Another Update From Wendell

Wendell posted another update today News Flash from Vanderbilt.

Good News

Wendell called me as I was coming in to work this morning. He said that the doctors had been in and removed the remaining drains from Debbie's neck and arm, and had removed her trach. She's breathing well on her own, and can talk. She said hi to me this morning. They also removed the bandage to look at her arm. They said it looked good and was healing well. The place on her leg is healing well, too. Wendell said that they were talking about when to send her home. He thinks that they may send her home by Thursday. 'Course he was in a tizzy, (if you know Wendell you'll understand) saying that they flew in like a flock of vultures, sent things flying and flew out again, leaving him to clean up the mess (papers and junk on floor, etc).

On another note, Seth is coming home today. He left last Tuesday going to Colorado with Pastor Pallotta and David & Nick Lewis. The Lewis' are missionaries going to Colorado who have been in our church the last couple of years while they were on deputation. Seth and Pastor Pallotta went with them to help them get moved in their new home. They have had quite an interesting trip, and Seth has had a blast. I know that he probably won't stop talking for two weeks when he gets home! He's also flying for the very first time ever, today. They should get into Nashville a little after 3 today (Ms Tammy is picking them up and dropping the Lewis' off) and will probably pass the rest of the Lewis' in the airport. Mrs. Lewis, Hannah, Sarah and Nathan are flying to Colorado today. I know that they would all appreciate your prayers for a safe and uneventful trip. I can't wait to see Seth and hear all his tales. I have missed that boy!

Debbie's in A Room

They just moved Debbie into a room about an hour ago and just got her settled in. She is trying to sleep right now, and Wendel has gone to eat. She seems to be doing really well. The doctor said this morning that they will change the trach out tomorrow for a smaller one, which will allow her to breath some through her nose and mouth. If that works well and the swelling is down, they will then see about removing the trach. He said that she would like the smaller one better, because it would allow her to breath through her nose. They will also remove the bandage on her arm tomorrow to check the skin graft, and replace it with a smaller one. Most all of her pain is coming from the place on her leg and her arm. It burns. But the meds are helping. She is doing amazingly well, and will do much better once the trach is removed. She told me that the feeding tube she was so worried about "is no big deal", and has said she isn't even hungry. Please just keep praying for her. I know that she appreciates it more than you will ever know.

Nashville

Getting ready to head to Nashvile to see Debbie. She was doing good last night. Still haven't moved her to the step down unit due to lack of a room. Maybe today. Update later.

Nebraska Grandkids

Wyatt, who will be 1 on June 12th.

Kylie, who turned three in January.

Tasha has updated the pictures on her blog. These two I stole from her site to tempt you to go look. They are too cute to miss. I can't wait to get to see them. Tasha and the kids will be in Tennessee on the 19th of this month.

Just Talked To Wendell

I just talked to Wendell for the first update today. He said that Debbie was still doing as well as could be expected. They had had her up and had given her a bath. They are thinking that she may be moved to a step down unit tomorrow. I asked him if they still thought they would be removing the trach in a couple of days, and he said yes. That is what bothers Debbie alot. She feels like she's not getting any air because she can't breathe through her mouth or nose and when they remove the oxygen they have placed over the trach to do something, it makes it even worse. But for now, all seems to be well. Please continue to pray.

Latest Update

For Steph's 3:00 update, click here.

Morning Update

I just talked to Steph and she was on her way to the hospital for visiting hours. She said she'd talked to Wendell, who spent the night in the SICU waiting room, and he said the doctors had been in and said Debbie looked good and was doing good. Please keep praying!

Just Got Home

I just got home and wanted to post an update before going to bed, as I plan to sleep late in the morning before going to work at noon. We got to go back and see Debbie before we left the hospital. Wendell stayed back there throughout the whole visiting time and the rest of us went back one at a time to see her. Pastor Jones, Steph and Jess all came back talking about how good she looked, especially compared to last time. I was unable to be there last time, so really didn't have a point of reference. She did look amazingly well for all that she's been through. While I was in the room, one of Dr. Nettervilles associates came in to check on her. He walked past her bed to the next one, and then came back. He told us that he didn't think she was the right patient because she was interacting with us. He said that most of the time his patients aren't even awake at that point, much less trying to communicate. He said she was doing really well. He instructed her to relax and try to rest as much as possible. She would mouth things to us, and I did pretty good reading her lips. As we were leaving the room, she told us to pray for her. It is so hard to see your little sister laying there like that, knowing all that she's been through and all that's ahead. It makes me hurt for her, and there's nothing I can do to take the pain away. Once again, I ask you to please pray for her. Pray for a quick and complete healing. Pray she'll have the ability to tolerate the pain and that there will be very little pain. But most of all, please remember her prayer request...that God will giver her grace. He has been so good, and merciful, and gracious! We can never thank Him enough.

