Author Topic: Prayer Request for my friend in ICU (Read 5181 times)

YourMathTeacher · « **on:** April 23, 2015, 09:12:37 PM »

I am sending out this prayer request for my friend Steve Weiss, who fell from a ladder this past weekend and has severe head trauma. He is still in ICU with swelling in the brain. He had surgery to open part of his skull to relieve the pressure of the swelling. He has been in an induced coma since the surgery.

Those of you who have attended my tournaments in the past may remember Steve, or his four teenage children Josiah, Joseph, Jonah and Joannah. He is really the only true friend I have here in Florida, so this past week has been difficult.

Your prayers are appreciated.

jesse · « **Reply #1 on:** April 23, 2015, 09:17:24 PM »

So sorry to hear this - I am praying for Steve

jbeers285 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 23, 2015, 11:36:02 PM »

Lifting Steve in prayer

SiLeNcEd_MaTrIx · « **Reply #3 on:** April 23, 2015, 11:57:36 PM »

Prayers sent. That is very rough

whiteandgold7 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 24, 2015, 11:23:51 AM »

Prayers sent for Steve and his family.

uthminister [BR] · « **Reply #5 on:** April 24, 2015, 12:52:29 PM »

Prayers

YourMathTeacher · « **Reply #6 on:** April 24, 2015, 07:56:05 PM »

Update for Friday:

The doctor is not comfortable with his progress. They will be drilling into his brain to insert a probe to see if they can figure out why the swelling has not subsided enough for them to wake him from the induced coma. Although the drilling sounds horrific, I am told from those who know that this is apparently a common practice for head trauma victims.

Please continue to pray for Steve and his family.

whiteandgold7 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 25, 2015, 08:18:39 AM »

continuing to pray

YourMathTeacher · « **Reply #8 on:** April 25, 2015, 08:43:46 PM »

Saturday update:

The drilling seemed to help, since the pressure improved enough for the doctors to decide to take him off the coma-inducing drug. However, soon afterward his condition deteriorated, so they started the drug back up again.

Please continue to pray for Steve and his family. His wife had a 102 fever today and had to go the doctor herself. This past week has been tough for everyone.

Eragon5 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 27, 2015, 12:37:06 PM »

Praying for Steve, his family, and his friends.

YourMathTeacher · « **Reply #10 on:** May 09, 2015, 11:33:05 AM »

HUGE update:

Steve is awake!

After almost three weeks in a coma, and trying everything else, the doctors took Steve off all meds to see how his body would react. By God's Grace, Steve's body took over on its own. He started moving his left arm and leg on the first day, but then yesterday opened his eyes.

He is still in ICU, but he is listed as "stable" now. He is not able to communicate, and the family is not sure if he recognizes them. He appears to be in pain, though, so the doctors will have to decide how to deal with that.

Please continue to pray for his recovery. The doctors are concerned that he has not moved his right arm or leg yet. Hopefully it is just a matter of time.

jesse · « **Reply #11 on:** May 09, 2015, 12:17:30 PM »

Praise God!!!! Praying for continued recovery!!

YourMathTeacher · « **Reply #12 on:** May 09, 2015, 02:44:31 PM »

Steve is being moved to the Acute Care Center today. Those facilities are better suited for the next stage of his recovery. The ICU doctors wanted him to remain there for at least a few more days, but it appears that insurance issues have forced the move asap.

On a side note, each of my classes prayed for Steve on the National Day of Prayer this past Thursday. When I told them yesterday that Steve had woken up, their immediate response was, "It worked!"

yirgogo · « **Reply #13 on:** May 09, 2015, 02:52:30 PM »

Praise God!!

VJ · « **Reply #14 on:** May 09, 2015, 07:16:04 PM »

Thanks for the update. My wife & I are standing in agreement with you for his full recovery. Keep us posted.

YourMathTeacher · « **Reply #15 on:** June 25, 2015, 12:46:55 PM »

MAJOR UPDATE:

I visited with Steve yesterday, so I wanted to update you on his progress. He is currently in a rehabilitation center, but see below for a new prayer need in that regard. Steve is talking fine, with only slight hesitations that may be related to the tracheotomy. He has begun walking with a walker and can go up and down short stairs. He has regained motion on his right side, and can throw a nice spiral with a nerf football, but his grip is only at 38%. He is only now beginning to try holding a pen and writing (he is right-handed). His left hand is at 100% grip.

Today he is seeing the doctor about having surgery to replace the part of his skull they had to remove. He would like to stop wearing the uncomfortable helmet that is required whenever he gets up. I told him we should just put the Dallas Cowboy star (his favorite team) on both sides of the helmet and he can look like Randy White.

Right now, in addition to his continued recovery, we have a major prayer request. The insurance company wants him out of the hospital by tomorrow, even though he really needs more time. Since he has a "bed sore" the doctor is pushing his release until Monday. We are waiting to hear back about that delay. The big question now is where he will go. The family did go forward with buying the house, but it is a fixer-upper, and I think Steve was supposed to do the fixing. We are not sure that the Social Worker will allow Steve to be discharged to that house. Also, the trailer is not sufficient since he needs handicap access, especially in the bathroom.

This is where I need your prayer help. My house is ideally equipped for Steve. We have a second Master Suite with a private bath that we do not use (only for visitors). The bathroom in that room was designed to be handicap accessible, we just need to install a grip bar. Plus, our house is all one level with no stairs and plenty of maneuverability. I have been unable to secure any summer work so far, which makes me available to assist Steve, especially if he needs help getting up. Steve is a big guy, but my wife and I actually have practical experience with this, since we took care of my wife's dad after his open-heart surgery (he was 6'6" and over 400 lbs.).

Please pray for us as this decision unfolds over the next few days. My wife and I are in agreement that God may have set everything up for us to be a blessing to Steve for the summer. This would buy the family time (about 8 weeks) to get a permanent solution in place. Besides, with Steve's progress over the last month, he may be fully functional within the next two months anyway.

jesse · « **Reply #16 on:** June 25, 2015, 01:44:54 PM »

Thanks for sharing, YMT- I am inspired by your openness to be used by the Lord as a blessing to Steve, and am praying for you all!

uthminister [BR] · « **Reply #17 on:** June 26, 2015, 03:12:11 PM »

It is awesome to see how Steve's needs and your blessings have lined up so well. Love your heart and your wife's to serve in this way. Opening up your home is not a small deal.

Prof Underwood · « **Reply #18 on:** July 09, 2015, 08:59:08 PM »

I'm just catching up on this whole situation. Any updates?

YourMathTeacher · « **Reply #19 on:** July 10, 2015, 12:56:59 AM »

Quote from: Prof Underwood on July 09, 2015, 08:59:08 PM

I'm just catching up on this whole situation. Any updates?

Yes, sorry. He was released on that following Monday. However, he had to return to the hospital the next day after having an allergic reaction to some medicine they gave him upon his release. But, he was sent home after that was cleared up. He also did not get to have his skull repaired due to the doctor's concerns about an infection.

He is staying with another couple from church, rather than with us. They are letting Steve and his wife use their own bedroom and bath. Although our home would have been less intrusive, they are closer friends with the other couple, since they see them regularly. My family no longer goes to the church that they attend.

As long as Steve is comfortable, then that is what is best for him.

Prof Underwood · « **Reply #20 on:** July 13, 2015, 10:35:28 PM »

I'm glad that things seem to be working out at this point. Hopefully he will continue toward a full recovery.

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Author Topic: Prayer Request for my friend in ICU (Read 5181 times)