greg wanted me to say that he and Elise are absolutley humbled and touched by the sacrifice you're willing to make on their behalf.







Monday, January 25, 2010

Emails updates are working

I just wanted to clarify that despite what I said in my initial email, you can now sign up to receive email updates from Greg's blog. Every evening around 10 pm you will get a single email with all the posts from that day. If there are no posts on any given day you won't receive an email.

To subscribe just enter your email address in the form to the right. Please be sure to visit the site as well so you can leave comments, for Greg, Elise, and the rest of his family.

Tim

Sunday, January 24, 2010

A Note From Greg and Becky on Saturday Night

Hello again everyone!

I'm sitting here next to Greg after he walked THREE laps around the
floor. He is a TROOPER and I'm so proud of him!

I wanted to let you know that today, Tim Henderson, the director of
CRU at Penn State, created a blog site where you can read updates on
Greg and leave him messages of encouragement. He also created an
online option for donating to their staff account to specifically
help with the cost of their medical bills. Greg and Elise asked me to
thank you for all the prayers and encouragement that you've offered
for them and ask you to continue to pray as they face a long road
ahead.

If you have time, feel free to leave a note on the board - it would
be a real source of encouragement and fun for them to read your
messages. When you do comment, it may be easiest for you to use "Name/URL" or "Anonymous" for your profile.

Thank you again - we are all very grateful!
With love,
Becky (and Greg!)

Prayer Requests

Becky texted me and asked that I post the following prayer requests:

Please pray that Greg obtain a 1B Exception (this will help Greg to receive a donor heart more quickly).

Please pray for the meeting with the hospital's transplant finance representative on Monday, and that all would go well with the health insurance.

Please pray for the donor, their salvation, and their family.

Thank you!

Gratefully in Christ,
Smitty

Indulging myself at your expense

I know we all get these kind of emails from time to time. This one came from a friend of mine and made me cry, a second time. Never forget that God is our friend, and He often brings His friendship packaged in people who look remarkably like you. Thank you for helping us bear the sadness. The Lord and you give us hope.

Love,
Smitty


A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet.

She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes.


Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.

She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was too busy at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good. Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!


'And what do you want?' the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages,' he said without waiting for a reply to his question.

'Well, I want to talk to you about my brother,' Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. 'He's really, really sick...and I want to buy a miracle.'

'I beg your pardon?' said the pharmacist.

'His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?'

'We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you,' the pharmacist said, softening a little.


'Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs.'

The pharmacist's brother was a well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, 'What kind of a miracle does your brother need?'

' I don't know,' Tess replied with her eyes welling up. I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money.'


'How much do you have?' asked the man from Chicago

'One dollar and eleven cents,' Tess answered barely audibly.

'And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to.'

'Well, what a coincidence,' smiled the man. 'A dollar and eleven cents---the exact price of a miracle for little brothers. '

He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said 'Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the miracle you need.'

That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed free of charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well.

Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place.


'That surgery,' her Mom whispered. 'was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?'

Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost..one dollar and eleven cents....plus the faith of a little child.


In our lives, we never know how many miracles we will need.

A miracle is not the suspension of natural law, but the operation of a higher law.

MY OATH TO YOU...

When you are sad.....I will dry your tears.

When you are scared.....I will comfort your fears.

When you are worried.....I will give you hope.

When you are confused......I will help you cope.

And when you are lost...And can't see the light, I shall be your beacon .... Shining ever so bright.

This is my oath.....I pledge till the end.

Why you may ask?.......Because you're my friend.


Signed: GOD

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Family and Friends,

Our family is so very grateful to all of you for your prayers, and to Tim Henderson for his prayers and for setting up this blog. Thank you. Truly, truly.....thank you.

Having just returned home after a week with Greg and Elise, I am struck by three things: my son has suffered from an insufficient supply of oxygen and heart failure far more than I realized in recent months, our daughter-in-law is literally and genuinely an absolute angel and incredible wife, and both of them have used even this situation for God's greater glory (have you ever seen a cardiac intensive care patient and his wife make evangelical progress with a Hindu nurse?).

And I am utterly convinced of this: we have a great God, and He has blessed us with incredible family and friends.

Thank you for your prayers, we can tangibly feel them.

Gratefully in Christ,
Smitty

From Becky

Hi Everyone,

This is Becky, writing from the hospital library after several days of frustrating attempts to gain wifi access with the laptop. You might want to get a cup of tea before starting to read this. It's been a long few days.