Debbie's Out of Surgery

Debbie's out of surgery and doing good. It took 10 1/2 hours. We should be able to go back and see her soon, they told us it would be about an hour, and it's been close to that. She has a trach and a feeding tube. If all goes perfect, she'll have the trach for 5 to 6 days. The said they didn't want her to eat or drink anything for 7 days. She has alot of tissue in her mouth for the flap, but it will shrink as the healing takes place. The place on her arm is 8x12 centimeters and then she has a cut up her arm where they took the vein. They took skin from her left thigh for the skin graft to her arm. They said that they wanted her conscious and breathing on her own today, and she will have to begin working her mouth almost immediately to prevent it trying to close again. Please pray that the healing will be quick and complete. And for the Lord to give her grace. That is her constant request. I will update again after we get to see her.

Wendell Spoke To The Doctor

Wendell just spoke to Dr. Netterville. He said that Debbie was doing great. The have clipped the scar tissue and muscles and have her mouth open all the way. The are currently suturing the graft and attaching the blood vessels and getting them to work. They took out several lymph nodes, and he said it did appear that one may be cancerous, but they won't know till they send it off. He also told us that they were ahead of schedule and may be finished before 7:30. That's what we know at this time. Please keep praying!

1:53

Still waiting. But our numbers have grown. There is Dad, Me, Wendell, Steph, Jess, Karen, Aaron, Punky, and Pastor & Mrs. Jones.

11:12

They've updated the screen and it says that the surgery is in progress and patient doing well.

In Surgery

Not sure what Wendell said to get that look!

Debbie is in surgery now.

We're At Vandy

We are at Vanderbilt and they have taken Debbie back and are prepping her for surgery. They are saying it should be about 12 hours. I'll update as soon as I know more. Please pray!! She was nervous about the surgery and had said they'd better hurry and call her or she was leaving! She also tried to get me to go when they called her name, but I was having none of it.

Punky's Graduation

My neice, Tiffany Brianna Ruppe, aka Punky, graduated from high school at Calvary Baptist School in Kingston tonight.

The graduating class preparing to receive their diplomas.

Punky waiting to receive her diploma.

Pastor Pallotta who brought the commencement message, the graduating class, Brandi Guge, Goldie Mack, Grace Anna Phillips, Micah Plemmons & Tiffany Ruppe; Pastor Plemmons (at the podium), Pastor Ray Bearden and Bro. Tapp. Michael & Stephanie Jones, Wendel, Debbie, Mikiah & Tiffany Ruppe

Sisters-Kiah & Punky

Punky & her fiance, Aaron Crabtree

Debbie & Wendell

Congratulations, Punky!! We love you and are so proud of you!

Some Scenery Pictures from Cades Cove

Cades Cove

This past weekend, Memorial Weekend, we went to Cades Cove and spent the day. We being Malachi, Misty, Mackeinzie, Charlie, Seth, Pamela (Seth's girlfriend) and I. We had a really good time, although Charlie didn't do much walking since he hurt his knee the Thursday before. He was stepping up into the storage building and heard something pop in his knee. We then spent 2 1/2 hours in the emergency room. They took xrays and immobilized it and told him to see an orthopedic specialist. He went to see Dr. Poseman yesterday. He said that he believed it was probably a torn miniscus and they did an MRI. He will get the results on the 8th, but he no longer has to wear the brace. I think he was pleased to see it go.

Anyway, we spent Saturday at Cades Cove. We saw six bear, 2 dear and 3 snakes.

Sorry, no pictures of the snakes. I don't do snake pictures!

You can't take this bunch anywhere, they're always wrestling around.

This is something you won't see often. Malachi turning loose of money so Keinzie could buy a stuffed bear. Keinzie and her stuffed bear.

Charlie, Seth & Pamela

Malachi's favorite part, the wild boar trap.

Seth & Pamela in the mill.

We had a picnic lunch at the halfway point, after checking out the gift shop and all the buildings.

Seth & Pamela

Malachi, Misty & Mackeinzie

Even though there are no pictures of me, I really did go on the trip. I was just always the one making the pictures. After spending the day at Cades Cove, we stopped by Lazy Daze campground to visit with Debbie & Kim who were camping there with some other friends. Karen took this picture of me, Debbie & Kim.

