Hey, everyone,
I was so thrilled to get to see Troy and Dorsey and our hero, LIBBY PAUL tonight for a few precious minutes! What a treat! Troy and Dorsey are visibly exhausted, as we all can easily understand. But they are SO GLAD to be HOME!!! My favorite moment of the entire week was when I walked over to the bed, and Libby stopped rolling around and looked right at me. Her eyes lit up immediately, so I knew she recognized me. I told her hi, and that I was so glad to see her. I asked her how she was doing, and she said, "Fine."...wow! So then I told her I'd missed her and had heard she had a lot of fun last week on her vacation trip. She answered, "Yeah." You guys, she is totally tracking with conversations. I was in shock to experience it firsthand. Then I told her my daughter can't wait to see her when she gets all better, and she started rolling around and crying out again. She is visibly frustrated not to be able to say what she wants to say, and not to get to be up and around. A few minutes later, she asked Troy how many days she would be at the hospital. Troy told her 15 days. Then she asked him how many MORE days she would be there, and he told her 14, because this is her first day. She calmed down.
Folks, that is utterly amazing to me! I know she has to wait for her speech to catch up to her thinking, but she is alive, well, and processing great! That is a miracle! That is a direct result of all your fervent prayers! I feel like I was blessed to get to experience what all of you have been asking our heavenly Father for all week!! What a THRILL!!! :)
SO, prayers for the Pauls now would be for their rest and recovery. Libby had her worst night last night, and they're plum tired. Also, Dorsey said her rehab starts Monday, with several sessions one right after another, like a summer school. Troy said it was so cool when they arrived this afternoon that the entire staff assigned to them came as a group and introduced themselves, hearing Libby's story after. They are so excited about this incredible hospital.
I know everyone who is local is very anxious to see the Pauls. After being there tonight, I know it would be helpful to them if it was adults only at this point, since it would be upsetting to kids AND it is VERY upsetting to Libby. She is really needing a quiet room right now. Also, as you know, you may not get much time with them, but a journal is available there in the room for you to sign and write your thoughts if you wish or if you miss them when you arrive. Remember, they are going to be there for the next three weeks, so if you can't make it this weekend they will need just as much, maybe more, in the future.
Also, feel free to mail them cards/letters/gift cards, or any other wonderful things you've been asking to do for them to Children's Mercy Hospital 2401 Gilham Road, KC, MO 64108.
Here's our verse for tonight sent by one of you ~ "In peace, (Libby) will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O LORD, will make her dwell in safety." ~Psalm 4:8
Blessings, (and keep reading!)
Joy Shiner :)
P.S. Dru here ~ I know there are a ton of people out there that would love to hear from Troy and Dorsey directly. They really want to send out a huge Thank You to you all as well. Well we are going to try something a little different. We are going to have a conference call on this Sunday afternoon at 3pm central time. We will have Troy and Dorsey on the line and they will give everyone a quick update and then share a little bit from their hearts on what this amazing team of Prayer Warriors has meant to them. The logistics are pretty straight forward. We have room for 125 individual on the conference call. We would like to ask that extended / out-of-town family and close friends attend as I am sure we cannot accomodate everyone on this email list, which by the way is over 800. Praise GOD! The line will be an open line, so all background noise will be heard by all, so please mute your phone so that we can minimize the interferance. As time allows and it is managable, we will also try to allow people to say a word or two to the Paul's. Obviously, not everyone will be able to talk, so we will do the best we can. Again, this is a little different than anything I have heard of, but the Paul's really wanted to talk to the larger group if at all possible.
If you plan on attending the call, please try and make sure you dial into the number below a couple of minutes before 3pm on Sunday. The phone number is 877-298-8255; the password is 5973027. Thank again for all of your prayers and we will talk on Sunday!
