Update 10/29/2012

Carla Update… Monday, October 29, 12 – The picture today is of Craig Hospital. Carla’s room is on the 2nd floor looking out a window. We are praying that she will be able to return here later this week after the neck stabilization surgery. We are here on earth for a divine purpose. We are here to be tried, to prove ourselves so that we can receive the additional blessings God has for us. The tempering effect of patience is required. The Lord is intent on our personal growth and development. That progress is accelerated when we willingly allow Him to lead us through every growth experience we encounter, whether initially it be to our individual liking or not. When we trust in the Lord, when we are willing to let our hearts and our minds be centered in His will, when we ask to be led by the Spirit to do His will, we are assured of the greatest happiness. May we trust in the Lord and thank Him in all things. Report of Carla’s status today comes form Betty. Carla was quite restless this morning with spasms mostly in her lower jaw (so far as we can tell). But, she has done a lot of sleeping during the rest of the day. Richard met with Dr. Vollmer, Neurosurgeon, in the afternoon. Her “soft” halo will be “installed” tomorrow morning in preparation for surgery on Wednesday morning. Her blood pressure, body temp, etc. is stabilized, so she’s ready for surgery (finally!). We have a beautiful story to share with you. Last Saturday over 50 LDS Ward friends showed up at Carla’s and Richard’s home in SW Austin. They have four acres with fruit trees, garden boxes, chickens and a miniature donkey. Their compassionate friends worked together to clean, mow and groom whatever they could find to do. That’s the gospel of Christ in action. How grateful we are friends who are so willing to serve. Dave and I were at our trailer most of the day. While the sun was shining, we cleaned windows inside and out and did some yard work (weeding and leaf raking). I don’t have to tell many of you that I enjoyed working outside!

Update 10/28/2012 By Dave

Carla Update… Sunday, October 28, 2012 – The picture today is of Carla in the ICU of Swedish Hospital. This picture just breaks our hearts. She is still in a lot of pain and is fighting the most recent bout of pneumonia. The doctors have her on a regiment of pain medication and antibiotics and we are all praying for a complete restoration. This restoration begins with surgery to stabilize her neck and then continues with a rehabilitation program at Craig. We are grateful and appreciative of all the support and prayers by family and friends. Thank you!! Sadness, disappointment, and severe challenge are events in life, not life itself. I do not minimize how hard some of these events are. They can extend over a long period of time, and they should not be allowed to become the confining center of everything we do. The Lord declares the fundamental truth, “They are, that they might have joy.” That is a conditional statement: “they might have joy.” It is not conditional for the Lord. His intent is that each of us finds joy. It will not be conditional for you as you obey the commandments, have faith in the Master, and do the things that are necessary to have joy here on earth. Carla’s day today is about what it was yesterday. She rests a lot and when she is awake, more than not she experiences pain. Some pain is physical and some is emotional. We can take care of the physical pain with medications’ but we are not always sure how to help with the emotional pain. We can only continue to be with her as she goes through this restoration and rehabilitation process. It surely breaks our hearts to see her in this condition. We continue to pray for her complete recovery. Carla’s birthday is coming soon. On November 3rd she will be 53. Send her a birthday card, if you would like to. She would love that. Send it to Carla Bischoff at The Craig Rehab Hospital; address is 3426 S. Emerson Street, Englewood, CO 80113. Her room number is 224B. It’s a beautiful facility and she has a really nice room with windows waiting for her when she moves out of the ICU at the Swedish Medical Center. We (Dave and Betty) went to a local Ward Bldg. for Sacrament Mtg. this morning. We had the opportunity to meet and visit with the Bishop, Relief Society President and one of their two Compassionate Service Leaders. They seem real eager to help us in any way they can. We have their phone numbers, etc. The Ward Bldg. is only 1.5 miles from the hospital. We were real happy to be there and felt right at home.

Update 10/27/2012 By Dave

Carla Update… Saturday, October 27, 2012 – Today’s picture is of the Swedish Medical Center here in Englewood, CO. Carla has been here in the ICU since Wednesday the 17th, ten full days. She arrived at Craig, which is connected to the Swedish Medical Center, on Tuesday the 16th, and had a setback that moved her to the ICU at Swedish. Her body temperature has been normal for over 24 hours so the doctors are optimistic that they can perform the neck stabilization surgery early next week. No rehabilitation can be started until the surgery is completed. Be patient in afflictions, for thou shall have many, but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days. When suffering upon the cross at Calvary, Jesus felt the loneliness of agency when He pled to His Father in Heaven, “Why hast thou forsaken me?” His Father left his Son, the Savior of the world, alone to experience of His own free will and choice, an act of agency. This act allowed Him to complete His mission of the Atonement. As a result of the Savior’s Atonement, if we are obedient to the commandments, and endure to the end, we shall be saved at the last day. Betty today provides Carla’s status update. It’s been a reasonably good day for Carla. She had gigantic smiles for us when we arrived late morning. Dave and I had some good laughs with her. I brushed her hair, trimmed it for her and put it back in a real loose braid. She has such beautiful, healthy curly hair. I gave her another manicure and some good arm massages. We had our prayer time together and then I read scriptures to her. We’re reading in III Nephi, which is some of my favorite scriptures. I love the account of what happened worldwide at the time of Christ’ crucifixion which had been foretold for centuries. And I especially love His visit to the Nephites in the Americas after His resurrection where he shares His ministry. We’ll get to read more tomorrow. Dave and I will be here with Carla each day from late morning till 9 P.M. Richard will stay all night and most of the morning. He likes to be here when the doctors make their morning rounds. Matt flew home early this morning. We anticipate that Michelle will arrive next Thursday morning. She’s driving Carla’s car from her home near Houston that will take at least 18 hours. Our beautiful autumn weather ended this week with snow and cold temps, but will start warming up again tomorrow. I developed a bad head cold and could not be at the hospital for two days. All is well now. We love all of our prayer friends. You’re the best!