Continued Prayer Needed

First, I'd like to say THANK YOU all to everyone who is fervently praying for Charles' sister, Anna.  Thank you for re-posting to your FB wall and for passing along to friends.  All day long our inbox has been flooded with messages from people all over who are offering their prayers and their words of encouragement.  It has meant the world to us to know that others are standing in the gap for her.  Here is the latest update, and a look at how her day has gone.

After her surgery last night, Anna's vitals were able to somewhat stabilize.  My in-laws arrived late last night and were able to see her.  A FB post from my mother-in-love (Anna's mom) wrote, "Just saw Anna.  Oh My.  She is very swollen, sedated, intubated, and critical.  She also has several blood clots.  We need some miracles from our miracle-working God.  Thanks for your continued prayers."

In the past two days, Anna has received 21 bags of blood.  The biggest risk she faces now, though, are the blood clots.  Particularly one that is located just above her kidney.   Around 2:30pm PST, Anna was taken back into surgery to receive a filter for one of the more life-threatening clots.  This surgery in itself has huge risks attached to it.  They went through a vein in her neck, which poses a great risk of bleeding out.  The risk of waiting and not doing anything, however, is greater.  We received news around 4:00pm PST that Anna was out of surgery.  There is no word yet as to how they believe she did, although the nurses are "encouraged by her numbers".  As of this afternoon, Anna's platelets were really low - below 50.  In order to be put onto blood thinners, they would need to reach at least 140.  Tonight, after surgery, they are at 104!! This is great news!  So, how can you pray?


PRAY UNCEASINGLY -

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this

is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

God tells us to pray without ceasing.  As one friend of a friend posted on FB, "Know that the throne of grace is being assaulted by a myriad of saints on behalf of Anna."  We're asking that you pray without ceasing.  When you sit, and when you rise.  Everytime you kiss your babies.  Anytime God prompts your heart.  Pray.


PRAY SPECIFICALLY - The specific concerns at this time are that her platelet count would continue to increase.  Pray for good kidney function.  Pray for NO infection.  And pray that her blood would do what it is suppossed to do.  Also, pray that existing clots would disappear.


PRAY EXPECTANTLY - Lastly, pray expectantly for God to do great things.  I love that He is a God who desires to make Himself known.  Over and over throughout scripture, we see God strip away everything, so that when He DOES show up, there is NO mistaking who He is.  As the eyes of literally thousands of people are watching, we pray that He would show up big, and that He alone, would receive the glory.  Thank you Jesus for your healing hand.

Just before writing this post, I spoke with another sister-in-law, Rebecca, on the phone.  While her and her family were visiting last week, we had taken all the kids to see "The Miracle of Christmas" at the Sight and Sound theater in Lancaster, PA.  I LOVE how although Rebecca and I are in different states, God placed the same exact image in our minds from that play.  An image of the powers of darkness warring against an angel of God in the heavenly realms.   We know that the same is happening now.  A fight for Anna's life.  And it is a battle waged in the unseen. 

"'Don't be afraid,' the prophet answered, 'Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.'  And Elisha prayed, 'O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.'  Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and

chariots of fire all around Elisha.'" 

 ~2 Kings 6:16-17

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 

 ~2 Corinthians 4:18



Thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers!  We love you all!

Kirsten