Who Does Abby Look Like?

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Me ~ Abby

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Rachel ~ Abby

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Wyatt~Abby

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Do you see any family resemblance?

Blessed

Today I was blessed.

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I took a vacation day today to go with my Dad to Morristown to visit with my great aunt & uncle and my cousin. My aunt Hassie will be 90 years old on September 18 of this year. My Uncle Clarence just turned 85 and my cousin Everett is 71. My aunt Hassie is my Papaw Buckeye's little sister.

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My earliest memories of them were when we lived up in the holler in Jett Valley and attended Child's Memorial Baptist Church. Clarence used to lead the singing at Child's Memorial. They lived down a little ways and across the road from us up in the holler. One of my favorite memories is from the time when I was about 6. Hass and Clarence were the first ones in our family to get a color tv set. Back when I was growing up (yeah, I know, back in the stone age) cartoons only came on on Saturday mornings. So, on Saturday mornings, me and Debbie would walk down to their house and watch cartoons. In color! They would always give us Cokes (in the little glass bottles), Fritos and cakes. We loved it! Uncle Clarence asked me today if I remembered the time he aggravated Debbie about giving her a cake. He offered it to her and then wouldn't let her have it. When he decided to give it to her, she refused to take it, said she didn't want his old cake. I could tell he enjoyed the memory. When my baby sister Kim was born, Debbie and I were so proud of her! We couldn't wait to go tell Aunt Hass about our little sister. I remember I drew a picture of Kim wrapped up in her blanket laying in the bassinet. To my seven year old eyes that drawing looked exactly like Kim! I have no idea what it actually looked like. I was so excited about it. When we went to Hassie's, I couldn't wait to show her my picture. I remember she exclaimed over it and told me how beautiful my baby sister was. Forty one years later, it's a memory I've never forgotten. Just a few weeks after Kim was born, we packed everything up and moved to California where we spent the next 8 years. I remember when we came home to visit, Aunt Hass always had a hug and kiss for us. Then she'd laugh and wipe her lipstick off our cheeks. By the time we moved back to Tennessee, Hassie and Clarence had moved to Morristown. We didn't get to see them as much, but we always enjoyed their visits. No matter what, Hass always had a hug and a kiss and a kind word. She used to chase my younguns around the porch at Granny's to give them a hug. She had to know about each one of them today, and Charlie. After Charlie & I got married, we discovered that Hassie and Charlie's grandmother Estie, had been girlhood friends and played together up in the holler.

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There was a lot of talk of memories today. She shared some with me that I never knew. Her daddy died when she was 2. My Papaw Buckeye was six, their brother Jack was 4 and her mother, who we called Maw (see post "Remembering Maw"), was six months pregnant with their little sister, Ann. She told me that from that day Lus (Papaw Buckeye) became like a daddy to them, always watching out for them. Such a huge role for a 6 year old! Maw used to have to walk to work. She said that one evening, Jack had went to meet Maw and Papaw was sitting on a stool in the kitchen holding Ann. Hass was sitting in the floor. She said that Papaw had thought he heard something outside and had got the gun. She said while they were sitting there, the gun went off and the bullet almost hit her and went in the wall above her head!

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Not only was there alot of talk about memories, but there was also a lot of talk about church and the Lord. Hassie's health is not very good. She had a heart attack a while back, had double pneumonia and had to be on life support for a while, and has just recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, which she told me is also in her bones. She's not able to go to church much anymore. She talked about how good the Lord was, and how she didn't know how people made it without him. Uncle Clarence told us about when he got saved 56 years ago. He left the room once and was whistling and singing "Amazing Grace" as he went through the house. Dad and Clarence went to get lunch at Captain D's. While they were gone, Hassie told me what good care Clarence took of her and Everett. Next month, they will have been married 61 years! She also told me that she was just waiting on the Lord to call her home. She said that sometimes she hurts so bad that she wishes He'd take her on home, but she knows she'll go when her time is right. She said "He's always there to hold your hand if you'll just reach up and take it".

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I went to Morristown today hoping I'd be a blessing to them by visiting. But instead,

I WAS THE ONE BLESSED.

I saw God's grace, and mercy, and His love in their lives.

I was humbled by the beauty of it all.

And I'm thankful, so thankful, I went.

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Before we left, I had Dad take this picture of me and Hassie with my cell phone. It's a little blurry, but, oh well, it's hard to see through the tears anyway.