April 1, 2002 (Monday)

Day 37

Today began early. Rhonda got up and and went to get her shower while I just laid there. I did not sleep very well last night. It was my first night sleeping in the stem cell room without Jared.

I finally got up a little before 8:00 and changed. We went downstairs to the cafeteria and had coffee and grits while we waited for visiting hours to begin at 8:30.

We went back to Jared's room and sat with him. The doctors came in around 10:00. Dr. Winkler is the new PICU doctor. Dr. Shipp is taking over for Dr. May along with Dr. Gratias. They came in and said they were going to do a few tests today. They are going to check Jared's heart, recheck his liver, take fluid from his lungs/chest area and start physical therapy. Dr. Shipp said that he and Dr. Reddy would be by later.

Rhonda and I sat with Jared a little longer. The physical therapists came by and worked with Jared for a few minutes. They also put a boot on his foot to help with a pressure sore on his heel. The dialysis nurse then came in and changed Jared's lines.

Susan, the nurse, was about to suction Jared's breathing tube so Rhonda and I left for a little while. I called William to check on him. He was about an hour away. We sat in the lobby for a moment and then came back to Jared's room. I had to sign a permission slip for the lung test.

We sat quietly for a few hours. Dr. Reddy and Karen came by to see Jared. They were shocked that Jared was in PICU. They left and it is now close to 1:00 so we will be leaving soon.

*Lord, please watch over Jared today. I thank you that you are with him. Keep him safe. Give the doctors wisdom. Have your way. In Jesus name. Amen.

William arrived around 1:00. We all sat with Jared and then left for lunch. The doctors were going to perform the test on Jared's chest. We went upstairs and then decided to check on Jared again before walking to Burger King for lunch. We ate and came back. We checked on Jared again and then went upstairs. Rhonda has decided to stay a few more days. She talked with Doug and he told her to stay.

We sat around until a little after 4:00 and then went back to PICU. Dess had called earlier and said Wendy and Eric, William's cousins, were coming. Rhonda and I went back to see Jared. William soon came in with Wendy. Rhonda went to the waiting area and then I went. I found Eric and introduced him to Rhonda. We talked for a few minutes and then Wendy came out and Eric went back. When he came out, I went back and stayed with Jared until 6:30. The doctors have decided to wait and perform the chest procedure tomorrow.

Hunting on the Tensaw (Another favorite picture)

We all left and went to Shoney's for dinner. We went in our van to the restaurant. After eating, we all got in the van to head back to the hospital. The van would not start. William and Eric got out and started looking under the hood. A guy walked up and asked William what was going on. He then told William that he could fix the van. Rhonda, Wendy and I were sitting inside the van. We were amazed that a mechanic walked up right when we needed one. The guy showed William something under the hood with the computer module.  He then told William to try the engine. It started. We were all totally awed at God's timing. William and Eric both gave the guy some money for helping us. The guy had said when he first walked up that it was his daughter's 16th birthday.

We all rode back to the hospital talking and praising God that he provided a mechanic for us. We got back to the parking deck and told Wendy and Eric bye. William went to take a break while Rhonda and I went back to PICU.

Earlier William had talked to Dr. Gratias. He told William that it looked like Jared had 60/40 chance now. When William came to PICU, he told me about a lady that he had just met. He told her about Jared and she gave him the following verse on a piece of paper... "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." Psalm 27:13.  I started to cry when I read it. I could tell that William was touched also.

We sat with Jared and talked. We left around 10:30. Jared did not want us to leave. We prayed for Jared before we left.

*I thank you, Lord, that you will hear and answer our prayer.

We came back to the room. It is now 12:10. William went back downstairs to see Jared.

*Lord, I thank you. I pray for your will in Jared, William, Adam and me. Please rescue Jared. I thank you that He will be healed from his head to his toe. Have your way. Lord, protect William. Touch him, I pray. In Jesus name. Amen.