FW: Libby Paul Update

Here is a note from Mark Davis who was with the Paul’s tonight.  Mark was in the area on business and took time out prior to coming home to stop by and see Troy and Dorsey.  Special thanks to you and the Van der Ark’s who took time out also to comfort the Paul’s.

 

We are apart of a special community.  Have a good night and continue to stand in the gap for the Paul’s

 

Paul

 

 

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From: Mark Davis [mailto:jmarkdavis@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, June 03, 2006 10:28 PM
To: 'Tony Felich'; 'Nathan Currey'
Cc: 'Paul Schmidt'; 'Amy Schmidt'; shellydavis@kc.rr.com
Subject: Libby Paul Update

 

I sat with the Pauls for a few hours this evening, and during that time some test results were delivered. Libby is serious but stable. Her TC scan showed reduced swelling around the brain, which is contrary to expectations. Her skull fracture is temple to temple along the hairline, which actually permits the skull to expand slightly and relieve the swelling. As a result, she didn’t require any surgery to relieve pressure on her brain. Praise God for that.

 

The MRI that was to have been performed last night was performed today. In this case, the point of the MRI is to assess soft tissue damage along the spinal column. There are no bone fragments in the spinal column, and the spinal column appears undamaged. Her neck is fine. There is inflammation around the 10^th vertebra. Her back has at least one fractured vertebra, the 10^th, but the fracture is minor enough that a back brace is still being debated. She shows no signs at all of paralysis. Praise God for that.

 

Libby’s hemoglobin dropped during the course of her hospitalization, which caused some concern. Reduced hemoglobin can be a sign of internal bleeding, but the CT and MRI show no new bleeding. There hasn’t been any new bleeding in the cranium, and bleeding from a ruptured organ in her abdomen stopped shortly after she was admitted. Therefore, the apparent causes of the hemoglobin drop are dilution from administered fluids, frequent blood tests, and “wastings” at IV changes. Praise God for that.

 

The doctors are keeping Libby in a drug-induced sleep, which affects her ability to breathe on her own. She’s on a ventilator, but only because the medications used to keep her still enough to heal also impair her ability to breath. The medications will be lifted, at least temporarily, on Monday to assess her condition, and her doctors will begin to plan a timeline to send her back to KC. Praise God for that.

 

The Pauls are in good spirits. They appreciate the loving attention they’ve received from the body of Christ in Kansas. They’re checked into the Ronald McDonald house for an extended stay. It’s right across the street from the hospital, and much cheaper than a hotel. News from tests has been good of late, and the demeanor of the attending nurses has changed radically from stoic in the first 12 hours to elated in the last 24. Although Libby’s still not out of the woods, her trend is positive, and the prognosis is immediately good. The extent of her brain injury is still the big question. Although it’s too early to say so definitively, some of the nurses are confident that Libby will start Kindergarten in the fall. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

 

His Servant and Yours,

Mark