Thursday, January 31, 2008

Answered Prayers

Post #2 English January 31, 2008

We continue to be amazed at our sister's progress in healing. Many changes have taken place.

She has seen an opthamologist who declined to prescribe glasses because of the strong possibility of further spontaneous adjustments in her vision in the near future. This was good news. Adriana has since reported improved vision. Her two eyes are not perfectly coordinated but she is not seeing in triplicate anymore or even double. This has allowed her to do many things that were too wearying before.

By the Lord's mercy and grace she does still speak Romanian fluently, and still speaks quite well in English, her second language. She has lost most names of people as well as many other nouns in both languages but her greatest losses are in English. This makes sense because she aquired English later in her life and the neural pathways in her brain would not be as well-traveled as the ones pertaining to Romanian. She is working to regain vocabulary in both languages.

She will see a Romanian speech therapist next week who will evaluate her condition and recommend a course of treatment. We do not yet have a confirmed diagnosis but a doctor brother in the states has suggested that she probably has expressive aphasia, a language disorder. Please pray that she will connect with the best therapist to meet her needs and help restore her abilities and her confidence.

A sister from Tacoma Washington wrote recently to share some of her experience of recovery after undergoing three brain surgeries in three years. Although her initial diagnosis was very different from Adriana's, some parts of the process she has experienced overlap. Her words of encouragement and insight have been very helpful.

It is hard work for anyone to regain confidence in a physical part that has "failed." The brain of course is the coordinating organ for the whole body and in a real sense, for our psychological and social life as well. Failure of this organ leaves a person wondering if they can trust their own thoughts and decisions. Even what they know or can remember about daily living could be in doubt. The mundane actions and routines of daily life, once automatic and even unconscious can no longer be taken for granted. This is a mysterious dilemma which most of us do not experience because our abilities in this area have never been compromised so traumatically. A person emerging from such a shock must feel himself or herself to be in an "alternate universe." Not only must physical healing take place in the brain, but rebuilding of all the processes that have been affected by damage to the brain. It seems that such a condition is typical for many patients "re-entering" the world after brain surgery.

Only two weeks out of the hospital our sister needs a lot of rest physically. Her sleep patterns have been very disrupted, but she is beginning to move twoard a regulated schedule of waking and sleeping, as well as eating. According to some sources this regulation process can take many weeks to become stabilized.

Adriana has been courageous in trying new things which may seem impossible, however simple and ordinary they may be to others (and once were to her.) We are all learning how to help her without overstepping the boundaries of what she can actually do at any given time. Her sense of humor is a wonderful asset in this situation.

Fear of the unknown would be a huge factor for anyone in a situation such as hers. She does not know how long it will take to restore or "reset" all the mental processes that have seemingly disappeared overnight. No one can guarantee that they will be restored. She and we must simply proceed in faith, and of that we have a bountiful source of supply. We have the deep assurance that she will eventually function according to her former capacity or something very near it. We ask for your continued prayer that her recovery would be rapid, and that we all would gain more Christ in the process. We pray especially that our sister would be encouraged and not bothered by anxiety or harrassing fears, but that she would be in peace, taking each day for itself and enjoying the grace and the progress therein.

We also ask your prayer for her family, especially her parents, that they would also be kept in peace and rest through the Lord's supplyof all-sufficient grace.

We are thankful for so many members of the Body of Christ who have coordinated together over the past weeks in numerous ways to support our sister's physical, psychological and spiritual well-being since her initial physical collapse at the young people's camp.

Some saints in Timisoara

Friday, January 18, 2008

Healing in His Wings

POST #1 Limba Romana--Scroll down for English and Polish Posts. Thank you for praying.


Draga familie, frati crestini, prieteni si colegi ai Adrianei B.


Speram sa folosim acest weblog sa va tinem la curent cu progresul Adrianei dupa ce a suferit o hemoragie cerebrala pe data de vineri, 4 Ianuarie, 2008. Aici este un mic rezumat al detaliilor, pentru cei care nu stiu despre acest lucru.