I just today read the last sent note from Smitty on Thursday. You're all aware that Greg's chest was opened and closed when they viewed the FULL overall status of his heart. Many of my "medical friends" have asked or at least wondered (as we did too) WHY did they not know the status of his heart before opening his chest? We asked that same question and were told that although the biopsy performed during the recent cath showed healthy heart muscle, it was representative of only that specific area of muscle. The doctor said that it's like looking at a HUGE wall thru a keyhole and that the overall picture can be much different than the rest of the heart. Although they had done significant amounts of pre-surgery testing (including echo's and wall motions, etc), his condition had substantially deteriorated in the 10-14 days just prior to surgery and he had developed left heart failure in addition to the right heart failure that he had going in. Smitty tells me that I get too "clinical" in these notes and that perhaps you don't understanding what I'm saying, but some of you have real questions and I'm trying to answer them. In a more basic statement, his condition moved from one of problems just with filling of the heart to one with contraction problems as well and in a very dramatic, fast way. They were EXTREMELY concerned about his situation in the operating room. Since that time, they have been managing some medications/ diuretics that have taken alot of excess fluid out of his system.

He is currently in the CTSDU (cardiothoracic surgical step down unit). He is disconnected from all attachments, other than an IV for drug administration. God has been so gracious as to allow him to make remarkable steps in recovery from this particular surgery. His wound is healing well, he walked in the hall yesterday and even took a shower (while sitting of course). He is eating - not alot but he is eating. His cardiac rhythms have been under control and all vitals signs are OK for now.

He received all this news from the surgeon on Thursday morning and was devastated, as we expected him to be. He wept and repeatedly apologized to Elise and us for causing us all this "trouble". It broke our hearts. Once again, God was kind and helped him to quickly recover from the news and by the time the transplant team arrived later in the day to discuss it all, he readily admitted that he has been feeling so very awful for months, and that he just can't go on living like this. He agreed to proceed with the process and hopes to receive a transplant ASAP.

Since then, there has been a flurry of evaluations from every discipline on the team who will support him (and Elise and our family) through the process. They have been exceptionally wonderful and the constant prayer for clinical excellence, care, kindness and compassion has been answered over and over again. We actually found out last night that their care coordinator, Carolyn, is a Christian and was able to explain to the team exactly what Campus Crusade is and what Greg's and Elise's jobs are. Another answer to prayer that we would intersect with Christians who would be able walk with Greg and all of us through this process. Carolyn is actually the "right hand" to the head of the transplant team, Dr. Desai. God is clearly meeting our needs.

Yesterday was a really tough, emotional day for us. A surprise visit from a couple who are some of Greg and Elise's closest friends from PSU made us all cry. They should not have been able to get through the "visitor checkpoint", since only immediate family is allowed in, but they did, and it was a real blessing for Greg and Elise. They are not allowed, nor are they able to handle any visitors at this emotionally, but Greg had just said to Elise the night before that he wished he could see Jeremiah and Brianna and they magically appeared. Another answer to prayer. Watching him hugging Jeremiah and crying brought back to us the real "human side" of all this, after an intense period of "managing" things clinically and although it was hard, I think it was good for us all to shed some tears.

Later in the day, Carolyn (the PA I mentioned above), came back to deliver the "nuts and bolts news" of what is planned for Greg's care. This is where you all come in (and anyone you'd like to share this email with that's praying for us).

Greg will be presented to the transplant review board from this hospital this Thursday. His case will be presented to a group consisting of surgeons, pulmonologists, cardiologists, electrophysiologists, nutritionists, psychiatrists, social workers, financial/insurance specialistsetc. They will request that he be listed as a 1B exception on the transplant list (I'll explain what that means in a minute). If they approve, I think his case will also be presented to a larger regional board and he will be "listed" on the waiting list for a new heart. The things that could delay that listing would be that they'd require further diagnostic tests, that he recieve certain treatment "trials" or that his insurance delays things. We need prayers that NONE of those things happen and that he is accepted as a 1B exception.

Transplant recipients are classified as either a :

Level 7 - for various reasons, not actually ready to accept a heart right now if it became available

Level 2 - being treated/ managed with oral medications (fairly stable)

Level 1B - being treated/ managed with IV medications, either in the hospital or at home (fairly stable) or being treated with an LVAD (left ventricular assist device). They don't feel optimistic about using IV drugs with Greg because those increase the chance of dangerous irregular heart rhythms and with his history, that's not a good thing. Since both sides of his heart are failing, the LEFT VAD isn't going to be enough to help him. Overall, I think Greg and Elise are doing extremely well under the circumstances. Your prayers and the care for us and our families has been overwhelming - thank you.

Many of you have been asking what you can DO to help us. I'd like to be forward to enough to share some real concerns and possible suggestions.

