[Hope]

Dear Fellow Believers,

At this point, it seems the paralysis will be from the elbows down and from the chest down. He is not a quadriplegic since he can move his neck, shoulders and upper arms but is looking at being a paraplegic. He still suffers a lot from intense pain. The doctors explained to us that when the central nervous system suffers this kind of injury all the live systems go into hyper sensitivity. He has feelings in his neck, shoulders and upper arms and upper back. If there is a wrinkle in his pillow, while we would probably not even notice it, for him it is like lying on a wire. He can only be given mild pain medication since he can only breath with his chest muscles as his diaphragm does not function. If he is sedated, his breathing would be very shallow and pneumonia is a threat.

He is beginning to get some rehab. He is working at being able to use devices for holding a cup. At this point he really can do nothing for himself. My wife Sheryl spends nine hours a day at the hospital, his wife two hours and I three hours to assist him with ongoing practical needs.

We are hoping he could be moved to a rehab hospital soon, but his pain level must go down before this can happen.

Please pray for the supply of grace from the Lord that Sheryl and I and his wife Christa can meet the need.

We have been supplied by so many prayers from so many directions that in the midst of our own pain and suffering we can glorify the Lord for His reality and love that is in so many of His dear believers.

Thank You,

Don Rutledge