-Written by Anna-
I realize that it has been a while since we have updated the blog. Honestly, Dad and I are often too tired to write anything at the end of the day. And there is not much to report. We are settling in well and learning our way. Instead of three hours of therapy a day, Mom has two hours (45 min of OT and PT and 30 min of Speech). The intensity of therapy is also less but we have been blessed by some really wonderful therapists who do their jobs very well. Our first few days there were clouded by the fact that Mom simply felt terrible. Yesterday she finally got some reprieve and today she felt better as well. But our new battle is severe pain on the stroke affected arm and leg. Today that kept us from maximizing our therapies.
When Mom feels well she amazes us all with her determination and drive to do whatever is needed. Can you pray with us for her to feel well enough to really get the most out of therapy? Can you pray that the Lord will order our follow up appointments? We are working on getting an appointment with a neurologist and have an appointment next week with the neurosurgeon to discuss the next surgery. Can you continue to pray for wisdom for us and her nurses as we seek to find the right combination of meds? Can you pray against anxiety over all that still lies ahead and discouragement? Can you pray for the pain to pass?
While we are not seeing significant changes she is gaining strength which allows her to do more even if the left side is still not cooperating. We are continuing to ask the Lord for healing for her left side. My sister Elisabeth sent us this verse this week and it has been an encouragement to us. “I will make them strong in the Lord,and ‘Katy’ shall walk in his name,”declares the Lord.” Zecharaiah 10:12 This is our prayer for Mom. That she will be strong in Him and that one day He would allow her to walk again ‘in His name!’ Thank you for your continued love and prayers.
Journey with Katy 
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow is the way we are praying for my Mom and her challenges and so I pray that now for you all. Great is the Father’s faithfulness.
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Father, I plead for your mercy on Katy’s life. Will you extend abundant grace. Will you bring complete release from the paralysis, from the pain. Will you gift them with wisdom, strength, discernment, encouragement, provision for every need, large and small, spiritual, emotional, financial, physical, mental. Embrace these with your unfailing love.
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Amen.
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Thank you, Anna, for being specific in requesting prayers. These tug at my heart and form pictures of my being in this Journey with your mom, with you and with your dad. I love your family, but we know that God loves you more AND He wants to hear from us. Your updates help me. Tell Katy that I love her and am so proud of her witnessing through her pain.
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Precious Katy, the verse God has given me this week is from Exodus 14:13-14 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
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Hi, and thanks again for continuing to keep us all updated. I have been reflecting on the last entry regarding transition and want to affirm that yes, you are in a huge transition…this time a life transition, not just a physical one (although the various places for treatment are physical for sure). But i was thinking about what stage you might be in now. As you know, “involvement” is where life was normal, you don’t even have to think about it. “leaving” starts the moment you first get the news that rocks your world – the moment you find out she had a stroke, in this case. In your situation, there wasn’t much time to build your “RAFT” of reconciliation, affirmation, farewells, and thinking ahead. All of it was thrust on you at one time. But you have done a remarkable job through all of these journals to do each of them in different ways and now, I think, you are in the transition phase itself. When you have ‘left” shore but not arrived to the other side. This is always the hardest time for it is filled with uncertainty and even chaos. I don’t know how long it lasts, of course, but ahead I believe there will be the next stage of “entry”..or even reentry. Moving into the new as it will be and getting to make those adjustments either “back to normal’ or into the new normal and then moving to reinvovlement again. I write this hopefully to affirm your rightness in relating this experience to the transitions you have learned about before throughout your life as MKs and missionaries and remind you that while it is wonderful to have understanding of the process, it doesn’t keep the emotional turmoil from happening. It just helps (i hope) to know where you are in some way or another as you wrote. I trust that lessons from transitions will somehow encourage you in the tough tough journey you are going through now but I also want to say how much I see and value your courage as a family in this place. I know as you do that God is with you in this valley and all these feelings you express so eloquently are normal, he understands, your friends understand and care but it can still feel really hard. Please continue to rememer how valued and loved you are even to those of us some of you haven’t even met but for whom the impact of meeting your mom and dad have had a lasting life impression. Love from Ruth Van Reken
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Thank you for your kind words and your input! And thank you especially for your prayers! Anna
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Anna and Stan….could it be that muscles, nerves, tendons, etc. on Katy’s left side are being restored and that is why she is experiencing pain? I am going to pray that that is what is happening! Praying for your strength to be renewed also….jean
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That is what I’m thinking, that life is returning to her left limbs, maybe as when your foot goes to “sleep” then starts to receive blood flowing back. That can be painful.
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It is possible that some of it is the nerves waking up. Also possible that there are some other things going on. But that would be the best case scenario and would make the pain worthwhile! So keep praying! Anna
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I am continuing to pray for Katy’s recovery and for strength for all of you! Thank you for the updates. Those of us at Cardinal Hill are thinking of you guys! Please tell Katy that Liz says hello. 😀
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We stand in agreement with your prayer requests.
