UPDATE ON BRIAN 1ST FEB: Not long after we got the previous update out to you Brian was moved again – this time to a Rehabilitation Hospital for the elderly (!)
It’s not far from the previous hospital, but they have had to start from ‘square one’ with all his details, and have had to answer scores of questions again. It was originally not very easy to find in the fog (!) but it’s OK now.
Brian is currently in alone in a two-bed ward whilst they check that he is not carrying any infection, including Norovirus.
So – there are a number of fresh points for prayer please:
1 With Norovirus affecting both hospitals that they will allow Gilly and their son Tim to visit for reasonable periods of time. (There are currently severe restrictions.)
2 That they will be able to establish good speech therapy for Brian again, as it is not automatic here, and he does need help with technical and longer words, as well as the physiotherapy.
3 That Gilly is able to dress the leg ulcers successfully and that the dressings are not disturbed and that we see real progress with the healing.
Thanks all.
Again, they send their love and are so appreciative of all your prayers and love and support.
UPDATE ON BRIAN 31ST JAN:
Some encouraging news from Gilly: Brian has been moved to the Stroke Rehab Ward where progress is being made. Physiotherapists also attend to him here, and he has been up and crossing the ward with a walking frame, which is very good news.
His speech is getting better. The speech therapist has been getting him to repeat sentences and to relearn how to form some words. A few days ago she asked him to ‘tell a little story’, and see how he coped with explaining something using alternative words if he was having difficulty with the first ones that he thought of. To do this Brian shared his testimony of how he became a Christian – and she was touched.
Today she has asked him to do a practice run – to pretend he is preaching to a congregation, even using notes in the usual way. Well, he plans to speak for 5 mins on ‘The Importance of Israel in Bible Prophecy’ to his congregation of one!
Brian has been able to witness to others in hospital. One previous neighbour from Overton (long ago) was opposite him in one ward after a big stroke, and has also been moved to his latest ward as well, and there have been opportunities to witness to him and to his son who visits.
There is also a well-spoken and very well-to-do old welsh chap in the bed next to Brian now, who has told staff ‘I just want to die – don’t give me physio’ – as after his stroke he won’t be able to manage by himself or to play the piano again. ‘I’m not frightened of dying’ he says, ‘I’ve discussed it all with my daughter in Denmark’ – and he has told the staff that this is what he wants.
However, without hope this is a dreadful plan. Gilly has been reading large portions of scripture to Brian, many very relevant to this chap’s situation, well aware that he is right behind her and listening in! Gilly has also been able to be kind to him and to help him when she can with issues that he has, and she has also provided ice for his water when she gets Brian some. He has really thanked her for helping him.
Some of you may have thought that Brian was reading and replying to emails again. He has looked at some, but Gilly has been managing them where she can and has also been responding to Facebook items for him, so please limit emails and messages to him. Thanks.
Medically some things are encouraging. With his legs up, and with the current diet, they have been getting slimmer and making the ulcer dressings easier for Gilly to do, with a smaller surface area, so there is improvement there. His sugar levels are also stabilising with the correct (low) amounts of insulin and metformin.
Once again lots of love from both of them to you all, and many, many thanks for all your prayers.
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