Tuesday, September 16

The scariest week


My friends, I am so grateful for the online community!  My heart is brimming with thankfulness as I write to thank you all for your prayers for my son, Preston.

Long-time readers will remember that Preston has a complicated medical history.  When he was 14 years old, he had major open-heart surgery which entailed replacing his ascending aorta with a graft and his aortic valve with a mechanical valve.  Mechanical valves are amazing, but they carry a danger of forming blood clots. 
Preston is now 21 years old and is a senior at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.  He's amazing--he's strong, smart, funny, kind--everything I could ask for in a son.

Last Tuesday, as Preston was riding an exercise bike, his artificial valve threw a clot and Preston had a stroke.

I asked for prayers for Preston, and so many people responded.  A friend of mine remarked that heaven has probably been overwhelmed with the number of prayers lifted for Preston.

Preston gets a visit from a wonderful therapy dog.  She made Preston smile!

Thanks to the healing hand of God and the diligent efforts of God's friends the physicians, nurses, and other health professionals, Preston is doing well.  He was discharged from the hospital on Thursday evening.  He continues to recuperate at home (where it's a lot easier to rest than at the hospital!).

Please keep praying for Preston.  We are asking God that he will be completely healed, and we would appreciate your prayers for that, as well.

And look how he smiled when they brought his discharge papers!
Meanwhile, please join me us thanking and praising God for Preston's progress.  This wonderful son of mine is alive and well and has a very bright future.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!

42 comments:

  1. Praising God with you! Continued prayers for complete healing. "He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge: his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.' Psalm 91:4

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  2. So great to hear wonderful news about Preston!! I am praying for his continued recovery and the strength to do so. You are also in my prayers. I can only imagine the range of emotions you have felt through all this. I'm just so overjoyed for y'all!!

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  3. God is good all the time! Will keep praying for Preston as well as your family as you are "waiting" for his complete recovery.

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  4. Thank you Lord. So glad to read this update!

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  5. So thankful for the news of Preston's return to health. I will pray that he continues to return to FULL health. Thanks be to God.

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  6. Such great news!! Praying for you as his caretaker and him as he recovers.

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  7. I am so glad he is doing better!
    Praise the Lord.
    So happy for all of you.

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  8. Praising God for Preston's continued recovery! I will continue to keep you and your sweet family in my prayers!

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  9. This brings me to tears at the goodness of God. I am so happy for Preston and all of you. I will continue to pray for the Lord's complete healing. God Bless.

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  10. Hey! I don't usually comment, but I've been reading your blog a long time and love it.

    So glad to hear that Preston is doing better. That just had to be the scariest thing ever! I will continue to pray for him.

    I noticed he goes to school at UNC. If he follows football, he's probably heard of the sophomore wide receiver, Bug Howard? He's from our home town....a great kid and a great athlete. He helped our high school win its first state championship a few years ago :)

    Well, take care...just wanted to drop in and say hello and wish Preston well.

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  11. so happy for you and your family. I was completely healed myself 25 years ago and I thanks God and all my personal angels every day as once a doctor sat across from me and uttered the words- enjoy the next couple of years with your children.. Hard words to hear from a specialist but words that inspired me to seek healing other ways. and Here I am, grateful, blessed and stronger than many because I KNOW words from even those who think they know it all can be overcome and success can be the end result.
    Preston you are in my prayers and I send you healing light and love.
    Sonny

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  12. I've been a longtime reader of your blog, but never commented before. I just finished laying down with my little 5-year old son who needed a nap after preschool today. I can't imagine the fear you had watching your son laying in that hospital bed. My eyes are full of tears reading about his recovery and healing. So thankful and will continue praying.

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  13. Prayers are going Preston's way for a full recovery and may our Lord bless every step of the way in your son's life. God is good and I know that, dear Richella. As a mother my heart goes out to you sweet friend.
    Have a blessed week.
    FABBY

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  14. God is so good. Your son's perfect smile is so beautiful. May He heal your son COMPLETELY.

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  15. I whispered a prayer for Prwsto n and your family last week, and I will again, Richella. I'm so glad for you that he's on the mend.

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  16. Oh my sweet friend, I have tears in my eyes as I read this. What you must have gone through. Bless your heart. I will of course continue to pray for Preston (and your whole family) I know he'll continue to heal and be better than ever. :)

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  17. Continued prayers and thanks to the Lord for your precious son. Jane

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  18. Oh, it must be so difficult to go through this with your own child - sending lots of prayers your way for all of your family…stay positive!

