February 10, 2017

Encouraged and Stunned...

Today was the day in which we've been waiting for months now. The doctor argued Carley's case before the transplant committee and was encouraged to tell us that she is now officially ON THE DONOR LIST! We're so grateful to the Lord for this news and deeply encouraged. What he proceeded to tell us following this news was a bit of a shock to Carley and I due to different expectations we've had in our minds. He proceeded to tell us that we basically need to go home and in the next week or so "get our house in order" and prepare to have Carley wait for her transplant while being ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL. As her health has continued to deteriorate, the doctor and the transplant committee has placed Carley as a top priority for transplant. Their desire is to have her not as sick as she can possibly be for transplant but the opposite, meaning as healthy as she can be for transplant to increase her receptivity to her new heart as well as successful recovery. He literally asked if she could come tomorrow! We were encouraged and stunned at the same time. The thought of her being in the hospital out of our home beginning ASAP for months was a surprise. We asked to have a few days to get ourselves prepared for this huge change and for the coming procedures. On one hand this is a huge answer to prayer, but we were expecting a. this to be later in the Summer or Fall after a slow decline and b. for the waiting to be mostly done from home not the hospital. So we're still hours away from this news today trying to prepare ourselves mentally, spiritually, financially, logistically, etc.

A couple of specific points to know:

- Based on the average wait time, we're looking at her waiting in the hospital 3 months but it could be up to 6 months.

- Following the surgery she would have another 2 weeks of recovery from the procedure at the hospital, but then she would be released to go home and begin rehabilitation for 3 months from home going multiple times a week at Mayo.

- It seems to us that Carley's life will be "interrupted" significantly from work, etc. for a minimum of 6-8 months if all goes well. Her desire is to return to her work as an interior designer after a full recovery.

Prayer Requests:

- Please pray for a heart that comes available quickly to shorten the wait from the hospital as well as shortening this whole journey.

- Pray for Carley's walk with the Lord to be rich during her lengthy stay at the hospital. Pray that she will feel His presence daily and hourly there and have an impact on all those that come in contact with her.

- Pray for myself and the boys at home without Carley for several months. This is scary for us 3! :-)

- Pray for our time as a family together visiting at the hospital to be rich and meaningful.

- Please pray for financial provisions in support (which pays for my salary), and for paying for out of pocket costs, as well as Carley's income loss (as she's commission based). We just need the Lord's wisdom on making it through this financially.

- Please pray for spiritual vitality during this challenging window of waiting and undergoing 10 hour surgery.

- Please pray for God to be glorified through our circumstances that others may know Him to be good and worthy of all our praises.

**THANK YOU ALL FOR ENCOURAGING US AND WALKING THROUGH THIS WITH US - KNOW YOU ARE LOVED AND NEEDED!!

Phil 1: 6 - He will complete His work,

Joe