Update on Andrew-May 25th 2007

Since I last posted on Andrew he has been on NBC nightly news and Headline news But here is the latest updates:

FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2007 02:39 PM, EDT

I just posted a new picture of Andrew practing walking. In this picture, he is on his stubbies. They are shortened prosthetics that allow him to practice balance. They will gradually raise them as he improves. He now is practing on C-legs using a knee joint as well. His upper body is growing strong from all of the use of muscle to propel himself forward. He's doing just great! ~Katherine

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2007 02:31 PM, EDT

Andrew is doing well. They recently took his stitches out from his previous surgery, so he was able to get back into hard physical therapy today. He is practicing walking again and is doing well. He is using the legs that have knee joints (which are harder to maneuver). He had his nephrostomy tube taken out of his kidney. It's just so amazing that everything has healed up so well there! Thank you all for your continued prayers! ~Katherine

SATURDAY, MAY 12, 2007 10:41 PM, SAST

Andrew tried out the 3-wheeled bicycle the other day and really enjoyed it. It is basically a bicycle that has been adjusted, so that he could use his hands to propel himself forward. Dad said it really wore him out, but that it was a lot of fun to get outside. It sounds like he's doing really well! ~Katherine

WEDNESDAY, MAY 09, 2007 07:16 PM, EDT

I have an amazing praise report to share with you today. You all know that I have been asking for prayer regarding a major upcoming surgery- an internal surgery that would close up the hole in his ureter and close up the fistula that had formed. To give some background, the ureter is the small fragile tube that connects the kidneys to the bladder. Because of a tear in his left ureter, urine had been leaking into his body forming an unnatural passage or fistula connecting the ureter to the colon. Thus, urine would have a passage to the colon. This was obviously a major problem. They had temporarily dealt with this by preventing the passage of his urine. They inserted a nephrostomy tube in his kidney and in his bladder to prevent the urine from going anywhere. They performed an x-ray test this afternoon by inserting a fluid into his nephrostomy tube to follow the passage of the urine. It started to collect in a round oval formation. They wondered what this was. They tried dyeing the fluid blue. You would not believe that the urine went all the way through his system as it should. His ureter and fistula are completely healed! The doctor was absolutely shocked. Andrew no longer needs this major surgery because it healed on its own. God has heard many of our prayers and chose in His grace to heal him. I know He did not have to. We are not promised anything here on earth. I just see how God desired to bless Andrew in a special way with this. How should we be surprised as Andrew should not even be alive today? I am just so thankful to God for this miracle. I am thankful to all of you for your very specific prayers on Andrew's behalf. ~Katherine

SUNDAY, MAY 06, 2007 08:10 PM, EDT

Andrew is doing well and had a nice weekend with my parents. Please continue to pray for his emotions and stress level. He is so in need of a break, but is not at a point where he can get one. Pray for encouragement, strength in the difficulties, and for rest. Also, please lift up this upcoming surgery. The doctors are now undecided about when they actually want to repair the ureter and fistula. There are several surgical teams from both hospitals involved in this decision and the decision making process thus gets pretty complex. Pray for wisdom in this. Thank you! ~Katherine