Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Philip Update: 2/24/2015, 4:30am

Yesterday was a great day. It was highly emotional as many of us were overcome by the fullness of God and His clear presence watching, protecting and working through the staff attending to Philip. I will dive into the specifics a bit, but I would ask that if you are reading this to simply pause to glorify Him and thank him for seeing to our each and every need. We were overwhelmed with great joy all day yesterday. I truly believe our human bodies are only capable of experiencing God to a certain level before we just reach capacity. He is bigger and His love is so abundant. Leanne and I are truly thankful He has used the circumstance of our special Philip to draw us so very close to Jesus. Praise. Praise. Praise.

I will never ever forget the fullness of God from Monday February 23, 2015. 
1. because it was something I had never felt to that degree before and 
2. because Philip will not have persevered through this for nothing. I know many of you have reached out and we continue to be well cared for. My prayer for each of you is thankfulness that you have walked along with us in prayer and that you, too, because of God's abiding love for Philip have also been able to experience a glimpse of His fullness.

We know we are not out of the woods yet, and many of us (and I am sure many of you) have had a very healthy, yet emotionally draining day yesterday. Please now say a prayer for refreshed bodies and an extra measure of the Holy Spirit for energy. I believe Satan will try to attack us outside of the walls of this Hospital (cause these angels ain't letting him anywhere near our sweet boy.)

Please say a prayer for God to protect our home and turn our attention to a renewed routine for Elizabeth and Jackson. Please pray for all those that have and will be helping us care for our kids and continue to see to their needs. These are the prayer I covet and I thank you in advance.

So here's the deal. Yesterday we prayed for the CT scan to come back showing less swelling and also a higher sodium level. The sodium level we were looking for was 155 and he hit 156. We prayed that his body would "play nice" with the new nutrition and that is going well. In other most exciting news, the neurosurgeon came by yesterday and said, "I am very encouraged as the CT scan reads "almost normal" . . . . ALMOST NORMAL! So good, in fact, that the plans will be to remove the device measuring his cerebral pressure this morning. Praise. God.

Dr. Keyes also seems encouraged by the situation saying we got one foot out of the water. He also said we are well ahead of where a child like Philip typically is in regard to recovery.

We know that God is performing miracles so that His people continue to bring Glory to Jesus as He works through the staff, family and friends. We do point to Him as the our Redeemer and Great Healer.

Two of our sweet and talented night nurses stopped by last night, Nicole and Rebecca. Neither were working, they simply drove over to check in on us and hear firsthand what God has been up to during the day. We celebrated with Rebecca as she heard good news that she got a day shift position she had been wanting.

The infectious disease doctor seems to think they have identified some potential causes of all this pinpointing some different viral infections. Without getting into any details, Philip through the power of the Holy Spirit is beating them all!

Today will be another big day as the device measuring brain swelling will be removed and Philip will be able to go for an MRI. Lots of new information to process and assuming results come back in our favor, they will already begin decreasing sedation and allowing him to wake up. I am filled with joyful tears just writing those words.

We are "cautiously excited" as we are both enthused and nervous about how quickly things are moving along. Please pray for our nerves. The process of weening him off the sedation medicines is somewhat of a balancing act and we have been told they can be times where you take one step forward and then 2-3 steps back. In addition, Philip's body will have some serious recovering to do and different kids take waking up from 4 days of sedation very differently.

For my Grace Chapel peeps -- Sandy Bean's sister, Marcia, was been our day nurse yesterday and will be again today. She is an incredible care-giver both to Philip and us.

Lisa has been our night nurse tonight and she continues the streak of "wicked awesome intelligent nurses caring for Philip" or WAINCFP for short.

God's Cubby for Philip is a sweet room and has offered great sleeps for both Shannon and me tonight.

Prayers for today:
1. Praise Praise Praise for God allowing us to experience His fullness in an indescribable way
2. Thanksgiving for being "ahead of the game" and the potential to seem to have found a cause
3. Continued nutrition for Philip and great results from the MRI today -- we want to see a nice, normal Philip brain. Also, a slow and steady decrease in meds and his little body to take to all of this in the way God wants
4. Protection over our home as our bodies grow a bit weary and discover a bit of a new routine
5. Jackson and Elizabeth as they crave more understanding of the situation and lack the attention they are used to from Mom and Dad
6. Continue thanks and energy for the staff, family and friends
7. His Will to be done

Thanking our God as I remember each of you in our prayers,

wes


COMMENTS:

            ‪G Michael Smith‪ You are a blessing and inspiration to us all. Thank you for your wisdom, grace, and witness. I am proud to be your friend Wes! May God's blessings continue to pour over you, your family and of course pour, shower, and soak on little Philip!

            ‪Samantha Scott‪ Kick that disease ass Phillip!

            ‪Jessica Stults‪ Praying and praising throughout the day for every big and little thing!

            ‪Jane-Elise Thomas‪ Praying that the blessings continue for Philip and the rest of your family as well as for those who minister to you and to whom you minister

            ‪Daniel Jones‪ Our GOD is an Awesome God He reigns from Heaven above, with wisdom, power, and love, our GOD is an Awesome God         
       ‪Lisa Camino Rowell‪ Psalm 40:1-3 NIV ‪I waited patiently for the Lord ; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

            ‪Grace Brown‪ Praying, Praying. Wes, your words are so beautiful as you glorify our Heavenly Father.

            ‪Holly Jones Wueste‪ Wow! An amazing story of God's love, evidence of prayers of God's children, patience, faith in and love of God. Prayerful that God's answer to your prayers bring this little one to full recovery and that he give you much needed rest.

