Wow! What an emotional roller coaster these last few days have been! Lea’s health has gone from bad to worse to better (Praise God!), and our friend Joe has gone from better to worse to better within the last four days, and all the major changes are happening within a day of each other!
Joe coughed yesterday morning, and took his heart out of a sinus rhythm back into the fibrillation he had before his heart stopped and had to be shocked back into service. The cardiologist will be in to see Joe tomorrow, and we’ll find out what course of action is next. This is a set back for his transfer back home, of course, but we don’t know how long a wait his condition may dictate.
Meanwhile, Miss Lea has demonstrated definite improvement over the results of her surgery on Friday. Remember that Dr. Mah found no new tissue growing on Friday? That caused him to have his boss, Dr. Orlando Kirton (correct spelling) come in on a Sunday to do surgery with him to determine a course of action. As soon as I reported the discouraging report in Friday’s update, Lance sent out an Emergency Prayer Request. (I have to confess to being grief stricken, and only wanted to spend time with Lea to pray over her, and feel sorry for myself.)
We did a lot of praying, and we received lots of emailed well wishes with notes that lots of you were praying, too. And, guess what!? Your prayers worked again! Praise God for his mercy! Drs. Kirton and Mah operated on Lea early this morning (Sunday), and found great improvement over Friday! They found new tissue growing to cover damaged areas of the pancreas! They found no spreading of infection to surrounding organs. Although the culture taken Friday from the abdomen came back positive, indicating infection, they found no general infection, and in fact, Dr. Kirton told us that he and Dr. Mah “celebrated” how well everything was looking!
Here is the best part of the news: Dr. Kirton said that when he first operated on our Lea (her first surgery), he estimated that she had about a 15% chance of survival. Today, after this morning’s surgery, he said he and Dr. Mah are “cautiously optimistic that she has better than a fifty per cent chance of survival!” That is a wonderful improvement, and I am convinced it is the power of your prayers that is making it happen.
I am so grateful to God for this miraculous improvement, and to you for your heartfelt prayers for her health! I want, too, to let you know that your support for Miss Lea is working in other lives as well. I have received several notes from folks who have gotten closer to their spouse, and to God, through their compassion for Lea’s condition. I can’t adequately tell you how proud I am that He is working through her, and that the loved ones in our extended family are receiving blessings through this task we have been given.
May God continue to bless your heart, mind and spirit. May you receive a very special peace for the love you have shown for Lea. Here’s an embarrassingly long, tight, hug from me to you! Thank you for your help!
Larry
Surviving God's Woodshed 
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March 15, 2007 at 10:09 am
Prayers
DAY TWENTY-THREE RESPONSES
FROM: Dean
Aug 7 @ 12:05 AM
Larry, We love you and Lea and all our prayers are with you.
REPLY FROM: Larry Vaughn
Aug 7 @ 7:01 AM
Thank you, Dean. I know that you are one of the few who can understand the agony I’m going through, and I appreciate your notes. I particularly appreciate the power of your ongoing prayers in Lea’s behalf.
FROM: Carol
Aug 7 @ 9:09 AM
Larry, I have you and Lea on my mind most of the time as I send up constant prayers for both of you. When I was in the hospital after my wreck they kept me under sedation (nowhere near what Lea is getting) I was aware of every sound made in my room, every touch, and every word. Sometimes I woke up and responded, sometimes I just heard or felt. I am sure that on some plane of her awareness Lea is hearing all that you say to her and feeling all the love that is sent to her.
To me Lea is a beautiful woman; that is genetics, more importantly she is a beautiful person; that is from within. The way she was raised, the lessons she learned as a girl and young woman. Her style and grace has always been evident. Her caring for others is natural to her. Her whole life has been a testament to God and ,yes I have always admired her and been jealous of her natural attributes.
I told Pam, that after this nightmare is over you should think of putting thoughts and notes together and see if you can get it published. I think a book of all this might be helpful to some other families going through this, it will be a lasting tribute to Lea, it will be a shining example of God’ love. Oh yes, and maybe the profits will help pay some of the mounting bills. I so admire your strength and devotion through this what a testimony to Lea, your love, and your faith in God.
FROM: Pam
TO: Carol Bridgeman
Aug 7 @ 4:41 PM
There will be an update later from Larry, but I just couldn’t wait to tell you what wonderful news we received from the Chief Surgeon earlier today! (I know Larry will fill in more details with his message when he closes his day later tonight!) The Chief Surgeon said, “We celebrated when we saw the change in Lea since Friday!” Lea has generated new tissue – the lungs and kidneys have begun to repair! (Although the pancreas is still issuing dead tissue, Lea would be able to live normally with only 20% of the pancreas remaining.) Since Friday, Lea has shown remarkable responsiveness to voices that she recognizes! Everyone is praising God and crying and then praising God some more!
Please join us in our celebration as we dance together with God!
What a Mighty God we serve! What a Mighty God we serve! Angels bow before Him! Heaven and Earth adore Him! What a Mighty God we serve! Thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers and concern!
