Tuesday, January 30, 2007

stressful, roller coaster day....

today was tough. as andy mentioned earlier in the last post, things started to get hairy in the middle of the night. as a reminder, yesterday, they put in a new icp monitor and the goal is to keep the icp number 20 and below. today, most of the day, the icp number was in the mid 20s to mid 30s. there was an attempt to get the number down with medications, but they did not work. the doctor came in and told us that he is "concerned" -- which obviously concerned us.

after a day of high numbers, the doctor decided to try to put a drain back in dad's head. this was a "last effort". the drain was put in and the procedure was successful. this took the icp number down to 8. we were told that the drain is a temporary measure and that we can't rely on it for very long. the doctor said that he will come in tomorrow morning and see how things are going. last checked, 8:30pm or so, dad's icp was around 16 -- however, that was with the drain clamped shut. we need dad to be able to keep the pressure under control without the drain, so this part is good.

he has a second blood clot. this is also a concern. his blood pressure continues to be an issue. they do have his fever under control. please pray that his icp numbers can stay under control without the help of the drain. pray for mom, as she is weary -- especially with these roller coaster days. other than the day we came in for the original trauma, today was the most difficult, tiring, and stressful day yet. we know that God sustains us and we believe it, some days are just harder than others. thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

thank you so much after such a long and weary day to take the time to update us....we are in continuous prayer for you.
helen
p.s. hope you don't get this 3 times as I had trouble sending it..but then again, if you do.. I guess you needed to read it 3 times :)
xoxoxo

Anonymous said...

Just checking the blog (as I do nightly) before I go to bed. I think about each of you continuously throughout the day & pray for you just as much!! I so admire the faith and strength the Maley family has. The human, selfish-side of me wants to question our God why he's putting you & Jim through this but each time I get those thoughts in my head I read your entries and my faith is renewed. I say this because I am sure each of you have questioned the Lord throughout this last week...but just remember He's holding each of you in the palm of His hand and knows your needs...TRUST HIM!!
In Him, Bendi Schwartz

Anonymous said...

Dear Maley Family~

I just heard the news today. Since my parents moved to AZ a few years ago, I just don’t get the updates on my Blackhawk family like I used to.

Ironically, this past week has been one of those reminiscing weeks for me. I pulled out pictures with my friends from all my days at Blackhawk and watched videos from my sporting days during my high school years too. It once again reminded me how blessed I am that I was able to grow up in such a nurturing environment surrounded by amazing and caring people. I was just telling someone the other day that I have always felt there was something special about Blackhawk. It’s not the school or the church…it’s the people. I have been away from Fort Fun for many years now (as many people writing on this blog have been too), but when something happens to one of our “family members,” it’s with such joy that I watch our community pull together through Christ. We are so blessed to have such an “extended family” that no matter where we all are in the country or world, when the call is sent out, MANY come running with prayers and support. I work with a lot of youth, and I hear so many times…”I wish I could have grown up in a school/family like yours, Michelle.” I do have an amazing family, but I also know that part of who I am today stems from the examples of all the parents (including you, Jim & Sue) & friends in my life growing up at Blackhawk.

Your family has always been very special to our family. Andy & I were in the same class from 2nd grade (I think that’s when you came, Andy) to 12th grade. I also went to school with Jason & Anna. Joe, I didn’t know you as much since you were younger, but I can remember you running around the house when I would come over. You were all very special to my Mom too as I think she taught all of you except Jason. We all grew up together, and I treasure those times deep in my heart! I know I am not alone in saying that your family was my family back then too!

Please know that you are not alone in this fight. We are all surrounding you with love & prayers. I was diagnosed 18 months ago with an auto-immune disease (Rheumatoid Arthritis). Doctors tell me that there is no cure for my disease. I tell them, I know of someone who can heal me...His name is Jesus Christ...and He is the ULTIMATE HEALER of anything!!! The lyrics of this Audio Adrenaline song helps carry me through my rough days and may it also bring “rest” to your family! It’s called “Rest Easy.”

