Suzanne 6. 1/17 - 1/25

Suzanne's Status as of 11:55 AM (Eastern Time) 1/17/2003 - DAY 30
Our trip went well to Atlanta! Our ambulance driver was a believer, so we got to listen to Christian music 'KLOVE Radio' most of the way. Taylor picked me up around 4:30 and followed us in the ambulance. He helped me get settled into an apartment then took a plane back home late last night. All of the people at Shepherds Center are very nice and have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome. Suzanne was nervous about making the trip and is getting settled in a new place now. She is still 'jumping tall buildings with a single bound.' She needs little help to get in the wheel chair and use the lavatory. Apparently this is really good progress; she knows when it is time; she is physically able to get up without too much pain, etc. Among all of the sources of pain, her right foot and toes seem to be causing the most pain right now, they let me stay up with her till 10:00 last night.
Thank you all for your prayers! (BTW, Suzanne has been drawing about 11 thousand hits per day on this site)

Before the mountains were brought forth, thou art God.
In thy sight a thousand years are as yesterday.
they are like a dream at daybreak.
Teach us to order our days rightly,
that we may enter the gate of wisdom.
Satisfy us with thy love when morning breaks,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Repay us days of gladness for our days of suffering. Psalm 90

Suzanne's Status as of 8:55 PM (Eastern Time) 1/18/2003 - DAY 31
Today was a good day. Suzanne is getting in her wheel chair and zipping around to the bathroom and visiting new friends on the floor. She opened a couple of more birthday gifts from the Czech Republic and from Jen and Andy Pierce. Pray for her stomach as it still feels like it is in hibernation from a month off due to inactivity. She needs to be eating solid food but isn't feeling much up to it. Her foot and pelvis are still hurting a lot also. Tonight we went into the cafeteria and she ate a few bites of dinner. She wanted to sit with a nice lady and her daughter that Suzanne had met at breakfast. They are from New York. After dinner, we laid down on the padded table in the gym and read some of your messages. We started from the beginning and read for a long time and only got through the first 23 hours of messages. I brought her bags of clothes and stuff up to her room. She was happy to get her baseball cap to wear.

HI!
They shaved my head in the front. My pelvic bone is fractured in 4 places. I just wanted to give you news on my body. I am in Atlanta at Shepherds Center. They think I might be here 4 weeks. The computer is making me sleepy.

Suzanne wanted to type her own message and did a fine job! She said thank you all for praying for me. She wants to get back into teaching and in front of a class of kids, she gets tired sitting in front of a dumb ole computer, they make her sleepy. She fell asleep, then woke up and ate a banana that I had brought. We'll get her to do more of the updating on these updates tomorrow hopefully.

Personal note from Steve Wiggins
I asked Steve to write an update the other night when I was worn out and sleepy. We have sort of a David & Jonathan friendship. We try to sharpen and lift each other. Pray for Steve and Misti as they are trying to follow God into costly & un-chartered waters.

(Some of you may remember Steve as the founder of Big Tent Revival, receiving 5 Grammy nominations, etc.. Misty has sung on several songs such as 2 sets of Jones) Here's a good 13 min Interview.
Thanks, Jeff

Jeff and I were talking last week about how many people have rallied around him and Suzanne over the past month. It seems like every day there's a new post on the message board that brings me to tears. God has used Jeff and Suzanne to touch so many of our lives, even thru this tragedy. I'd like to personally thank everyone for continuing to offer prayers and testimonies. (The fight is not over!) The message board has become a living version of the Ray Boltz song, "THANK YOU FOR GIVING TO THE LORD."

I mentioned to Jeff how he and Suzanne have touched the lives of so many people, and how you are stepping forward during this time of tragedy-turned-miracle to offer support. He sort of smiled and looked off. His response was gracious, seasoned with a dash of disbelief. He said, "I prayed for God to grant us His grace through this situation. We just try to live what we believe - a faith that is real. Nothing we do seems out of the ordinary to me. If there's a need and you can do something, do it. That's: Faith-1Ol."

Humbling.

I remember watching Dr. Adrian Rogers on a TV program once. He picked up his bible and said, "Someday, somebody is going to read this book; they're going to believe it, and we're all going to be ashamed."

I put forth the notion that Jeff and Suzanne have answered a call similar to that of Dr. Rogers. It is the same call that Jesus uses to invite us all into his kingdom. It sounds something like this,

"Listen, I'm standing at the door of your heart, knocking. If you can hear my voice and if you will invite me in, I will stay with you - forever."

