Sunday Night, 8:15pm

The CT results are in and thus far, everything continues to look good. Some neurological testing was also completed today, but those results will not come back until tomorrow. So, some anxiety is still hanging in the air until those come back, but at least the initial results are positive for Jerry.

It seems that as the afternoon progressed, Jerry's "fog" seemed to dissipate as well. He had a breathing treatment, continued to talk with everyone and by late afternoon, his eyes were again "matching" each other in terms if dilation. So, the day went "full circle" so-to-speak, it started out well and has ended well, with ups and downs in the middle.

In talking with Dennis, it seems like the "ups and downs" are beginning to be increasingly difficult to withstand. Operating on a bare minimum of sleep, emotions are being worn right on their sleeves, and awaiting test results while watching Jerry for further symptoms is obviously tough. So, as you pray for this family tonight, please pray that their ability to withstand the emotional roller coaster would increase. Pray that they would be emotionally "seatbelted" and protected from harm. Pray that their minds would be able to quickly process all of the information that is thrown at them, and that they would cling to what is hopeful, and pray away those things that are not.

As for Jerry himself, he is continuing to do amazingly well. Several on his medical team have said that they are surprised at how fast he is going in his recovery. He is back to breathing well on his own post-surgery, he's neck continues to heal, he's (basically) off of the heavy doses of morphine, he's able to be in a wheelchair for hours each day. This is a lot to have achieved in one week!

Tomorrow looks to be another day of some new adventures. In the morning, he'll likely have his next swallow test. This time, he will get to eat some real food, and using imaging equipment, they'll follow the food down to ensure that it lands properly in his stomach. If it does, Jerry will get to begin eating again. Also tomorrow plans are in place to begin his physical therapy. Dennis, especially, is really excited for this chapter to begin as it will give them something to focus and work on each day. Keeping in mind that Dennis is a coach and Jerry an athlete, you can see how much the physical therapy sessions will appeal to their nature.

So, please pray that nothing would get in the way of these two big events tomorrow. Pray that Jerry would again sleep well, and sleep deeply, and pray that he would wake up alert. Pray that whatever occurred to cause his eyes to dilate oddly would completely disappear. Pray also that practical things like hospital schedules and staffing would go smoothly so that all that needs done for Jerry to allow for these two events would indeed be done.

As for Jerry's emotional and spiritual state, Dennis said that today was a good day too. For the first time, Jerry was able to read some of your blog comments and messages himself with the laptop balanced on his lap. In the midst of awaiting the test results, a local pastor and the hospital chaplain came by and led in some times of prayer, which Dennis said literally calmed the hearts of everyone almost immediately. He also shared that as they turned to the laptop to see the new comments and prayers as they came in, that they would literally see the answers happening right in front of their eyes. Dennis says it's just crazy. But a good kind of crazy.

So please keep praying. Keep asking God to intervene and to heal Jerry completely. Pray that Jerry's body would continue to mend and progress as it has been, and pray for the miracle, which we firmly believe is coming. Pray that it would indeed come....any day now.

Please also thank God for the miracles we've already seen. Thank Him for the way this family is being held up and supported, thank Him for all of those who have rallied around and called out in prayer on behalf of Jerry. Thank God for the determination and hope that the MacCallisters are finding, and thank Him for a great work in Jerry that will only continue.

As we head into week 2 of Jerry's story, we do have just a few housekeeping issues to note:

First, tomorrow night is the first meeting of the Fundraising group. The meeting will be held at 7pm at Redwood Christian Park in the Administration Building, which is the first building on your left as you drive into camp. If you are not able to attend but have ideas or services to offer, please direct those to Monica via monica@redwoodchristianpark.com so that she can channel the information to the right people at the meeting.

Next, you will see that you can now sign up for an email list, which will be used as needed as a communications tool. Mainly, we will continue to utilize this blog, but if you would like to receive any email communication that is done, please sign up. As you do that, you will see that Jerry's email list is currently administrated by Redwood Christian Park, but we commit to you that you will ONLY receive emails related to the MacCallister family unless you opt to do otherwise.

Some have also been asking what the best way is to currently support the MacCallisters practically beyond financial donation. If you live locally and would like to, please join the folks that have been preparing easy meals for Josh to heat up and bring over to the hospital. If you are interested, just make something in a dish that does not need returned, wrap it suitably for the freezer, tape the cooking directions on top and drop it off. If you miss meeting one of the kids at home, you can drop it by the RCP office any day between 9am and 4pm, and we'll get it to them. Dennis told me tonight that dinner has become something that they really look forward to--first, because it's the only point where they are all together, but also because they have been having some truly fantastic food. So, he says thanks to those of you who have been cooking for them!

To wrap up for the night, I really cannot type enough on behalf the the MacCallisters about how remarkable this community, both local and global, has been. Dennis and Katie have no end to their thanks, and are beyond grateful for the way that you all are supporting and loving them.

More tomorrow,
Marci
marci@redwoodchristianpark.com