Hello again Family and Friends,
This week went well with Stuart passing the stress test with no problem which definately means a go ahead for the closing of the hole in the heart (PFO). For now the nurse is trying to get a time when both of the doctors working with Stuart can do this. We are looking at the second week in July. He needs to start a blood thinner (Plavix) 5 days prior to this and continue taking it about 6 months after. We know that God has been with us so far and will see us through this also. We or maybe just I am a bit nervous. There are always some risks involved but the doctors don’t anticipate any problems. After this is done Stuart will be a bit restricted. He cannot lift on heavy things. He still isn’t real strong anyway so that shouldn’t present a problem.
Please pray that Stuart will not be so discouraged with the progress with his speech. He doesn’t see much inprovement, but his speech therapist says she can see the difference. Stuart just needs to put more effort into practice that will stimulate his brain to do what it did before the stroke.
This week we invited one of his friends from On With Life over for dinner with his wife (Walt and Kathleen). He got out of rehab a couple of weeks after Stuart. Walt had a right brain stroke and his left side is affected. He cannot move his left arm and hand at all and walks with a 4 pronged cane. Basically, he cannot be left alone. Pray for him also as he struggles with discouragement. He was a man who worked in building so he cannot work. We enjoyed our evening together with them.
Pray also that Adrian, who is now with us, will be able to get a job. Also, pray that Adrian will be able to decide what direction he wants to go with his life.
I am thankful that the lady who teaches our women’s Bible study Sunday morning asked me if I would like to teach a lesson a couple of times this summer. That is something I will gladly do as I miss teaching the ladies very much. Stuart has also been asked if he would like to teach, but he is not ready for that at this time. Of course, he would love to. He will do it again in time.
Any of you are welcome to come and visit us this summer. We love to have company. Stuart is not ready yet to go to camps and rallies.
We pray all of you will have a great summer.
Love from us all,
Stuart, Valerie and family
Saturday, June 20th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Hello, Valerie,
I am so glad you are keeping all of us informed about Stuart’s progress. It is so wonderful to see all the changes. I am sure it is hard for Stuart to see, but it was only 6 months or so ago that he was up on that roof in Nikopol. It is so amazing to me how God works. Not only in the physical things, but really even more in the spiritual. You two have affected so many lives over the years, but I think maybe not as much as in the last several months. I have been thinking about the Holy Spirit a lot lately. How he comforts and leads us through the ups and downs and difficulties in our lives. But when you are going through things I think it is harder to see. It is not until we get down the road a bit, I think, that we see it more clearly. I am so glad, by the way, that I came to visit you when I did. I would have missed you completely if I had waited. And that trip was so wonderful, I still think about it and look at my pictures. Did I tell you I was able to take a little video of you all singing while I was there? I play it back sometimes so I can hear the lovely singing in Russian. I continue praying for you and your family. I love you, Valerie. And I thank God for the privilege of knowing you both.
Love in Christ, who is our Light,
Carolyn Sheridan (Green)