Has your life been touched by Jeff and Suzanne' They would tell you your lives have been touched by Jesus living within Jeff and Suzanne. You see, they heard the call of God and invited him in. They read the Bible regularly, and they believe it.

Would you like to have what they have, to know Jesus personally? It is possible. You can pray RIGHT NOW where you are, and invite Jesus into your heart.

You can pray this: "Jesus, I believe in you. I know I am sinful and I can't save myself. Your standard is perfection, and I'm not perfect. I believe Jesus died for me and paid the penalty for my sins. I believe he rose from the grave and he is alive today, offering eternal life to me, free of charge. I accept this gracious gift. Thank you for saving me. Teach me how to follow you so that through my life, you may be glorified."

The bible says, "If you will believe in your heart that Jesus has been raised from the dead, and confess it with you mouth, you WILL be saved."

If anything good could come from this tragedy, it is this: We should see our temporal lives compared with eternal life in Christ, and choose the life he offers. Jesus said, "I came that you might have LIFE, and that life would be abundant."

Thank you for supporting Jeff and Suzanne. Now, go tell someone about how Jesus has changed your life! I'm sure there are people in need right now, praying for someone like you.

Grace and peace, Steve Wiggins

Suzanne's Status as of 5:40 PM (EST) Monday 1/20/2003 - DAY 33
Suzanne tried to eat a little more at breakfast as she was asked, to stretch her stomach. Poor girl, she has felt sick to her stomach all day and has not been able to keep her food down.

I learned a lot today in a Neuro-Psychology session. I learned about common misconceptions, affects, problems, anatomy, etc. Suzanne is doing much better than a lot of people with her experience. She does not seem to suffer from many of the possible results of her injuries. One typical thing that we have noticed is that she gets tired and frustrated with a lot of questions. She needs to answer questions from all the staff, so I try to not ask her many questions. It is easy to over stimulate too soon.

I have been able to stay by her today. Suzanne did great during Physical Therapy. She even walked some stairs; her right foot hurts a lot still, it gets pretty bad, the pain kept her up most of the night. She asked me to stay all yesterday and last night. They have been nice to us, letting me hang out more than the visitation hours.

They took her to get an X-Rayon her right elbow; it had gotten banged up a bit in the wreck and was causing pain. She also got an EEG to monitor her brain for seizure activity. She got sick there also. She had a little verbal Neuro Psychology testing, but had to quit because she got sick to her stomach. I asked if she should see a gastro doctor since she has had her Gallbladder removed and has not been able to eat much since being off the feeding tube around Wednesday. A few more doctors and staff stopped by, she is having a busy and tough day. She has lost 22 pounds and counting. Please pray that her stomach and pain will settle down and that she will be able to keep food down soon.

Suzanne's Status as of 12:33 AM (EST) Wednesday 1/22/2003 - DAY 35
Suzanne was able to eat much better today; her memory is pretty good. Yesterday's EEG results did show a slowing of brain waves; they will try some neuro stimulants. She is not fully back to her quick-witted self yet. We appreciate all of your prayers!

Suzanne wanted to talk some while I type, she is lying down in bed, and she still feels a lot of pain.

"I can walk around with a cane (she needs to ask for some help to make sure that she doesn't fall) and I love the snowflakes in my room. I miss not getting to listen to Christmas music and going on our trip to the Czech Republic. They let me go into the end of a meeting that Jeff was in with the doctors. I got to see the pictures of my MRI & X-Rays. It was good to read the cards that everybody had sent about getting back healthy and the Christmas & Birthday cards. It has been a good 2 hours to read through them all. (Took a break for dinner) Jeff read the first 5 days of the updates to me tonight. They are very enlightening. Observing something as if it went on with someone else." After we left the family room, Suzanne was talking with the nurses and making more friends here tonight. She was asking everyone if they wanted a kiss (Hershey's). I left for a quick pit stop and when I got back, she was telling the charge nurse about what all she had been through.

