Update on Andrew

WEDNESDAY, MAY 02, 2007 10:14 PM, EDT

Andrew is doing well. I'm sorry that I haven't been able to give you any updates recently. My mom has had the blessing of a few days of rest at home, and so I've had a harder time gathering information. Andrew's abscess from his previous surgery is clearing up well. I believe he's feeling well and is now preparing for the next big surgery. They're looking to schedule it soon, but the date is still unknown. Please lift up this next surgery in prayer, as it will be very involved. Thank you all so much for your continued and faithful prayers. ~Katherine

SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 2007 08:57 PM, EDT

Yesterday, Andrew had the next surgery to close up his previous surgery site. They closed everything up and left a drain in. It ended up being more of an extensive process than they were originally thinking. Andrew is doing well and has a few friends up there with him for the weekend. I hope they're having a very fun and relaxing time. Please continue to pray for the phantom pain and his emotions (as these ups and downs and setbacks can be so very difficult). Thank you all so much! ~Katherine

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2007 07:52 PM, EDT

Andrew is doing fine. His surgery went well. They basically had to go in and remove some dead tissue at the infection site (on the previous surgery site at his left side). They left the wound open, packed it and covered it. They hope to go back and close it up by Friday. The main concern with all of this is that he has his first major surgery on tap for early May (which I guess is next week!). It is very dangerous to test positive for any staph before going into surgery. If the infection were to spread to his insides, it could get very serious. So, they are really hoping that this wound heals up well and is infection free so they can go into surgery soon. As you know, they will be repairing the damaged ureter and closing up the fistula that leads from the hole in the ureter to his colon. Later on in the second stage they'll go back in and reverse his colostomy. It will be wonderful to have these surgeries behind us. Please pray over all of these little details. Thank you all so much! ~Katherine

TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2007 10:01 PM, EDT

Andrew has experienced another setback today. I found out that Andrew is dealing with infection again, has been readmitted to the hospital, and was in surgery this morning. Basically, learning to walk with prosthetics can introduce infection. The prosthetics can rub and cause these sources of infection. They took him into surgery this morning to remove or work on the infected site. Please lift him up in prayer. It's another setback and surgery that he'll have to recover from. I'll have to get the running total from Andrew, but I know that he's had over 50 surgeries at this point. God has really provided the strength day by day for Andrew to handle all of this. Boy have we all learned how to trust God in both the good times and bad. I will keep you posted as I hear how he's doing. Thank you all so much for committing to pray for him! ~Katherine

SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2007 09:02 PM, EDT

Andrew had a great weekend with my parents. He did ask that we all pray for his phantom pain again. Now that he has been practicing walking, it's almost as if his body believes he has legs again. The pain returned and is pretty intense. Also, please pray that God will bring him some extra special encouragement. Mom and Dad took him to LL Bean for fun. They noted that it was hard for him to look at all of the camping gear, hiking gear, etc. These were activities that he just loved and now he knows that he will never be able to do a lot of these things again. Please pray that God continue to bless him with a heavenly perspective- one that reminds us all that this world is not our home. ~Katherine