Hello Everyone,
Greg called and said that Angela is stable right now. Her doctor had decided to keep her sedated during most of the day and evening, waking her in the mornings to do some reflex tests and check to see that she can open her eyes and so forth. This will last for the next few days. He is in no hurry to keep her awake because he needs to be sure there is as little movement as possible for her brain to heal.
Her CAT scan didn't show anything new and looked like her doctor expected it to look. This is good news as it means that right now there are no new developments over the injuries already present.
Greg said the nursing staff is doing an excellent job of protecting Angela's environment and educating visitors on what to do and not do during their few minutes with her. The family is very happy with her nursing team.
He also mentioned that Troy seems to be doing well at this time. He mentioned that he is peaceful and has been able to get some much needed rest. **Note: Callers, please keep your calls to a minimum during the next few days to allow him time to regroup and also time with the girls. Tonight he will be spending time with Rachel and Anna allowing them to ask questions and explore their feelings with him. Please pray for them this evening. **
Thursday, January 11, 2007
**FUNDRAISER: Sponsored by Tracy Nickell
Tracy wrote:
I am currently setting up an Avon fundraiser to help Troy and Angela with any financial needs that come their way. My idea was to take brochures and order forms to Angela's work, their church, the girls old pre-school, and even at Troy's work. If our sales are large enough we can earn up to 40 percent profit to be forwarded onto Troy. I am hoping to get friends from each of these places to use as a reference point. Together I know we can make this a great success. If any of you have any other ideas on where to place brochures or would like to take some to work let me know. Tracy Nickell 552-0481. For those of you from out of town you can order by going to www.youravon.com/tnickell. We will only receive 20 percent profit by ordering on-line but it's better than nothing. All orders must be received by February 6th. Sherri if you would post this on the site with one of your updates so that it reaches more people that would be great. Thanks, Tracy
I am currently setting up an Avon fundraiser to help Troy and Angela with any financial needs that come their way. My idea was to take brochures and order forms to Angela's work, their church, the girls old pre-school, and even at Troy's work. If our sales are large enough we can earn up to 40 percent profit to be forwarded onto Troy. I am hoping to get friends from each of these places to use as a reference point. Together I know we can make this a great success. If any of you have any other ideas on where to place brochures or would like to take some to work let me know. Tracy Nickell 552-0481. For those of you from out of town you can order by going to www.youravon.com/tnickell. We will only receive 20 percent profit by ordering on-line but it's better than nothing. All orders must be received by February 6th. Sherri if you would post this on the site with one of your updates so that it reaches more people that would be great. Thanks, Tracy
Morning Update - As of 9:49am AZ time
Hello Everyone,
Greg sent an email. So far this morning things seem to be going ok. Angela had a CAT scan and some reflex tests. One side seems to be responding better than the other, but not sure if that is good, bad, or neutral at this time. I'll post again if I hear more news.
Have a blessed day today,
Sherri
**UPDATE: Message from Greg -
Angela's brother Tony (Air Force stationed in Qatar) is on his way home and has missed a commercial flight connection in Amsterdam. Not sure when he'll get to Omaha, but prayers for safe travels and making connections the rest of the way would be good. Thanks.
Greg
Greg sent an email. So far this morning things seem to be going ok. Angela had a CAT scan and some reflex tests. One side seems to be responding better than the other, but not sure if that is good, bad, or neutral at this time. I'll post again if I hear more news.
Have a blessed day today,
Sherri
**UPDATE: Message from Greg -
Angela's brother Tony (Air Force stationed in Qatar) is on his way home and has missed a commercial flight connection in Amsterdam. Not sure when he'll get to Omaha, but prayers for safe travels and making connections the rest of the way would be good. Thanks.
Greg
A Word of Encouragement
It's 2:16am and I am unable to sleep. I'm sure like many of you, thoughts of Angela keep circling my mind and I suppose by staying awake like this the past few days, I somehow feel as if I'm "staying" with her even though I can't be by her side for now. Something special between us when I come home to Nebraska is going for coffee together. I drink it (too much) every day, all during the day. I admit ... I really love coffee. I have fasted from it since the morning of the 8th as a gesture to The Lord of my pleas for her. I have learned much about the power of fasting and prayer from my precious father-in-law. He and Troy and my husband completed a three day fast and prayer for me only weeks ago because of some health issues I've been facing.