FROM: Barb S
Aug 7 @ 4:53 PM
We hear you are doing better today. We know you are one tough lady and can have a speedy recovery. We are anxiously waiting for the day you are completely better and back laughing and joking with us. We all miss that. You keep up the fight to get better and we will keep the prayers coming your way to help you.
FROM: Pam
Aug 7 @ 12:04 PM
Larry & Lea, Have we ever lived more “One Day At A Time” and in the presence of God’s love, than we are right now? I have the chorus to that song framed in my bedroom. I’m a little rusty on the exact words to the entire song but will try to get them right for you. Larry, please share the ones I can remember with Lea – I promise my best attempt to sing them to both of you when I get to come for a visit – if you can stand it, that is!
One day at time, Sweet Jesus.
I’m only human, I’m just a woman, (man), Help me believe in what I could be and all that I am.
Show me the stairway I have to climb. Lord for my sake, teach me to take, one day at a time.
One day at a time, Sweet Jesus, that’s all I’m asking of you.Help me (today?) to do every day what I have to do.
Yesterday’s gone, Sweet Jesus, and tomorrow may never be mine. Lord, teach me today, show me the way. One day at a time.
Do You remember, when you walked among men? Well Jesus you know, if you’re looking below,
It’s worse now than then. Pushing and shoving, crowding my mind. Lord for my sake, teach me to take, one day at a time.
One day at a time, Sweet Jesus, that’s all I’m asking of you. Help me to (pray?), to do every day what I have to do.
Yesterday’s gone, Sweet Jesus, and tomorrow may never be mine. Lord, teach me today, show me the way. One day at a time. Lord, teach me today, show me the way. One day at a time.
I love you both so very much. I pray for your strength, your protection, and your healing every moment that I can. With deepest love and utmost hope as we stand in the presence of His love,
FROM: Judy
Aug 7 @ 12:42 PM.
My thoughts and prayers are still with you and hope it helps in your time of need. Karen keeps us posted daily with your emails and that is great. When you are with Lea just say hi for me. I had a daughter in a coma for over three weeks and they constantly reminded us that what you say – there is a possibly they may come out of the coma and repeat some of what you said. So every bit of encouragement when you are with her might help. God be with you and your family.
FROM: Chad
Aug 7 @ 3:20 PM
Lea: Where is that smile that lights up a room and the laugh that lifts everyone’s heart? I can feel it in my soul – but I’m afraid. Your love and kindness have always been genuine and true. You are simply one of the finest people I know. And one of the strongest. So, get back to work getting better. Let’s have no more of these bad days. Much love and best wishes.
FROM: Jean
Aug 7 @ 4:27 PM
God is so good! And yet, we are so continuously amazed that He cares about us. This morning in Sunday School, we were watching an interview with James Robinson and Beth Moore (my favorite speaker) or at least one of them 🙂 She referred to the verses of 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
In case you do not have a Bible readily available, I will type it for you. I so sincerely believe that we MUST use God’s word to fight the enemy-no matter how he attacks us, and that we are in spiritual warfare, because his purpose is to spoil God’s purpose, which is to bless us, prosper us and do good for us. Jeremiah 29:11.
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
We need weapons that are God-empowered. Our weapon is our faith and our prayers. How disappointed the devil must be to see that instead of falling apart, our faith has been strengthened, our bonds tighter, our love more secure. How I would have loved to have been there in the operating room, to see the faces of the doctors when they discovered new tissue! How I pray that they and all the staff recognized the grace of God and the answer to our devout prayers. And we will pray that every day HE breathes new life into those “sleeping” organs. To God be the glory! Celebrate? oh my yes! Would you care to dance?
FROM: Pam
Aug 7 @ 5:27 PM
Amen! Dancing with Jesus like King David used to do! I feel like it’s exactly what I’ve been doing since I heard! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
What a Mighty God we serve! What a Mighty God we serve! Angels bow before Him! Heaven and Earth adore Him! What a Mighty God we serve!
FROM: Kim
Aug 7 @ 6:47 PM
Dearest Larry and Lea, PRAISE GOD !! What news about Lea’s pancreas, lungs and kidney’s healing, absolutely no doubt a MIRACLE in the works with faith and trust in the Lord. Larry I also pray that your health is in good order. Just wanted to say WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!! I LOVE YOU BOTH
FROM: Scott
Aug 7 @ 11:49 PM
What awesome news from the doctors. I have never witnessed the true power of prayer until Lea’s illness. I will continue to pray for her full recovery and for God to continue giving you strength. Under normal circumstances, this would be difficult for you to deal with at home, closer to friends and family. I can only imagine how difficult it must be so far away.
It is amazing to me how the Internet can help us heal and gain strength by sharing stories and feelings with those we love. It allows some individuals to share feelings in writing that they might not express otherwise. I admire your strength and your love for Aunt Lea and proud to be a member of such a great family. Take care of yourself and tell Aunt Lea I love her.