It has been a rough couple of days and I am asking for prayers from everyone I can for a couple of very special people who need them greatly.
First, a extreme preemie baby whose journey I have been following needs his miracle to come in. He was born at 26 weeks gestation and has had a number of problems including one side of his heart that works too hard and lung issues. The doctors are running out of options and nothing seems to work for him for long. His distraught momma was greeting yesterday by the doctors saying that if he does not respond to this round of medication they will have to call in Hospice. There are no words really.
Second, my grandpa fell 15 feet off a ladder onto a cement pad. Stubborn old farmer. Two strapping grandsons in his 20's there to help and he insisted on climbing the ladder. A bolt that held the overhead doors on his work shop (big enough for a semi to drive through) snapped and the door and frame swung out and knocked him and the ladder down. He has crushed a large part of the right side of his body and part of his face. He had emergency surgery last night on his hip which was crushed. His shoulder already had a metal rod in it and because the rod was stronger than the bone around it the bone took the shock and shattered. Surgery on that will come in a few days when he is strong enough and when they can bring in a shoulder specialist. His nose is broken. His cheek bones are fractured and there are bone fragments. When the swelling goes down they will consult with a plastic surgeon. He, of course, has a concussion.
His grandsons who were there, thank God, had presence of mind to keep holding the rope on the overhead door and were able to hold the weight of it to keep it from falling and crushing him. They kept him from moving and doing more damage and called 911. Then because my grandma and grandpa were so worried about dinner in the oven and the fact that the shop wasn't locked up, the boys stayed behind to take care of everything, including the door.
Recovery will be a long road. The doctors say at least a week before he can come home and 2-3 months before he can even put weight on the hip. (Realistically its a guessing game and depends on how surgery and recovery go.) And that depends on how badly the shoulder plays a role because he won't be able to use the shoulder and arm to help him get around until that recovers. Thankfully he has grandsons and great-grandsons out of school for the summer who can stay with them to help take care of him and anything that needs to be done around the house and garden. Also, thankfully, they live just a couple of miles away from us and there are several of us who live in a few-mile radius from them to keep an eye on them and help out so it may save him from having to go to a rehab facility.
Prayers are needed and much appreciated.
Oh no April! I'm so sorry to hear about your grandfather. Sending prayers his way and to you. I know how those old farmers are...they still think their young and can do it all. That's the way my grandfather was to the end. Here's hoping for a speedy recovery.
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