Adriana era la Conferinta Tinerilor pe care o organizam iarna, mancand micul dejun in cantina, cand s-a plans de o durere de cap puternica si de pierderea vederii la unul dintre ochi. A cazut pe jos in timp ce colegii ei se grabeau sa contacteze un doctor. Nu putea sa mearga sau sa isi controleze pozitia. Cativa frati au dus-o in camera ei. Ambulanta nu a putut veni din cauza locatiei izolate si a vremii ( sosea cu polei), si intr-un final a fost dusa cu masina la cabinetul unui doctor dintr-un sat invecinat. Acolo s-a decis ca are nevoie de spitalizare si a fost dusa cu ambulanta la un spital din Arad, un oras apropiat.


O imagine CAT a aratat ca ea a suferit o sangerare majora pe creier, desi nu s-a putut vedea pozitia exacta. A fost transportata la Spitalul Judetean din Timisoara pentru continuarea evaluarii starii ei. In ziua de luni, 7 Ianuarie a fost operata la cap pentru indepartarea cheagului si a vaselor de sange care au cauzat sangerarea.

Potrivit modului in care intelegem conditia ei in acest moment (nefiind medici de profesie), tipul de " atac" pe care l-a suferit este ilustrat in urmatorul website. Sub sectiunea Ce il cauzeaza exista un hyperlink cu niste ilustrari interactive.www.strokecenter.org/pat/sah.htm Acestea v-ar putea ajuta in a intelege gravitatea conditiei ei si cum poate evolua.

Ranile dupa operatia Adrianei s-au vindecat bine si ea a fost externata ieri. Ea sta cu mama ei in casa unor sfinti din Timisoara. Planurile cu privirea la ingrijirea ei pe viitor sunt neclare in acest moment. Ea trebuie sa ramana pentru inca doua saptamani in Timisoara. Locul unde o sa stea dupa aceea si unde o sa primeasca tratamente si servicii ulterioare va fi decis de Adriana si de familia ei in urmatoarele doua saptamani. Rugati-va, va rugam, ca Domnul sa ii calauzeasca potrivit voii Lui.

Sora noastra este vioaie si activa. Astazi a iesit la plimbare, iar ieri a petrecut mult timp cu prieteni. Este fericita sa nu mai fie in mediul de spital si savureaza vizitele. Nu prezinta paralizie, dar are probleme cu vederea si memoria. Inca are ceva dureri si senzatii incomfortabile la cap.


Pentru cei care vor sa o incurajeze si sa ii transmita ca o iubesc si se gandesc la ea, cel mai bun lucru pe care il pot face este sa ii trimita prin posta o felicitare ilustrata, cu un scurt mesaj scris.



In acest moment ea nu poate citi sau scrie, timite sau primi mesaje email sau conversa cu ajutorul computerului. Cei care au grija de ea si o viziteaza aici in Timisoara pot sa ii transmita verbal salutarile si mesajele primite pentru ea, dar acum ea nu poate face lucrul asta de una singura.



Creierul ei a fost traumatizat de hemoragie si presiunea cauzata de aceasta ca si de operatie. Ea inca prezinta umflatura si presiune care afecteaza functionarea creierului. Amintirile ei sunt amestecate acum, ca niste piese de puzzle, si ea se lupta sa isi recastige ordinea in gandire si raspunsuri. Vorbirea ei nu este neclara, dar foarte des ea nu poate sa isi termine propozitiile sau sa gaseasca vocabularul necesar sa isi exprime gandurile. Cu toate acestea a existat un progres incurajator in fiecare zi.



Ea recunoaste persoane si le asociaza cu evenimente si simtaminte din trecut, dar nu isi poate aminti nume. Comunica atat in romana cat si in engleza, dar vocabularul ei in engleza s-a imputinat. Este ca si cum stie ce vrea sa spuna, realizeaza ca putea sa spuna asta inainte de"eveniment", dar nu-si poate aduce aminte cuvintele.





Toti speram ca mult din memoria in ce priveste cuvintele si numele va reveni in mod spontan. S-ar putea sa fie nevoie ca sa reinvete niste abilitati pe care le-a avut inainte, dar nu stim inca gradul la care o sa se intample. O parte din tratamentul care va urma va fi legat de evaluari in legatura cu aceste lucruri. Ele includ cititul, scrisul, folosirea computerului, folosirea unui telefon mobil, si cantatul la chitara. S-ar putea sa mai fie si alte lucruri pe care inca nu le-am descoperit.