Please give our beloved Katy a big hug.
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Stan, Katy and Anna (and Liz and Sarah and families from afar!), Love you all so much and continue to pray with you for pain relief, physical restoration and endurance. I know it’s a long road and we can’t be there in person to walk it with you each day, but how we are with you in spirit! Don’t faint, and don’t lose heart. I heard an excellent sermon on Job today via Moody Bible Institute’s Founders Week Conference live radio broadcast. They should have it posted sometime tomorrow (Friday). If you want to hear or watch it, go to http://www.moodyconferences.com/con_mainPage.aspx?id=128473 and click on the Thursday, Feb. 4
9:30 a.m. session featuring Stephen Davey. Hope it is an encouragement to you! Love, Rachel for all the Thompson
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Thank you for the Update. Yes I can pray! I AM praying every day for each of you. Much love to you all.
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We are continually reminded to pray for all of you in this storm, Jesus remains in the boat with you and we love you and thank God for you- you continue to be a big spiritual influence, carrying you-joy and mark
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Prayers continued here as well, especially in the areas requested.
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Lifting up all your requests and praying Katy will walk again in Jesus’ name. We love you guys!
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Dear Anna– we are keeping Katy in our prayers, and have asked our sunday school class to join us in praying for her. Sent the poem about nurses to my nurse sister, and my sister was so touched by it. She said she had done all that, and even had been able at times to sing hymns to patients. The poem really encouraged her.
love, Chris and Chris
On Thu, Feb 4, 2016 at 9:08 PM, Journey with Katy wrote:
> lizlind posted: “-Written by Anna- I realize that it has been a while > since we have updated the blog. Honestly, Dad and I are often too tired to > write anything at the end of the day. And there is not much to report. We > are settling in well and learning our way. Instead o” >
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Dear Key Family,
We are praying daily for Katy and for all of you. Thank you for posting and letting us know specific needs and requests. These help guide us as we approach the throne of Grace on your behalf.
Anna, if you can, may we have the name and address of the facility? Joe & I would like to send something. If you feel confident it’s okay to
give it out, you may send to my email (loispas59@gmail.com).
Sending warms hugs and love in the Spirit.
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That is so kind of you! She is at Brookdale Richmond Place 2770 Palumbo Dr, Lexington, KY 40509. You can also send things to our home address. Whatever is easiest for you. Thank you so much! Anna
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While your blogs have been a wonderful way to keep us informed, I certainly understand that you don’t have the time or energy some days to write.
Prayers will continue for Katy’s strength, for follow up on appointments, for meds, for her pain, headaches, nausea, for sweet & restful sleep, for miraculous healing, for her, for you all.
In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for you alone O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8
God bless you all.
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Continuing to pray for your mom, dad and for you, Anna! Prayed for each of the requests mentioned.
Love and prayers,
Lori
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Anna, I prayed again this morning. I cannot imagine how anyone weathers this kind of storm without Jesus in the boat! How I wish I could just poof over to give you a hug, to pray with you, to sit with your mom and give you time to catch a nap or some time alone with the Lord. I just want to encourage you and your family that God is being glorified in the way that you are each experiencing this. I am so blessed by your mother’s heart while in the midst of some severe trials. She is really showcasing His strength and love as she fights through her pain and cares about others. And you, my dear, are “a chip off the old block” as they say. I miss you my friend!
Je t’embrasse très fort!
Debby
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Thank you for “journey with Katy”. I read it from France and we can pray with you. Fortunately we may pray in French ! it’s easier for us… When we pray, perhaps it’s night for you, so you may think : “even if I am sleeping, somebody is praying for us”… courage and trust ! We are with you in Lord. Love and prayers.
Monique
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Merci beaucoup chers amis pour vos prieres surtout pendant la nuit! Je vais lire votre ‘comment’ a Maman demain. It will touch her. (This computer is not letting me do accents so I apologize!) Thank you for your love and prayers! Anna (pour toute la famille)
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Is she up for visitors at the new place? If so could you give me the address? I’m on FB often so if you’d rather send it in a private message there that would be ok.
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Praying for all these things . . . lifting you all up before the Lord. There are so many ways we can relate to what Katy is going through, because we’ve faced similar trials. Christ has done so much in Katy over the years, and through her. I believe and trust that He has more for her to do. Praying for RESToration for all of you.
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Praying and lifting you all in prayer, especially Katy and specific prayers you have shared. You have all shared so beautifully in words and given us a glimpse of what you are experiencing. I know Jesus is present in all of this and is carrying you. Love to you all and a special hug to Katy from us.
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Praying daily. What a blessing you have been. What a blessing Katy is.
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I am praying for all of Katy’s needs. Love to you all.😘
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Dear Anna,I know how hard it is to watch your own dear mother
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