Dear CCAM Partners and Friends,

We hope that all of you are enjoying a happy and meaningful Christmas season. Although it seems strange to us spending the holidays in the hospital, there are often people we meet here who need a word of hope and a hug. We have encouraged many people with our testimonies of God's power and faithfulness. And when we have needed encouragement, God has sent it through someone bearing His love.

Concerning Buntheep's lumbar drain, everything went well as the level of the drain was raised to 10 and then to 15. However, when it was raised to 20 the dressing on Buntheep's back became damp from leakage. Dr. James (Dr. Aldana's associate) checked it, but instead of rushing into surgery, he decided to back up to 10 and start all over again.

When the drain stayed at 10, all was well. But when they increased to 15, the dressing became damp again. However, this time, when the nurse from Dr. Aldana's office checked it, she noticed that the moisture was centered over one of the plastic valves, rather than over the incision in Buntheep's back. This caused them to wonder if all the leakage might be caused by a mechanical flaw in the system, rather than by a biological one in Buntheep's body. So they have now dropped back to 5, planning to wait until Monday to do an MRI of Buntheep's head. If there are no large cavities developing in her brain, then the fluid must not be building up there. Then they might go ahead and remove the lumbar drain and keep her under close observation for a while to see what happens.

Thank you for your prayers throughout this ordeal. Praise the Lord that Dr. James is no longer rushing to do surgery! Praise the Lord that He caused the nurse to notice where the moisture was possibly coming from. Praise the Lord that Buntheep's level of pain has improved. She now calls for pain medication every 6-8 hours instead of every 4.

Praise the Lord that I am nearly completely healed of the bronchitis (just a little cough remains). Praise the Lord that Annette is now healed and able to come back to help me. Please continue to pray that Buntheep will make it until Monday without further difficulties and that the MRI will reveal no problems in the brain. Pray that the lumbar drain can be removed and that Buntheep will heal quickly and be able to return to a normal life (now she must constantly lie flat).

Through all of these trials, our enemy would like to distract us from focusing on the many preceding miracles (as well as the ones that are sure to come). He would like to cause us to lose hope. But as we continue to wage the "fight of faith," our faith is being strengthened as we exercise it in the midst of trials. The Lord Jesus Christ is truly leading us through this valley and we feel His comforting and protecting presence.

In His Hands,
Gioia and Buntheep

← Previous                         Next →