  • Emotional/ prayer support - PLEASE KEEP PRAYING! God is answering your prayers through all this and we will try to be faithful in sharing answers as they come.
  • If you feel like sending a card to Greg and Elise, I know they would really enjoy receiving your notes of encouragement. US mail is better since they feel badly not answering email. We're not sure how long he will be here, but I imagine they would forward their mail home at discharge. Here is the hospital address:
  • INOVA Fairfax Hospital 3300 Gallows Road Falls Church, VA 22042-3300 Room 267

    I don't have their home address with me right now, but those on their support team have it on their prayers letters. I'll send it in a further email.

    Many of you desire to send them a monetary donation to help with their medical bills and that would be a huge blessing. However, I need to talk to them to determine how that should be accomplished within the guidelines of their position with CRU.

    For those of you on their monthly support team, be assured that they are SO cognizant of the "job" that you've put them in Fairfax to do and they are continuing to do it even through this current situation. Students at George Mason gathered two nights this week to pray for Greg and Elise and they sent a huge banner to the hospital for them with all their notes and wishes. They are also witnessing through their walk this week and have had opportunities to talk to staff members about their faith. We believe that God has opened a whole new area of ministry for them in one of the most "vulnerable" places a person could find themselves.

    If anyone reading this email is interested in joining their monthly support team (for any amount), that would be a HUGE blessing to them in these hard economic times, let alone dealing with their increased medical spending. We would be happy to put you in direct contact with them if you'd like to respond to this email address. You can also give to their Crusade account by clicking here.

    I'm finally done! And your tea is either gone or cold. Thank you for taking the time and caring to read this. In closing, we would like to ask you to pray for saving faith for the individual who is currently carrying Greg's new heart as they live the final days of their lives. We would also pray that their earthly relationships are healthy and sweet and we pray for the family who will lose them.

    We love and appreciate you all more than you know.

    Becky (and Smitty)

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

From Smitty

Family and Friends,

Thank you for all your prayers, support and encouragement. This is Smitty sending an email through our home computer to obtain the group mailing.

Greg is well and recouperating from his surgery today. He is doing just fine, under the circumstances. Unfortunately, it was determined once the surgeon had opened his chest (and consulted a number of other cardiology specialist doctors) that the anticipated problem with the pericardial sack around his heart is not, in fact, Greg's real problem. Greg's heart muscle itself is not in a good condition. The team of doctors are certain now that Greg will need a heart transplant. As such, they closed his chest without stripping the pericardium, and we are beginning the process of hopefully obtaining a heart transplant.

Your prayers have helped to place us in the very capable hands of an outstanding team of professionals that will now help Greg, Elise and our family walk through the "marathon" (as it was described to us) process of a heart transplant. We met with a transplant social worker from the hospital, as an initial step in this process, after talking with a team of five doctors after the surgery. Although there is a process, it seems to be one that is unique and individualized, and takes shape as you wolk through the process. Questions like "When will he have the transplant surgery?" don't have an accurate answer. So much will depend on his condition and individual situation, let alone the uncertainty of a donor. We will work towards "getting on the list" over an undetermined period of time.

Please pray for Greg (and his Elise) as we have not yet been able to share the news of the needed transplant with him yet, and I anticipate this will be difficult for him to hear. We are so very grateful for your prayers and support, and the Lord's favor in all of this. A special thank you is in order to our beloved Pastor and friend, Pastor John Jefferis, who comforted my Mom and three sons in my absence. And my Mom has also been a tremendous blessing to me during my absence from home.

I now understand the depth of how much my son has struggled and suffered over recent months. Heart failure has many physical and emotional challenges, particularly when you're 24 and married for only two and a half years. I also have an even higher opinion (if that would be possible) of the angel and sheer blessing our daughter-in-law, Elise, truly is. And I know Who our God is, and am profoundly grateful for all He has done in carrying us. Our Lord has taught us much, and none of this has escaped His attention or kind mercy and love. He has surrounded us and blessed us with such loving family and friends, like you.

Thank you for your willingness to support and encourage us in this season of life,

Smitty and Family


Tuesday, January 19, 2010

From Elise

Hi!

We finally have a time for Greg's surgery! We have to arrive at the hospital at 8am tomorrow, and the surgery should begin between 9:30-10am. It'll last 4-6 hours and we'll be able to see him 1 1/2 to 2 hours after he goes to recovery. The surgery time is great for a couple reasons: 1. he's the only surgery for Dr. Lefrak tomorrow 2. the OR opens later tomorrow than usual so both Greg and Dr. Lefrak will have some extra sleep!

