Updates..

I saw Jimmy's friend Matthew tonight at Kmart, you know..the other leukemia kid. He is getting better. The leukemia is almost gone from his body. 6 weeks ago they gave him 5 days to live. He has improved alot since then. Thank the Lord! Here is today's journal entries on Nick. He is slowly improving...KEEP THE FAITH!!

SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 2006 02:54 PM, CDT
I just received a phone call from Wendy so I wanted to get an update out. Since Wendy and Steve are back at St. Jude and living at the Grizzlies House they are able to walk back and forth from the G.H. to the hospital. They have been able to take sleeping shifts so it sounds like they may be getting a little more rest.
Today's news on Nick...X-rays taken today show that his lungs have improved a little. The oxygen has been turned down to 60% (it was at 100%) and his oxygen saturation has been in the 90's. His kidneys are still working on their own and they have taken him off blood pressure meds because his BP has been good.
The issue for today is they want Nick to start waking up. They have taken him off the paralytic drug and the sedatives. They are not sure how long it will take for these drugs to leave Nick's system, so they have no idea when he might start coming out of it. A neurologist will assess Nick today and get a baseline of where he is at so they will have something to go on in the coming days.
So specific prayers for today are for Nick to start waking up and when he wakes up, that there will be no brain damage. That Nick's lungs and kidneys continue to improve. Also, pray that his leukemia cells remain few while he is recovering from all of this.
Wendy reminded me that last Saturday when all this started that they weren't sure if Nick was going to survive the brain surgery, then later this week they weren't sure if Nick was going to survive when his lungs and kidneys were at their worst. Nick isn't giving up, and we won't give up either. She read Psalm 146 to me over the phone, "Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save." "Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them--the Lord, who remains faithful forever." That's the kind of sister I am blessed to have...no matter what she is going through she ends up comforting me! I
Continue to pray for Steve, Wendy, Josh and Alisha too and I will continue to update when I get news.
Love,Jill

The passage below is from Nick's Dad...I can only imagine what his parents are going through right now..
SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 2006 02:57 PM, CDT
A week ago today I experienced the most difficult time of my life, as I was at Nick's side when he went into distress and then the whirlwind that followed that night when the doctor's performed emergency brain surgery. This past Thursday night, with another extremely critical medical situation for Nick, I again experienced that same extreme sadness and associated emotions during the night. The doctor's communicated to us that their efforts to help Nick had been exhausted, and I saw in their eyes that their hope in the medications, machines and treatment for Nick was over .
As I was sitting at Nick's bedside early this morning listening to a music CD, the sun began to rise from the horizon spilling light onto St. Judes. The following song began to play, and as I listened to it over and over, tears streamed down my cheeks, because I knew that God had given it to me for encouragement that only He can provide. My only hope is in God.
Yesterday I found; That everything I knew was wrong
It was upside down; The life I thought I had was gone
But You came and whispered love to me
And you gave me strength to carry on
Oh, the sun is shining; There is hope for me again
A new day's dawning; The sun is shining
Yesterday I lost; Everthing I had and loved
Then I cried out for you, Lord
And you came and picked me up
And the sorrow lasted through the night
But the joy came with the morn
I will lift my voice - No, I won't be silent
For you heard my cry
And you turned my mourning into dancing
And so forever I'll sing
Oh, the sun is shining; There is hope for me again
A new day's dawning; The sun is shining.
Third Day, "The Sun is Shining"
Praises to the Most High God for giving the miracle of Nick's life to me.
Nicholas Adam's proud Dad (Steve)