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  19. I had been wondering how he was doing. So glad to hear the good news. Prayers will continue for his full recovery.

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  20. I will continue to pray for your precious son Preston. I love the Doxology! As old fashioned as it is, it is my favorite praise chorus. When I have a big prayer answered, I sing the doxology! I am singing it with you today!

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  21. Bless your heart, Richella! There is nothing harder for a mom to endure than seeing your child (no matter their age, they will always be your child) in pain or sick. I am so happy for your family getting to have Preston home. I will continue to pray for Preston's complete recovery.

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  22. Such a sweet boy! So glad that he is doing better, you all are in my prayers!! What a hard thing to go through -- hugs to you.

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  23. I'm so glad he's doing better! This makes me so nervous though, my nephew (who is 14) is going in in December for the same procedure....:(

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  24. Praise God! I am so glad to hear this good news.
    Chris
    So Much at Home

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  25. What wonderful news! He has had quite a time, hasn't he? I hope his stroke was mild--he looks great in the pic. God is a might, perfect, physician full of perfect wisdom. Results are so awesome when we call on Him.

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  26. Richella,

    Sending prayers to your son and your family for a complete recovery!! Does he have any residual deficits like weakness, flaccidity, cognitive deficits or speech and language issues? If so, hopefully, they will resolve in time and with Therapy. Was he on ASA or a blood thinner prior and is he on anything now? You all will be in my thoughts!!

    Hugs,
    Deb

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  27. Hi Richella, I have been keeping him in my prayers but did not know what he was in the hospital for. Thanks so much for the update and I will keep him in my prayers....xoxoxo Christine from Little Brags

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  28. Oh, Richella! I had to cry as I read this! PRAISE OUR DEAR, WONDERFUL LORD!!! I am SO grateful God spared Preston's life and allowed him to come home to you. I KNOW God can heal this completely. There is NOTHING too hard for our God. Just keep trusting Him and believing for the miracle Preston needs. I pray God heals him completely and allow him to live to a ripe, old age. Please keep us posted. I am SO relieved to read this wonderful news tonight!!! God is SO good! Much love to you and your family, Cheryl

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  29. No matter their age, they are still are babies. I am so sorry you and your son had such a scary time. Sending my love.

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  30. So happy to hear he is doing better and already at home. We also have a son with a medical condition so I know exactly how it feels to see them in the hospital so sick. I will continue praying for his full recovering. Big, big hug to you. Maria

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  31. I had tears of joy as I read your post! I'm so happy to hear Preston is recovering! That smile of his is priceless! Sending prayers and blessings to you and yours!

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  32. Richella I am so happy to hear that Preston is doing well...God is good!! The power of prayer is strong!

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  33. What a blessing. My son had open heart surgery as a newborn. I understand heart issues. So grateful he is doing well. Our Lord's tender mercies are amazing.

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  34. So glad he's doing better Richella! Will continue to pray for him and you all! Hugs!
    Kendra @ www.joyinourhome.com

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  35. Continued Prayers for Preston and your family!

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  36. Richella...I am just now reading this...and I am so sorry that all of this has happened to Preston! BUT our God is so amazing...and after all of the prayers He has received on behalf of Preston...it is wonderful to hear/read that he is doing so well!!!! I will pray for him too...and for his continued recovery and good health. May God be gracious to you all as you trust in Him!

    Love, Linda Hogeland @ Truthful Tidbits

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  37. So pleased to hear you son is doing better. You never stop being a Mom that's for sure! Will keep him in my prayers for a full recovery.
    Take care - Hugs

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  38. Richella, I have been so busy that I missed this. I am so glad he is better now. God's healing hand was certainly on your son.

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  39. Richella, I was gone from blog land for a bit and back on a limited basis. I just saw that you mentioned that your son had a stroke on Kim's SSL blog. I am so so sorry. God bless this dear young man and I, too, am praying for a full and complete recovery for him. How very scary. We just never know what curve life will throw at us, do we?

    I am praying for peace and serenity and soul rest for you, too. I know how hard it is to have a child that needs help and not being able to help them yourself as a parent. Much love to you- xo Diana

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  40. Richella...my prayers are still there for Preston and his continued successful recovery!

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  41. I will be praying for Preston. I have a prayer bracelet that I keep on my Plax bottle to pray for everyone on my prayer list, in the morning. I will add Preston to my list.

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