ENGLISH POST #1



Dear Family, Christian Brothers, Friends and Colleagues of Adriana B.

We hope to use this weblog to keep you up to date on Adriana's progress after having suffered a cerebral hemorhage on Friday January 4, 2008. For the sake of those who don't know, here is a brief review of the details.

Adriana was at our winter Young People's Conference eating breakfast in the dining hall when she complained of severe head pain and of having lost the sight of one eye. As her colleagues rushed to contact a doctor she collapsed. She could not walk or control her position. Some brothers carried her to her room. Because of the remote location and the weather (very icy roads) an ambulance could not come, and she was eventually driven to the office of a doctor in a nearby village. From that point it was determined that she needed hospital care and she was driven by ambulance to a hospital in the nearby city of Arad.


A CAT image revealed that she had suffered major bleeding within her brain although the exact location was not shown. She was transported to the Judetean Hospital in Timisoara for further evaluation. On Monday January 7. She underwent surgery to her head to remove the blood clot and the vessels which were the source of the bleeding.



According to the best understanding we have of her condition at this time (and not being a medical professionals), the type of "stroke" she suffered is illustrated at the following website. Under the section What causes it is a hyperlink to some interactive illustrations. www.strokecenter.org/pat/sah.htm. You may find these helpful in understanding the seriousness of her condition and how it can proceed.



Adriana's surgical wounds have healed well and she left the hospital yesterday. She is staying with her mother at the home of some saints in Timisoara. The plans for her aftercare are uncertain at the moment. She must remain for at least two more weeks in Timisoara. Where she will stay after that, and where she will receive further treatments and services will be decided by Adriana and her family in the next two weeks. Please pray that the Lord would lead them according to His will.



Our sister is alert and active. She went for a walk today and yesterday sat for a long time with friends. She is happy to be out of the hospital environment and enjoys seeing people. She has no paralysis but does have vision and memory problems. She still has some pain and other uncomfortable sensations coming from her head.

For those who would like to send their encouragement and let her know that she is loved and thought about, the best thing is to send a card with pictures by regular post with a short written message.

At this time she cannot read or write, send and receive email nor chat by computer. Those who are caring for her and visiting her her in Timisoara can verbally share the greetings and messages they have received on her behalf, but at this point she is unable to do so herself.

Her brain has been traumatized by the hemorhage with its accompanying pressure as well as by the surgery. She still has swelling and pressure which would affect brain function. Her memories and recall mechanisms are "scrambled" right now, like pieces of a puzzle, and she is struggling to regain order in her thinking and responses. Her speech is not slurred but she is often unable to complete her thoughts or find the vocabulary to express them. There has been heartening progress every day however.

She knows people and associates them with events and feelings of the past but cannot recall names. She does communicate in both Romanian and English, but her English vocabulary has decreased. It is as though she knows what she wants to say, realizes that she could say it before her cerebral "event", but she cannot retrieve the words from her memory.

We all hope that much of this memory for words and names will spontaneously be restored. She may have to re-learn some skills she had before, but we do not yet know what the extent of this will be. Part of her ongoing treatment will be evaluations for such things. They include reading, writing, using the computer, using a mobil phone, and playing the guitar. There may be other items not yet discovered.

We do not want to discourage anyone from contacting her but hope that her many friends, Christian brothers and sisters and colleagues will realize that she may not be able to respond in the ways they may have expected in the past before she suffered her hemorhage. She wants very much to communicate with those who call her by phone. She has expressed appreciation for all the calls and email but her inability to manage this task very well has sometimes left her discouraged. At this point she does not want to use her phone. We hope this will change soon and we will post this information.

She is laughing and talking with visitors and enjoys her cat; she remains active and wants things to do. Last night she grated cheese for our corporate dinner.

We know that many all over the earth have prayed with us here in Timisoara and are eternally grateful for the care and supply in the Body of Christ. We ask you to continue to pray that she will make steady progress day by day. It has become clear that this will be a hard struggle, moving against the flow of the stream. We are comforted and assured in the face of this prospect by knowing that our sister has always been one to take her trials and struggles to the Lord and to open herself to his enlightening and healing help. We expect no less now, in what may be the greatest trial of her life. Much prayer in ascension rising up from many members of the Body is needed.

