Updates on Andrew Page 3

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Monday Afternoon, March 31

Andrew had a pretty good day today, as well as last night.

They have finally figured out the source of the fever (which has been pretty steady around 101 today): he has a yeast infection in his blood. It is an answer to prayer that they figured it out because now they can properly and (hopefully) effectively treat the problem.

The fluid is slowly coming off his lungs. They also figured out the source of that problem and his drastic situation Saturday: they had laid him down flat and begun completely turning him regularly. Now his bed is inclined, and the nurses are being extremely cautious about moving him at all.

He is still urinating well and has lost over 20 pounds in fluid. He is back on Ensure today via the feeding tube. That is good because it will help the ulcers and bleeding in his stomach to improve.

Andrew is now on about 22 meds. Prior to the incident on Saturday, he was probably on around 10 or 12 (15 at the most). Pray for wisdom in diagnosing and treating all of his different problems. He is on all kinds of diuretics to get the fluid off his lungs, so pray that it will be effective.

The vent is now at 50%, and his blood pressure and heart rate are good. We are enjoying another miracle... that Andrew is still with us after enduring so much trauma.

Please continue in prayer about their financial situation. Andrea is beginning to get medical bills; and boy, are they monstrous! The ER from the first (local) hospital alone is $15,000. We don't even know about the ambulance, helicopter, and other two hospitals yet.

Thanks to all those who have given and especially to everyone for praying! Don't let up ~ God is working in Andrew's life and body!

Tuesday Night, April 1

Praise God for another good day today!

Our biggest praise is that, for the first time, Andrew has been fever-free today! We are praying that the treatment for the yeast infection in his blood continues effectively.

Everything has been stable: his heart rate, blood pressure, O2, sugar... The vent is at 50%; but the respiratory therapist turned off something on the vent, and Andrew is doing more breathing on his own.

His urine output is extremely good. They've taken so much fluid off of him that they decided today to completely turn off the Lasix and other diuretics to give him a rest. They will continue with it tomorrow.

They removed the paralytic drip at 1:30 a.m. He's doing fine, and it hasn't affected his breathing. It takes a while for that to wear off (since he's had it for three days), but he had a small amount of movement today.

Andrew was initially on three sedation drugs, and he's now on two. They were able to turn one of those down from 5 to 4.5 today. It was at 3.5 Saturday before all the catastrophe broke lose, so they are almost back to that point.

He is down to only eight meds (from 22 at the highest point), so that is pretty indicative of progress.

Andrea REALLY appreciates everything: the prayers especially, the calls, the letters and gifts, the financial support, and just knowing that so many people care. She was able to get online a little while this evening and enjoyed reading all the notes from folks. Please don't let up on the prayers and encouragement!

Wednesday Noon, April 2 -- Note from Andrew's Mom

Well, we finally got a report. A lot of the meds have been stopped; they've put a feeding tube in his nose and will remove the tubes from his mouth sometime today; they are slooowly backing off the sedation. Pray for calmness as he awakens so they won't have to put him under again and that his heart rate and blood pressure will remain stable.

Wednesday Afternoon, April 2

PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!

ANDREW IS AWAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Andrea had a total pleasant surprise when she came back from lunch! Andrew is awake and responsive! She is absolutely ecstatic and is enjoying talking with him. He's resting now, so she came out to quickly make a few calls. Of course, he can't speak because of the trach; but she is learning to lip read! He can shake his head yes & no, and he can understand everything. He's asked her for water several times, too. What a blessing!

She had another blessing, too! Someone has bought them a van! A 2003 Windstar with 60,000 miles. It's in Georgia, so she doesn't have it yet; but that's definitely another praise and answer to prayer.

PLEASE don't let up on the prayers! His fever is back today 101-102, so pray about that. Pray there are no setbacks! He's down to 7 meds, and the vent isn't breathing for him. It's just expanding his lungs. Let's keep praying for a quick and miraculous recovery!

Thank you note from Andrew's Mom

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who have sent notes, prayed, given, and in any way showed concern for our family. My husband and I cannot begin to tell you how grateful we are to God for the miraculous events of today. I beseech you to keep on praying; he still has a very long road to recovery ahead. If all goes well, my husband will be returning to Pine Bluff next week and I'll be staying here with Andrea so she won't be alone and so I can be near my son and hopefully be of some help. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart (it goes without saying, of course, that my husband feels the same way).

Thursday Morning, April 3

I just spoke with Andrea, and she is enjoying being in the (conscious) presence of her beloved! He is obviously enjoying it, too, because he keeps puckering up wanting some sugar! :)

They are conversing as much as possible just through lip reading. Andrew is having some frustration because the two women in his life (Andrea & Mama Stringer) aren't the best lip readers! But they are learning! He's asked a lot of questions like... Is this a good hospital? When can I go home? How long do I have to be here?... Well, needless to say, the nurse reassured him that he might as well make himself at home! He'll be staying around for awhile, but we just thank God for it!

