Prayer request concerning my wife

[don]

Please remember to lift my wife up to the Lord in prayer for her healing and comfort. We both would appreciate it very much. Thank you for doing that.

My wife Carol of almost 44 years has had a difficult time for well over a year. However, in Feb. this year she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure as well as other medical problems. Many tests were done and with medications, her condition seemed to improve. Lately, however, her symptoms have been getting worse. Early last week she had a cardiac MRI with a consult meeting mid week.

The MRI revealed a blockage(s) and also a very poor "ejection fraction" which measures the heart's ability to pump blood. She now has a angiogram/angioplasty scheduled for Mon. 7/23 morning to attempt to open the blockage(s) with stents. If that cannot be done, then a bypass surgery would likely follow soon.

Because of the weak heart muscles, probably from poor blood supply, she has a very high risk of dying anytime from sudden cardiac arrest. If improved blood flow and meds don't correct that problem, then a pacemaker/defib unit implanted could help. The good news is that everything is still alive in there since there has been no heart attack. With improved blood supply, the doctors are cautiously optimistic her condition would improve.

In June last year she fell down a stone stairway, badly breaking her right arm in three places that required a brace and no physical activity for over 15 weeks. That's doing as well as can be expected now after a year, but will never be the same.

She has been through a lot, but there's still more to endure. She has been somewhat in denial concerning her heart, but she now knows she won't get any better without fixing the problem. Pray for the doctors, pray for Carol as she is facing this difficult time, and pray for me that I would stay healthy and be able to be strong to continue giving her care, inspiration and comfort. Most of all, pray that God would put His arms of healing around her according to His Will for His honor and glory. Carol has a strong faith and trust in her Lord and Savior. We know God is in control...it's in His hands...and everything will be alright!

Thank you so much,...and God bless!

Don

[rsf]

You are all in my prayers for sure.

[MIRIAM JACOB]

We pray that God will place
His arms of healing around Carol,
according to His Will
for His honor and glory.

We praise God that
Carol has a strong faith and trust
in her Lord and Savior.

We know God is in control...
everything is in His hands...
and He will take care of you.

Don, we praise God for your faith.
You and your wife have come through a lot.

God will honour you and give you His peace.

I will request special prayer
from my Prayer Team
for you and your wife.

May God bless you both. Amen.

[don]

Thank you so much for your concern and prayer support. We are so thankful. The next days and weeks will be very busy.

We are told in Scripture that we must run the race that is set before us. However, we know our journey will not always be smooth. The road we travel will have bumps, twists and turns along the way. When we keep the faith and look to the Lord for His leading to carry us over the rough spots, we will meet at the finish line - with victory in Jesus!

Our strength and help must come from the Lord, the One who gave His life for us on that cross, the One who rose on the third day claiming victory over death and the grave, the One who ascended into heaven to prepare a place for us, and the One who is coming back soon for us as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to rule and reign forever and ever. Amen!

I'll keep you informed.

Don

[MIRIAM JACOB]

BLESSINGS AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOU. EVEN THOUGH WE MAY FEEL THAT OUR BATTLES ARE INTENSE, OUR LORD IS ALWAYS THERE. HE IS PREPARING A WAY, HE IS BEHIND THE SCENES, PREPARING VICTORY FOR US. KEEP STANDING AND SEEKING HIM. HIS GLORY IS ALWAYS LIFTED HIGH. HE HAS DEFEATED ALL. WE HAVE THAT SAME AUTHORITY THROUGH HIM. KEEP SHINING FOR HIM. YOUR FATHER IS THE KING OF KINGS. AMEN.

[MIRIAM JACOB]

I pray to the Heavenly Father here and now that he will heal Carol of all heart problems, and I ask for this in the name of the Father's only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. Amen.

God bless,
William Ferrarini.

(Prayer Team)

[MIRIAM JACOB]

I'm putting Carol on my prayer list right now.
I'll make sure she is prayed for this Wednesday
night in Bible Study as well.

Love in Christ,
Deb

(Prayer Team).

[MIRIAM JACOB]

WE WILL BE IN PRAYER FOR CAROL.

Please keep us posted.

Love & blessings,

Brian & Shawn Chrisagis.