The last few days of waiting have taken a big toll on Greg emotionally. Please pray that he'll have deep, dreamless sleep tonight and that the Lord would sustain him with peace.

With love and gratitude,
Elise

Monday, January 18, 2010

From Elise

Hi again,

We have a new date for surgery - this Wednesday. Unfortunately, Greg won't have the first slot this time and we don't know exactly what time his surgery is scheduled. We'll hopefully hear from Dr. Lefrak's office tomorrow afternoon and then let you know.

The man who had the double lung transplant is in stable condition. Dr. Lefrak spent 12 hours operating on him, but he's doing well, thank the Lord. Isn't medicine incredible? It's easy to get upset about the change in our plans- but I'm thankful for this man that he has a new lease on life, and sad for the family member of the organ donor. For me, this delay has been a good reminder that we are just one part of what God is doing all over the world in people's lives. That we are precious to him, and so are the man with the new lungs, and the one who died to give him the lungs.

Yesterday Greg, Becky, Smitty (Greg's parents) and I were reading through a couple of Psalms and these verses in Psalm 33 really stood out to me:

" The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. The King is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue. " Psalm 33:13-17

Reading this, we were reflecting on Greg's situation and how... "Greg is not saved by his great doctor, and he is not delivered by the INOVA health system. Great nurses are a false hope for salvation, and by their skill they cannot rescue."

We are grateful to have such an excellent surgeon in Dr. Lefrak and truly blessed to live near such a high quality hospital. But if that's where we put our hope in Greg's surgery going well, we would be so foolish.

Our real hope is spoken about at the end of the Psalm:
"Our would waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD,l be upon us, even as we hope in you." Psalm 33:20-22.

Anyway, thank you again for praying for us. We'll keep you posted.

Hoping in Him,
Elise

Sunday, January 17, 2010

From Nate

Friends and Family,
Nate again here. Mom just called and told me that the surgeon scheduled to perform Greg's surgery has to do an emergencey heart and lung transplant that will go well into the night into tomorrow morning. Because of this, Greg's surgery was cancelled. Normally it wouldn't be a problem to just reschedule it but this particular surgeon goes on vacation on Wednesday and as such will either perform Greg's surgery on Tuesday or have to wait till he returns. Mom described Greg as being numb, in shock. He has been waiting for tomorrow for a couple of weeks, unable to sleep, constantly depressed, and full of anxiety and now has to wait even longer. Please pray for the rescheduling of his surgery to be Tuesday and for his wife. They are both numb and unable to function normally at this point.
Thanks for your care and love
Love,
Nate

From Elise

Hi everyone!

We met with Greg's surgeon today. He told us that he was 95% certain that Greg needed surgery to remove his pericardium (due to constriction) and that there was no other test that could possibly be done to make him 100% sure (b/c nothing is ever 100% in medicine). Therefore, he decided to skip the mediastinoscopy and go right for the pericardiectomy (stripping of the pericardium).

The surgery is scheduled for next week, although we don't have a specific date yet b/c they were experiencing computer problems with the scheduling computer. The surgery will take between 4-6 hours and Greg will then spend 24 hours in the ICU and then hopefully no more than a week in the hospital. This is a more complicated, rare, and difficult surgery than bypass surgeries and others of that type, so the surgery and the recovery time will all be longer.

After the surgery, he won't be able to lift anything heavier than a pen for 6 weeks while his sternum is fusing back together, and then up until 3 months he'll be able to hold normal house-hold items like a gallon of milk.

At some point in his recovery, he will likely need to go to cardiac rehab at the hospital 3 times a week.

So that's what we're looking at for the near future. We are very thankful to be moving forward with this - its been such a long process trying to figure out what's wrong and what to do about it. We continue to be grateful for your prayers and emotional support. God is faithful and good to us, and one of the ways we experience His love is through all of you.

Love,
Elise

From Nate

Dear Family and Friends,
This is Nate, my mom just called with an update and ask that I e-mail it out to you. Greg is to report for pre-op at 5:30 tomorrow morning and his surgery is scheduled to start at 7:00. She asks that if you will be up at either of those times that you be praying for him. Additionally She's mentioned that Greg had a lot of trouble sleeping last night and that tonight could be even worse, please pray for restful sleep for him and his wife as they prepare for his surgery. Tonight, she said that Greg and dad are watching football while Elise rides her horse and that they are all doing well. She, as well as the rest of us, myself included, would like to thank you for your love and support. It's truly touching how much all of you have pitched in and it has been immeasurably helpful.
Thanks again, we'll keep yaw posted
Love,
Nate

Thursday, January 14, 2010

From Elise and Becky

Hi again,
Greg's mom (Becky) sent out a much more detailed email than I felt up do doing, so I thought I'd pass it along to all of you so you could have more details if you'd like them! Some of you already got this from my mom, so I'm sorry if it's a repeat!
Love,
Elise

Below is Becky's letter.

