Riding The Roller Coaster
Dear friends and family,
Thank you everyone for being on our journey with us this far. Receiving all of your love and feeling covered by your prayers has been providing me with continual encouragement. This surgery has been much more involved and has taken some unexpected turns, and I am so thankful to be on the other side of the most difficult part of it. Below, Matt will explain those ups and downs. I just want you to know you all mean so much to me. I love and adore my family and friends, and I thank you for reaching out to me. I would write back to each one of you individually if I could, but this blog will have to do that for me for now.
Love, Marisa
-----
The past thirty-six hours has been a bit of a roller coaster. Marisa has made much progress with her breathing. She continues to receive nebulizer treatments and uses a mask for humidified air. She has been more awake and alert and able to walk on her own a little more than yesterday.
The medical team is working to try to maintain Marisa's calcium level as we wait for her body to catch up with calcium production. This is common after this surgery, but it is taking longer than normal for Marisa's body to kick into action. When her calcium is low she experiences tingling, numbness and has had paralysis of her fingers and thumbs. When she is dosed with IV calcium then the symptoms disappear fairly quickly.
Both vocal cords are still paralyzed. The speech therapist is optimistic that her voice will return but it may take up to a year for it to function at 100%. She will go through speech and occupational therapy during and after her hospital stay.
Pain is being managed a little better now.
The best news has been that Marisa was allowed to leave the ICU last night. She is on the main hospital floor now. Without being attached to as many machines she is able to rest and move around much easier.
Marisa has made a new friend named Faresha, the Nurse Anesthetist, who assisted in Marisa's surgery. They enjoyed talking before the surgery began. Faresha remained at Marisa's bedside for hours post-surgery and after her shift ended until Marisa was admitted to the ICU. She continued to warmly check-in with Marisa and even visited today on her day off to bring Marisa this beautiful orchid plant. She was able to tell us about some of the details of the surgery and just how complicated parts of the procedures were. We are thankful for Faresha for going above and beyond in her care for Marisa.
Marisa and I have been spending time in the Psalms together. She asks me each morning to read Scripture to her. Today was Psalms 23, 24 & 145.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life...
~ Ps. 23:6
Love,
Matt & Marisa
Thank you everyone for being on our journey with us this far. Receiving all of your love and feeling covered by your prayers has been providing me with continual encouragement. This surgery has been much more involved and has taken some unexpected turns, and I am so thankful to be on the other side of the most difficult part of it. Below, Matt will explain those ups and downs. I just want you to know you all mean so much to me. I love and adore my family and friends, and I thank you for reaching out to me. I would write back to each one of you individually if I could, but this blog will have to do that for me for now.
Love, Marisa
-----
The past thirty-six hours has been a bit of a roller coaster. Marisa has made much progress with her breathing. She continues to receive nebulizer treatments and uses a mask for humidified air. She has been more awake and alert and able to walk on her own a little more than yesterday.
The medical team is working to try to maintain Marisa's calcium level as we wait for her body to catch up with calcium production. This is common after this surgery, but it is taking longer than normal for Marisa's body to kick into action. When her calcium is low she experiences tingling, numbness and has had paralysis of her fingers and thumbs. When she is dosed with IV calcium then the symptoms disappear fairly quickly.
Both vocal cords are still paralyzed. The speech therapist is optimistic that her voice will return but it may take up to a year for it to function at 100%. She will go through speech and occupational therapy during and after her hospital stay.
Pain is being managed a little better now.
The best news has been that Marisa was allowed to leave the ICU last night. She is on the main hospital floor now. Without being attached to as many machines she is able to rest and move around much easier.
Marisa has made a new friend named Faresha, the Nurse Anesthetist, who assisted in Marisa's surgery. They enjoyed talking before the surgery began. Faresha remained at Marisa's bedside for hours post-surgery and after her shift ended until Marisa was admitted to the ICU. She continued to warmly check-in with Marisa and even visited today on her day off to bring Marisa this beautiful orchid plant. She was able to tell us about some of the details of the surgery and just how complicated parts of the procedures were. We are thankful for Faresha for going above and beyond in her care for Marisa.
 |
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life...
~ Ps. 23:6
Love,
Matt & Marisa
Dear Marisa....You don't know me but I am a friend of Kori Deller & her family. Kori knows that my Faith is very strong & she asked me for prayers for you. I have lifted you up in prayer every night since I heard about your cobdition & I will continue to lift you up in prayer every night.
ReplyDeletePlease know that I wish I could take this all away from you but I know God is with you every step of the way. Love In Christ's Name. 🙏🙏🙏 Judy
Oh, this is so Marisa! She has such a kind spirit and people just naturally gravitate towards her. ❤️ Praise the LORD! My heart is so happy to hear that today was a much better day. I’ve been following your story, Marisa, and praying for you and your sweet family. I sincerely miss seeing your face at CBS and wish I could give you a huge hug. You are loved, sweet friend. -Jenni McCowan
ReplyDeleteContinuing to pray. Lord Jesus come to Marisa's side. May she feel your presence always, asleep and awake. Lord I pray that everything was removed that should not be in her body, and that you would return the function of everything in her body, specifically her vocal cords.
ReplyDeleteWe love you Lord and we know you love the Craigs more than we ever could.
Come Lord Jesus, come. Amen