Progress Report for Gabe

Ellen DeMik sent this to Michele who sent it to us to send to you.
Please pass along this update on little GABE and ask for continued prayers.
Thanks
Uncle George

UPDATE
"jdemik@juno.com" wrote:
FYI - Gabe is still in a lot of pain, part of the issue is high pressure. He is going in to the hospital Tuesday for a minimum of a week for a lumbar drain trial. If it is successful (the doctors are optimistic), the next step would be a shunt.--Prayer Request - Gabriel Hartman

INTRO:

Thank you so much for being willing to add Gabe to your prayer chains. I did not receive an update today. Love, Ellie

Gabe was diagnosed in 2003 with Metopic craniosynostosis (same condition as Andrew DeMik on Rick's prayer chain in 2004). He has had 2 surgeries for craniosynostosis (5/03 & 2/05) to open up and reconstruct his skull. In 2/07 Gabe was diagnosed with Chiari malformation. Chairi is explained on one website as "It is characterized by abnormalities in the area where the brain and spinal cord meet that cause part of the cerebellum to protrude through the bottom of the skull (foramen magnum) into the spinal canal. This interferes with the flow of cerebral spinal fluid to and from the brain, leading to accumulation of cerebral spinal fluid in the empty spaces of the spine and brain." It is often extremely painful.

Gabe had surgery for Chairi on June 27th. Since then, his extreme, relentless pain has returned. He was taken back to the hospital when the pain could no longer be tolerated and vomitting began. In his mother's words, "We have a diagnosis. Gabe has chemical meningitis and a Cerebral Spinal Fluid leak. He will be taking 15 days of high dose steriods. That will take us to August 3rd. If his symptoms come back or worsens during that time we will schedule surgery to fix the leak and (another issue) the week of August 6th." Please pray for Gabe and his family. He is only 5 1/2 years old, he has a twin and he has 2 younger siblings. All four children are having headaches. The third child has been diagnosed with Chiari. The youngest one will probably be evaluated once Gabe's condition improves.

Aunt Faye's Cancer

Hi Rick,
Got a call from Aunt Faye today with an update.
Surgery for Aunt Faye will be on September the 5Th. They will be doing a bilateral mastectomy. They feel that they have caught it in the beginning stages. Her right breast is a stage 1 and the left a stage 0. They will be injecting dye in the lymph nodes. Aunt Faye will not have to do chemo or radiation but will be on pills for 2 years.
Needless to say Aunt Faye is in need of a lot of prayers. So lets engage the fantastic Prayer Group on this one.


Love Ya,
Aunt Mary Rose

92 year old preacher

While watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going to church, I watched a Church in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the Church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age.

After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gate to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind, he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to
speak....

"When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50 odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heart break and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me... the only thing that would comfort was this verse.........

"Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
we are weak but He is strong.....
Yes, Jesus loves me...
The Bible tells me so."

When he finished, the church was quiet. You actually could hear his foot steps as he shuffled back to his chair. I don't believe I will ever forget it.

A pastor once stated, "I always noticed that it was the adults who chose the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of course) during a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I could see they knew it the best."

"Senior version of Jesus Loves Me"

Here is a new version just for us who have white hair or no hair at all. For us over middle age (or even those almost there) and all you others, check out this newest version of Jesus Loves Me.

JESUS LOVES ME

Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.

(CHORUS)
YES, JESUS LOVES ME... YES, JESUS LOVES ME..
YES, JESUS LOVES ME FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I'll go
On through life, let come what may,
He'll be there to lead the way.

(CHORUS)

When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song.
Telling me in words so clear,
"Have no fear, for I am near."

(CHORUS)
When my work on earth is done,
And life's victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I'll understand His love.

(CHORUS)

I love Jesus, does He know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say,
That I love Him every day.

(CHORUS)