T2E - D10

Hello Dear Friends and Family,

We appreciate your loving and prayer-filled response to Trudy's Prayer Blog. Over the last weeks, I've gone from handing the laptop to her so she could peruse the various entries, to reading them to her so that she could marvel and weep of every word of love and concern. I know that even these last two days, she is greatly touched by your power-packed prayers and love notes. Thank you, from both of us.

Today was a blessedly calm day for Trudy. The ventilator did its job and pulled the breathing load. I don't apologize for telling you this...I don't like seeing Trudy plugged into a breathing machine...I just don't like that at all. That is a sight that has burned an image into my mind that seems so strange. Yet, this machine has allowed her to breath without struggleing. It has given her right up to this moment, the thing she needs..."time." Time for those stem cells to grow a little stronger. Prayerfully, precisely the right time for White Blood Cells to start producing. Trudy also made it one more day without dialysis. We are gratefull for that and perhaps God will give her another day and another day, and ... another...

Here are some items from today: Katy went through the lengthy and sometimes rigorous process and has been approved for her to donate WBC's and Platelets for Trudy. Tomorrow, she will donate a nice portion of her white blood cells so that they can be directly infused into Trudy...we will watch this happen! Prayerfully, we will also observe that the WBC's will begin to help Trudy's body fight off one mean Pneumonia virus. While Katy was completing step 2 out of 3, Brian and Robert were successfully completing step 1 out of 3. Tomorrow, Kirk and Lloyd will give their best to complete step 1, as Katy moves to step 3, while Robert and Brian move to step 2. Confusing...you ought to try those logistics when your base of operations is an ICU waiting room with limited cell service and no internet service. We thank God for blessing us with a tenacious will to walk the miles and do the needed steps to help give Trudy a fighting chance.

Also, as all of these things were unfolding, we had some important family come by: Trudy's mom, and brother, Carlos, came by. Thankfully, they got to see Trudy at the best time this week, at least as we can see. While she doesn't stir from her induced slumber at this point, we reckon that she is hearing our voices. Wendy and Katy have such a wonderful touch with her and Jessica has been extraordinarily helpful with her nursing education, training, and instincts. Brian, too, has jumped right in to give his mom some special "son's" love.

I'm so thankful for the special people who have made possible for us caregivers to be with Trudy. The churches I serve as Director of Missions have been incredibly sensitive, practically supportive, and powerful in prayer. Katy has been able to spend a generous amount of time because of her family support. And Wendy has also been here during this unexpected crisis...because people help and care and just take care of things.

Our prayer continues to be that Trudy will remain stable until the new stem cells start to produce WBCs. We pray that the WBC donations will help Trudy and not harm her. Let's believe together...shall we?

Blessings,
Trudy and Robert