Jun 19, 2007

We are noticing more and more that when Ian is awake, he is awake. He has been communicating with us very effectively lately and he was nodding for the therapists again tonight. Also, his ability to sit on the edge of the bed is improving so much. Tonight it took him about five seconds to figure out how to balance himself. He was using his feet a lot to balance and he was holding our hands for support too- which is a good thing that he can figure that out. Steve pointed out that the way Ian was sitting, it looked like he was trying to figure out how to stand up. So I asked Ian if he was trying to figure out how to stand, and he gave me a long blink for "yes." God will get us there.

I was reminding Ian today of all the surgeries that he didn't have to go through because of God's miracles. He never had to have the very dangerous and complicated surgery on his neck. He didn't have to have the also long and complicated surgery on his knee. God healed him of diabetes insipidus, allowed him to learn how to breathe on his own and even allowed him to simply open his eyes again. I remember in Presby the first report we heard of Ian opening his eyes- God has delivered Ian from much so far and will continue to deliver him.

In light of all that God has healed in Ian's body and all of the prayers that He has answered, we want to continue to ask specific prayers and have faith that God will answer. Ian has been having a lot of back and neck pain over the last few days- probably a result of the impact of the accident. While it is a great thing that he is even able to feel pain like that now, we don't actually want him to be in pain. Please pray that God would heal any discomfort in his back and neck and that Ian could communicate to us when he is in pain and that we would somehow be able to help ease him of that.
"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead--by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. "
Acts 4:8-14

Thank you for praying with us

Laris

10 comments:

grey_pumpkin said...

this is encouraging to hear Larissa! Praying for you and Ian more than ever

Anonymous said...

this is soo cool Larissa, praying for you and Ian every day

Anonymous said...

I am happy for the progress--
Praying for Ian
God Bless you
Phyllis

Anonymous said...

I am humbled to be able to join in prayer for Ian and the rest of you. I look forward to hearing more and more of his being awake and all that will follow. Thanks for giving me/us the opportunity to pray specifically.
Bless you!

Anonymous said...

Hey Larissa,

Thanks for your continual encouragement. Sarah and I saw Ian respond with his long slow blink last night when I asked him about Heather working with him, and we could see more of an alertness in his eyes. Also thanks for letting us know about specific prayer requests. Love you all!

Kathie

Anonymous said...

Larissa and Ian's family:
I just came across this beautiful reading. It came to me, as I read it that it is like what you are all going through. You do not know the end of this, but you know it is in God's hands.

The Weaver by Anonymous Works:

"My life is but a weaving, between my God and me. I do not choose the colors, He worketh steadily. Ofttimes He weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride forget He sees the upper, and I the underside. Not until the loom is silent, and the shuttles cease to fly, will God unroll the canvas, and explain the reasons why the dark threads are as needful in the skillful weaver's hand as the threads of gold and slver in the pattern He has planned.
He knows, He loves, He saves.
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives His very best to those
who leave the choice to Him."

God will have the last word in all you are going through and it will be good. My prayers and those of so many continue to give you the strength to keep on keeping on.
Rene from Latrobe

m&a said...

Wow. God has brought you SO far, Ian. I read these posts, remember praying for you at Presby over those first few days and I am without words.

We miss you very much. Keep at it. We're praying for you.

-Amber and Matthieu Croce



Indescribable by Chris Tomlin

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

Anonymous said...

How wonderful to recap some of the many awesome things God has done and continues to do on Ian's behalf! Thanking the Lord today for His grace and goodness to all of us, by giving His Son to die for us so that we might live forever with Him. The light which is Christ continues to shine brightly through our perishable containers that we might see and know that the brightness of the glory is of God and not our own. Only God could cause Ian to be able to do what he is doing right now. I remember when the medical reports said that even if Ian lived, he might be "brain dead". God is using this situation and circumstances to bring great glory and honor to His name. Only God...Only God...!

Anonymous said...

soooo thankful for the new things Ian is doing each day. the way you describe it really encourages me and also shows how God is healing Ian's brain. He is thinking!!When I read about his back and neck pain though I said "awwww". Will pray that God causes the pain to cease! (Though as you mentioned it is good to know that he can feel this sensation). God is accomplishing what he began in Ian, from the very moment he was born (and even before) and I am trusting he will not stop what he is doing until he gives Ian back to all of us, blessing us and causing us to give him all the glory.

Anonymous said...

Ian is definitely making progress. I am in a study this summer entitled "From Slavery to the Promised Land" and just like the Israelites had to go through increased suffering before they were freed from the Egyptians and then had to go through many trials through the wilderness, so too, we have many struggles before we enter our promised land. But, God is faithful and He will accomplish what concerns us. May His Name Be Praised forever more. Keep pressing on.
For His Name's Sake,
jenny