Tonight I was searching the Bible for a passage to post that would bring comfort and hope to all of us. Instead what I found was more precious and I want to go ahead and share it with you because we're all in this together. It brought more comfort and peace to my heart than I could have imagined.
While searching scripture I came across Isaiah 52:13 through chapter 53:12
This passage of The Word shares a compelling description of Jesus and what he endured while he was here. It was chapter 53 verse 10 that struck me afresh this morning. "Yet it was the Lord's will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer, and though the Lord makes His life a guilt offering, He will see his offspring and prolong His days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in His hand."
I have struggled in my faith "today" (it will be tomorrow when you read this) by being so protective of my sister that I almost wanted to beg the Lord to stop her suffering. All the images of what she must be going through flooded me and I fell apart. I called my mom to anchor me so that when the family called I could be strong for them and not show my feelings too much. All day I had an excruciating headache and I was so frazzled with feeling helpless and wanting to take this away from Angela... and I'm only her sister-in-law. I can't begin to imagine what Troy or her family is feeling. I have been in prayer for the peace of The Lord to flood her, and to flood them, but I fell to desperation today. I almost was angry at God... it took alot of willpower to pray through that, seek His face and remember that God gave Angela life and He is in charge of it.
But my Father is kind...and He is full of mercy and compassion. I have learned to trust Him even when I am scared out of my mind and looks like His back is turned. There is a small voice deep inside that reminds me that He is eternal and sees things on a much, much grander scale ... an eternal scale that I can't see. He sees the action and consequence deep into the future and His hand authors and guides it all.
So in the wee hours of this morning The Holy Spirit taught me something. He said that when Jesus was being tortured, the people watching Him go through the torture grieved and wailed and were feeling much the same way many of us are feeling now. There was no awe inspiring power that made them calm... they were scared too. They wanted it to stop too. It was because the full understanding of what God the Father was doing through Jesus wasn't realized by them until later. They just saw their loved one, in His young 3o's, an innocent man, being tortured, humiliated, and killed by people who overpowered them and they couldn't do a thing about it. They had to watch it and know that they were helpless to stop it.
Why did The Holy Spirit share this? It was because He said, for me (and maybe some of you too) what I'm feeling is completely normal and God is not offended by those feelings of terror. But He said, Angela's life is more precious to God than to anyone and He is using each and every detail of this time for His purpose. Angela is a glory to God. Her life is a glory to Him.
He reminded me that this life is only temporary and whatever Angela must face will be wiped away in time and she will be perfected again for an eternity. That this season is just a vapor in time, but her life is secure for eternity with Him. Just the same as what Jesus endured was just a vapor in time....but the consequences of that day and time have reverberated down through the ages and are still alive and making changes in people's lives every day. If God had stopped, for the comfort of those who were crying out to Him... the result would have been a far greater tragedy.
He asked me to trust Him no matter what happens and although He didn't have to (because He IS God) He shared that Angela's pain will not go unpaid and that she will be well rewarded for what she is enduring now. He also kept reiterating over and over that this event is working in more than just Angela & Troy's life. There are things He's working in all of us who are sharing this experience that will have everlasting benefits. We can't see all of the details, but I believe what He told me. I know that even as I write, my love for Him has grown just that much more, and my relationship with Him has been strengthened by trust just that much more... I've learned to lean on Him just a little more.... all benefits I have because of my precious sister-in-law.
Angela, I love you so much... I miss you like crazy. I can hear your voice in my head and I keep remembering the last time I was home and you and Sheila and I went out for dinner at that buffet. We had so much fun.... I really hope that we get to have more times like that together.
God bless you sweetheart (((HUG)))
Tonight I was searching the Bible for a passage to post that would bring comfort and hope to all of us. Instead what I found was more precious and I want to go ahead and share it with you because we're all in this together. It brought more comfort and peace to my heart than I could have imagined.
While searching scripture I came across Isaiah 52:13 through chapter 53:12
This passage of The Word shares a compelling description of Jesus and what he endured while he was here. It was chapter 53 verse 10 that struck me afresh this morning. "Yet it was the Lord's will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer, and though the Lord makes His life a guilt offering, He will see his offspring and prolong His days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in His hand."
