Laughter is the best medicine...

"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy." -- Job 8:21

September 23, 2008

"Chancey, Chancey, Bo-bancey, Banana-fana-fo-fancey, Fe-fi-mo-mancey....Chancey!" you ever wonder what effect goofy songs have on someone's heart. Well tonight we had a night of laughter with Chance. When I arrived at the hospital tonight, I could see that Chance was up (well not totally up yet, but as up as he could be). He is still not tracking with his eyes, but he can hear us and is becoming more and more responsive. So I just started talking to him. After a few sorta responses, I asked Chance to blink for his mom. AND....AND....HE DID! So I shouted "WAHOOO! Chance! Chancey you did it! WOW! YOU'RE AWESOME!" Tanya and I started laughing! To our surprise Chance cracked a big HUGE grin....he was smiling so we started laughing more and his smile got bigger and bigger. He is still not fully "awake" but he is with us as much as he can be right now. Tanya tried to take a picture of him smiling. So I kept talking to him. Whatever I could think of stupid, goofy things....like....

• "Chance, Jr. is back on Maui waiting for you to come home cuz no one else is going to sneak him some ice pops." Big smile again....
• "Chance, Gabie told me you tease him when he is doing his homework....you stand behind who is helping him and make faces trying to get him in trouble." Bigger smile....
• "Chance, when we were in PICU and we were sitting in the waiting room Mikela farted and everyone had to leave because it stunk so bad...was so hauna!" Almost laughing....
• "Chance, Gabie and Lainey are back on Maui in school....then have lots of homework and you don't have to worry about that now. No homework for you right now." Big smile...
• "Chance, Chance you are making your mommy's heart leap for joy seeing you smile, keep smiling!" Bigger smile.
• "Chancey, Chancey, Bo-bancey, Banana-fana-fo-fancey, Fe-fi-mo-mancey....Chancey!" Almost laughing again....

We were trying to keep him occupied while Jeanette, his nurse, was needing to change a clogged IV. Jeannette called in Paul (the flight nurse that brought Chance over from Maui), affectionately known as the the "IV Man." Paul and Janette joined us in laughing with Chance. He was struggling a bit....he needed more meds but along the way his smile was so bright and big. Randy joined us and I sang the silly song again. Chance smiled for his dad. Seeing Randy smile was great too! After Paul and Jeanette got his IV back on track and gave him his next dose of meds....it was time to countdown 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 3, 2, 1, contact. His eyes were really droopy and then closed as he slipped into the slumber of rest for the night. His heart rate was in the high 80's when I left the hospital and ranging between 87-110, even when he is stressed his heart rate is at around 120. Last week it was sustained in the 120's and peaking in the 150's when he was agitated. He is not grinding his teeth anymore. He does move his arms and legs some (more on the right than the left). They are still working with him on passive range of motion movements to keep him from becoming stiff.

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." --Is 41:10

God has been showing His mighty hand in response to your prayers. It was a very encouraging night for all of us who have seen God's thumbprint each day. One day at a time, one step at a time, one moment at a time....God is large and in charge.

Mikela, Lainey, Gabie and Randy Jr. are all back on Maui. So please pray for their hearts in this time of being separated from their brother and parents. The school quarter ends in a week. Pray that Lainey and Gabie will be caught up with all their school work.

Others to pray for:

• Michael was discharged from Kapiolani and sent back to Kaiser Moanalua. He was only at Kapiolani for his Chemotherapy treatment. I got to visit with Michael and his mom before he left the hospital. Michael accepted Christ not too long before he was sent over to Oahu and then diagnosed with Leukemia. Michael has a great sense of humor and a big smile. Please continue to pray for his healing....he is just beginning this battle as that was his first round of Chemo.
• Maddie and Marita (her mom) will be flying back to Honolulu from Maui tomorrow. Maddie will be admitted back into Kapiolani Hospital on Thursday for pre-op prep. On Friday, September 26 she will be having surgery number 24. It is slated to be an 8-hour surgery. Pray for Dr. Sutherland who will be the surgeon and all who will be caring for Maddie. Pray that the Lord will be with Maddie and that this will be her LAST surgery. Pray for her recovery to go smoothly and quicker than expected.
  
• Brittany was also released from Kapiolani Hospital and moved to St. Francis hospital for further care. She is out of PICU...praise the Lord. Continue to pray for her and her family: Jamie (mom), Killy (dad), K-one (brother), and Sandy (sister). Jamie will keep me posted on her condition.
• Samantha (2yrs old) has been in the hospital for two months with a stomach infection. When I first saw her in the halls, her dad was pushing her in a stroller with a feeding tube up her nose. Last night she was walking in the halls and playing peek-a-boo with me. No more feeding tube but still not out of the woods. She is an adorable little girl.
• Shannon's family-continue to pray for them as they step through this time of grieving. The link below was sent to me. It was made by Shannon's school friends. Shannon is the beautiful Indian looking girl in all the photos. That is what struck me about her in PICU....she's absolutely beautiful. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=117pTKlIYz0

The prayers of the saints are being heard by the God of the universe and He is answering them. Mahalo nui loa for standing with us in prayer.

Come on sing with me.... "Chancey, Chancey, Bo-bancey, Banana-fana-fo-fancey, Fe-fi-mo-mancey....Chancey!" Hope you enjoy picture I took while I was singing the goofy song. We wanted you to see his really big smile too!