Prayer Request For My Best Friend

[orvet]

I just received a call from the mother of Paul, my best friend and fishing partner for almost 45 years. She said Paul is in the Intensive Care Unit in a hospital in Fort Lauderdale Florida. He had been residing in a skilled nursing unit of a care center and apparently had picked up an infection there that was not tended to properly. As a result he has become very ill and is in ICU on a respirator at this point.

Paul and I have been best friends for almost 45 years. I have seen him at death’s doorstep before. About five years ago he was declared brain-dead. Alyson and I drove up to see him in the hospital and tell him goodbye. When we prayed for him God did a miracle. Less than an hour after the prayer, he was off the respirator and instead of being brain-dead he was setting up answering questions! God use that miracle to bring his brother to the Lord. Paul told me that while he didn’t look forward to going through that again, he would gladly do it again if it meant someone would be saved.
Here is the thread in the Upper Room Forum for that time: http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... r&start=15

I don’t know what God’s intent is for Paul at this moment, but I do know Paul’s heart. Paul’s heart is that God would be glorified in his life; in sickness or health or in life or death!

Please pray that Paul would be healed.
And pray that God would be glorified through Paul’s life or death.
This is what Paul told me was his wish when we talked about this a few months ago.

Thank you for your prayers,
Dale


Paul (on the right) & I in 2006

[treefarmer]

Dale, We will remember your friend Paul in our prayers. Praying the Lord will heal him, but also praying for grace for all involved, family and friends.
Treefarmer

[gino]

Dale, prayers sent my friend

[junebug]

PRAYERS SENT FROM CALI...........

[orvet]

Thanks guys for the prayers. I know there many of you praying that did not post.

I talked to Paul's mom this evening. She said Paul is doing better today and they are taking him out tomorrow for a CT scan or some other form of diagnostic testing.
He is still in the medically induced coma because of the breathing tube. I guess as long as he has that they will keep him sedated because it us very uncomfortable to have a tube stuck through a hole in your throat.

Praise the Lord, all the prayers are working.
Thanks again guys and keep praying,
Dale

[Colonel26]

Dale, I'm so sorry to hear this. As soon as I saw that title I thought, Oh no not Paul again!

I've already prayed for him this morning and will continue to do so.

[djknife13]

Prayed this morning and will put Paul on my list. ___Dave

[bestgear]

I will add Paul and all of those around him to my daily prayers. ”May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13).

[orvet]

In my mind I know someday my friend Paul will die, probably before I do, but I'm not ready for that to happen yet.
I think that is why I have so much angst every time he is in these life-and-death situations.
What amazes me as how good God is in spite of my lack of faith.

I got a call from Paul's mom this morning. He finally woke up from the coma and is awake, alert and coherent even though he cannot talk very well at this point in time.
His mom held the phone to his ear and I was able to talk to him for a minute and he could reply by making grunting noises, but that's about all he could do, but I think that is pretty good considering he just had the trach tube removed from his throat shortly before!

Thank you all for your prayers! It really DOES make a difference.
Please keep praying for Paul, he's not out of the woods yet, but prayer has brought yet another miracle in his life!

God bless you all,
Dale

[orvet]

AN UPDATE ON PAUL

I talked to Paul’s mom last night; she said Paul is back in the ICU. He did regain consciousness this last week and was pretty lucid for a couple days but then began to hallucinate and they had trouble waking him up. The last two days they have not been able to wake him up and they have returned him to the ICU. It appears that he has pneumonia as well is the original infection and now he has a new infection in his hand.

Please continue to pray for his recovery.
Thank you.

[orvet]

After several days back in the coma Paul woke up Sunday morning. Hid mother called me as we were driving to church.
She said they would call me after church.
After church Paul's sister called me and held the phone up so Paul could talk to me.
It was instantly apparent that he was not "his old self." He thought his brother had just gone in the Army (that was about 30 years ago). His voice did sound strong though which I take as a good sign.

Please keep him in your prayers for healing of his body and mind.

Thanks,
Dale

[Colonel26]

Dale I'm still praying for Paul. I'm so glad to hear there's been some improvement.

[glennbad]

It sounds like there is still a lot of fight in your friend, Dale. I will continue to pray for God's hand to guide him.

[philco]

Dale I just found this thread. I'll be praying for Paul.

[orvet]

I have received a lot of inquiries as to how Paul is doing, so I thought I would update everyone, especially since I had very good news.

When I talked to Paul on June 28th I was concerned that Paul may have had some serious brain damage. When I talked to him later on July 1st or July 2nd I was even more concerned because he had a good deal tracking what I was saying. When I talked to his mother a couple of days later he had lapsed back into the coma and the doctors were content to allow him to do so because of the severe infection and the incredible pain he was enduring.

I hadn't talked to his mother in about 5 days, and yesterday I got a phone call. The call was not from Paul's mother but was from Paul himself!

It seems he had been awake about 3 or 4 days and finally felt good enough to call me. He is a bit confused on a few things and does not remember talking to me June 28th and July 2nd. When he has come out of these comas before he has been confused and it has taken him some time to get things sorted out in his head, and I think that's what's going on now.
His sense of humor is intact and he tracked very well with what I was saying and asked good questions. I am very encouraged and praising the Lord for this answer to prayer! He is still fighting an infection in his body, but it was a real blessing to me to be able to talk with him and know that he is okay.

Thank you all for your prayers!
Please keep on your prayers as he still has a long way to go before he can even get out of the hospital.

[treefarmer]

Dale, That's great news. Praise the Lord!
Treefarmer

[glennbad]

That is good news, Paul is still a fighter!

[Colonel26]

Awesome news Dale! Praise the Lord!