In case some of the Doves didn't know why the doctors at first were going to call the family all together' very soon was that
they were thinking of removing Greg from life support; because they determined that his condition was hopeless. Then the
flood of prayers came for Greg from the Doves, his church, and others.
The short note is from his mother and father. Gregs brother goes into detail on his brother's condition. Thank you all so very
much for all your prayers. I will keep you posted as to his recovery so that all will have another proof of how our Lord hears'
and answers prayers.
Yours in Christ,
Paul N. F.
============================================================================================================(This one line is from his mother and father.)
Here’s Jeff’s note. Update: Greg came home Thursday last and seems to be doing fine. We are blessed indeed! Thanks for your prayers.
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Hi all,
(Please excuse me if I repeat myself. There are so many prayer-givers from all over and I want to make sure everyone hears the good news!)
Thanks to all of the healing prayers and positive forces sent forth (and a little help from modern medicine!) our "miracle boy", Brother Greg (or Lazarus as the Drs. and Nurses call him) is recovering in leaps and bounds!! On Sunday he was moved out of critical care and into a normal hospital room. Everyday he is 100% better than the day before. Besides some lingering side effects and a little weak, he is lucid; talking, joking, comprehending, eating solid foods, and all those other positive things. The personality we all know and love is re-emerging. He is still somewhat disoriented and does not remember what happened (thank goodness!) but he is standing and walking - with assistance - and receiving physical and occupational therapy.
He still has quite a "row to hoe" but we believe he will make a full recovery, and in time be able to get back to all the things he was doing before this happened. (Taking it a little easier of course.) Won't be long though... Why, just yesterday during his daily walk around the hospital corridor he lifted his hands and arms off the "walker" and with that cheeky 'tude of his, said to us (Mom had her camera of course!) "Look Ma...". Well, you get the idea.
Today (3/13) he is having a procedure to fix the problem once and for all. (In case you don't know "the problem" is Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome. You can Google it, but simply put it is an extra impulse going to the heart to regulate the beat that causes a speeding up process resulting in a myriad of symptoms with the extreme being a cardiac arrest like Greg had.) Anyway, he should have had this done 3 years ago when he was diagnosed but opted to take medicine instead. Obviously with hindsight he made the wrong decision but now that he is in the hospital we decided to "git 'er dun"! It is a fairly non-invasive type of heart surgery (no open chest) - called an "ablation" - that basically cauterizes the affected area and eliminates the cause. Please keep him in your prayers.
I plan to stay here until Greg is out of the hospital and home. We are told that could be as early as Thursday or Friday this week. Can you believe that?! If he does get out then, my flight reservation is for Saturday the 17th (just in time to celebrate St. Paddy's Day with you!)
As the unofficial spokesman for the Ward Family I want to take this moment to thank all of you for your prayers and warm wishes. We cannot begin to express how much you all helped us through this challenge and what your prayers meant to us. It would be an understatement to say these past 2 weeks have been a roller-coaster ride for all of us. We realize that we are not the first or only family to experience a dilemma like this so we are trying to be humble. It is however, the first time WE have had to deal with a near tragedy. Just know that you all participated in what can truly be called a miracle!! I know my life has changed (more on that later). Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
I will continue to keep you updated on "The Miracle In Medford" as much as I can. I love you guys.
All my best,
Jeff (#1 Son) Ward