Her doctors have said that we may expect her to regain 75% of what she has lost within six months, and up to 100% after three years. These figures are based upon statistics and her progress could vary significantly. She will need to have regular check-ups and take medications for a long time to come. Certain travel and other activities may be limited even after several months. The encouraging news is that all of her progress has been swift so far. If this is the pattern for the future we may all take great heart from this.

We will post here frequently to keep you up to date. Please leave your comments and we will do our best to convey these to Adriana. Please remember also that old-fashioned greeting cards with pictures, sent through the post are especially helpful now. She has really enjoyed the ones she received so far. If you need the address leave a note in "comments" and we will send it to you.

Some saints in Timisoara


POLSKA #1


Droga rodzino, Bracia w Panu, przyjaciele i koledzy Adriany B.

Na tej stronie chcielibyśmy zamieszczać informacje związane ze stanem zdrowia Adriany po przejściu przez nią udaru mózgu, który miał miejsce w piątek 4 stycznia 2008r.

Wydarzyło się to podczas konferencji młodzieżowej w czasie śniadania. Adriana nagle poczuła silny ból głowy i niemożność widzenia na jedno oko. Zanim jeszcze wezwano lekarza, Adriana upadła. Nie była w stanie chodzić ani panować nad pozycją swego ciała więc zaniesiono ją do pokoju.
Z powodu dużej odległości od miasta, położenia schroniska, w którym odbywała się konferencja na wzgórzu oraz niekorzystnych warunków atmosferycznych (oblodzone drogi) ambulans nie mógł dotrzeć na miejsce. Z pomocą przyszedł pracownik schroniska posiadający samochód odpowiedni na takie warunki, który zawiózł Adrianę do lekarza w najbliższej wsi. Stamtąd karetką pogotowia została przewieziona do szpitala w pobliskim mieście w Arad.

Tomografia komputerowa wskazywała na duże krwawienie wewnątrz mózgu ale nie określała jego dokładnego miejsca, dlatego przewieziono nasza siostrę do szpitala rejonowego - Judetean Hospital - w Timisoarze w celu wykonania dalszych badań. W poniedziałek przeprowadzono operację w celu usunięcia zakrzepów oraz naczyń, które były przyczyną krwawienia.

Nasza obecna wiedza na temat choroby Adriany (biorąc pod uwagę, że nie jesteśmy związani z medycyną), pozwala nam sądzić iż rodzaj udaru jaki przeszła opisuje podana poniżej strona internetowa. W zakładce What causes it jest odnośnik do interaktywnych ilustracji.
www.strokecenter.org/pat/sah.htm
Pozwoli nam to zrozumieć powagę jej stanu oraz dalsze rokowania.

W czwartek, 16 stycznia Adriana została wypisana ze szpitala. Do tego czasu rany pooperacyjne prawie się wygoiły. Obecnie wraz z mamą przebywa w domu świętych w Timiszoarze gdzie musi pozostać przez conajmniej dwa tygodnie. Na razie nie wiadomo gdzie Adriana zamieszka po tym okresie ani jakiego rodzaju dalszej opieki medycznej będzie wymagała. Decyzje o tym podejmie sama Adriana i jej rodzina w ciągu najbliższych dwóch tygodni. Prosimy o modlitwę by Pan prowadził ich według Jego woli.

Nasza siostra aktywnie uczestniczy w życiu domowym, pomaga w drobnych pracach, bawi się z kotem. Wczoraj była z mamą na zakupach w pobliskim markecie. Dużo czasu spędza z przyjaciółmi rozmawiając i śmiejąc się. Bardzo cieszy się, że opuściła szpital i może przyjmować gości. Udar nie pozostawił paraliżu ale spowodował kłopoty z widzeniem i pamięcią. Adriana nadal skarży się na ból glowy i inne nieprzyjemne odczucia w obrębie czaszki.

Osoby, które chciałyby przekazać Adrianie słowa zachęty i zapewnić, że o niej pamiętają mogą uczynić to przesyłając pocztą kolorową kartkę z krótką informacją.
Na razie nie może ona czytać, pisać, odpowiadać na emaile czy gawędzić przez internet. Ci, którzy się o nią troszczą i ją odwiedzają mogą przekazać pozdrowienia ustnie ale sama Adriana nie jest w stanie tego robić.

