Dear friends and family,
We finally have some news to report since the last time I wrote. Things had just been going as usual with continuing progress with Stuart’s speech.
Since then though he had a couple of tests. One test was done to see if there was any clot left in his heart. Praise God that is all gone. At that time the doctor said that they might consider closing the hole in Stuart’s heart. This is a hole that everyone has before birth that generally closes up after birth. Well, Stuart’s didn’t. Normally this doesn’t cause any problems. However, it appears a clot broke loose from his leg and traveled to the heart getting lodged in this opening. Then part of it then went to the brain. This is the thought of all the doctors.
Well, last week Stuart went to speak with the heart specialist who told Stuart it would be a good idea to close this hole, and he went into detail how this is done. Then Stuart saw his neurologist who agreed that this should be done if all looks favorable in his brain.
So, this week Stuart had an MRI. The result was that it showed all the blood is reabsorbed, and Stuart will be able to go on a blood thinner to get ready for the procedure on his heart. When all of this will take place we don’t know yet. I know they would like to do it as soon as possible.
This week Adrian is coming home to us here in Iowa. As I write this he and Kyle are traveling here in our van from Newark where Adrian flew in to. He hasn’t seen his dad since we left the Ukraine. It will be good to have him with us.
We will let you know when Stuart goes in for this procedure on his heart. It is done using a catheter. He will go in one day, stay overnight and go home the next day if all goes well. With anything like this there are certain risks so keep Stuart in your prayers.
Love from us all,
Stuart, Valerie and family
Saturday, May 30th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Hello Valerie and Stuart,
I haven’t written in awhile but I have continued praying for you and thinking about you. Andrew and Katie and kids have returned to Nikopol. It will be good for them to get back into the routine of things. I have written a few times to Andrei and Anya. I know God has been working in their lives and the lives of the Christians there and I am sure this past few months, though perhaps difficult in some ways, also has been a time for them to grow and take a more active part in the goings on in the church. It is good for their spiritual growth, I think. I know that the difficult times are the times God can best work in us to “grow us up” and help us see the strength and abilities God can add to our lives and character.
I was able to talk to Jason Casey, too, when Andrew called to let me know they made it safely. I am sure Jason was a great encouragement to the Christians and I am sure they were an encouragement to him as well. I am trying to save some money aside toward returning for a more extended visit when I retire in about 4 1/2 years. I am trying to study Russian, too, but that is going to be a long and slow process. I do not learn things as easily as I did when I was younger.
I had a nice surprise, by the way, about a week ago. I had to see the doctor about a bad infection I had, so I had to see the doctor on call – I was in such pain I left work to go. The doctor had an American name but her accent was obviously not American. I finally could not resist asking where she was from. And I got so excited I almost forgot my pain — she is from Ukraine! Kiev. So I was able to say the couple of Russian words I know when I said goodbye. I had to see her again because I had an allergic reaction to the medicine that was almost worse than the original infection. I wish I could have her for my regular doctor, but she works more in the evening so that is not very practical for me. But it was wonderful to meet her.
I am so delighted that things are working out so well for Stuart. I am happy that you are finally getting settled in your apartment, too. I will pray for the surgery. My sister had a hole in her heart, sounds similar to Stuart. And she had surgery and is doing quite well – she had the surgery a few years ago.
God bless you all.
Love in Christ,
Carolyn