I have struggled in my faith "today" (it will be tomorrow when you read this) by being so protective of my sister that I almost wanted to beg the Lord to stop her suffering. All the images of what she must be going through flooded me and I fell apart. I called my mom to anchor me so that when the family called I could be strong for them and not show my feelings too much. All day I had an excruciating headache and I was so frazzled with feeling helpless and wanting to take this away from Angela... and I'm only her sister-in-law. I can't begin to imagine what Troy or her family is feeling. I have been in prayer for the peace of The Lord to flood her, and to flood them, but I fell to desperation today. I almost was angry at God... it took alot of willpower to pray through that, seek His face and remember that God gave Angela life and He is in charge of it.
But my Father is kind...and He is full of mercy and compassion. I have learned to trust Him even when I am scared out of my mind and looks like His back is turned. There is a small voice deep inside that reminds me that He is eternal and sees things on a much, much grander scale ... an eternal scale that I can't see. He sees the action and consequence deep into the future and His hand authors and guides it all.
So in the wee hours of this morning The Holy Spirit taught me something. He said that when Jesus was being tortured, the people watching Him go through the torture grieved and wailed and were feeling much the same way many of us are feeling now. There was no awe inspiring power that made them calm... they were scared too. They wanted it to stop too. It was because the full understanding of what God the Father was doing through Jesus wasn't realized by them until later. They just saw their loved one, in His young 3o's, an innocent man, being tortured, humiliated, and killed by people who overpowered them and they couldn't do a thing about it. They had to watch it and know that they were helpless to stop it.
Why did The Holy Spirit share this? It was because He said, for me (and maybe some of you too) what I'm feeling is completely normal and God is not offended by those feelings of terror. But He said, Angela's life is more precious to God than to anyone and He is using each and every detail of this time for His purpose. Angela is a glory to God. Her life is a glory to Him.
He reminded me that this life is only temporary and whatever Angela must face will be wiped away in time and she will be perfected again for an eternity. That this season is just a vapor in time, but her life is secure for eternity with Him. Just the same as what Jesus endured was just a vapor in time....but the consequences of that day and time have reverberated down through the ages and are still alive and making changes in people's lives every day. If God had stopped, for the comfort of those who were crying out to Him... the result would have been a far greater tragedy.
He asked me to trust Him no matter what happens and although He didn't have to (because He IS God) He shared that Angela's pain will not go unpaid and that she will be well rewarded for what she is enduring now. He also kept reiterating over and over that this event is working in more than just Angela & Troy's life. There are things He's working in all of us who are sharing this experience that will have everlasting benefits. We can't see all of the details, but I believe what He told me. I know that even as I write, my love for Him has grown just that much more, and my relationship with Him has been strengthened by trust just that much more... I've learned to lean on Him just a little more.... all benefits I have because of my precious sister-in-law.
Angela, I love you so much... I miss you like crazy. I can hear your voice in my head and I keep remembering the last time I was home and you and Sheila and I went out for dinner at that buffet. We had so much fun.... I really hope that we get to have more times like that together.
God bless you sweetheart (((HUG)))
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
**Surgery Successful** Update as of 12:48pm AZ Time
Hello Family & Friends,
Angela has just come out of surgery successfully. Thank You Lord Jesus \O/
Here is what happened and what to expect over the next 7 days:
* This morning a lobe on the aneurysm (that was not visible on Angela's previous CT scans) ruptured. She stopped breathing and the neurosurgeon called his partner to come in so surgery could be done to clamp bleeding and stop it. The doctor called Troy to come in.
*Angela is on a ventilator and will be until they are sure she can breathe on her own. They had to remove a large part of the bone from her right side skull in order to allow the brain room to expand due to swelling. Greg said he did not think they were going to keep her sedated and that she will be allowed to wake up.
*The same risks apply as last time over the next 7 days. There is a risk of spasms that could lead to stroke. She has an increased risk for pneumonia & bladder infection while she is on the ventilator.
