PRAY!

Thank you all so much for all of your prayers, we feel them and Josh feels them. He needs prayer now more than ever.

Some of you know, but I wanted to let ALL of you know. This has been a very rough week, and yesterday was a VERY ROUGH day. Josh's body was having a hard time fighting everything, but his spirit kept this in line. His body was in septic shock. His heart beat was about 170 beats/min for about 4 hours, with an extremely low blood pressure. Josh is on a ventilator and sedated as a precaution. They didn't want to consider an emergency situation, where the ventilator would need to be put in. So, they put it in to regulate his breathing and make sure his breaths are deep. Late last night they started him on a new drug that fights septic shock. Please pray that is does its job without complications.

His heart rate is down to the mid 120's and his blood pressure has come up. His high fever is slowly coming down.

We always knew Josh had a BIG heart! We just didn't know how strong it would be. That heart kept him alive. It was strong enough to endure a marathon runners fastest pace for a long time. I think all of his wrestling, football and rugby helped to condition him for this task.

I will try to update when I can. We are all in the 1st floor ICU waiting room (only immediate family is allowed to see Josh right now). I came home to clean up because I felt Josh was in a good place. I'm heading back there right away, and we will probably be there for a couple more days.

I JUST spoke with my mom as she came out of Josh's room. She said he is looking better. His body is starting to function better. White Blood counts are still VERY low. Prayers of thanks and continued healing are requested.

"O God of heavenly powers, by the might of your command you drive away from our bodies all sickness and all infirmity: Be present in your goodness with your servant Josh, that his weakness may be banished and his strength restored; and that, his health being renewed, he may bless your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. "


Source: Book of Common Prayer 1979