Cloud 9 is a place to be, come join us and PRAISE GOD

The last 3 days Bruce has gained full speech back. It has been wonderful to share our journey together. To hear the times of confusion and what Bruce was trying to say to the times and things and places that Bruce wanted understanding on. It truly has been a gift. This is the strongest Bruce has been in this 5 month journey. A real answer to prayer.

Well, Monday morning we had a wonderful morning. Bruce was talking. We set some goals and I told him mine. I want to see out this journey, I want my 10th Anniversary on May 22, I want a wedding ring with a past, present, and future diamond on it because mine was lost at the accident, I want to take him to see MT. Rushmore because he never saw it and we had plans to see it on our return, and we talked about Hawaii for our Anniversary . I took a breath and told him my list was longer so if it's not all about me he better speak up. He said he wanted a 1970 Elcameno red exterior with a black interior. He wants a mountain dew, a beer, breakfast with eggs, potatoes, bacon or maybe to even start with just water. I told him, so see we got so much to do yet and Thank God we are about to watch a healing and then we have goals to achieve. I stood and kissed my honey and off he went.

The Surgery was 4 hours. Dr. Sandman started with the colostomy. When she opened Bruce, she found an infection sack that was unknown prior to the surgery. That alone could have been a source to these infections. It was right by the incision. Do you think that was a coincident? I don't that was the power of prayer. The surgery went well and so because the vitals were still strong, part B of the surgery began. Bruce has a level 4+ pressure wound. She removed all dead tissue,and or infectious tissue along with bone scrapping for samples and testing so the appropriate meds can be applied. Once that was achieved part C of the surgery began. She put a sponge vac packing for healing of Bruces' bottom.

Praise God, all that was planned was achieved and now its time to heal and reach our goals. Thank you all for your prayers, concerns, love, and support. God's blessing has fallen upon us. He will have plastic surgery for closure then we're done. The previous post has a picture of us prior to surgery.
Love
Shelly and Bruce

Amen,Amen we have been blessed again

We are great! I just wanted you all to know and I'll write you all the details as soon as possible. We love you all and thank you so much for all the prayers!
Love
Shelly and Bruce

Pray Warriors We need You!!!!

I'm truly sorry. I really wish I could post just the good news or only the jokes because I too know how heavy this journey is and how it can take a good day and leave you with a heavy heart. But I, as a believer, need all believers to take our petition to our heavenly Father. We are in deep weeds again.

Bruce is loosing the battle with his bed sore. He went to the hospital Wednesday to have yet another cat scan to check if it is in the bone. During the test his blood pressure dropped dangerously low. Realizing he couldn't be re turned to the nursing home in such fragile condition he was moved to the holding area. During his recovery his blood pressure went dangerously high. That put him in the ICU unit. After more test, prayers, New Dr.'s, and new approach of a different hospital, conclusions were made.

This is what I was told Thursday. Bruce is loosing the battle of his bed sore. Without doing anything I was told he might live another 1-2 months with many more fevers and infections or we can give him surgery Monday to put in a colostomy bag and complete wound scrapping that will give him a chance to heal from these ongoing fevers, wounds, and bone infection, BUT a very very high chance of not even making it through the surgery. The risk is so high the Dr. wonders if the hospital will even approve this approach, but it truly is his only shot of living.

I cry my dear family and friends. Our journey will probably end Monday according to the odds. Yet it will end in 1-2 more months of this and allot of pain too. That is the earthly facts.

Pray warriors we have heard of burning bushes, Mountains moved, Red sea divided, the dead raised etc. Those were all examples so that none believers could have the scales removed from their eyes. The good news is we are believers and as God's children He knows our needs and loves us and hears our request. So, I wait to see God's hand in this. I wait to see His plan. It isn't about what we want. It is about being who He needs us to be. Friends I pray with you for comfort, strength and courage and a healing. The surgery is 12:45 MI time and 9:45 AZ time. Please start the prayer chains and church connections starting now and hopefully post a note to let others see the power of prayer and to not have one hour go without lifting my Honey up in prayer. I truly hope to see a 24 hour prayer chain go without a break longer than one hour. This is our discipline as believers to believe, have faith and to pray pacifically. And that is all we can do. Then let go and let God and hand in hand we will share in watching His will being full filled.

I truly have been blessed to know such pain. I've laughed with Bruce, we cried together, we survived our deaths of our two children together, we saw the world together, saw how others didn't understand us yet had great piece in thinking we made perfect sense. We were together 24-7 and know what true love is. I want more time with Honey, yet I cherish what we had. We need you!

