18 years ago.....

Happy 18th Anniversary Mark!!!!

I Love You Mark ....

Today is our 18th Wedding Anniversary! We are spending the day at Zale Lipshy, not really my idea of a romantic hotel room...LOL

I guess Mark wanted to know if I really meant my vows. for better or worse and in sickness and in health.....all I can say is YES, I meant every word.

I look forward to the next 18......Love Coral

April 10 & 11th

Mark is still doing great! He is becoming stronger everyday. They thought that the filter in him stomach to prevent blood clots to going to the legs had closed off and if this had happened, he would have had to have surgery again. Specialists found it was the vein next to the filter had collapsed. They usually remove these filters at 6 months, however with Mark they will leave it in permantly.

His blood pressure is 113/76 and his blood sugar is also good.

He is getting up daily, today they put him in his chair, the pt was very surprised at his strength and trunk control, this made pivot transfers much easier.

The wound care nurse came in and checked the sore and it looks great and so does his colostomy. This was a relief for me...we have spent almost a year healing that wound.

Plans are for the bone to be placed back in his head this summer....Prayerfully, the last trip to as my dad says "The Holyland" Longhorn Country...LOL

Mark will be returning home on Monday....

April 9th...

Mark has returned to the 5th floor. He is doing much better today, we finnally have gotten him to eat and drink. His strength seems to be coming back. The pt had him in a chair for a few hours (I am worried about his bedsore...).

Back to the 5th floor !!!!!Yeahhh

It is Tuesday morning and the orders are to move Mark back to the 5th floor today, they plan to keep him here for a couple of days for monitoring. He is doing well, just weak and healing after surgery. His head is quit sunken now. The doctors seem to want to place the bone back in 3-4 months. This will allow for even quicker recovery. I am blessed God has been working his healing powers on Mark.

Today Our friend Karen from Texas came to visit and took me for a great lunch at my favorite "Pappasitos". Oh......it was wonderful again! She also blessed me with a very nice prayer for Mark, some delicious cookies from a famous bakery and also bubbles and lotion. I had a awesome day.....The bubbles were perfect for my bath at the hotel.

Jerimiah 17:7 Blessed is the man that trusts in the Lord. And whose hope is the Lord.
This is today's verse from a dear friend Karen....she text's me verses on my cell every morning. It is so nice to wake up to Gods word, a great way to begin the day. Her day begins, earlier than mine.....LOL

Mark in ICU..

Yesterday, Mark was still vomiting and so they emptied his stomach through a tube in his nose. He still was sick some, but not as much. His blood pressure was rising and his oxygen level was decreasing. We were busy all night and day with him, trying to get him to eat or drink, with no avail.

About 5pm they decided to take him to ICU. They are giving him more respitory care and doing x-ray's, scans and blood tests. We are still unsure what is really up with him. I was told it is may be his body having a harder time than most in accepting the shunt and taking his brain longer to re-wire itself.

I called our cousin Diana, she lives in Plano and was on her way home from Austin. Her son was married Saturday. She was gracious to come pick me up and take be to Hawthorn Suites....home away from home...LOL She had my other cousin David with her, it was great to see him, however her mom was waiting in Plano for her to arrive so they could take David back to Preston, OK. What a day....

I walked in my room and there awaited a bed from HEAVEN. I took a nice hot bath and slept in, of course...(calling ICU serveral times checking on my sweet Mark, they said he is doing fine)

I didn't even answer my phone(whoever you were...please understand...LOL) I spent some time reading through Marks Bible and all the notes and markings. I would like to share one that he marked and read, he dated it 1-25-07, just a few months before his TBI.

Psalm 61 & 62 : "A Prayer when Overwhelmed": Hear my cry, O'God; attend unto my prayer
2)From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed;lead me to a rock that is higher than I. 3)For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. 4)For I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever; I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah
5)For thou, OGod, hast heard my vows; thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. 6)Thou wilt prolong the King's life:and his years as many generations. 7)He shall abide before God for ever;O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. 8) So will I sing praise unti thy name for ever,that I may daily perform my vows.

62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation:he is my defense;I shall not be moved. 8) God is a refuge for us

I find great comfort in God's word and Mark did also.

Here are before and after pics of the bed. It was a slice of Heaven!

Hangin in there....

Mark had an ok night, he vomited again a few times and also this morning. He has been sleeping mostly. They did an e-ray of his stomach this morning to make sure the end of the shunt is still in place, have not heard the results as of yet.

He has not been eating very well and now not drinking....the nurse said she was going to let the doctor know and see what we need to do. He will not really wake up when I try to get him to, the only time I see him waken is if he is in pain in his head and he is just groggy. I am hopeing this is normal after the surgery. They said it was a simple surgery and he could go home in a day or two, I guess I should know by now......life after surgery is a roller coaster ride and just to be prepared for anything. God knows and will continue to perform his works. Please keep him in your prayers.

God's timing...

Mark was scheduled to return home today, we had transportation issues and ended up having to stay til Monday. I had just called Mark's dad and told him the news and that although it would be nice to come home, everything happens for a reason....Maybe he is not supposed to go today.
After the call, I began to unpack and noticed Mark acting odd. He began having a big siezure and he was turning blue and foaming at the mouth....I was terrified. I ran into the hall yelling for help and many came to see what was up. It took 2 hours for 8 nurses to get an IV in him during this time he had to vomit quit a bit and so they put a tube in his nose to give him anti-siezure meds, hopeing he could keep them down and also started him on oxygen and heart monitor. I was thanking the Lord we had not been on our way home. The pictures below with the nose tube are after his siezure. Continue in prayer....

Another Big Step

Mark is in Dallas at Zale Lipshy Hospital. They did a procedure this morning to install a shunt in his head, to relieve pressure. His wife Corale reports all went well. He was awake and alert after surgery. The surgeon was satisfied with the procedure, and said it should improve Mark's cognitive skills. Corale said they expect to be able to return home soon, in a day or two, to celebrate their daughter's 11th birthday which is today. The very pretty tulips are from Natasha (She is a service desk attendant) She was here a year ago when Mark had his first surgery, at that time she brought us roses twice over that month...It is amazing how much cheer flowers bring. She is a sweetheart.

Today , my dad came to visit us in Texas and he took me to lunch at "Pappasitos" I Love my Dad! Had a very nice time and he said some very nice prayers over Mark...