Jun 20, 2007

High five?!?

Psalm 84:5 struck me today: "Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion." As we face another day with Ian in a coma, I need to remember where my strength for the next moment comes from. There should be a highway in my heart that sends trust and praise to God and recognizes and receives care and strength from God. Moment by moment, Lord, help me to trust you and praise you. Send continual strength from your throne.

Ian was with a therapist today who was trying to get him to give a high five. To the therapist's disappointment, Ian wouldn't do it. Later, as I recounted this story it occurred to me he wouldn't have done that before wreck; it's highly unlikely he would do it now. Larissa asked him, then, to hold her hand. Ian did that. She asked him to do it again. He did it again. The therapist chimed in and said that if he did it again that would be a sign of consistency (something everyone has been looking for from the beginning). Larissa asked him to hold her hand again. Again, he reached out his hand took hers. He's slowly making progress.

He continues to have back pain. Please pray. It keeps him from doing things we think that he could do.

Thank you for your prayers.

Steve

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

add me to the list.. i was on vacation... i love to hear what god has been doing.. it is so encouraging!!

linda Lancaster PA (crossway)

Anonymous said...

Praying..
God Bless You
-Phyllis

Anonymous said...

Dear Steve,
The Lord has granted you such great depth of perception. Your awareness to the fact that the "high-five" was something Ian wouldn't have done before the accident probably shows the greatest insight into just how much the Lord has healed His brain (and even to the extent of possibly His personality). God is definitely showing through Ian that He and He alone could restore Ian in this way and continues to use him to display His glory. The Lord impressed this scripture passage upon my heart for all of you: Romans 12:1-2 "And so dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-the kind He will accept. When you think of what He has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is." We will never know this side of eternity how many lives the Lord has touched and changed through Ian's body being used as a "living sacrifice" for Him and His glory over these past months...how much the Lord has used all of you as "living sacrifices" to bring glory and honor to His name. You are all being used by God to serve unto the edification of the body of Christ, worldwide, and as evangelists to the unconverted/those who are to be heirs of salvation. Praying with you and for you until the restoration of all things,
Love,
Chris Pusateri

Dena said...

I love it!

I was wondering about Ian's coma level or scale. Is he still considered to be in the same level of a coma as he was when he left the hospital?

Praying,
Dena

Unknown said...

Steve, thanks for sharing. Weird: a year ago I knew who Ian was (via the Melville vids) but didn't know who Larissa was and wouldn't have cared about them holding hands; now such news blesses and encourages me!

So, a high 5 to you Ian! Or better yet, grab Larissa's hand!!
-TimK

Anonymous said...

praying each and every day, more than once usually.

LinReed said...

Just wanted to let you know I'm praying for Ian. I'm friend with Ians family in New Orleans and just appreciate all that God is doing in and through all of you!

Anonymous said...

Steve you hit upon something very important here...Ian is here in many ways like before the accident. You will find certain likes, mannerisms and reactions as you go through this journey to be recognisable to Ian's person. The only thing different at times may be the ways to communicate. The person of Ian you will find, is still very much present in many ways.

You may of already tried this but from experience the back pain may resond to gentle massage, since Ian is bedridden for so long.

I personally have found the Book Of Job a comfort in trying times. Especially in Job's final answer to God for the questions of meaning in suffering.

"I knew you then only by hearsay; but now, having seen you with my own eyes, I retract all I have said...,"

To know and even see God more clearly beyond hearsay is the grace and the blessings that suffering may bestow.

God will bless

Denny