Love Bruce and his ShellyRose

Just a Note

Hi 2 all,
Thursday we shared some fun during a mustache trim. It was wonderful and hopeful to shut out everything and share a laugh with each other. Sunday, Bruce stepped backwards a little and we were concerned again. His potassium was 5.5 and shouldn't be over 4 at the most. Therefore he was given 3 bottles of a potassium flush to get his electrolytes back into balance. They think his liquid food feedings had to much fiber in it so they our changing up his diet. He also was running fevers of 100-101.9 so they are doing blood culture's once again. While testing his blood they found his count to be at 7. They like to keep you between 12-15. At the count of 10 they begin giving you units of blood. So during Dialays on Monday , Bruce was given two units of blood for starters. His blood pressure was 95 over 49 and a plaus of 94. He was extremely tired and not feeling well. But it was nice to be with each other for 4 hours. Monday, he had his Dialays, blood units and more anti biotic. He plugged the lines during Dialays so it took longer then usual. Then my sister Val and her husband Mark gave him an evening visit. Val asked him if he knew them and his answer with a smile was, "unfortunately.....yes." Well, Val and Mark burst out laughing and Bruce proudly smiled. He's Back!!!!
Tuesday, I saw him again with mom and his coloring looked good. He looked so relaxed as the cna's shampooed his hair and shaved his face. I stood to kiss him and the ladies clapped for me as they lived this journey with us. Bruce is running 102 fever today so his struggles are still with us. I am beginning to walk again and it is very painful, hard work but when I take the time to invite God into my journey and draw from His strength, it truly is a piece of cake. I'm ahead of schedule on my walking and the distance I am achieving. I insist on walking down the hall and each day I make myself go one room further. Today I walked 50 feet. I'm sure they measured the distant by using one of Bruce's size 14 shoes. Any how, like sands in the hour glass so are the days of our lives. With God all things our possible. So Happy trails to you until we meet again and don't forget to stop and enjoy one of those beautiful sunsets for us. We love and miss you all!
Bruce and ShellyRose

Spring Has Sprong

Happy Easter everyone,
Being that there is a time difference between the Midwest and the west, I feel I still can wish everyone a Happy Easter. I took a transport to Mom's on Saturday where the family gathered and had pizza, cake and the annual egg coloring contest. Thanks Mom, it sure was great to see different 4 walls. I lost, so did Posie, but my 11 year old niece, Lexi, proudly won. Good job Lexi.
I spent Easter with Bruce. I did his nails, trimmed his mustache, gave him a muscle message and went through some photo's of our life together. Bruce thinks it is 2000. So we got some catching up to do. He made me laugh though. As I trimmed his mustache and dusted it off I reminded him of our niece Annie. When she was about 4 she asked Uncle Bruce what was on his face. Well he told her and invited her to touch it. Well as she did, Bruce got a twinkle in his eye and nipped at her finger. As she jumped he burst out laughing and so did she and that little routine was their greeting to each other for years. Bruce smiled as he also remembered it. Then I went back to trimming his mustache. I missed his twinkle in his eye and as I dusted his trimmings from his mustache, he nipped at me, I jumped almost to a standing position and began laughing. Bruce rested in his new found victory. If he could smile, I'm sure it would have reached ear to ear.
I cherish those kind of moments. we're going to make it. I stood over Bruce for the first time and gave him a kiss. Of course he wanted another one. Good times, good times.
We love you all and thank you for all the prayers. Keep them coming as Bruce is going to have another surgery soon. When the new fevers stop he is going to have a colostomy bag put in and a new flap put on his back side for his level 4+ pressure sore. I will keep you posted.
Love
Shelly and Bruce

The Latest Scoop

Well there is never a dull moment. Bruce had a wound team come in and address his bed sore with a Plastic surgeon. They concluded it is at a level 4 wound. The results after another cat scan shows the infection isn't in the bone. Thank you Dear Lord! Bruce does have the early stages of ammonia, c-diff, and a newly found infection. Today an infectious diagnostic team is looking at Honey. He is very weak yet memory and quiet whispers are coming back. His pulse remains around 120-150 and has held a fever of 100-104.5 for almost 4 weeks now. Keep the prayers coming please.
I saw my Dr. this week and my Talus bone in my ankle has died. Not the best news is it. Now we can pray that it strengthens and makes a good filler for the space it takes up. It is a wait and see game for it's strength, arthritis, and mobility. I now begin wait bearing to see. I'm to apply 25 lbs. of pressure for 4 days and if that goes well, I'm to add another 25lbs. every 4th day until I'm at full weight bearing. If my math is right and better then my spelling it will be a while before I'm walking but the journey begins. I'm Letting Go and Letting God.
Pray this prayer with me for (Honey) Bruce and Me Please:

Father, we come to you just as we are, struggling to cope with the trails of life. We're grateful tat you never turn your back on us. You promise to give us the wisdom and strength we need to face each day. Continue to test us until our character shines and brings glory to you. This is all for thee my God give us strength through this journey and may our actions make you proud.
Love Shelly and Bruce

