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Sgt. Nichols Update 2: August 9, 2007

Sam Nichols

Sam & Erin

Dear FRiends,

Thanks to those who have recently signed on, as well as to all you FReepers who have been in prayer for Sgt. Nichols since the thread went up. After today, I will update less frequently, but hope you will continue to hold this man and his family in your devotions until this crisis is well resolved.

Today, I want to describe in further detail about the medical challenge. The IED explosion broke an arm, took gouges out of a leg, damaged the brain stem and caused bleeding deep in the brain. Sam's handsome face was untouched. In a sense, this appearance of normalcy makes his situation even more difficult for the family, since he looks like he is just asleep. But their faith and willingness to trust the promptings of the Spirit, rather than any appearances, are inspiring.

Today an infection and fever are being treated with antibiotics, and preparations are underway to operate on the damaged arm. Brain swelling has calmed. As nurses cleaned his wounds today, he flinched — this is a good sign! The pressure of blood waste inside the brain, as well as the damage to the brain stem, are grave challenges, however.
We affirm that what man cannot imagine, God can accomplish.

FReeper tajgirvan asked about sending cards. The family is grateful for such inquiries; but with Sam in the intensive care unit, cards or flowers are not suitable for this extra-sterile environment. A sure way to send good wishes to the family directly is to post them on this thread.

Today's troops are surviving wounds that would have been fatal in former wars. Many of them and their families will face months or years of rehabilitation, lost wages and special needs. Several accredited troop-support charities have been set up since 9/11 to provide critical support, such as hotel, monthly bills and airfare for family members of the wounded:

Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund
Navy Marine Corps Relief Society
Soldier's Angels

Father God,

Hear the prayers of those who adore You and praise Your holy Name! You are the Author of all creation, of our human hearts and bodies, and of all wisdom and understanding. We submit in prayer to Your will, as in James 5: 15-16:

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick,
and the Lord shall raise him up;
and if he have committed sins,
they shall be forgiven him...
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous
man availeth much.

Sustain Sam's wife, Erin, we pray, as she has also sacrificed a carefree youth in order to serve our country as a loyal Marine wife.

Extend traveling mercies to all members of Sam's family as his father and uncle return to California Friday and his mother and brother arrive from there.

Use the spiritual strength, youth and will of this young Marine to cleanse his brain of any and all injury or evidence of past injury. Take away all footprints of the deceiver everywhere on his body, leaving pure, healthy cells and functions at every level, according to Your will for Sam's life.

Comfort the anxieties of Sam's heart, and those of his men.

Extend Divine comfort and solace to the families of those who died in the attack from which you plucked Sam and brought him to a place of healing called Bethesda.

In Jesus' holy Name,

Amen!

Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,

But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

—Mark 10: 29-31