It was very interesting to get to see the X-Rays and MRI images of her brain and pelvis. Dr. Leslie said that she has blood in ventricals; it is better there as it will filter out through the cranium fluid eventually. She has trauma on both sides of her brain. The pain in her foot may be caused by a hemorrhage in her Thalamus (the part of her brain which controls pain) they are trying some medicine that can help stabilize and relieve pain from the nervous system. They said that "she is doing better than most that come here and it is interesting that she is doing this well this fast." :) So, keep praying and thanking the Gentle Healer. (Michael Card's song kept coming to mind, it comes from a collection called 'The Life', inspired while meditating on the life of Jesus)

The Gentle Healer came into our town today
He touched blind eyes and the darkness left to stay More than the blindness, He took their sins away The Gentle Healer came into our town today
He spoke one word that was all He had to say
The One who had died just rose up straight away The Gentle Healer came into our town today
Oh, He seems like just in ordinary man
With dirty feet and rough but gentle hands
The words He says are hard to understand

And, Yet, He seems like just and ordinary man The Gentle Healer, He left our town today
I just looked around and found He'd gone away Some folks from town had followed Him, They say That the Gentle Healer is the Truth the Life the Way

Suzanne's Status as of 10:20 AM (EST) Wednesday 1/22/2003 - DAY 35
Suzanne didn't sleep very much or very well at all last night. She still has a lot of pain in her foot. I noticed a piece of glass that has been in her face since the beginning, it is surfacing, I asked about it again last night and the doctor is going to see about getting it removed. It is hard to take naps in the day-time; it's very noisy, busy and lots of traffic in her room. She tried to take a nap after breakfast but couldn't for the pain. She ate well for breakfast; the doctors came in to look her over. If they increase the pain medicine, she may get nauseous, sounds like a delicate balance. Suz just said that she is ready to get out of here. She is waiting to go to OT, ST & PT (Occupational Speech and Physical Therapy).

Suzanne's Status as of 10:30 PM (EST) Wednesday 1/22/2003 - DAY 35
I appreciate that you guys want to learn more specific ways to pray for Suzanne! We have a couple of updates on her sleep and pain. After lunch, we were excited that they moved Suzanne into a much quieter room! We went off the floor for the first time; we went outside (yes, fresh air) to the garden I courtyard in Suz' wheelchair. She walked around a lap using the arm cane. Her foot still hurts her; hopefully the cause in her brain will diminish soon. She went to sleep immediately when we got back to her room. She only had 4 interruptions, so she got almost an hour nap before dinner. We are trying to get them to set times for her to be able to nap and catch up on her sleep. She was in pain from the time she was woken up to take pills around 5 pm till she was finally able to get some pain medicine at 8pm. We stopped by Terran's office (her case managers) on our way back from dinner; she saw how much Suzanne was hurting and tried to encourage Suzanne some. I was surprised to see her still hard at work when Suz and I went to make some Chai Tea at 9pm. She was just beginning to feel the relief from the medication.

They gave her something to help her sleep tonight. I'm starting to feel the lack of sleep, so I'm headed back to my apartment for some sleep.

Suzanne's Status as of 5:45 PM (EST) Thursday 1/23/2003 - DAY 36
Last night, we read more of the messages left for Suzanne. (I must clarify an important issue! Please don't mistakenly think that I am unusually strong or have extra faith; I'm just an average guy struggling to tread water through this.) I have not been able to find where it says that Sampson looked like the pictures of him, all buffed up. It seems to say just the opposite, people could not figure out where his source of strength came from. Back then, God filled a person to do a task - he wanted to use Sampson as one of the Judges of Israel. Point here is that the strength was not his own! I'm grateful that now, through Christ, He "has qiven us everythinq we need for life and qodliness" and He gives extra grace to endure through the battles, only when we feebly attempt to 'abide in him'. Please, just remember that you are reading what is typed and it may appear larger than life. For example, I had an awfully crummy attitude yesterday. I was not spending enough time (abiding) recharging my batteries' (Sleep and time in the Word). This morning I was very encouraged as I spent some time reading and praying.
"Too busy to take time out... and then, too, I haven't been getting fresh things every day. 'Too busy' - cursed words, those. Father, forgive me for being so academic and material in my outlook, so much feeding of the mind and outer man, so little genuine concern for spiritual things." from Jim Elliot's journal 'Shadow of the Almighty' Page 92