“Rest easy, have no fear
I love you perfectly, love drives out fear
I'll take your burden, you take My grace
Rest easy in My embrace”

John 15:27
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”


May God continue to bless the Blackhawk family as He has done in so MANY situations in the past!


Love to all,
Michelle (Zook) Petrey & the entire Zook Family (Stan & Carol, Kerry & family, Brian & family)

Trainer4Athletes@cox.net
602-448-5125
http://www.myspace.com/9michelle9

Charlene said...

Hello Maley family,

Michelle had sent me a message to inform me as to what was going on with Jim. As I read the blogs, it brought me to tears to know what you are all going through however, God is powerful and throughout life, we see his many wonders. Sometimes, we don't realize the magnitude of his power but, it's always there with us.
This is Charlene (Gottfried) Daymude. My little brother Andy and myself used to carpool with all of you to Blackhawk Christian. It amazes me as to how many years have come and gone. As you read this, know that I will be praying for Jim as well as the rest of you, for God to give you the strength to pull through this situation. I will also pass this information on to my parents in Ft Wayne (Dick & Sonja Gottfried). The power of prayer is a STRONG power and I firmly believe that this will be just another bump in the road that you will all (God willing) overcome.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all through this tough time. I will continue to visit the site and pray for Jim that God will grant him a speedy recovery.
Love and prayers to all!!!

Charlene (Gottfried) Daymude
charlenedaymude@hotmail.com
www.myspace.com/tweetygirl71

Anonymous said...

I am cousin to Michelle Zook (Petrey). She forwarded this prayer request to me. You are all in my prayers. My father was critically ill 2 years ago and was given little or no chance of survival. He was on life support for almost 8 weeks. Heart failure, kidney failure, blood clots, pneumonia, liver failure and more. We surrendered him to God knowing we had no power (other than prayer and faith). Dr's gave us no hope. After 3 months in the hospital and wonderful medical care, Dad came home as a testimony to the Lord's miraculous powers. The Dr's still call him Mr Miracle.
God Bless each of you as God's Will unfolds and know that we are spreading this prayer request to hundreds of people. You are on our prayer list at Miamisburg Christian Church (about 600 members strong!) Know that I am praying with you and for you daily!
Love in Christ,
Mark Leach, Miamisburg, Ohio

Anonymous said...

thank you for the updates i was praying for all of you and been praying i'm sorry that all of you had a rough night i was so concerned when Anna left work every time the phone would ring at work i would jump running to see what is going on but thank dear god that everything is getting better and i will keep praying for the best LOVE YOU ALL ...

Ferida (CUTTER'S GALLERY)

Anonymous said...

Dear Sue & Family: What an amazing family you are. I read all the comments from your friends, family and people all over the country. Only God knows what the future holds. I pray that he will give you strength as a family and wrap his arms around you in whatever lies ahead. It is really great to be able to keep up on how Jim is doing. I would love to stop by and see you, Sue, but I know how many people must be up there. Please know that I am thinking and praying for Jim, you and your family. May God bless and keep you strong.

Ruth Lengacher
(AccuTemp)

Anonymous said...

Dear Maley Family,

Just wanted to let you know Ken and I prayed for you again last night. When we received the latest update we knew why you were so heavy on our hearts.

We love all of you and have so many memories of times together.

The ICU can be a real roller coaster experience. Continue to take care of yourselves and each other. You are a wonderful family who has gone through some really hard times together. you've come out of them stronger and now you face this new challenge.

The waiting is hard. May God prove Himself faithful to all of you again as you wait for His will to unfold.

Thanks so much for the updates on the blog. It's wonderful to read other encouraging messages from friends scattered around the country.

We'll continue to pray for Jim's healing as we wait with you.

Love & Prayers,

Ken and Rosa Liston

Anonymous said...

