Here is an update on Josiah’s condition as of Wednesday evening at 7:45 PM.

Please continue to remember Josiah in your prayers!  I know that it can be a difficult task to pray day after day for the same things.  We have prayed some very specific prayers, and God has answered them in specific weighs.  Your prayers are needed and appreciated.

I started the day at home.  Last night Jennifer stayed at the hospital and I went home to be with the kids and get some sleep. One of the hardest things I have ever done is to leave him there. I have to confess that it was nice to sleep in my own bed.

Some highlights from the day:

• We have had two families reach out to us through a mutual friend that have been a great encouragement to us.  They both went through a situation of having a son in an accident with a brain injury.  They will never know how much they have been a blessing to us, and we look forward to getting to know them better and hearing more of their story.
• He was able to enjoy some more types of food today.  He really enjoys eating!
• Physical therapy wears him out! And that his a good thing!  He rested very well after they worked him out.
• I am amazed at the care that is given to him by his caregivers here at Memorial.  Most have been so kind and loving.  They will never know how deeply they affect those they deal with each day.

Here are some specific and very important things to remember in prayer for Josiah and the family:

• Please continue to pray that confusion and irritation will be minimal, and instead that he will keep that peaceful and quiet spirit.
• Pray that he will respond well to his rehab.  It has not been to intense yet, but I am praying that his strength will return quickly and that he can start functioning by doing normal tasks.
• One of my biggest concerns in his healing process is making sure he gets in a great facility to get treatment.  We have tried to find a way to keep him at Memorial Hospital in Indiana, but it looks like he will have to go somewhere.
• On that note, Michigan Medicaid is his health coverage. With my job loss at the beginning of the year also came the loss of my insurance.  When we got here, the first thing we did is see if they qualified, and they did.  They are giving us issues right now, so please pray that it gets sorted quickly and completely.  This is obviously not as important as his life, but the financial concerns do weigh on me.
• They are still looking at the right side of his face that is not totally doing everything quite right; like raising eyebrows and such.  It could be something as simple as a pinched nerve, which will heal as the swelling in his face/head goes down.  Please pray that there will be healing in that area of his face.
• Continue to pray for my other kids.  Pray that they will have understanding and patience as we deal with Josiah. They have done so good with all of this so far! Also, pray for his older sister Jordan that she would be comforted as she is over 900 miles or so away.
• Pray for Jennifer and I to have patience.  We know God is in control, we count on that, but we want to see him healed!  Also, pray for strength, endurance and the ability to get rest as fatigue is setting in a bit.
• Pray that we can minister to other hurting people that are up here as well. This is a place that is filled with very high highs and very low lows. It is a place that the love of God needs to be shined!

Tonight I am claiming this:

“The Lord will give him strength when he is sick, and he will make him well again” Psalm 41:3