October 2, 2020

Update on Bobbie Thrall

Geoff Thrall writes:
“Bobbie continues to gradually improve.  Other than supplemental O2, which she uses at home, and routine IVs, she is reliant on no external “equipment.”  Her heart is stable and kidney function continues to gradually improve.  They have started feeding her directly into the stomach for the first time since the colostomy was reversed.  All in all, it continues to be a waiting game, but things are certainly are brighter.  As always, your thoughts and prayers are deeply appreciated.  God Bless,Geoff”
Thanks be to God. AMEN

October 2020 Prayer List

St. PETER’s CHURCH PARTNERS IN PRAYER

OCTOBER 2020 PRAYER LIST

We pray for our St. Peter’s sisters and brothers caught up in medical and surgical situations and for their continuing recovery and a merciful end to and release from their suffering, and for their families and for those who care for and about them:

John Brinkerhoff and Jan.

Marlyn Wyman and Milt.

Henry and Sharon Shaw.

Kathy Heiskell and Ted.

Judy Held.

Melva Colegrove, recently admitted to Riverside ICU.

Bobbie Thrall, with a recent aortic valvulotomy, and Geoff.

Kerry Shanklin.

Tommie Stranahan.

Katie Cochran.

Jack Keefer.

Roberta Clark.

Tom and Barbara Johnstone.

Phil Griffith and Dustie.

De Dee Daly.

We pray for the families and friends of St. Peter’s people whose souls have fled into the Presence of Almighty God:

The family and friends of Paul Sabine as they mourn his death and give thanks for his presence and years of service among us.

The family and friends of Joanne Krohn as they mourn her death and give thanks for her presence and years of selfless service.

And we pray for those whose grief is known to God alone who silently carry on while His Healing Grace works within them to transform, renew, and restore their hearts and souls and minds and spirits.

We pray for our current and former St. Peter’s brothers and sisters, and clergy known to us with on-going problems:

Jim Yobaggy.

John Keefer.

Chet Heid.

Tom Van Brunt.

We pray for those known to or close to our St. Peter’s community in other ways who are having problems:

Jodi Wilbur, with recent COVID, and her husband Daryl and family.

People known to Jan Brinkerhoff:

   Shirley Hummel, her sister, with dementia in assisted living.

   Ronald Hummel, her brother in law, in hospice care with

   multiple problems.

   Nancy Townley, her neighbor with pancreatic cancer.

Thomas Biernacky, with a worsening long-standing cancer.

People known to Dagmar Grothe:

   George Johnson with a stage 4 cancer.

   Jason Colvin who is very sick.

People known to Linda Heid:

   Her cousin John Munslow and his wife Brunhilde recovering from a very serious stroke.

   Larry Kocon, with cancer and myasthenia gravis, and his wife

   Diane.

People known to the Wyman’s:

   Jim Myers, Milt and Marlyn Wyman’s son-in-law.

   Penny Wyman, their niece, undergoing chemotherapy.

   Kenny Ketring, one of Milt’s former residents.

Heather Jones, Carol Hallenbeck’s niece, with chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Rebecca, Katie Cochran’s nephew’s wife, with lung and breast cancers.

Tony and Carmela Alastra, John Alastra’s parents.

Judy Pippenger, Nora Alastra’s mother.

Delores (Dee) Kindal, Jackie Burns’ mother.

People connected to Ben and Carol Lacy:

   Their daughter Laurie with breast cancer.

   Carol’s mother Dot who is failing and in assisted living.

People known to the Thralls:

   Dr. David, their family physician, with leukemia now in remission.

   Donald Clifford, with colon cancer on chemotherapy.

   Zach, with cancer, and his mother Crista.

People known to Kathleen Mergler:

   Jim Arnold, her brother, with lung cancer that has spread and who has now stopped chemotherapy.

   Peter Joling, her brother-in-law, with severe lung disease.

People known to the Clarks:

   Christal Mattern, with a recent stroke and now in rehab.

   Sue Stewart, with lymphoma.

   Margie Clark.

   Abby Clark.

   Al Latta, with cancer and in a nursing facility, his wife Marilyn and their daughter Natalie.

   Kathy Latta, with diabetes and multiple other problems.

Julie Newland, with dysautonomia, Lyme disease, and post-concussive head injury syndrome.

People known to De Dee Daly:

   Her great-niece Keely McKelvey, with a series of illnesses that require recurrent hospitalizations.

   Terry Ross, her daughter, with diabetes.

   Carol Tolson, on total venous hyperalimentation for short bowel syndrome.

   Scott Byerly, with cancer, and his four children.

People connected to Judy Held:

   Jon Kidd, her nephew.

   Her daughter Mary James’ friend, Kathryn Balderson with breast cancer.

   Her nurse’s daughter Lee Anne Lense with tonsillar cancer.

   Jacqualyn Quiana Covington, a young child with tuberous sclerosis.

People known to the Shaws:

   Janet and Brent Watson, friends.

   Sam Davis, a good friend’s grandson, with brittle diabetes.

People known to Jeanne Horn:

   Jennifer Staten, with multiple sclerosis, and her husband John, Jeanne’s grandson.

Kathleen Smith, with metastatic breast cancer now on poorly tolerated chemotherapy.

Margie Blenker, Barb Hickcox’s sister, with well-controlled cardiac problems and surgical knee problems.

Edwin Wilson, Joe Kersey’s brother-in-law, with dementia, and his sister Hallie and nephew John, his care-givers.

