From Father Glenn:
"Stretch out your hand!" This is the command Our Lord gives to a man with a shriveled hand in today's Gospel. The gospel says, "The man did so and his hand was perfectly restored". Today, Fr. Benedict was commanded, "Father raise your eyebrow! Raise your finger!"
Nothing. No movement.
Today things were quiet. Perhaps too quiet. Father is still asleep. The chemicals put into his system the first night were necessary to keep his body still and to dull the pain. Evidently, the sedatives are doing their thing, perhaps a bit more than expected. The doctors have told us that every person reacts differently to the same doses. The way I read the present situation is that there is a certain "cautious optimism". Professionals are understandably hesitant to offer their opinions. Sometimes you get more from the nurses' expressions than from what they say. Some raise their eyebrows and shrug their shoulders as if to say, "Who knows?" Some slightly purse their lips and tilt their heads which looks like: "I'm sorry". Many of you have been through this with loved ones. "An emotional roller coaster" is how one mother of a cancer victim recently described it to me.
Yet, today we choose to thank God. Fr. Benedict has survived thus far. We're into our second week. Every day he is with us is a gift. He is in little pain. The head wound is healing. The leg was repaired masterfully with no apparent negative effects. His color is good. His blood pressure "okay", and his heart rate generally moderate. His lungs show no signs of pneumonia or infections.
Wednesday, January 21, 2004
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
A Tale of Two Howards?
Howard Beal in the movie Network was "Mad as hell and he wasn't going to take it anymore."
and the defiant...
Howard Dean
Daily Update on Father Benedict
From Father Glenn:
Today is Monday, January 19. Here is the latest update on Fr. Benedict.
Much appears to be the same on the surface, yet we are hoping much improvement is happening in hiding. Father's heart rate has slightly improved, but his blood pressure dipped a bit - two areas that are continually being monitored by his attending nurses.
A plastic surgeon examined the two head wounds which are now unbandaged and slowly healing. Father has one small but deep puncture right above his right eye which should heal in time. The second is a "Y" shaped wound more to the back of the skull. The mere fact the doctors are speaking of cosmetic surgery "in the future" gives us great hope!
They had Father in a slightly raised position to prevent fluid building up in the lungs; now he is lying prone due to some fluid buildup in the legs. The fear of pneumonia is keeping everyone on alert. Please, continue to "attack the enemy" with your prayers to the Holy Spirit. Begin and end your prayer by taking a good deep breath - fill your lungs, then slowly let the air out. This is what puts oxygen into the blood and what is not happening due to Father's shallow breathing.
Father John Lynch and the friars will continue to read, pray, and sing to Father as they have been doing sweetly and gently. Tomorrow, they will be making a greater effort to stimulate the senses - especially sound and touch. There will be a slight reduction of sedatives so that Father will come out of the "fog". There appears to be no brain damage and Father Benedict is not in a coma; nevertheless, the body has experienced severe trauma - a real "shock to the system" to say the very least.
A number of people have mentioned they have read our prayer for Father on EWTN. Perhaps if we make copies, we can be praying together in a very special way. I will give you another update, if God wills, tomorrow night. God bless you!
Today is Monday, January 19. Here is the latest update on Fr. Benedict.
Much appears to be the same on the surface, yet we are hoping much improvement is happening in hiding. Father's heart rate has slightly improved, but his blood pressure dipped a bit - two areas that are continually being monitored by his attending nurses.
A plastic surgeon examined the two head wounds which are now unbandaged and slowly healing. Father has one small but deep puncture right above his right eye which should heal in time. The second is a "Y" shaped wound more to the back of the skull. The mere fact the doctors are speaking of cosmetic surgery "in the future" gives us great hope!
They had Father in a slightly raised position to prevent fluid building up in the lungs; now he is lying prone due to some fluid buildup in the legs. The fear of pneumonia is keeping everyone on alert. Please, continue to "attack the enemy" with your prayers to the Holy Spirit. Begin and end your prayer by taking a good deep breath - fill your lungs, then slowly let the air out. This is what puts oxygen into the blood and what is not happening due to Father's shallow breathing.
Father John Lynch and the friars will continue to read, pray, and sing to Father as they have been doing sweetly and gently. Tomorrow, they will be making a greater effort to stimulate the senses - especially sound and touch. There will be a slight reduction of sedatives so that Father will come out of the "fog". There appears to be no brain damage and Father Benedict is not in a coma; nevertheless, the body has experienced severe trauma - a real "shock to the system" to say the very least.
A number of people have mentioned they have read our prayer for Father on EWTN. Perhaps if we make copies, we can be praying together in a very special way. I will give you another update, if God wills, tomorrow night. God bless you!
Monday, January 19, 2004
Blessed Orthodox Epiphany!!!
Today the Russian Orthodox celebrate Epiphany. They bless the water and all over Russia and Eastern Europe believers bathe themselves in the blessed water.
Yes, that is ice they are standing on folks! The temperarture was about 31 degrees.
Yes, that is ice they are standing on folks! The temperarture was about 31 degrees.
At an Undisclosed Location?
Vice President Cheney to meet with Pope John Paul II this Friday...IHT: Cheney to lead group at economic forum
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