The theme for today is: Home.
Hey, it’s good to be back home again
Sometimes this old farm feels like a long lost friend
Yes, and hey, it’s good to be back home again
Those lyrics are from a song called Back Home Again by John Denver. John Denver was a great singer. But I believe Zach sang that song better. He sang that song the best.
We listened to a lot of John Denver while camping at our ‘home away from home,’ Radium Hot Springs. It was a family tradition that we play this song and sing along as we entered Radium. Zach would belt it out. On tune. And beautifully. Especially the line Hey, it’s good to be back home again.”
Home is familiar. Home is healthy. Home is home. Home is home to family, friends, neighbours, co-workers, and brothers and sisters in Christ. Home is a blessing.
Home is Calgary. Home is Bethel. Bethel, the “home,” the house of the Lord. We’re looking forward to arriving home to Bethel URC and welcoming friends and members of Bethel to come and see Zach. And of course, friends from other church “homes” as well. By God’s grace we’ll bring home to him. God will use home to help him. God will use home to heal him. God will use home to love him.
Back home again. Home sweet home. You’re back, Zach. Make yourself at home. Hey, it’s good to be back home again.
“Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it. How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven… He called that place Bethel.” — Genesis 28:17&19
Psalm 122
I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
Our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together.
That is where the tribes go up—the tribes of the Lord—
to praise the name of the Lord according to the statute given to Israel.
There stand the thrones for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure.
May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.”
For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.”
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity.
TODAY’S UPDATES
Zach has been sleeping well in his new Calgary ICU bed but then wakes up agitated in the early mornings. The medical team has been slowly changing the medications they use to try to benefit the healing of Zach’s brain while still keeping him relaxed. Because Zach cannot communicate yet, it is difficult to determine the source of his agitation (pain, fear, delirium, anxiety, or even seizures).
Zach has been responding to some commands a little more consistently the last few days (like closing his eyes) and seems to get frustrated when he can’t perform a command or doesn’t understand what is being asked. Yesterday, he worked with physio and was able to sit up while leaning forward on an exercise ball for a full 10 minutes – that’s a record! He remained calm throughout the visit by physio but grew agitated as they were leaving. We thank God for the progress Zach is making and pray that Zach’s condition may improve, especially that he may be able to communicate with us soon!
Today, the medical team changed his tracheostomy tube and he was switched from direct oxygen flow to 50% oxygen using a “trach mask” (less direct) with “no cuff”. That allows Zach to breathe through his nose and mouth, but it also means he has to cough and clear his own throat – so far that has been going well. Zach is now breathing independently with little oxygen support and can maintain good oxygenation levels. The medical team also performed an EEG to look at his brain waves and determine if Zach might be experiencing occasional seizures. We should get the results of that test sometime over the weekend.
Today Zach got a few more Calgary visitors and a bunch more are queued up for Saturday! It’s so nice to see the support of Zach’s Calgary friends and family. Today, Megan’s sister Melannie arrived from Winnipeg for the weekend. Megan misses her friends and family and church family in Winnipeg very much. But she knows right now her place is to be at Zach’s side, wherever that may be.
Praise God for his continued care for Zach. Pray that all Zach’s family and friends will trust in God at all times and pour out their hearts before him because God is our refuge!
For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
— Psalm 62:5-8
