With Great Expectation...

This is the latest update on our sweet friend Kristi Walker posted by her dad. I post this for the sheer fact that I know you will be faithful to pray. Friends, strangers, fellow bloggers and friendly readers, please cry out for this sister.

Lord, we wait with great expectation, knowing that You alone are able to heal. Let our hearts not be troubled but our minds firm in the truth that You have given us.

Thursday 2/12 4pm
Posted 59 minutes ago
We ask for everyone to pray for Kristi as she has had a change in her condition. Lab work from a culture taken on Monday showed this morning that the blood infection was caused by an organism that is resistant to typical antibiotics. It takes three days for this determination to be made, but when made, the docs took immediate action to change antibiotic to attack this bug. The infection is very serious, but the new antibiotic should be able to deal with it. Unfortunately the infection causes a precipitous drop in blood pressure which has occurred twice today. Docs are giving drugs to get the blood pressure up. Apparently this infection is a consumer of platelets as her platelet count has dropped to 10. In addition to Dr. Graham, the infectious disease docs and kidney docs have been with her. Her situation has been described as grave, but Dr. Graham said he did not think was immediately life threatening. We are thankful for the quick diagnosis and action by the doctors and staff.

Discovery of this bug has led to immediate action on part of the medical staff to create an isolation environment. Kristi can still have visitors but all must wear masks, gowns and gloves to avoid spread in the hospital. Docs are not concerned about spread to family including Kristi's kids. All of this is a bit disturbing as a new level of attention is provided by the docs and nurses. Kristi continues to be in pain. The docs do not like to give chemotherapy while an infection is present so treatment that would normally have been tomorrow may be delayed. The low platelet count is also an impediment to treatment. These are issues as we all know that treatment is important to address liver and platelet issues. Kristi is being given transfusions of platelets.

We ask that you pray for Kristi in several ways. First, that the infection is stopped by the drugs given to her. Also, that the platelet count will increase so that chemotherapy can be given as soon as possible. Third, pray for relief of pain. Also, pray that she will be able to wake from the sleep so that we can communicate with her. Please pray for God's will to be done in her life. We want a miracle and are praying for God's hand to give her healing.

It is very hard to deal with her condition as her body has been ravaged by disease and infection. We want her to be well, but her health is completely in God's hands now. The docs are doing all they can, but there is somewhat of a "finger in the dike" medical crisis around her. If she is to be healed, it will be only by God's hand, in His time and by His grace. If that is not His plan, then just as Abraham was prepared to bring Issac to sacrifice, we are trying to accept that we must turn Kristi over to our Savior to be in His presence instead of our presence, if that is His will. Of course we like to remember that God didn't require Abraham to make that sacrifice. We like to think of Lazarus and the daughter of Jairus as Christ healed them at the last possible moment. That's the miracle for which we pray.

We have asked for a miracle of healing for Kristi, but a friend reminded me today that we are seeing miracles all around us as a result of Kristi's life and her struggle with this disease. We are hearing daily of lives being changed and of folks facing up to their faith, sometimes those who profess to lack faith, wondering if maybe Kristi's faith is something they'd like to have in their lives. Praise God for those miracles and that God has allowed us to see every day how lives have been impacted. Thanks for your prayers. Docs say the next 24-48 hours are critical. I know we said yesterday the next one to three weeks, but we don't get to choose the time. We have been blessed by the support of all of the folks who have read this and have been praying for Kristi.

Mike Winters