Only One Son – In the Line of Duty

Warm greetings, faithful friends and prayer warriors,

We do trust that you had a very blessed Thanks-Giving!   Hebrews 13:15

Barb’s “rain date” for her open-heart surgery is now this Monday, November 29th, at 7:30 AM.

Because the surgery was postponed, we enjoyed a wonderful and special family time with our four daughters and Deb’s 9 year old Katie! BethAnne (FL), Ginny (VA), Deb (VA), and Judy (AK) all pitched in and made a turkey dinner with all the trimmings last Friday! They cleaned the house, put the leftovers in meals in the freezer, and even changed the bed linens before leaving for their homes last Saturday!  It sure is quiet ’round here since!  We were so very blessed by our girls!

Barb is anxious to have the surgery behind her now.  We know that all will go as the Lord has planned and in His time schedule. The time spent with our daughters was certainly evident of His perfect timing and special blessing!

Again, thank you for your faithfulness in praying. We will keep in touch and let you know …

By His Grace,

Barb and Ray

2 Timothy 1:12

Dear Friends,

For some reason, unknown to us, but not to God, Barb did not have her surgery Wednesday, as scheduled.

About 4:00 AM, as she was getting ready to go to the hospital, she had a TIA, or mini-stroke. We went to the hospital and found out that the surgery would be delayed a couple of hours anyway due to an emergency that took the O.R. and after telling about her earlier experience, a CAT scan and tests were quickly set up. Following a consultation, doctors decided the surgery would be too great a risk, and later in the afternoon she was sent home with an Rx for Lovenox, a blood thinner. The surgeon will see her on Tuesday, November 23rd, and perhaps reschedule surgery.

God does not make mistakes! Meanwhile we have been enjoying the time with our four daughters together! Barb considers this a gift from the Lord, because she would probably have been sedated instead. The girls got busy and prepared a full Thanksgiving dinner which we enjoyed today (Friday) together …truly a time of “thanks-giving!”

We are trusting our sovereign Lord in all of this! We are truly grateful for your faithful prayers for each step of the past few days and appreciate your continued prayers as He directs the future days, for His glory! Psalm 17:5 “Hold up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.” Psalm 17:8 “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy wings…”

We will keep in touch…

By His Grace,

Barb and Ray
II Timothy 1:12

Dear Family and Friends,

This is Barb writing: I am very blessed to have so many caring family members and friends who are praying for me as I have cardiac surgery on Wednesday, November 17th! The doctor will try to repair the severe leak in my mitral valve. If unsuccessful, he will replace it with a mechanical or animal valve.

There is much to thank God for:

# 1 All four of our daughters will be here for the surgery – BethAnne from Florida, one Judy Alaska, and Ginny and Deb from Virginia. The two girls from Virginia will be here for about a week after the surgery.
# 2 I heard from a friend who had the same surgeon that he is “topnotch” – the best. Isn’t God good?
# 3 Another friend reported that Albany Medical Center has a good record for low incidence of post-op infections!

I read Psalm 118 this morning. Verse 17 says, “I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.” We desire to be good witnesses in the hospital, and that we as a family will bring glory to our God. Thanks so much for your prayers!

In His Love,

Barb

Greetings…

Barb’s cardiac catheterization went ok… it showed that the leaky valve is severe and needs to be repaired (or replaced)… thanks for prayer…

We met with the surgeon at 11 AM (Tuesday) in Albany for consultation as to when for the open heart surgery to repair her leaky valve… it’s scheduled for November 17th in Albany Medical Center, at 7:30 AM… the doctor said that he will try to do this through an incision under her rib cage. If this is fails, he then will have to open the sternum (breastbone). Thank you for your prayers.

We then left for VA, and daughters Deb and Ginny, and their families… Barb stayed with the girls and I went alone to Little Rock – Friday to Monday is the COPS annual Parents’ Retreat… 205 scheduled – biggest group of hurting parents to date… appreciate your prayer… thanks!

By His Grace,

Barb and Ray
II Timothy 1:12

Please pray for Barb as she will have a heart catheterization on Wednesday, October 20th, on a leaky valve. The cardiologist will determine if it is time to have this replaced or repaired.

Thanks, so much…

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.” Isaiah 26:3, 4

In His care,

Barb and Ray

II Timothy 1:12