Out of the ICU!!

Ok, so it's Amanda again, and i've heard i'm getting threats against my life because I haven't been updating quick enough....sorry, had a little bit of technical difficulties--i couldn't post for some reason on the blog. :0)

Let me catch you up on all of the wonderful ways the Lord has been faithful to David over just the past 24 hours!

As mom said, he had a bit of a rough start to last night and really finally got to sound sleep at about 5am this morning. AS you can imagine, that was really hard on mom, but she would never admit that because she is the best mom and woman that I've ever and will ever know! The praise in all of that is when the surgery fellow came to round that morning(which has been around 5:30 everyday while I was there) he was able to remove David's surgery dressing, re-dress the incision and remove the HUGE drain(more like a pipe) all while David pretty much stayed asleep!! WOWWWW! What a blessing. I don't think I could every explain to you or make you comprehend what type of pain David was in before surgery with his hip. We just could not roll him over without it just destroying him. Since he has been in here, the LORD has miraculously healed that pain!!! In fact, that left leg is as straight and relaxed as I have ever seen it in my life!!!

As the morning went on today, the ICU nurses removed the IV in his neck and removed his foley catheter. His kidney labs continue to improve! Praise the Lord. To be honest, I have not gotten his lab work from today for his blood, but I am assuming that they would not have moved him if it had not improved or it was not stable at this point. THey also would not have removed the line from his neck if they were concerned that he might need more blood.

So a big test came when Physical therapy came it!! uhh ohh-moving and sitting! Dad was there to transfer Dave into a wheelchair that they provided bc it reclined more that David's. Mom said that he did pretty good and was able to sit for about 15 minutes. I was so proud of him for being so brave. I can only imagine that would be scary to do for the first time after having this back surgery. Whoo, I can't even bare to think about it...

Mom left to go home and sleep about 1pm today and then about 2 we moved to a step down bed!!! Whooo hooo. We have had great nurses here as well. Elise, Alex and Jessica came up to see David. It was so nice to have them come and it helps him as well. He is still pretty snookered from the medicine, I think most of that is from the Valium(muscle relaxant) but that is really necessary right now for his muscles to stay relaxed. He is not on the IV Dilaudid(very strong pain narcotic) and it seems that his emotional state is much more calm and stable--answer to prayer! He is also taking oxycodone as needed for pain.

When I got here today I was doing my usual assessment of him and noticed a unusual feeling in his abdomen. There was some air under the skin that I was able to palpate and then there was a bit larger area that I was not expecting to feel. I had the floor nurse feel it and she decided to page the intern. David did not complain of pain when I was pushing on it, but his abdomen is distended. The intern came in and decided to order a x-ray for the stomach and intestines. He just came in right now and told me that David has a very small ileus(a slowing of part of the intestine), but that they would just watch it for now. He is already on some medicine that will help with that (Lactulose)

Mom came back this afternoon and her and dad went and got a little dinner together. My roommate, Jennifer, was here at Duke for work and she brought me some dinner. Dad went home about 7. Mom stayed and we were able to talk for a little while . David got his abdomen x-ray and then we gave him a really good bath. He has been asleep since about 10 and I am hoping he will be able to get a good nights sleep tonight.

I ask that you pray for a couple specific things for the coming days to get us home:

His ileus would resolve in the intestines and he would not have difficulty going to the bathroom
Continued decrease in kidney labs
Continued increase in blood labs
Continued increase in appetite
Continued pain control with meds
Continue to gain strength and energy
Getting into a wheelchair to be easier for him

Once again, we thank you for all your prayers and support. The Lord has been so faithful in answering the specific prayers that we and you have been praying!!

Daniel 6:19-23:
19 Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” 23 Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

David is our current example of Daniel ;0) Mom used this passage to encourage David to TRUST IN THE LORD!!

Love,
The Bradley Family