« June 15, 11:30 pm | Main | June 18, 9:00 am »
June 17, 2005
June 16, 11:30 pm
"In God's time asher will wake up," carolmarie smith, the ministry coordinator at the widows ministry center in sevierville, tenn. said to us this morning after she prayed for asher. she had 2 visions of asher this week. the first one was of a young man on a bed that was underwater. she said he seemed like he was drowning, but he was peaceful. then she read the update i posted earlier in the week where i had said that asher seemed like he was drowning, because his lungs were full of fluid. she also said that when she looked at asher's pictures she realized he had been the one in her vision (she didn't know about asher when she first had the vision and only learned about him a short while later). in her second vision that she had several days later she saw asher on a bed again, but this time she saw him sit up in bed on his own. we are praying that it be so.
Carolmarie shared these visions with gloria, hadrienne and me when she came to chattanooga this morning to bring us a basket of snacks, drinks and cards from all the widows at the widows ministry center in sevierville. the basket was so big and heavy it was almost too heavy for me to carry by myself. there are just no words to describe how deeply touched we were by this. after visiting with us and asher she prayed for him and us feeling, after her last vision, that the Lord wanted her to do this.
David Baker (the one who crushed his hand) and his wife denise were also in the room and carolmarie had special prayer with him for his hand to be restored. what a special gift she was to all of us.
asher is steadily continuing to improve. they checked his blood gases this morning to see what they were after being off the ventilator and they were all great, which means that he is breathing fine on his own. they also removed one of his monitor wires today (something to do with his chest), and may remove his arterial monitoring wire tomorrow. one of his doctors (dr. ploger) came in this afternoon, and also said that asher may actually be able to be moved to an intermediate care room in the next day or two. after 24 days, i can't tell you how amazing it is to hear those words.
asher's temperature was normal when we left him this evening and he was resting really comfortably. in fact, this was the first time i can remember him sleeping peacefully the entire time we have been with him during our night time visit with him. usually, at some point during our visits he shows signs of distress. i am certain that part of this has been due to his trying so hard to wake up, and being very frustrated at not being able to. asher has always had a pretty high frustration level, so you can imagine how frustrating being in this state of a come is for him. communication has always been very important to him.
when i asked dr. ploger about asher's blood count and whether he would need any more blood he said that his count was up and he didn't think he would need any at this point. i told him we had gotten the word out that blood could be donated to replace the blood that asher has used and he said that they have a shortage of 0 negative, and it would help tremendously if some people with this blood type could come out and donate right now as well.
today, i think was a really good one for all of us, including asher. it was a day of continued good news and unexpected visitors. in addition to carol marie, peggy wiseman, her granddaughter sophie rose, and her sister hilda hecklenberg came to visit us at the ronald macdonald house. gloria and hadrienne were busy, so i had a wonderful visit with them by myself. gertrude gaston, the co-founder of widows harvest ministries was peggy and hilda's mother, and they have been just like family to me and my family over the years. there are really no words at all for me to express what a very special gift from the Lord this was to be able to spend time with them today, except to just give thanks.
asher's friends are still coming to see asher and us almost every day, sometimes several times a day, and when they can't come, usually because of work, they will try and call us to see how asher is doing. they have become as much a part of our family now as our own children, which has been another gift that we find ourselves giving thanks to God for them every day.
i could really go on and on not only about even more ways that we found ourselves blessed today, but it is late and i know that i need to get some sleep.
one more thought. i know over the past few days i have posted fewer updates during the day, but that has truly been a good thing. it has meant that things are stable and even steadily improving. if there are any changes for the better, or some crisis that comes up unexpectedly i will post updates sooner than at the beginning and end of each day.
blessings to you all, and may you be greatly comforted by the God of all creation.
feeling some relief,
andy mendonsa
| By Leda | 09:32 AM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://chattablogs.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/22186
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference June 16, 11:30 pm:
Comments
Dear Andy and family
Praise to god. our prayers are getting answered. the lord is on his time and we are still praying. he will be ok. know all our churches are praying for asher.
in him
N.usha Kumari and family INDIA
Posted by: N.Usha Kumari at June 17, 2005 12:18 PM
Dear Andy and friends, I learned of Asher's accident late Tuesday afternoon and have been praying for him (and for you) since. I was in Chatt. for a brief time and tried to catch up with you. Someone at the Widows ministry called after I was already heading home with the news. I wish I could have visited you in person, but know that I will PRAY regularly and often for your son. How my heart breaks for each of you, and yet how your entries have encouraged me. God's strength and faithfulness is evident in your words. I am asking that same God to continue to bless and restore Asher. Please let me know if I can do anything. I have my friends praying for you.
Posted by: Brian Checchio at June 17, 2005 03:07 PM
Andy and Family,
It's incredible to hear about how God is moving so many people from all over the world in response to this. My friends (both here & in Atlanta) and I are praying for Asher's recovery. We all hope everything continues to improve. God's peace and love will continue to provide you all with strength.
Posted by: Paul R at June 17, 2005 03:46 PM
the recent visions were so confirming and encouraging. awhile back i thought it was really
a blessing asher was in a coma so he wouldn't suffer so much. anytime that GOD wants to wake him up now, he will be warmly welcomed for sure!
HIS timing is always best. praise HIM!
Posted by: grace at June 17, 2005 10:03 PM
Esteemed Brother,
Hearty Greetings!
Daily we are remembering asher in our prayers. We are praying for your family. Daily I am checking asher's update, we are praying for his speedy recovery.
Your Sister in Christ,
Joy Mallaram
WIDOWS HARVEST
INDIA
Posted by: Joy Mallaram at June 18, 2005 01:56 AM