We pray for all people afflicted with and affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and for speedy relief from this disease and its attendant problems both medical and non-medical.

We pray for all Christians around the world, especially those who are being persecuted for their faith.

We pray for refugees and all other people devastated by and caught up in the violence of war, crime, natural disasters, broken relationships, disease, and indifference.

We pray for men and women in the military, especially those actively in harm’s way, and their families, and for the families of those who have died in service. And we pray for the mutilated, maimed, and wounded; and for those still fighting on distant battlefields, though they appear to be home.

ALMIGHTY AND EVERLIVING GOD: Accept our prayers for these people afflicted and troubled with unhealthiness in their bodies, or in their hearts and souls, or in their minds and spirits. In Your Mercy, Lord, relieve them of and release them from their burdens; and grant them patience under their sufferings. And, if it be Thy Merciful and Loving Will, grant them an expedient and happy outcome from their trials. We ask all this in the Name of Your Son Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. AMEN

September 30, 2020

Update on Bobbie Thrall

Geoff Thrall writes to tell us that Bobbie is doing well — she is being weaned off her vasopressor drug; she is off the ventilator and using only mask oxygen; her renal function is improving; she is awake a lot of the day.

This is all quite hopeful.
Geoff expresses his thanks for our prayers.
Thanks be to God. AMEN

September 29, 2020

Update on Bobbie Thrall

Geoff Thrall writes with some hopeful news.

On Monday afternoon 28 Sept Bobbie had an aortic valve dilation using a balloon catheter. It was “very successful” and did not require as much contrast medium as a replacement procedure would have done (hence less of a threat to her renal function). It will certainly improve her cardiac function and probably ease her way out of her chronic (with periods of acute exacerbation) congestive heart failure, and allow her to come off the ventilator. All of this — improved ventricular function and removal of positive pressure ventilation — in turn will further help her renal function.
To quote Geoff it is now a “waiting game”.
“The effect of the angioplasty [valvuloplasty] is not permanent, but could last up to 2 years.  If these things occur, we may not need to deal with the valve replacement or kidney dialysis imminently.”
 
And, of course, he urges all of us to keep the prayers coming.
 
May God be with Bobbie and Geoff as this struggle continues and grant her a good outcome.
 
AMEN

September 28, 2020

Update on Bobbie Thrall

Geoff Thrall gives us further news about Bobbie.

In his own words:
“Bad news.  Last night about midnight Bobbie’s BP dropped drastically (upper number to the mid 60s).  They were able to bring it back up to acceptable levels (approx 115/60), but had to use a drug that the body doesn’t tolerate well for long.
“They are trying to determine what caused the drop, but so far, haven’t been able to.  Her white count was elevated, and infection can cause BP to drop, so they are giving her antibiotics.  They can’t, however, find any infection.  This is serious because they can’t proceed with anything else until the BP is stable, and she can’t stay on the current BP assisting drug for long.
“If that is not enough, her kidney is worsening.
“I’m told all of this is life threatening, so please keep those prayers coming.  God Bless,
Geoff”
AMEN

September 27, 2020

Update on Bobbie Thrall

Geoff Thrall writes to update us on Bobbie Thrall’s medical situation. In his own words:

“As most of you know, Bobbie was admitted to Grady last Friday for reversal of her colostomy.  It was very successful, and today she had a very good and normal bowel movement…. 
“She did, however, suffer a short cardiac arrest (90 sec) while being moved from the OR table to the cart for transfer to Recovery.  Subsequent testing revealed that she needs an aortic heart valve replacement.  They don’t do that kind of surgery at Grady, so last Friday night we were moved to Riverside.
“Now it gets complicated.  There are many procedures required to prepare for the aortic surgery.  Several of these use dyes injected into the veins.  Some of these dyes can permanently damage the kidneys.  Since Bobbie only has one kidney, and it is weak, this is a real issue.
“It boils down to this.  If we don’t replace the aortic valve, Bobbie’s quality of life (stamina, energy level, general health, etc) will be severely diminished and probably shortened.  If we do the replacement, Bobbie should be much healthier but most likely on dialysis (4 hours – 3 times a week) for the rest of her life.
“We will be struggling with this decision for the next few days.  I think the choice is clear, but Bobbie isn’t in the decision making loop yet, and, of course, she must be.
FYI – Because of covid, hospitals only allow 1 visitor per day per patient (that would be me).  I think the same is true of rehab facilities.
“Keep the prayers and good thoughts coming.  I’ll keep you informed as I can. God Bless,
Geoff”
AMEN

September 26, 2020

Update on Bobbie Thrall

Bobbie Thrall had her colostomy closed on 25 September.

As she was being moved from the operating table onto the cart for transfer to the recovery area, she had a cardiac arrest which responded well to cardiac compressions for about 90 seconds without any apparent damage.
Further investigations showed the need for a procedure on her aortic valve which very likely can be done without full-on open heart surgery using a catheter technique.
Geoff reports that the current plan is for this to happen sometime next week, and that he will keep us informed.
Meanwhile he asks for continued prayers for Bobbie and himself. AMEN

September 22, 2020

Paul Sabine died last Friday18 September 2020 with our Rector and Kerry and Abby there as well.

No funeral plans have been arranged as yet and there should be an obituary in the Gazette today or tomorrow. A memorial service will probably be next year.
May our loving God uphold Kerry and Abby and all of Paul’s friends and family as they mourn his loss and give thanks for his life among us. AMEN