*The family is doing okay given the circumstances. They are relieved and thanking God for His intervention. ****The doctor was in amazement because he stated "most patients who have a second rupture like the one she experienced die almost immediately." He was so glad that that didn't happen for her. Mom Kohls said the amazement on his face was very apparent. (That's JESUS all the way!!! We serve an AWESOME God!!!)
Angela has just come out of surgery successfully. Thank You Lord Jesus \O/
Here is what happened and what to expect over the next 7 days:
* This morning a lobe on the aneurysm (that was not visible on Angela's previous CT scans) ruptured. She stopped breathing and the neurosurgeon called his partner to come in so surgery could be done to clamp bleeding and stop it. The doctor called Troy to come in.
*Angela is on a ventilator and will be until they are sure she can breathe on her own. They had to remove a large part of the bone from her right side skull in order to allow the brain room to expand due to swelling. Greg said he did not think they were going to keep her sedated and that she will be allowed to wake up.
*The same risks apply as last time over the next 7 days. There is a risk of spasms that could lead to stroke. She has an increased risk for pneumonia & bladder infection while she is on the ventilator.
*The family is doing okay given the circumstances. They are relieved and thanking God for His intervention. ****The doctor was in amazement because he stated "most patients who have a second rupture like the one she experienced die almost immediately." He was so glad that that didn't happen for her. Mom Kohls said the amazement on his face was very apparent. (That's JESUS all the way!!! We serve an AWESOME God!!!)
As of 9:38 am Arizona Time
Hi Everyone,
Greg (Angela's brother-in-law) called and said that they don't expect Angela's surgery to be completed until between 12:30 and 2:30pm Omaha time. The surgery team said to expect it to take anywhere from 4 to 6 hours. I will post just as soon as I hear from the family that she is out of surgery.
Thank you everyone so much for your prayers and support. Different people in the family have mentioned how blessed they feel by all of the love and support being offered by you. You really make a difference to them.
Greg (Angela's brother-in-law) called and said that they don't expect Angela's surgery to be completed until between 12:30 and 2:30pm Omaha time. The surgery team said to expect it to take anywhere from 4 to 6 hours. I will post just as soon as I hear from the family that she is out of surgery.
Thank you everyone so much for your prayers and support. Different people in the family have mentioned how blessed they feel by all of the love and support being offered by you. You really make a difference to them.
*PLEASE PRAY* - As of 7:21am Arizona Time
** Note: Hi everyone, I just wanted to post very quickly and ask please don't call Troy for a little while until this situation settles down a little bit today. The family is just trying to get through the next little while. They love everyone and thank you so much for your love and support. They are relying on the blog/journal at the moment in order to keep everyone informed today. Please check the blog for updates**
Dear family and friends,
Mom Kohls called and said that Angela stopped breathing and that she is being taken back into surgery. This time the team will be going through the skull.
Please lift Angela, Troy, & the family members in prayer. Please pray for Angela's medical team as well.
I will post again just as soon as I hear word from the family about how her surgery went.
Love,
Sherri
***UPDATE: 7:57 AM**
Hi everyone,
Mom Kohls & Troy just called again now that Angela is safely in surgery. Troy explained that Angela's brain is swelling & the medical team has to remove her skull cap in order to make room for her brain at the moment.
I didn't keep him on the phone for long or ask any questions because I could sense his inability to communicate at the moment. He is just gripped with the fear of it all. He said he would have Mom K. call me when Angela is out of surgery.
Please pray for The Lord's peace to flood all sides of the family
Love,
Sherri
Dear family and friends,
Mom Kohls called and said that Angela stopped breathing and that she is being taken back into surgery. This time the team will be going through the skull.
Please lift Angela, Troy, & the family members in prayer. Please pray for Angela's medical team as well.
I will post again just as soon as I hear word from the family about how her surgery went.
Love,
Sherri
***UPDATE: 7:57 AM**
Hi everyone,
Mom Kohls & Troy just called again now that Angela is safely in surgery. Troy explained that Angela's brain is swelling & the medical team has to remove her skull cap in order to make room for her brain at the moment.
I didn't keep him on the phone for long or ask any questions because I could sense his inability to communicate at the moment. He is just gripped with the fear of it all. He said he would have Mom K. call me when Angela is out of surgery.
Please pray for The Lord's peace to flood all sides of the family
Love,
Sherri
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