Times Like This, Even I Need Prayer [Update at #292]

As most of you know, my time is generally not my own these days -- I am a web producer for the NBC station in Atlanta, plus at this time of year, I'm also a tax preparer for H&R Block. Plus I always keep a side-hustle of some sort or another (I've been doing a lot of mystery shopping the past year or so)...

In any event, sometimes God reaches out and rattles the cage to remind me who's truly in charge.

My 42-year-old younger brother had suffered a stroke. My dad called me at work with the news, sounding so much older and weary than I had heard him in many years. He and my mom were at the hospital in Chicago, along with my sister-in-law and her entire clan.

Thankfully, I had enough presence of mind not to jump behind the wheel, realizing that I was in no condition to try to go home. After a silent prayer, and a rushed phone call to my wife, I threw myself into my work, trying to get through the night.

He has no movement on the right side of his body. He cannot speak. But, my dad says, he has recognition of those around him. He's able to nod and shake his head yes and no.

The doctors say that with what they called aggressive rehab and therapy, that he should regain the vast majority of what he's lost. They say that his age is in his favor.

A good sign is that he has been fighting to try to move his right foot and hand.

A CAT scan today showed no blood or fluid buildup in his brain. An MRI tomorrow will look a bit deeper, to be sure.

The physical therapist came in to see him today, and said that Rick was trying to pull himself up with his left arm, and using that arm to pull his right arm across, which, too, is a good sign.

I'm in Atlanta, and my sister is with her husband in San Francisco. We figure we'd be in the way if we tried to go home now, so we are waiting a bit -- perhaps until he comes home. We figure there will be more of a need for us to help out then.

And while I'm praying real hard for him, I can always use more hearts praying for him. And for myself for that matter. I'm not being selfish; I just need to have more strength to endure and be strong for everyone else.

Our family -- blood and extended -- is a strong one, and we're all there for each other. I just know that extra prayer is always in order. I thank you all in advance, folks. And God bless each and every one of you.

Hi everyone --

I can't thank everyone enough for the notes and prayers and calls. I realize that this is one of those cage-rattling moments that the Lord hits us with once in awhile to remind us who is truly in charge of our lives. But I also know that with Him, and by putting my hand and heart in His, all things are possible.

Rick was transferred to Northwestern Memorial in downtown Chicago last Friday. Northwestern is a stroke trauma center, plus home to a high-level stroke and vascular rehabilitation center. In addition, his personal physician is on staff at Northwestern, so we know we're looking at a higher level of care. That hospital is also the sports medicine facility for the Bears and Bulls, so one of the first things that was accomplished was getting a larger bed -- one that more comfortably fits a 6'3", 375 pound man.

Our sister, Courtney, flew in from San Francisco over the weekend, and when she came into the room, he became animated and tried to talk. Hopefully, when I get there Thursday, it will do him some good as well.

He is now able to turn his head to the right, when he wasn't previously able to do. He definitely sees and hears and understands what is going on around him. He can communicate with nods yes and no, and, at least with Courtney, tried to talk a bit. The speech therapist has been working with him to try to get him to swallow small amounts of liquids and pudding.

He moved his right leg late Saturday, and the physical therapist says that he is showing remarkable progress.

His blood sugar has fluctuated wildly, and is being controlled by drugs for now.

A funny story -- at least guys will find it funny. My wife and mother both insisted it wasn't, while my dad and I thought it was hilarious -- on Sunday, he was very agitated and obviously uncomfortable. Courtney found a charlie horse in one leg and massaged it out, but he still wasn't completely comfortable. When my mother called later in the night, the nurses said they found that his catheter had a kink in it! Once they cleared that, they said, he slept like a baby.

I guess us guys can appreciate that pain and relief... Plus, of course, that also means that his has feeling in that part of his body, and that nothing more serious is wrong there.

In terms of a cause, I'm not sure; I do know he has been under a dramatic amount of stress lately. Rick has historically been one to hold things in when they bother him, as opposed to my sister and I; we are both much more demonstrative when we are stressed. We find ways to release that stress in whatever way we can.

The doctors are saying that a possible cause may be related to a small hole between the ventricles of his heart. Apparently up to 15 percent of the populace has this minor defect, and in the vast majority of persons, it has no effect. But in this case, they say a clot may have formed and traveled by way of this hole to his brain, causing the stroke.

In any event, surgery has been discussed as an option after the present issues are taken care of, to repair that hole and prevent any sort of issue from surfacing in the future.

Thank you again, for everything. You can't imagine just how much you all mean to me and to us here. God bless and keep you all.

Michael

Michael, prayers for your brother, his family and yours.

You might want to make an appointment with a cardiologist or neurologist to get checked out.

For those of us with a history of strokes in the family and in particuliar with black ancestors, we are at a higher stroke risk than the rest of the population.

If you have high blood pressure, get it under control with medication and exercise.

The cause of death on both sides of my family has been CVA's associated with HBP. A cardiologist and neurologist recommended that I go on one baby aspirin aday with my Vasotec. When my mother died of a stroke a few years ago, my family doctor put me on one baby asprin in the morning and one in the evening and had me divide my Vasotec into two doses. He is on the same regimen. Every male in his family, who has died, died of a stroke and hbp in the last century at about 60 years of age.

God often sends us messages, and only the fools ignore those messages. You are no fool.

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