Although we do not know all of your family personally, we are praying daily for Jim and for your family. May God continue to give you strength during these very difficult times. You are not alone! There are so many people keeping you in thought and prayer. Stay strong!

Greg & Rochelle Milentis said...

Jason and family,
It's been a while since we've connected! Please know that our "special connection" (from Blackhawk) has not changed and that we are praying for your family during this difficult time of your life. If you need ANYTHING, please let us know.

Greg, Rochelle, Zachary and Kaitlyn Milentis

Missy said...

Kelli we miss you and wanted you to know that we are praying for you and the strength or your family to make it through. We have collected these scriptures in hopes they will be encoragemenent to you to keep holding on to the faith.

So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17 (NKJV)

Jesus turned around and, seeing her. He said take courage, daugther! Your faith has made you well. And at once the woman was restored to health.
Matthew 9:22

Be assured and understanding that the trail and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.
James 1:3

So that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable even though tested by fire may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:7

I know that this is a hard time. It is my pray that you hold onto each other and be strong. A songwrite wrote a song that say "I need you to strive" and we do need each other. Another writer write "When praises go up, Gods blessings come down". So God charges us to do just that; keep sending up your praises and claim your blessing of the Lords Will.

"For in it the rightousness of God revealed from faith to faith, as it is written. The just shall live by faith."
Romans 1:17 (NKJV)

God Bless!!

Melissa White and the White Family

Anonymous said...

God's grace and peace be with you. The folks here at Anderson University's ITS department are now aware and joining in agreement with the prayers for God's continued work in your time of need. A contact at our Seminary, as well as Liberty Christian School, has also been notified so that they might join in this time of prayer. The Lord our God is more than able to supply all our needs according to His good will. His peace be with you.
WT

Anonymous said...

Hi Sue and family - In reading the updates on the blog each day, the journey you are experiencing is familiar to a similar one we experienced in 2003 at Lutheran Hospital with my husband's cousin, Margie.

Margie is a 37 year old quadriplegic who was born with spina bifida. In 1969, there were not a whole lot of options except for experimental surgeries which they performed on her and she was subsequently paralyzed from the waist down.

She wasn't supposed to live beyond 5 years old, but she is still here today, is married and is partially independent living in an apartment behind her childhood home.

Margie continues to be an amazing inspriation to family, friends, doctors, etc... because of the medically i-m-p-o-s-s-i-b-l-e situations she has conquered.

In 2003, she was admitted to Lutheran Hospital for a hernia repair and during the hospital stay many other multiple medical complications started occuring including the blockage of a shunt that had been paced in her brain/spinal column area 30 years ago. As you know, spnal fluid is recirculated by the body but if a shunt is blocked it causes tremendous brain swelling and much pain to the patient. Margie survived multiple surgeries time after time with no medical reason why. She was in the hospital for 5 months and most of this time was not conscious or at least was not the "normal" Margie. When the doctors decided they had no choice but to perform the life and death surgery of removeing the childhood shunt, we were told there was less than 5% chance she would survive because tissues had fused into it after so many years in her body, but there was no choice but to try or she would die anyway. Amazingly, again, she survived.

We were told by the doctor(s) (Dr. Kachman was one who also continued to be amazaed that Margie survived all of these medical procedures)that there really wasn't any hope - they had "done all they could do medically." Margie had suffered some brain damage due to significant swelling on her brain adn they did not know what her quality of life would be, etc.

...Well......today Margie is still alive and is still the feisty little woman who loves to brighten other people's days by cracking jokes, including making fun of her own limitations as though they are no big deal. She is a constant reminder to us that we have very little to complain about considering all of the things we have to be grateful for on a daily basis and also she reminds us that although soemtime we and the doctors think we are "in control", we really are not and circumstances are not always as bad as they seem on the outside even when they seem "hopeless". This really is a true story and I am trying ot get in touch with Margie so she can tell you herself what her journey was like. **Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family constantly.** Hang in there! :-)