(Prayer Team)

[don]

Just returned from the hospital after Carol's angiogram. The cardiologists were unable to do anything with stents to open the blockage because one was 100% and two were about 80%. She will have a multiple bypass surgery within a few days. They said that if nothing was done, she would likely die well within 3 years time.

We have a meeting with the surgeon tomorrow to review everything and schedule a date. Bypass should give her a longer and better quality life, and the heart muscle should improve in time as well. Again, there has been no heart attack so the muscles are not damaged yet - just starved for blood. But because of their seriously weakened condition, the will never regain full strength.

Thank you for your on-going thoughts and prayers.

"We trust in You O Lord, our times are in Your hands."

Don

[MIRIAM JACOB]

Thank you so much for updating us on Carol's health. We have launched a massive worldwide prayer campaign for her. Our Prayer Team, with members all over the world, are praying for her. There is awesome power in prayer. "When prayers go up, blessings come down." Grace flows from God's throne in answer to prayer. It is a never-ending stream of love and mercy. Praise God. Amen.

[MIRIAM JACOB]

Carol will be in my thoughts and prayers. My sister went through this same thing about 4 years ago. The surgery went well, so I am hoping the same for Carol. Thank you for bringing this to me.

God bless,
Tammy.

(Prayer Team)

[faith88]

I am also standing with you in prayer.

I pray that Carol's surgery is completely successful and that she is restored to health.

I ask this in Jesus name. Amen.

[don]

don said:

Just returned from the hospital after Carol's angiogram. The cardiologists were unable to do anything with stents to open the blockage because one was 100% and two were about 80%. She will have a multiple bypass surgery within a few days. They said that if nothing was done, she would likely die well within 3 years time.

We have a meeting with the surgeon tomorrow to review everything and schedule a date. Bypass should give her a longer and better quality life, and the heart muscle should improve in time as well. Again, there has been no heart attack so the muscles are not damaged yet - just starved for blood. But because of their seriously weakened condition, the will never regain full strength.

Thank you for your on-going thoughts and prayers.

"We trust in You O Lord, our times are in Your hands."

Don

This is a quick update on Carol's health. The consult meeting with the surgeon has been re-scheduled for Tue. 7/31. Meanwhile they are fine tuning her meds. The bypass surgery will likely be later next week, but won't know until Tues.

Carol will celebrate her 65th birthday on 8/1. By the way, her sister also has congestive heart failure (but still alive), her brother died from it after his bypass surgery, and her parents both died of it at around age 50. Carol also has dealt with diabetes for the past 10 years.

Thank you for your prayers. They are very much appreciated. I'll keep you informed.

Don

[MIRIAM JACOB]

Thank you for updating us on Carol's health. We will continue to pray for her. Prayers are coming in from all over the world. God will take care of her. That is His promise, and we cling to it. Amen.

[don]

This note is to give everyone an update on Carol's health.

We had a very long and detailed meeting yesterday with the heart surgeon. We know so much more now than we did before. It's all very complicated, but the bottom line is that she will not be having bypass surgery. Apparently, much study has been done about her case the past week.

The 'ejection fraction' (amount of blood the heart pumps out with each beat) is much lower than previously thought. It is measured at 13%, normal is something more than 55%. Because of that very weak condition, it presents a unacceptable high risk of not surviving bypass surgery. They won't do it.

It was determined she has had at least two heart attacks at some point in time. From those, there is a portion of the heart that is dead. The vein that is 80% blocked is the one that supplies that area, so a bypass or stent there wouldn't do any good. The other 100% blockage has now re-routed blood lines around the blockage, and they are doing a fair job of supplying blood to other areas of the heart so there wouldn't be much if any gain from stenting or bypassing that vein, even if she could withstand bypass surgery. The higher possibility of sudden cardiac arrest is still present - and probably always will be.

The main cause of the problem has been destruction from diabetes, but also cholestrol issues were a factor. Diabetes is a very serious problem that most people don't understand.

They will work with meds to maybe ease the problem, but other than that and possibly a type of pacemaker, there's not anything to be done. All of us including Carol must live out the number of days the Lord has for us and be thankful for each of them for His honor and glory.

Thanks so much for your prayers and concern. We'll keep you informed.

Don