Hi Everyone,
I've been waiting to email you all until we had some definite news about surgery and it just came in -- Greg is scheduled for the pericardectomy on Monday.
He met with the surgeon, Dr. Lefrak, and his team on Monday and the doctor said that he feels it is not necessary to perform the other minimal surgery (mediastinoscoppy), because all the evidence is pointing to this being the problem and that he and all the other doctors have agreed that it needs to be done. He said that the procedure is often referred to as a pericardial "stripping" which is a deceptive term since it sounds like wallpaper being stripped away with ease. According to him, this procedure is very "tedious and intricate".. they go "millimeter by millimeter" and it will take 4-6 hours to complete. He said that it's a somewhat rare procedure and that recovery is very individual. He described Greg's heart as being very "unique" . They hope that he won't be in the hospital for more than about a week. His activity will be very limited for a period of time and he said that it will be around three months before he feels normal. He doesn't anticipate the procedure making his rhythm problems any worse or any better.
We are SO encouraged to read and hear from a direct source (Jacque Thomas who worked at this hospital) that Dr. Lefrak is an awesome, capable, knowledgeable, humble man! Greg and Elise really liked him and said that he was soft spoken and seemed to really care.
Smitty and I are travelling down to be with Greg and Elise. We will be travelling separately, since I will be staying for about two weeks (that might change depending on how he does) and Smitty isn't sure when he'll return home. It's all very unknown at this point. We're not sure what day we're leaving home yet. Smitty's mom has been gracious enough to agree to "tend the homefront" while we're gone. And I even have "Grammie reinforcements"!!
I'd so much appreciate you lifting our son and daughter in law up in your prayers for peace, comfort, strength and faith in the days to come. Greg is having real insomnia issues and some good rest would do him so much good leading up to surgery. Please pray that the surgery would proceed safely, that it would correct the problems that he's been having and that he would be restored so that he and Elise could enjoy some peace in the days to come. Please pray especially for Elise that she would have the strength to endure what's to come and that she would feel the protection and love of the Lord in each moment.
Also please pray for Dr. Lefrak and all the staff that will care for Greg that they would be clinically excellent, kind and compassionate.
And finally, will you pray for our family that we can all remain strong through this time and be a comfort to Greg and Elise?
We are more grateful that I can ever tell you all for how your prayers have carried us all recently. Today, Smitty and I iwere reminded ndependently while listening to the news that although our problems seem SO overwhelming to us and our concerns can consume us if we let them, that there is a whole world going on out there where people are enduring things so much worse than we are. The plight of those in Haiti struck both of our hearts. I just want you to know that I realize how self indulgent I've been in asking for prayers for our son so often lately when you all have so much going on in your own lives. I'm sorry if I've been insensitive. Please know that you have an unending "license" to ask for prayers from me any time! It would be an honor to intercede for any of you in the future -- I know what a difference it has made for us.
We love and appreciate you all and will update you as we can.
Thank you again,
Becky

From Elise

Hey everyone,

The doctor's office called today and Greg's surgery is scheduled for this Monday. We go to the hospital at 5:45am. I'm not sure what time his surgery will start exactly but it'll be a 4-6 hour surgery. I might bring a laptop to the hospital so that I can update people- but I don't want to make any promises b/c I'm not sure how I'll be handling everything emotionally (and writing updates is often a little emotionally taxing). But at the very least I'll be calling my parents with updates and I'm sure they'd love to update everyone for me (thanks mom and dad!)!

Tomorrow Greg is getting a PET scan, Friday is his pre-op appointment at the hospital, and then it's just waiting out the weekend.

We did find out that Dr. Lefrak (Greg's surgeon) is a world-renowned cardiothoracic surgeon, and actually is the one who started the cardiac surgery unit of the hospital 20-30 years ago! Everyone we've talked to has RAVED about his credentials. What an answer to all of our prayers! Thank you for praying that Greg would have a good and kind doctor this time- the Lord has answered our prayers beyond our imagination!

Thank you for your love and prayers for us.