When I got to the hospital today, Suzanne's new friends looked discouraged; I struggled to find words to encourage her. She commented on how Suzanne was a beautiful person. Others said similar things about how Suzanne was probably a positive person before this event. One can't be around Suzanne and not be encouraged. She smiles and is kind to everyone, always on the lookout for people to encourage. Suzanne is really amazing; she feels constant pain and doesn't ever complain. She has always been a strong person; I have to talk her into taking pain medicine. Just watching her and then looking at me is convicting. She had been reading the book: 'Beautiful in God's eyes'. It talks about becoming a reflection of God's portrait of loveliness. In my opinion, she could have written the book; she is a picture of the Proverbs 31 woman - joyous outlook, creative spirit and feminine grace. "We rise up and bless her." Prov 31:28

She has been taking Neurontin since last Friday; it takes many days to begin to notice. Yesterday they increased her dosage of Neurontin, which appears to be working well as of late last night. They gave her something to sleep also; she slept well and was chipper today.
She came in while I was typing this and said to let you know that "My neck and abdomen scar are sore, but I feel good otherwise. I walked, did body exercises, arms, neck, back, shoulders." She decided to take a nap sitting next to me. Speech Therapy said that since she is doing so well with her speech, she can work on cognitive problems. Then they met in a group and read from a newspaper article and learned the science behind rainbows (Suzanne has always loved rainbows.)

Suzanne gets to go with a group on her floor tomorrow for Therapeutic Recreation to the mall to walk and see a movie from 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM. Sounds like they will have a fun time.

Suzanne's Status as of 1:40 AM (EST) Thursday 1/23/2003 - DAY 37
Suzanne spent a lot of time reading all of your messages and was so encouraged. She just kept reading and smiling. She talked about many of you and sat amazed at how many people care about her. She had a tough later part of the night. She begins to feel the extreme pain around 7 - 8 PM. Suzanne didn't get her medicine until 9:45 PM, and it takes about an hour to take effect. Tonight she was in terrible pain until about midnight. She slept through the night last night; praying that she will be able to sleep well tonight. We appreciate all of your encouraging notes and prayers!

Harrison said that recipes are still arriving; she filled up Volume 1. If you thought you missed the deadline, you can email questions to Harrison's AOL address: THEPRESLEYS

Today one of the therapist said that she'd have to do some cooking during therapy next week. Suzanne is looking forward to using her new recipes for success. Thanks!

Suzanne's Status as of 9:55 PM (EST) Friday 1/24/2003 - DAY 37
Suzanne had a little therapy before getting ready to go to the mall today. They had a good time at the mall with the other people on her floor. They got to eat Pizza and go see 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding'. Tonight, we made a vitamin protein smoothie while reading some more of your messages and she tried to go to sleep. She got her medication around 8:20 and is in lots of pain right now. Praying that Suzanne will be able to go to sleep soon and sleep the night through.

Suzanne's Status as of 7:55 PM (EST) Saturday 1/25/2003 - DAY 37
Mary gave Suzanne her medication at midnight last night. We are trying to get her medication scheduled so that she can take it in time for it to take effect. The pain begins to reach the unbearable level around 7-8 p.m. so I'm trying to get her medication to her after dinner which is at 5:30. Then she can have it every four hours to allow her to sleep.
Suzanne had a little physical therapy before lunch. She said that her toes feel like they are broken and it feels like there are laces on the bottom of her insole. P.T. iced her toes. It helped reduce the swelling. Suzanne said that P.T. asked her to pass that information on to the doctor. We asked the doctor covering on the weekend about some issues on our mind. [To have him schedule her medication times. If they thought she should see a neurologist sometime while she is here, if the blood clots were still dissolving and to verify that the pain is thalamic pain only. What were the results of her elbow X-Rays, as she has a large lump on it and it hurts' What they were planning to do about the chip of glass in her cheek that was surfacing last Monday, (it has back beneath the surface.) Verify 6 days of intensive therapy, (seems like only an hour on Saturday's.) We also asked if we could get a pass to take Suzanne to a worship service tomorrow, since she did so well at the mall yesterday.] A friend of mine is the music director at a neat place; 'NorthPoint Community'. He took me to lunch and showed me around yesterday when Suzanne was at the mall. I knew that Suz would enjoy seeing their 'Kidstuff'.

Good news, Brenda had a good talk with me about my concerns. She was very understanding and made notes to get back to us. She offered to help out and then came in to tell us that we got the pass to leave for about 4 hours tomorrow! The X-Rays of her elbow were negative for problems and she gave Suzanne her medication with dinner. Suzanne took a nap after dinner and just woke up, we are watching Jeopardy and the night charge nurse Mary came in to check on her. We are happy campers, Suz is not in pain and Mary will give her some medication again later tonight.