            ‪Belinda Brownlee‪ Thank you so much for taking the time to write this update. To God be the glory! Prayers of Thanksgiving and continued strength and peace for today.

            ‪Kristy Burks‪ Praying continually for all of you, and crying tears of joy with you this morning, both for the wonderful news about how amazing Philip is progressing, and for how amazing our God is. He truly causes all things to work together for our good!

            ‪Sheila Foster Montgomery‪ What a joy to wake up and read this post! To God be ALL the glory!!! And so encouraged to see God's people showing the love of Christ to everyone around them...this is our mission here on earth and you and Leanne are doing it beautifully! Continuing to pray from Nashville!

            ‪Marquette Johnson‪ Thank you for taking time to share your heart. We continue to pray for your sweet family

            ‪Sheree Slaughter‪ Praise God for all the many ways He is at work in our lives and for allowing us to experience his love and fullness in ways we could not imagine. Continued healing for Philip and protection for the Bender family as you travel this path.

            ‪Terah Turner Pring‪ To God be the glory. Praying!!

            ‪Mary G Bennett‪ Praying for complete restoration for Philip, for wisdom, peace, comfort and rest for you and Leanne. For Jackson and Elizabeth to have a great day. Love and hugs to you all.

            ‪Linda Kay Kelso‪ Your descriptions and comment
            ‪Are so inspiring. God is good. He will bring this little one through this. Prayers continue.

            ‪Mary H Escoe‪ Praying continually for that precious child. I love that kid so much. God is sooo Good. God Bless You and your family.
                       
            ‪Lisa Camino Rowell‪ Praising Him!!!!

            ‪Claire Holley‪ Praises indeed!!! Continuing to pray for the specifics listed and for ALL of your precious family!!

            ‪Shaïna Baron Salman‪ Praying for you all. This is good news. Xoxo to all.
  
            ‪Julie Wilharm Clark‪ Praying for all.

            ‪Tamara Johnson‪ Praying!!!

            ‪Emily Tidwell Lavender‪ Tears of joy! SO grateful and continued prayers.

            ‪Christie German McClure‪ Praise God! Your family is an inspiration to all of us! Our prayers for Phillip will not cease. Love you all.

            ‪Sara Parnell‪ Praying for all of you!!

            ‪Meg Ragland Wood‪ Praising and praying! So deeply touched by all of this.. Thanks be to God! Prayers continuing for all of these needs.. Love y'all
            ‪Dallas Rodgers‪ Thanks for the update and your own testimony of this walk in faith. We are on the prayer team, petitioning God daily, praising him with thanksgiving for the good news on Phillip's progress.
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            ‪Linda Jones Jackson Rodgers‪ Thankful for the update and continuing to pray
            ‪Donna Ingram Irwin‪ We are praying for sweet Philip and for the whole Bender family
            ‪Stephanie Hall Bain‪ That is wonderful news. Praise God!

            ‪Vicki Billington-Addington‪ Praising God for all He has done and yet to do!! Continued prayers for Philip, you all, the nurses and the doctors.
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            ‪Bill McKissick‪ Wonderful!

            ‪Jessica Hatch Cobb‪ So happy for wonderful news! I will keep praying for all involved, that the process continues to go as smoothly as possible. Cannot imagine the strength, fear, exhaustion, and patience you must be experiencing through all of this, but so many are praying for you all and we are glad you are feeling it!!! Keep kickin' butt little dude! smile emoticon
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            ‪Sue Richardson‪ Thank you God for such wonderful blessings. Praying for many more today!

            ‪Abby Hardiman Bender‪ Wonderful news wes smile emoticon
‪praying - love you all
            ‪Thresa Jones Warmbrod‪ Wonderful news! Such an awesome God we serve! Praying for strength as y'all continue along this journey
            ‪Denise Hall Dickinson‪ Praying as you requested -specifically- powerful man! And sharing requesting prayers of others and sharing your giving-God-glory testimony
            ‪Dawn White Whitlow‪ Praise God! Praying for continued success and glory to Him!

            ‪Erin Smith Jones‪ Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow! Love seeing how He is working through this situation. Tears and prayers of joy and thanksgiving. Can't wait to see what God has planned for Philip!

            ‪Tammy Leavitt‪ We are praying & praising! God is so great! .
  
            ‪Sharon Duty Nikolaus‪ I love the specifics for prayers. Praises rise today.

            ‪Amy Ragland Bickell‪ So encouraged by this news. Continuing to pray!!!

            ‪Barbara Stoniecki‪ Tears of happiness over the good news of yesterday! Continued prayers today for more positive results, for every attendant involved in Philip's care, for Jackson and Elizabeth and those helping them while Mom and Dad are away, and for Wes and Leanne to continue to feel the love of family and friends supporting them but especially to feel the power of God in this whole situation. God is Good, All the Time!

            ‪Traci Day Wallis‪ Continuing prayers for phillip. Prayers of praise and thanksgiving for everyone touching your baby boy. Praising God in every circumstance is what it is about. You are modeling that through this trial to all of us. Thanking God for you both and your precious family
            ‪Kimberly Gordon Brown‪ Prayers for another good day!

            ‪Shawn Brown‪ Praying for PBnJ!!

            ‪Paula Wilson‪ Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. Psalm 136
            ‪Susan Ridley Hutto‪ Praying 

            ‪Ashley Marie Larmer‪ " " doesn't even began to cover it! Singing praises this morning and praying for continued good news!

            ‪Phyllis Teel‪ You and your family inspire us all. Praying for your precious Philip, praise God.



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