July 2, 2010 Friday

Today is Joe’s last appointment with the surgeon and all the others who will check on him and also fit his compression garments. It took all morning with his final checkup, etc. We left the apartment about noon and ate lunch at the Cracker Barrel. I covered a foam rubber pad and brought it for Joe to use on the trip home. He rode up front with Jeep while Kay and I did the back seat driving:-) We made several rest stops so Joe could stretch. At Leeds, near Birmingham, we made a long rest stop at the Bass Pro Shop. We ate sandwiches and shopped a little while there. We had planned to take two days for the long trip home, but since we were only 3 hours from home, Joe wanted to keep going. We got to Joe's home about 10:00 PM. Joe was very tired, as well as the rest of us! Kym had worked so hard getting a Welcome Home Party together. She had made signs, strung streamers, blown up balloons and had the extended family there to greet Joe and Kay and welcome them home. We were so thankful for the safe trip and were all very glad to be home! We continue to praise God for His healing power as He worked through the Doctors and staff who were open to His guidance. Thanks be to God for always letting us feel His comforting Spirit.   We are eternally grateful for all the people who faithfully prayed for Joe’s healing. Never doubt the power of prayer!

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UPDATE:

One Year Ago Today

One year ago today,  July 2, 2010, we brought Joe home from spending two months in the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, GA.  So much has happened during the past year.  God continues to show us His healing power and His mercy.  Joe is working, but has to be in an air conditioned environment because he has so many grafts that have no sweat glands or pores.  He could easily get too hot and have a heat stroke before he even realized he was too hot.  There are many things he can't do and he still has to wear a full body compression garment 23 hours a day.  Hopefully, he will be able to leave that off some time this Fall.  If you saw Joe, you would not know that he had been burned unless you noticed his hands.  He and his wife have been back to Augusta for checkups and procedures many times during the past year.  There are several proposed surgeries he could have to improve certain areas.  He may choose to have them or leave things as they are now.  After being put to sleep for thirteen surgeries plus the 3 procedures, I'm sure he is not anxious to have more.  We are so very thankful to have Joe with us, scars and all, and we are so keenly aware that this story could have had a very unhappy ending.  We continue to be so thankful for all of you who prayed for Joe.

Peace and Grace,