Specific Requests

I have a little time back here at the hotel. I am waiting for my mom and dad to get back here with Lily and Wyatt; they took them out this morning so that I could go spend some time with Ryan at the hospital. It was such a huge blessing to be greeted by the Beebe Family (Don, Scott, John, Mark, and Ben) this morning! Thanks for making the long drive out on your "guys weekend" to see Ryan.

Dr. Hyzy (attending physician) came in this morning and talked with us. His greatest concern is that Ryan's oxygen needs are not reducing. He said that is what we need now most of all. Please pray that Ryan's oxygen can come down and that they will be able to start weaning him from the vent sooner rather than later. Dr. Hyzy said that they are doing everything for Ryan that they can be doing right now. He is concerned about any patient being in the ICU for so long; it can lead to a greater risk of secondary infection. [I think it is a little different with CF patients in that I think Ryan will be a permanent resident of the ICU even after he is weaned from the vent (and remember for Ryan that means during the day he would breathe room air and use the vent at night to rest his lungs). ]

My second request is not for Ryan or myself, but for the family in the room next to Ryan's. Brandi is a 25 years CF female. Her biggest issue is not with her lungs but rather with her liver (I am not sure how all of that works). I have gotten to know her mom, Pam, over the last 2 weeks. She is a sweet woman who is doing everything that she can for her daughter. She sleeps in her ICU room every night because they don't have the money for a hotel. Pam and Brandi have been at U of M for over 2 months now. Pam was told today that there is nothing more that they can do for Brandi. She came over and got me and I was able to pray with her (I think she is a believer). Her family is on there way down, they were planning to come this weekend anyway. They will have some difficult decisions to be making right now. Please pray that God holds Pam, Brandi, and the rest of their family in his hands during this difficult time.