Love,
Elise

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

From Becky

Hi Everyone,
I've been waiting to email you all until we had some definite news about surgery and it just came in -- Greg is scheduled for the pericardectomy on Monday.
He met with the surgeon, Dr. Lefrak, and his team on Monday and the doctor said that he feels it is not necessary to perform the other minimal surgery (mediastinoscoppy), because all the evidence is pointing to this being the problem and that he and all the other doctors have agreed that it needs to be done. He said that the procedure is often referred to as a pericardial "stripping" which is a deceptive term since it sounds like wallpaper being stripped away with ease. According to him, this procedure is very "tedious and intricate".. they go "millimeter by millimeter" and it will take 4-6 hours to complete. He said that it's a somewhat rare procedure and that recovery is very individual. He described Greg's heart as being very "unique" . They hope that he won't be in the hospital for more than about a week. His activity will be very limited for a period of time and he said that it will be around three months before he feels normal. He doesn't anticipate the procedure making his rhythm problems any worse or any better.
We are SO encouraged to read and hear from a direct source (Jacque Thomas who worked at this hospital) that Dr. Lefrak is an awesome, capable, knowledgeable, humble man! Greg and Elise really liked him and said that he was soft spoken and seemed to really care.
Smitty and I are travelling down to be with Greg and Elise. We will be travelling separately, since I will be staying for about two weeks (that might change depending on how he does) and Smitty isn't sure when he'll return home. It's all very unknown at this point. We're not sure what day we're leaving home yet. Smitty's mom has been gracious enough to agree to "tend the homefront" while we're gone. And I even have "Grammie reinforcements"!!
I'd so much appreciate you lifting our son and daughter in law up in your prayers for peace, comfort, strength and faith in the days to come. Greg is having real insomnia issues and some good rest would do him so much good leading up to surgery. Please pray that the surgery would proceed safely, that it would correct the problems that he's been having and that he would be restored so that he and Elise could enjoy some peace in the days to come. Please pray especially for Elise that she would have the strength to endure what's to come and that she would feel the protection and love of the Lord in each moment.
Also please pray for Dr. Lefrak and all the staff that will care for Greg that they would be clinically excellent, kind and compassionate.
And finally, will you pray for our family that we can all remain strong through this time and be a comfort to Greg and Elise?
We are more grateful that I can ever tell you all for how your prayers have carried us all recently. Today, Smitty and I iwere reminded ndependently while listening to the news that although our problems seem SO overwhelming to us and our concerns can consume us if we let them, that there is a whole world going on out there where people are enduring things so much worse than we are. The plight of those in Haiti struck both of our hearts. I just want you to know that I realize how self indulgent I've been in asking for prayers for our son so often lately when you all have so much going on in your own lives. I'm sorry if I've been insensitive. Please know that you have an unending "license" to ask for prayers from me any time! It would be an honor to intercede for any of you in the future -- I know what a difference it has made for us.
We love and appreciate you all and will update you as we can.
Thank you again,
Becky

Monday, January 11, 2010

From Elise

Hi everyone!

We met with Greg's surgeon today. He told us that he was 95% certain that Greg needed surgery to remove his pericardium (due to constriction) and that there was no other test that could possibly be done to make him 100% sure (b/c nothing is ever 100% in medicine). Therefore, he decided to skip the mediastinoscopy and go right for the pericardiectomy (stripping of the pericardium).

The surgery is scheduled for next week, although we don't have a specific date yet b/c they were experiencing computer problems with the scheduling computer. The surgery will take between 4-6 hours and Greg will then spend 24 hours in the ICU and then hopefully no more than a week in the hospital. This is a more complicated, rare, and difficult surgery than bypass surgeries and others of that type, so the surgery and the recovery time will all be longer.

After the surgery, he won't be able to lift anything heavier than a pen for 6 weeks while his sternum is fusing back together, and then up until 3 months he'll be able to hold normal house-hold items like a gallon of milk.

At some point in his recovery, he will likely need to go to cardiac rehab at the hospital 3 times a week.

So that's what we're looking at for the near future. We are very thankful to be moving forward with this - its been such a long process trying to figure out what's wrong and what to do about it. We continue to be grateful for your prayers and emotional support. God is faithful and good to us, and one of the ways we experience His love is through all of you.