Hi to all,

I got a call on Monday with the news that Bruce is doing better and is getting prepared for a move. He still needs allot of medical attention so we still can't be in the same nursing home. Then, 20 minutes later I got a call and I was informed he began running fevers again so they will keep him for a while longer for more test. Tuesday he ran 104 on and off. Today, Wednesday, I was with him 9:30- 3:00. His fever was 103 and by the time I left it was 100 degrees. Bruce has c-diff, but they also are going to test him this evening. He is going to have a cat scan of his stomach. They want to check for healing from his surgery and make sure there aren't any complications or leaks. He too is being scanned for amonia. He is coughing all the time and has a rattle to his breathing. Pray with me that he keeps his strength to keep his airway clear. I was sadden again by our visit. My Bruce truly is trying yet how much can he struggle and endure before his body gives up from fighting? I do believe in the power of prayer, healing, and faith to watch this journey through. I feel the presence of God with us answering even the littlest things. I've seen God give me the strength when I grow weak, the hope when man announces the limits of this journey and the blessings of renewal through people I know and are meeting. God uses even a stranger at times to give you that sign that He is in control and has it under control. All that is asked of me is to believe that. God knows all and runs the show. I know through His word left for me to read that with God all things are possible and we are not given more then what we can't handle. Here is a warm fuzzy God sent me: I told Bruce he looked alert today and that I'm sorry if my question will make him mad but I told him I was going to ask it anyway and it went something like this: Honey some days you remember things and for a long time you seem to have forgotten our time together. Do you remember me? He answered, "I remember you from day one. I remember your my Shelly Rose and I love you very, very Much and I'm sorry for all the Bull shit I'm putting you through lately. I want to go home, I miss our home and time together." Thank you God! I really needed that moment. I told Bruce none of this is Bull Shit. I cherish our time together, moments like this and the hope of growing through this and returning to our new life together. That's all for now until I know more.
Love,
Bruce's ShellyRose

Still Not Good

Bruce's galbladder was bad. So bad, that what should have been a 45 minutes surgery took 3 hours. So bad, that they are pretty sure he must have had unknown galbladder problems before the accident that got a lot worse in the accident. We're glad its gone! The problem is that all the symptoms Bruce had to make them think he had a galbladder problem haven't changed since the surgery!
He still has fevers ranging between 100 and 103 - all the time - for a week now. They have litterally been packing him in ice at the hospital to try to keep it under control - and they still don't know why it's happenning. His heart rate hasn't dropped below 100 for very long in that same time. In fact, he has spent a lot of this week between 130-180. That would be hard on a young healthy person.
On top of all that, they had to take him off his blood thinners for surgery. Between thickining blood and excessive heart rates, he has gone 4 days in a row of having to stop his dialysis short (sometimes after barely starting). So while he should have had two full "cleanings" by now and he has only had the equivelant of one - but thats not as good as actually having "one."
Those are the internal symptoms. He has a bunch of external ones too. He is in isolation now, but the ones who have seen him have seen a loss of a lot of progress in his "alertness." He's not talking much. The blank stare is often back. He doesn't seem to remember names. At first his arms were irradically moving, but they are back under control. In fact, he tried to kiss Shelly's hand at the last visit!
As optimistic as we all want to be, and will be, we also want you to know the situation: It's serious. Pray hard. It's not over. All this is beatable. But every fight makes the next one harder. He needs prayers - for whatever God's will may be.

Shelly needs your prayers too.

My Dear Family and Friends

Bruce is in need of our support and prayers. Pray for comfort please. Bruce had surgery Sunday which left us hopeful that he would win his fight against his fevers and infections. Due to high potassium count he also had dialysis Sunday evening. Monday he needed dialysis again but his heart rate went dangerously high while having it so they had to stop it immediately. Then he ran 103.5 fever most of Monday.

Bruce isn't very well. He has lost a lot of memory that we can only pray on being restored after these fevers end. He has lost 160 pounds. He still fights to live. Please join me in praying for his comfort and peace during this tremendous journey. I'll take a prayer or two too. My heart is breaking over my honey.

I/We Love you all!!!
Shelly and Bruce

Gallbladder

Bruce is still in the hospital and is still struggling with infection. While the doctors still aren't sure of the cause, the current "best theory" is that it is a problem with his gallbladder. So they plan to remove it tomorrow. Compared to what Bruce has been through in the past 3 months, this is a pretty routine proceedure. But because of what he has been through in the past 3 months, nothing is routine. We all would appreciate your extra prayers for Bruce. They are "squeezing him in" to the normal surgery schedule tomorrow, so we don't have a specific time. Currently we are planning on mid-afternoon. I'll keep you posted. Let's pray together:

• Loving Father, we entrust Bruce to your care. Guide with wisdom and skill the minds and hands of the medical professionals who will minister in your Name, and grant that every cause of illness and infection be removed. Into your hands, we commend the body and soul of Bruce and ask that You restore him to soundness of health in both body and spirit. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Checkin' In

Bruce is doing much better, but is in the hospital for a couple of days for monitoring. His lungs are fine, but his respiration rate is still a little high. He also has a urinary tract infection they want to treat. Thanks for the prayers! Thank you God for the help.

Better News

Bruce's fever worked all the way up to 104, but the hospital has it back down to just over 100 and the immediate danger has passed. They haven't officially identified a cause, but his bed sore is infected.