Sorry for the long delay in updates. Rhiana is doing very well. She is getting more and more active. We still have to help her get out of bed but she is taking walks up the road now. It is great to see her strengthening day by day and we still have not gotten used to how she looks so tall and elegant! She is still sleeping in the living room but she did do the stairs 3 times yesterday so that could soon change. Thank you so much for your prayers, love and support.

WE ARE HOME!!!!! The pain doctors prescribed a new pain killer for Rhiana that is in the form of a patch that lasts 3 days. We decided to go with it and just come home and try it out rather than stay in hospital. So far so good. The great thing is that we do not have to wake her during the night to give her pills. The car Journey was just about bearable for her. Thank you all for your prayers.

Hi Everyone! Rhiana is doing well. Infact we have the all clear to go home as soon as they get her pain medication sorted. A bit frustrating really as they should have done more about that by now. However, hopefully we will be home tomorrow. Rhiana can walk now with no other support than just my hand. We can almost get her out of bed with only one of us helping her. Please pray re the painful journey home.

Good news! Rhiana has just emptied her bladder! We think that we have finally got the medication rite too!! Her breathing is still an issue but it has improved. She is still not eating but that is not too unusual. Thank you so much for your prayers. Rhiana is doing well with walking, tomorrow she has to attempt going up 5 steps.

Ok so you will all be pleased to hear that Rhiana has farted. She has also walked a full lap around the nurses station. Her lung capacity has increased quite a lot too. Unfortunately Rhiana has some fairly hard things to get through still and we would appreciate your prayers. She is back on a catheter. It is almost exactly the same situation as the last surgery, they removed the catheter, Rhiana was unable to go, they re catheterised her to empty and then removed it, Rhiana was still unable to go, they catheterised her and left it in and now she has an infection down there. She is also struggling with her pain medication which is causing her to hallucinate seeing people in the room who are not there etc. Please please pray about her breathing. She is struggling to breath while she is asleep and it is horrible to watch. At its worst she only takes a breath when she is desperate for it and then she gasps for air. This often semi wakes her and she whimpers because she feels as if she is suffocating but then immediately stops breathing again. This could be due to the pain medication but they are also talking about this possibly being a lasting issue. It is also very painful still. She still has not eaten. On a positive note she has not had recurrence of the headaches that she had after the last surgery.

No gas yet, however Rhiana has made great gains. She walked , with the assistance of her physio, from the bed to the chair, sat for a while and then walked to the bathroom and back to the bed. She also took a trip to get xrays for which she had to stand. She is very definately taller!!! One small tip, don't ever give Rhiana valium it sends her crazzzy!

Rhiana has a big big day ahead of her. She has to walk today. She has to come off the morphine today. She has the catheter removed today so that she has to make it to the bathroom from now on. If she passes gas she can eat today (there's something for all of us in the room to look forward to!) Please pray for God's strength to Rhiana and wisdom for the doctors and nurses. Her heart rate is still high but no fever

Rhiana is struggling with the pain. Hopefully today she may get up and walk a little as this will speed her recovery up. She has not eaten yet. Heartrate is still high but the fever is gone. Let's pray that she will sleep the rest of the night

Rhiana Update

Hi everyone, thank you so much for your prayers. Rhiana’s surgery went well. She went to the operating room just after 8am and returned to us around 6.30 pm. She is not allowed to move yet and is well dosed up with morphine. She has slept nearly the whole time since the surgery. The surgeons were very pleased with the way things went. Dr Fabregas who performed the spinal fusion says that he has managed to reduce the curve from around 78 degrees to 34 degrees. That will be a very significant improvement for Rhiana. She has a few slight issues at this time, she has a slightly high temperature, her heart rate is also too high and her breathing is erratic. We value your prayers regarding these issues and also for Rhiana’s mobility and pain level when she gets moving again.

Surgery update 4/7/09

April Update

Well, it's already April and the blossom is full bloom (looks LOVELY!) and the pollen is smothering our cars, windows and anything that doesn't move! (not so lovely!) We have actually had a LOT of rain the past few weeks, so much so that Jordan has not yet been able to play a match!!!! (I know - 'soccer' really isn't English football - we don't play here if it's too hot/too cold or raining!!!) He is not a happy bunny!

We are nearing Rhiana's surgery date of 6th April and would ask you to continue to keep us in your prayers. Rhiana has experienced an overwhelming sense of peace and calm - she is amazing! God has been SO good in 'guarding our hearts and minds' these past few weeks and days - there are times we get anxious and fear creeps in (which we would appreciate your prayers for!) but generally we are able to give testimony to God's AMAZING provision at this time. Rhiana has had countless medical tests/exams etc, leading up to Monday's surgery. Her pulmonologist has advised us that currently Rhiana only has 61% lung capacity (due to the curve pressing on one lung). We are praying that after surgery this increases and she is able to resume more normal activities. We will know more in June when she is re-tested. We are about to turn our main 'living area' into Rhiana's new living accommodation for the next few weeks, since she will be unable to climb stairs straight away. For those that don't know, Debbie Osborn is flying out here after we come out of hospital to help us look after Rhiana. We are really looking forward to seeing her!

Things here are still very busy both at REVIVE and JUBILEE! The store is still exceeding our expectations in every way possible! We are continually amazed at God's provision and faithfulness. He promised, from the outset that He 'take care of the bottom line' if we continued to keep our eyes on Him and just be faithful in serving in what He has called us to do at the store. This week Trev has been installing a computerized Language Programme in the store, for the use of both staff and customers. We are really hoping to reach more of our Hyspanic community and by employing 4 Hyspanic staff and now, having Spanish / English courses available to learn in the coffee shop, we are hoping to bridge this gap. God has blessed us with such an AMAZING staff, 4 of whom, have started attending ALPHA at REVIVE on a Wednesday evening - we are so excited!!!

We are also very involved with two families right now who are in need of help and would appreciate your prayers in wisdom in how to best serve them. Both have been attending church for a few weeks and need a lot of love and support. We are so grateful that God has brought them to us and are praying that they really sense God's heart and provision in their time of need, through us, His family!

Well, that's a brief summary. I will post again as soon as I have an update on Rhiana!