Love,
Elise

From Becky

Hi Everyone,
Smitty and I had a long talk with Greg tonight and I decided to send this email out as a result. Since I last wrote to you, a couple new things have occurred.
Greg has had appt. with a cardiac surgeon named Dr. Edward Lefrak tomorrow afternoon. He is actually the head of the cardiothoracic surgical team at INOVA Fairfax. Interestingly, in looking for some information on him, I discovered that he has done quite a bit of "mercy mission" work in Nicaragua and actually brought a little girl back with him who needed heart surgery. We pray that he is kind and compassionate in his dealings with Greg and Elise as well.
He has also been scheduled for a PET scan on Thursday to rule out sarcoidosis as the cause of all these cardiac abnormalities. They feel pretty sure that is NOT the case, but are seeking to rule things out so this is necessary. He is very anxious about undergoing this test since he tends to be a little claustrophobic. Will you please pray for him on Thursday along those lines?
I have attached the electronic version of this month's prayer letter that many of you would have already received or will receive in the US mail soon. Greg said that they hate to spend that precious communication focusing on themselves, but that he just felt a need to share honestly with their support team where he and Elise are emotionally right now and how God is helping them to find their way through it. He hopes that God will use what they're going through to show others that they're not alone in the tough times.
Last, I've included the link to a talk that he gave at the CRU weekly meeting in November. Each week, a speaker presents a message on a topic that is assigned to them by the campus director. This particular one is a continuation in the series they were doing on the attributes of God and Greg is speaking about God's justice. Although it's not short (probably 35-40 minutes), we listened to it tonight and would strongly encourage all of you to listen to it. It's a compelling, STRONG message talking about God's justice balanced by His mercy in providing for our salvation and Greg presents the gospel at the conclusion. Please listen and send the link to others who would benefit from hearing it.
The students return to campus this week and he and Elise will be trying to function in their usual capacities. In fact, next weekend, they will be travelling with students who are in leadership this semester to a retreat. Although that will be awesome, they are both pretty exhausted and Greg isn't feeling very well.
We shared with him the fact that SO many of you are praying and he was so reassured by that. I keep telling him that he is like the guy in the Verizon commercials that has his "network" behind him. You all are INCREDIBLE!
Thank you for your love and prayers.
Love,
Becky

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

From Elise

Hi everyone!

Some of you have already heard the great news- Greg doesn't need a heart transplant!! Its been taken off the table for now because his biopsy came back negative and we are soooo grateful to the Lord for sparing us of going through it!!! Praise God!! We went out to dinner last night to celebrate and I haven't seen Greg in such good spirits in months!

We had an appointment yesterday at the hospital with a heart failure specialist. It was a great experience- the doctor met with us for nearly 2 hours, we have our own nurse coordinator, and they were extremely kind, warm, and caring. We left in better spirits than we've been in a while. Today I set up an appointment for Greg on next Monday to see a cardiothoracic surgeon. At this appointment we'll find out if Greg is going to have a mediastinoscopy (a minor surgery where they take biopsys of the pericardium - this would be done to better understand what is causing his pericardial problems) or if we're skipping the mediastinoscopy and doing the pericardial stripping (pericardectomy) next. We're hoping to have a time line for either surgery next Monday and to start moving towards them. Even though it is going to be a big ordeal getting Greg through the pericardial stripping (an open-heart surgery), it pales in comparison to a transplant, and we feel very encouraged. Greg is just ready to feel better and can't wait to move forward, even though things will certainly be tougher for a while.

I do have a few prayer requests that I'd like to share with you:
  • Greg is struggling mightily with insomnia. Please pray that this is resolved before the surgery as insomnia is typically a big problem after open-heart.
  • That we would understand all of the information that we are getting from doctors and would move ahead wisely.
  • That our heat would start working! We've been without heat for 3 days now and the repair men keep trying to fix it but for some reason can't seem to get it right. Thankfully we have a space heater that Greg used during college which has helped bring the temperature up to 60 degrees but we know its costing us a lot to run it all day!
  • For a good start to the semester and that we would be faithful in everything the Lord calls us to- whatever that looks like over the next few months (being on campus, surgery and me being home caring for Greg, etc.)

So that's a brief (but hopefully clear) update. Thank you so much for all of your prayers on our behalf. It means so much to us that you are lifting us up before the Lord and we are grateful for each of you!

