Update - 3/9/06

Matthew is still at University Hospital. The procedure on Monday has led to the need to keep him longer to take great precaution. There is a tiny hole in the lining of Matthew's lung that has not healed or closed up. This has led to a pneumatocele - a small amount of air is trapped outside the lining of the lung. The doctors put in a tube to ventilate the trapped air, but the tiny hole in the lining of Matthew's lung needs to heal or close up. He will have to stay at the hospital at least until Monday. (I'm not a medical professional so if I have mis-stated the above, I apologize.)

It is typical for boys of Matthew's age to end up with a collapsed lung in these circumstances, so the doctors are taking great care to prevent that happening. Your prayers are certainly appreciated!!!! Pray for the hole to heal up and that his lungs stay inflated for a good period of time so that Matthew can go back to Rusk to continue his rehabilitation.

Brenda and Erich are doing what therapy they can with Matthew so that he doesn't stiffen up lying in a hospital bed. They requested to have his wheelchair from Rusk sent over. Matthew was in a lot of discomfort and restless, but is more relaxed now after some medication has been put back into his regimen.

Please pray for strength and endurance for Brenda and Erich as well. It has been a trying few days for them with little sleep.

The good news is they took Matthew's trach completely out and he's doing fine without it!!!

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

Rachel Asburry
Matthew's godmother