The theme for today is: We need each other. I need someone and someone needs me. You need someone and someone needs you. No man (or woman) is an island.
Consider a chain. No one can say that he or she is an entire chain. Chains have links. Each person is a link in a chain. Take just one link away and the chain is broken.
Consider a sports team. No one can say that he or she is an entire team. Teams have players. Each person is a player on the team. Take away just one player and the team is weaker.
Consider an orchestra. No one can say that he or she is the entire orchestra. Orchestras have musicians. Each person is a musician in the orchestra. Take just one musician away and the orchestra is incomplete.
Consider the race that God has marked out for you, for us, and for Zach. No one can say that they’re the only one running. Races have participants. Each runner is a participant. Each runner needs to run. Each runner needs to finish. Take away just one runner and not everyone finishes the race.
Running for Zach. Thank you all for helping Zach run this portion of his race. Runners need each other. No runner is an island.
Today’s Updates:
It has been an eventful few days for Zach. On Sunday, he was moved to a new hospital room with a better view that’s also a bit smaller because another patient needed his negative pressure room. Zach’s parents continue to take turns staying overnight with him to try to comfort him when he has a rough night. Some nights are good with Zach sleeping well, but other nights he has agitation and distress and not enough sleep as a result. Please pray that God will grant Zach the rest and peace he needs, especially at night.
Zach sometimes gets distressed by physical discomfort or nursing care, but other times it’s not clear why he becomes worked up. When this happens, it takes time for him to calm down. We will pray with him, read from the Bible, or play some of his favourite music and that sometimes seems to help. Please pray with us that Zach’s physical and emotional distress will decrease and that he will feel the peace of God, even in his suffering.
Zach tried out a wheelchair this week that can tilt back. The hope was that this chair would be easier for him to stay in, but he couldn’t get comfortable in it and looked scared when he had nowhere to rest the ends of his legs. Otherwise, he continues to do well with physio, sitting up with some assistance, as long as he’s not too tired. Please pray that Zach will continue to improve in his ability to sit up and be able to remain in a wheelchair for longer periods in the coming weeks.
Zach has indicated that he is experiencing pain in his legs. This could be phantom pain or it could be because his leg muscles are quite tight. Please pray that Zach’s leg pain will subside and that efforts to help him become more comfortable and mobile are blessed.
Zach received a new splint from occupational therapy for his left wrist since it is still quite tight. This splint is a bit softer but also keeps his wrist a little straighter than his old splint. Please pray that this splint will be effective and that Zach will regain a fuller range of motion in his left hand.
Zach has continued working with the speech team by pointing at words and objects to answer questions, but answering questions still requires a lot of effort and concentration. Please pray that Zach’s ability to understand and communicate will increase.
Thank you all for your continued support, care, and prayers for Zach and his family. Please continue to pray that Zach would heal. Pray especially that God will restore his brain from his anoxic brain injury and give him the peace, strength, and patience that he needs during this difficult time of healing and waiting.
“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”
(Romans 12:4-8)
