Dear CCAM Partners and Friends,

Have had no email access for the past two days, but finally got the opportunity tonight. Buntheep's lumbar spinal drain was removed at noon on Christmas Day! Praise the Lord! The downside was that the removal was painful, so the pain medicine caused her to sleep most of the afternoon. However, in the morning before the procedure and again in the evening, she enjoyed listening to Christmas music while opening her gifts lying flat on her back.

For several days surrounding this, Buntheep was nauseated and sometimes vomited up her meds. This could have been a serious side effect, had other complications been present, and might have indicated the need for an internal drain, but a blood test done on the day after Christmas indicated that the level of one of her antibiotics was elevated and was probably the culprit causing the nausea. Therefore, it was eliminated (as was another antibiotic the day before). Now she is only taking one antibiotic, and will need to stay on it for a few more weeks. However, due to these changes, her body has now overcome the nausea and is slowly regaining an appetite. Praise the Lord!

If Buntheep's recovery progresses smoothly from here on, we will have avoided a fifth surgery to insert an internal drain! Please pray that there will be no more complications. Please pray also that Buntheep will be patient with the recovery process, not overdoing it or lagging behind, but cooperating with each little step needed to reach her full healing.

After lying completely flat for 13 days, she will need to learn to sit up gradually, then stand, and finally walk. Her body will have to readjust to changes in gravity, especially equalizing the pressure in her head. Too sudden changes will cause headaches and dizziness, so the right balance is needed. Her strength will need to be built up gradually too, as she begins to eat normally and exercise her muscles little by little.

In addition, please pray that someone will be able to come to the hospital to relieve me once in a while during the next four days that Annette will be out of town.

We are so grateful for your partnership with us during this adventure of faith. Our God is faithfully answering our prayers and is making all things work out for our good and for His glory.

In His Hands,
Gioia and Buntheep

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