They gave him a pen to write messages, but his hand is too weak. Pray for strength overall, and particularly pray because his fever has returned. It spiked pretty high last night (103 point something) and is lower today. They did ECG and ultrasounds this morning, so they are waiting on results. They are planning a CT scan some time today. They really need to find the source of what they think might be a new infection. They've been treating the yeast since Monday, and the pneumonia is well on its way out. Pray that they can diagnose and treat the problem quickly.

We are looking forward to going to see Andrew & Andrea this weekend. We will get there Saturday around lunch time and leave on Monday. If anyone in this area needs to get anything to them, I will be glad to deliver if you get it to me today or tomorrow before Chris gets off.

Thanks again for praying!

Thursday Night, April 3

I've talked to Andrea several times this evening in preparation for our trip. As I mentioned earlier, we'll be heading that way tomorrow. We are actually planning to leave early in the morning and return late Monday night. For this reason, it is possible that I will not have internet access to update the website or post the notes that come in within 24 hours. If anything urgent happens, I will certainly make it my priority to see to it that a post is made.

As far as Andrew... they've done some tests today and found sludge in his gallbladder. It is my understanding that they are considering draining this off, as it may be the cause of the mysterious fever that he has been experiencing. They did get the fever down with a cooling blanket, but it is necessary to find the cause.

Andrew is also showing quite a bit of confusion as a result, no doubt, of all the sedatives that have been and still linger in his body. He is insisting that his girls are twins and that all of the children were born in North Carolina (as most of you know, none of them were). Andrea is trying to convince him and cause him to remember otherwise, but he is agitated and thinking she doesn't know what she's talking about! Pray for his mental fogginess to clear up and for continued healing in every aspect.

Sunday Night, April 6

I'm overjoyed to report that Andrew is doing much better! He actually sat up in a chair for 30 minutes today! It wore him out, but that was definitely a major milestone.

We've enjoyed visiting with Andrew and hearing about his escapades. He was still pretty confused when we arrived yesterday, but he is thinking much clearer today. On the down side... he is not doing too well emotionally today. He is starting to understand what has happened to him, and we're trying to pray depression away from him. He asked Andrea a lot of questions about his condition, and the answers overwhelmed him. He closed his eyes, and tears rolled out. Andrea said that's only the second time she's ever seen him cry ~ the first was when Emily was born. It's very sad to see how inadequate and frustrated and overwhelmed he feels. Andrea's heart breaks for him too, so pray as they begin this part of their journey together.

Another sad news to break is that a deacon in Andrew's church lost his wife the other day. She passed away Friday, I believe. Andrea's is heartbroken for them as well because their flock is without a shepherd. They do have a missionary filling in, praise the Lord; but pray for direction for this congregation and for this grieving family.

Andrew is doing great coming off the vent for a couple of hours each day and talking through the trach. He is supposed to talk with his kids on the phone tomorrow, so pray that he feels well and that the conversation is a blessing to them all.

I need to run because we're going to head to the hospital to tell Andrew goodbye. I'll give more details when I return Tuesday...

Tuesday Morning, April 8

I just wanted to quickly update, for those who are curious. It took us 18 hours to get home yesterday, so needless to say we're tuckered out. I also have a lot of unpacking and getting back into routine today, so I'll be more detailed later.

Andrew is really doing awesome! Yesterday he actually fed himself supper after passing both swallow tests with flying colors -- pureed chicken, green beans, corn, pudding, apple juice, and water. He had been begging for water all weekend, and we couldn't help but laugh. He motioned with his finger once for Andrea to come over to the bed; and he sarcastically said, "Give a dying man water!" She kept having to get on him to follow the doctor's orders, but he tried in every way to coerce her to sneak him a cup of ice. Then he admonished her that she'd better obey her husband! At one point he was singing the Patch the Pirate song "Cool Clear Water." It was so funny.

Yesterday he was off the vent all day long since 5am. They are just putting it on at night. Sunday he was off for 8 hours. When he's off, he speaks through the trach. Like I said, I'll go into more detail later...

Andrea & Andrew's parents want to reiterate their extreme gratitude to EVERYONE for praying, giving, and just showing concern. The Lord has performed so many miracles, both great and small. I will also post the huge number of notes in my inbox later this afternoon...

Andrew Stringer Updates -- Page 1

Andrew Stringer Updates -- Page 2

Andrew Stringer Updates -- Page 4

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