Love,
Elise

From Becky

Good Morning Everyone!
The words in the subject line greeted me when I picked up Greg's call yesterday afternoon! His voice was jubilant and it made me smile to hear him so happy!
And your prayers were once again MASSIVELY answered by God... he and Elise had an incredibly wonderful experience at the heart failure/ transplant clinic. They said that every single person - from the receptionist, to the nurses, the case coordinators, to the doctors could not have been more kind or caring. He said that he has never been in any health care setting where he felt more attention or more confident in the knowledge and abilities of the personnel. It was hugely comforting to them both!
The bottom line is that his heart muscle biopsy showed that the heart is good and they are not considering a transplant at this time. Instead, they will move forward with stripping the sac around the heart off (i.e. pericardectomy). Before that, they might do a procedure called a mediastinoscopy, which is minimally invasive and would allow them to do a biopsy of the sac itself before removing it. From Elise's visit notes (which were AWESOME!), it seems that they would do that to get a definite reason for the cause of this so that they'd understand his overall condition better. Although this condition could have been caused by a virus that attacked his heart, or could have been caused by procedures done in the past, the doctor feels that's unlikely and wants to pursue some autoimmune causes. There was no mention of this procedure aggravating his rhythm problems as I had feared! Greg said it was very comforting because for the first time, he had a doctor sit for almost two hours and discuss his whole, overall situation and they are trying to put the pieces together. Unfortunately, the doctor said that he has more than the usual number of problems, so they're not sure that they'll be able to put an accurate label on the whole thing, but at least they're trying!
Dr. May, who saw the kids yesterday, will consult with one of the cardiothoracic surgeons of the group, and they will come back with a "next step plan" soon. He does have an appt in this clinic in two weeks, but will likely hear from the surgeon before that. Surgery (either the mediastinoscopy or the big open heart) will be planned some time in the near future. In the mean time, they've put him on a fluid restriction in an effort to see if they can get him off some of the diuretics he's now taking.
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement! Greg said that he feels hopeful for the first time in a while and was laughing on the phone, which was music to my ears. Elise was getting ready to paint with her new water color set! Life sounded normal and good! Praise God!!!
We'll let you know when there are any updates! Again, thank you!
Love,
Becky

Saturday, January 2, 2010

From Becky

Good Morning Everyone!
Happy New Year! I hope that you all had a blessed and special holiday season. It's hard to believe that it's over after all the preparation and anticipation. It was a wonderful holiday for our family, and we smile when we think back on it. Our family was all together and that is the most precious gift these days.
Many of you have been writing and asking how Greg is and so I thought I'd give you a quick update.
As you know, he had a bit of a setback after his cardiac cath and we really thought he might wind up being hospitalized, but they were able to get him feeling better by doubling his diuretics. Thankfully, it worked quickly and he became comfortable enough that they were able to travel to State College to Elise's family for a couple of days (after the blizzard in Virginia!)
They had a couple of days at home alone which was great for them and then they came to our house on Christmas afternnoon and were with us until Sunday morning when they travelled to Baltimore to take part in the CRU student Christmas conference. I was really concerned about him having to make that trip and be there with over 1000 people all week, but we did talk to him on New Year's Eve and they had survived! They were going to travel back to Viriginia yesterday and I imagine they're sleeping in today!!! He said that he/ they were exhausted and he was feeling bloated, but they had managed to make it through. At this conference they have a worship service that starts late in the evening and goes until after midnight and so they "worshipped out 2009" and "worshipped in 2010". It was once again very meaningful to them both.
This Tuesday, Greg will be evaluated by Dr. Desai who is a heart failure specialist at the outpatient heart failure clinic at Fairfax INOVA hospital. He will undergo some diagnostic tests to see how well his heart and lungs are functioning to provide adequate oxygentation for him. He'll then have an appt with the doctor and we think he will hopefully receive the results of his cardiac biopsy at that time. Our hope is that he'll be given some definite idea about what the doctors are planning in terms of open heart vs transplant.
Needless to say, this is all taking a toll on both of them. They are finding strength for each day in their faith alone and some days are better than others. Greg told us that he has been blessed over the past couple of weeks be feeling stronger in his faith than he had been for a while and we KNOW that is a direct result of your prayers for him. He and we are so grateful for your intercession on his behalf. He asked that we just continue to echo his own personal prayer that is for God to "meet him where he is each day". Some days are more consumed with physical need, some with emotional need and others with spiritual need. I believe that Elise is in that same situation.
I'd also ask that you pray that Dr. Desai is not only clinically excellent, but kind, caring and compassionate. No matter which way this goes, it's difficult, and so we pray that it is bathed in a spirit of true compassion.
Thank you for being on this journey with us. Your prayers for them and us all are keeping us afloat.
I wish you and your families a blessed new year.
Love,
Becky
PS. I'd like to share a new year's prayer that we received last year and is especially appropriate for this year. Although you might not be going through something as dramatic as this situation with Greg, we know that each of you have burdens in your life and this is mindset is especially helpful to me and maybe to you.
Lord, make the New Year a happy one...
Not by shielding us from sorrow and pain, but by strengthening us to bear it, if it comes.
Not b y taking hardship from us, but by taking all cowardice and fear from our hearts as we meet hardships.
Not by making our paths easy, but by making us sturdy enough to tread any path.
Not by granting unbroken sunshine, but by keeping our faces bright even in the shadows.
Not by making our lives always pleasant, but by showing us where others and your cause need us most and by making us zealous to be there and to help..
God, make our year a happy one!