Oct 18, 2006

It's time to wake up, Ian

I finally got information about the surgery on Ian’s knee. One of the surgeons said that they went into the surgery expecting to clean out the wound and repair the main ligament in the front of the knee that allows Ian to extend his knee. I had wondered why they didn’t do the repair in the surgery. They didn’t do the second part because when they got in there they discovered that the ligament wasn’t damaged! God is good.

They put him in a chair today for about two hours, because you can breathe better sitting up. In that position, they tried putting him on a machine that only helps you breathe if you breathe first; it sort of pushes you across the finish line for each breath. He didn’t pass the test, so they put him back on the ventilator. In other words, he couldn’t quite breathe on his own, yet. They’re going to try that again tomorrow.

The neurotrauma people have said that they can’t do anything more for him. There are many more minor surgeries Ian faces, but he just needs to wake up now. To be honest, it’s very hard to be around the medical people now, because everything I hear is grim. He’s not made any progress. Most patients who pull through leave this ICU responding to commands (e.g. move your fingers, toes, etc.), but Ian hasn’t even come close to doing that. The sadness can be overwhelming. I have to remind myself that we serve God who is bigger than comas.

Watching my son go through this is incredibly difficult, but each time I visit I’m reassured to know that He feels none of the pain from his injuries. To think that the Father purposely crushed and tortured His Son for me, and there was no coma for Jesus to avoid the pain.

Please pray that Ian would begin to respond to commands. Pray that he would come back to us. If you visit him (which we hope you will), tell him to wake up. Talk to him. Touch him. Annoy him.

It’s time to wake up, Ian.

Steve Murphy

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi! I have been thinking and praying for Ian along with you! My friend Sarah has been telling us updates and I wanted to let you all know I have been praying. I have been reading the Bible and came across this and wanted to leave some encouragement/comfort for your family and friends!

3 He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.

4 He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.

5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.

Psalm 147:3-5 (New International Version)

God has a perfect plan for Ian always remember that!!! I will continue to pray! God bless!!!

Anonymous said...

Steve:

I continue to pray for Ian and your family. May our God strengthen you, brother. As I visit home-bound patients out here in California I am asking God to wake Ian up, heal him up, and get him home.

TimK (TomK of LOLC's brother)