Jones Family Updates

Yesterday Kathie and I went on a fieldtrip to Seaport Village, beautiful day for a stroll through the grounds next to San Diego Bay. I have been working on a new manual wheelchair for her since last August, it arrived Wednesday and we were able to take it for a test drive. It is emerald green, custom fitted and very impressive, we will have some minor adjustments made and she will be set. Today she has the stitches removed from her throat surgery last week; the Care Meridian Staff are very impressed with the sounds she is making. I found a knot in her neck so as I was massaging, she started making a primal “ehh” sounds like, “yea, that’s the spot.” At this point, I am pleased with her progress, the decision to have surgery and what I am hearing from Kath. When I read past entries or I share about the new wheelchair or sounds Kathie is making I find the whole thing odd. These updates are not a “normal” conversation and not something I would expect to see on Facebook but this blog does ...

For the last four and a half years, Kathie has been breathing through her nose, mouth and stoma. She is out of practice relying on her mouth and nose only so now she is in the process of relearning to breathe without the aid of the stoma. Since the surgery, I have spent many hours encouraging her in this learning process, I am also very concerned that she benefits from the surgery and ultimately breathes as normally as possible. Today was her scheduled massage and the report I received is that she is very relaxed and comfortable. “I delight in knowing that there is something in me which must fall prostrate before God when He reveals Himself to me, and also in knowing that if I am ever to be raised up it must be by the hand of God. God can do nothing for me until I recognize the limits of what is humanly possible, allowing Him to do the impossible.” May 24, Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest. Dave & Kathie

Kathie returned to Care Meridian around noon yesterday and she seems to be recovering nicely. My prayer is that the cartilage will heal and close the stoma. Thank you for your prayer support. “The Christian life is one of spiritual courage and determination lived out in our flesh,” Dave & Kathie

Kathie’s surgery went well, the surgeon was pleased and she was awake in the recovery room by 2:30 pm. She should be out of the hospital by 11 am tomorrow morning. Our prayers for a smooth procedure were answered in the affirmative and we thank God. Last night and this morning I prayed and prepared for Kathie’s surgery by reading Oswald Chambers Devotional My Utmost for His Highest, here are portions of today’s reading and the irony of the title always causes me to pay attention. “Out of the Wreck I Rise, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? —Romans 8:35 God does not keep His child immune from trouble; He promises, “I will be with him in trouble . . .” (Psalm 91:15). It doesn’t matter how real or intense the adversities may be; nothing can ever separate him from his relationship to God. “In all these things we are more than conquerors . . .” (Romans 8:37). Paul was not referring here to imaginary things, but to things that are dangerously real. And he said we are “super-victo...

Last weekend the Girls and I were in Boston to attend my niece’s college graduation. They are good travelers and now “check on Dad” as I go through airport security as opposed to when I used to guide them through. Believe it or not, Madison will be a high school Senior next year and I wanted her to see a graduation / dorm room on the East Coast, but don’t even think that I’m pushing for her to go that far away! I just want her to experience the area and tour through Boston. We joined my brother’s family along with grandparents as we celebrated her years of work leading to a graduate. Tomorrow, Wednesday, Kathie finally has the minor surgery to “partially close” the stoma or opening from her tracheostomy. The term “partially close” has frustrated me as I work with her doctor, my role as her advocate is to not play doctor but to push for her comfort. My prayer is for the correct treatment leading to an enhanced comfort for Kath. I struggle to explain my role and convince her doctor that ...

Mother’s Day weekend was more difficult this year for one of our Girls (which one is not the focus), she used text messages to tell me about holding back tears during lunch as her two friends talked about plans for their moms. She was pleased that she didn’t cry during lunch, in front of her friends. The Saturday before Mother’s Day is difficult to muster the energy to purchase flowers and cards, I usually try not to add this to the girls’ stress but two of us bought flowers at 9:30 pm as the Day was tomorrow. Sunday we wished other mothers at church a Happy Mother’s Day and had a fun brunch with my Mom. We discussed two families that we are close with who were experiencing their first Mother’s Day without a mother, we prayed for a peace in their lives on this Day. Then the girls and I went to visit Kath, we greeted the staff, especially the mothers and found Kath in a wheelchair looking beautiful. The girls like to lie on her bed and have me move Kathie close so they can hold her hand...

“My situation is urgent, and I cannot see how I will ever be delivered. Yet this is not my concern, for He who made the promise will bind a way to keep it. My part is simply to obey His commands, not to direct His ways. I am His servant, not His advisor. I call upon Him and He will deliver me.” Charles H. Spurgeon quoted in Steams in the Desert, May 3. Yesterday, Kathie and I were able to watch two little dancers at her home. The granddaughters of a care-giver dressed in traditional Mexican costumes and danced for all the residents. The girls wore bright dresses, smiled and were very good with the residents. Not much happening right now as we have a couple of weeks before surgery. Kathie looked very pretty in a pink shirt and black pants yesterday. I rubbed her neck and told her how pretty she looked. I’m looking forward to sitting in the sun with her this weekend. Last night we all had dinner together with my parents, Katie and Audrey, Andy, Madison and Hannah. We all enjoyed getting ...