Lynda Hilborn update - Sunday - 11 May 2008

The following was forwarded to me nearly a month ago (how time flies)...and I am just getting caught up with adding a few requests for prayer to the PGPG blog...this one is certainly a welcome NEW addition to our group... Thanks for sharing Chris R.

RGB
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hello everyone:

Today is the eve of our departure to Dalhousie University Speech Program for Aphasia, in Halifax Nova Scotia. I thought this would be a good opportunity to send you an update and, as always, solicit your continued prayers.

Although some of you have been on this prayer chain since the first day. Some of you may be receiving this for the first time. For those of you that have been with us for varying periods of this past year, I thank you for your support and prayers. I believe that it has been through these prayers that God has blessed me with the recovery we have seen so far. Although I fully acknowledge she has a long way to go, Lynda has come a long, long way from where she was a year ago.

For those of you that have just recently joined us, may God bless you for your support of us in prayer.

Now for the update:

Since I last provided an update on Lynda’s Birthday (April 13) there has been some improvements in several areas:


* Although we did have her gall bladder removed, it only slightly improved her condition. However, recent test have confirmed that she has two stomach ulcers which are likely causing her the pain she is experiencing.

* Although happy we found these problems it seems almost inconceivable that the other 3 GI doctors that ran so many tests on her didn’t find them.
* The treatment for this is a bit slower than we would like so there will still be issues with this pain for a while.

* We have dropped her sodium intake down to zero. On the surface it appears that she has stopped needing the 24 grams of sodium chloride a day she needed before. She may now be able to sustain her sodium levels by more natural intake.
* Along with the sodium, we have been able to get her off of nearly all medications. She is down to only three medications she has to take routinely. (This is down from 24 medications when I brought Lynda home from the hospital in August)
* She has on a few occasions articulated information which seems to indicate at least a beginning of a return of past memory. I’m excited about that because the past memory will also provide her with her past talents and abilities and minimize those things she has to “relearn”.
* Lynda also routinely indicates an understanding of the fact that “things are not normal”. She also articulates the desire for things to be “normal” again.


Now for the prayer requests:

Praises:


* Portsmouth Christian Schools (the school that Lynda taught in for many years and was actively teaching in at the time she got sick) and several of the individuals and Sunday school classes at our church (Biltmore Baptist) raised a very significant amount of money to help with the expenses for the therapy program we are going to attend over the next several weeks. Their efforts cover more than ½ of the expenses. Praise God for this much needed help.
* We have found what is likely the cause of her biggest physical problem and have a plan to treat it.
* I have a boss and company that are providing the opportunity to go to this therapy program.


Requests:


* The treatment provided Lynda will take away her pain and any physical discomfort.
* The therapy will be a resounding success.
* Lynda will continue to recover her long-term memory and the ability to use it and articulate it properly.
* Safe and expedient travel and great experiences while we are in Canada.
* That God will bless each and every one of you as you continue to pray for and support me and Lynda.


As you know, because many of you have lived this year with us, this has been a tough time to say the least. It has been a roller coaster ride with emotions I never dreamed of experiencing.

As Lynda and I go to Canada to this clinic, I know that in many ways the work we will do will be harder than anything we have ever done before. But the rewards stand to be greater than any task we have ever undertaken. I believe that everything we experienced in the first beautiful 36 years of our marriage has been God’s way of preparing us for this past year and the recovery before us in the years to come.

I looked back at the journal we kept (mainly as part of Jenny’s nightly emails to each of you) and found that May 12, 2007 is the day we were first informed that Lynda had some level of brain damage. It seems very appropriate that the anniversary of that terrible news is the day that we embark on what could be the most important part of her recovery.

I am excited about this opportunity and I know that each of you has contributed in a very large way to my ability to not only survive the past year, but to be able to provide Lynda the atmosphere, treatment and therapy to bring her back as far as she has come. Through these efforts and the grace of God, she has reached a level that will allow this therapy to become fruitful. You have given so much of yourselves to make my job easier at a time when I could not have needed it more.

Thank you seems like such an inadequate word, but it is said with the utmost sincerity.

Thank you!

Chip and Lynda

Maggie n Grayson UPDATE!!!!

thanks to all of your prayers.......here now is maggie may 10lbs 1/2ozs and grayson 12 lbs 1/2ozs

best wishes to all

jill