Zarówno sam wylew jak i operacja wiąże się z ogromnymi zmianami w obrębie mózgu .
Utrzymujący się obrzęk i ciśnienie mają wpływ na różne jego funkcje. Wspomnienia i zdolność przywoływania w zdarzeń i faktów w pamięci Adriany są jak kawałki układanki. Z wysiłkiem stara się ona je uporządkować i z nich korzystać. Mówi wyraźnie ale często nie jest w stanie skończyć rozpoczętej myśli albo znaleźć właściwych słów by wyrazić to co chce. Jednak trzeba podkreślić, że każdego dnia obserwujemy znaczny postęp w tym zakresie.

Adriana rozpoznaje ludzi i kojarzy ich z wydarzeniami i odczuciami z przeszłości ale nie przypomina sobie ich imion. Porozumiewa się zarówno po rumuńsku jak i w języku angielskim jednak słownictwo angielskie jest znacznie ograniczone. Prawdopodobnie będzie musiała na nowo nauczyć sie pewnych rzeczy ale jeszcze nie wiadomo w jakim zakresie. Wygląda na to, że wie co chce powiedzieć, jest świadoma, że może to zrobić ale nie może wydobyć słów z pamięci. Ufamy, że wiele z zasobów słownictwa spontanicznie powróci. Choć być może będzie musiała na nowo nauczyć się takich rzeczy jak czytanie, pisanie, gra na gitarze, używanie komputera i telefonu komórkowego. Wykażą to dalsze badania.

Nie chcemy nikogo zniechęcać do kontaktu z Adrianą, ale ufamy, że jej liczne grono przyjaciół, kolegów, rodzina oraz bracia i siostry w Panu zrozumieją, że Adriana nie jest w stanie odpowiedzieć na ich troskę tak jak zwykła to była robić przed chorobą. Bardzo chciałaby rozmawiać z osobami, które próbują kontaktować się z nią telefonicznie i ceni sobie telefony ale trudności w prowadzeniu rozmowy telefonicznej powodują, że obecnie woli nie używać telefonu komórkowego. Mamy nadzieję, że to wkrótce się zmieni o czym Was niezwłocznie powiadomimy.

Wiemy, że wiele osób na całej ziemi dołączyło do naszej modlitwy o Adrianę tu w Timiszoarze. Jesteśmy niewymownie wdzięczni za troskę i zaopatrzenie płynące z Ciała Chrystusa. Prosimy byście nadal modlili się o postępującą poprawę. Wiemy z pewnością, że będzie to trudne zadanie, jak wiosłowanie pod prąd. Pociechą jest to, że nasza siostra zawsze przynosiła swe trudy i zmagania do Pana otwierając się na Jego światło i przyjmując od Niego uzdrowienie. Ufamy, że nie stanie się inaczej i tym razem w sytuacji, która być może jest największym wyzwaniem jej życia. Potrzeba do tego wiele modlitwy we wniebowstąpieniu pochodzącej od wielu członków Ciała.

Lekarze przypuszczają, że 75% swych zdolności Adriana odzyska w ciągu najbliższych sześciu miesięcy, a do 100% po trzech latach. Przewidywania te oparte są na statystykach i trzeba wziąć pod uwagę różnice indywidualne. Będzie musiała poddawać się regularnym badaniom kontrolnym i przyjmować leki przez długi okres czasu. Nie będzie mogła korzystać z pewnych środków transportu, brać udziału w niektórych zajęciach ani wykonywać określonych prac. Na uwagę zasługuje jednakże fakt, że odzyskiwanie przez Adi sprawności jak narazie postępuje błyskawicznie. Całym sercem wierzymy, że tak będzie nadal!

Będziemy na bieżąco informować Was o ważnych zmianach.
Możecie zostawić tu wiadomości dla Adriany a my dołożymy staran by je przekazać naszej siostrze. Staromodne” kartki z życzeniami wysyłane pocztą w chwili obecnej będą bardzo przydatne. Adriana naprawdę cieszyła się tymi, które do tej pory otrzymała. Jeśli chcielibyście coś przesłać – prosimy o pozostawienie informacji w „Uwagach” a podamy Wam adres.

Święci z Timiszoary