Prayer Request - 3/27/06

We just got word that Matthew is having a surgical procedure this morning for his muscle tone (description in the next paragraph). The next 24 hours are a very crucial time, so please keep him in your prayers. Rev. Kurz and his brother, Joel (who is also a pastor) are with Matthew today. Pray the Lord gives them comfort and peace as they patiently wait the outcome of this procedure.

Matthew's muscle tone is of great concern right now. Several areas of his body have tightened up or are spastic and the joints are difficult to move. (Spasticity is a term used to describe abnormally increased muscle tone and it interferes with movement and can be painful.) If they aren't able to get the muscles to relax and be more flexible - there is concern about Matthew's ability to use those appendages in the future (his right hand, right arm and left foot). The procedure they are doing today involves inserting a small titanium pump that is about the size of a hockey puck and it fits comfortably under the skin. This pump will inject tiny amounts of a medication directly in the cerebrospinal fluid. "For some patients this procedure can produce a dramatic reduction in spasticity and pain." (taken from "Living with Brain Injury: A Guide for Families")

Over the weekend, Matthew got to see his Aunt Teresa (Brenda's sister) and cousins, Nathan and Noah from Boise, Idaho. It was good for them to see Matthew for the first time since the accident. It was also a blessing for the sisters to be reunited in person after months of supporting each other from afar. I also had the pleasure of being with Matthew this weekend and helped Brenda and Paige (Matthew's girlfriend) give him his dinner on Saturday. This was a bit of a challenge because Matthew's left arm is quite active and manages to get in the way of the spoon! Matthew has a great appetite and seems to enjoy eating food (and not all of it is liquified). He even had a ginger cookie and had no trouble crunching down on it. We think his favorite part was the raspberry soda drink!

Once again - please keep Matthew in your prayers today, as you usually do, but especially for the procedure he is undergoing to insert the pump.

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:26-28

Rachel Asburry
Matthew's godmother