Kari Update

Happy End of the Week!
     Hope everyone has been doing well.  This week has had some great highs and a few disappointments, but overall it really has been a monumental week.  This week Kari was started on Lexapro to help stimulate the parts of her brain that had been injured,  my mom shared about what God is doing in Kari's life at the woman's rally, Kari was able to do activities in therapy that she couldn't do two weeks ago and finally, she was approved for Medicaid. All these things are an answer to prayer.  
     We have been praying that Kari would be more consistent as far as being her normal self and with the new medication it has balanced that little brain out.  The only thing about that is that last night her arm on the left side was numb.  they order blood work this morning and they realized that her white blood cells were low.  Taking that into account she has to go off the Lexapro, they'll redo the test and if the white blood cells go back up then they will completely discontinue it. But...its been so nice to have my Kari back, she sounds like herself and her thought processes seems to be like it was before.   
     My mom having the opportunity to share last night just increased the prayer base and hopefully encouraged others in their faith and even in their understanding .   It was so nice the lady who spoke after my mom, right before she spoke, stopped and prayed for Kari. 
     Kari being in therapy, working hard has been such a blessing, even on the days she has been more tired and ended early, except for yesterday, she has been able to do new skills or is more balanced.  It's been great to see her therapist encouraged.  Speech is still a bit of a struggle because of the e-stim therapy on her throat, but she is getting through it - she isn't being given any other options though.   
     Since moving down here Kari and I have both been on the hunt for jobs so we could have a purpose, provide for ourselves and have benefits.  Some of you know already that when Kari went into the ER she didn't have a job with benefits, so when we realized how serious this condition was we were a little concerned.  My parents after the first week of her being the hospital meet with a representative from the hospital and they suggested that they try to apply for medicaid.  So we've been praying and waiting to hear back and yesterday, before my mom made it to go speak the social worker for the rehab center told her that Kari had been approved.  How awesome is that.  We knew that God was working it out, but we just didn't know what way He was going to move.  
    Thank you again for remembering all of us in your prayers.  Kari is still struggling with her vision and her endurance.  Also please just pray that those white blood cells will go back up and that the medical staff that works with Kari will have the wisdom to know how to best help her.  Have a wonderful weekend!
Be blessed
Kaziah

Please, also help in prayer for both the family and church family (Time Square Church) of Rev David Wilkerson whom we learnt went to be with the lord yesterday through an auto crash in Texas. Pray for the wife who was also injured in the crash. Rev Wilkerson was a great man of God that we all loved for the many souls he won into the kingdom of God.

 

Thanks and God's blessings.

 

Bro Ogad.

Preston/Philidelphia Mississippi

My brother in law is the pastor of Preston Assembly of God and his area was hit by a Tornado this afternoon. My brother in law and that area need prayer, he is currently helping dig through debris to find missing persons.

 

Steven

 

Kari Update

Happy Belated Easter,
Hope you all had a beautiful Resurrection Day!  I know that my family and I did.  Just to be able to focus on the beauty of the Gospel has been wonderful!  We were blessed by some of the church family coming over yesterday so that we could all worship together, since that hasn't happened in more than a month.  That was such a special gift and blessing!(Thank you all of you Bethel family who were able to come over for that time, God Bless you!) Easter really is such a great time to focus on all the gifts and the one that was truly life changing for me.
It makes me think of my sister as well.  There was a split second that I felt like Martha...but God saw fit to move...He resurrected her! More than that though He continues to resurrect so many things in my life because of the belief I have in Him!

"Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?" ~ John 11:24-46 

I know I might have made some people a little nervous that I didn't write, but I had the opportunity to go with the youth to Convention this weekend to have some God moments and get to know them a little better.  Kari is actually showing some great improvements.  I asked her Saturday, point blank, are you depressed and she said, "No, I just need to do what I got to do." She seems to completely understand what's going on, there is still a bit of frustration, but PRAISE THE JESUS she is not depressed!  She is walking more, back and forth to the bathroom and doing more things independently. (My mom wanted me to make sure to tell you she's not walking walking, she's walking with support and is still quite wobbly. She's still having some spacial issues and is still quite dizzy.) Each day God sees fit to allow us to see more improvement! 

Today she had a rough day, very tired. She struggled in all three of her therapies, but she did somethings she hadn't done, so that's a praise!  We are so thankful, still, for your prayers, words of encouragement and love!  I probably will not be writing quite so frequently, I don't want to tire you guys out, but I also don't want to be writing the same things. So...if you don't hear from me it's nothing bad, it just means that the healing process is slow and study.

Please continue praying for her eyes, her spacial issues, the dizziness, balance and coordination.  Also, please pray for her endurance and ability to push on through the dizziness.  Finally, please pray that she will not only understand what she needs to do and tell us what she needs to do but do and work at it will all her might!

Be blessed
Kaziah

Kari Update

Hi Gang!
"The LORD is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him." ~ Exodus 15:2
     Hope you all have had an amazing day today.  A co-worker told me today that she was feeling sorry for herself last night and then she remembered Kari.  I think that that is what happens to me daily.  I want to complain about something and I think of Kari.  I am so thankful for all that God is doing through this situation.  Do we everyday just say thank you that I can move my arms, or blink, or even drink?  How much I normally take for granted.  It's such a blessing to function "normally" whatever that means.  
     This week, because it's a short one as far as the holiday Kari has had 3 sessions for about 11/2 everyday.  I think that it's wearing her out.  It's crazy,  but I think it's really good for her, whether she can see that or not.  We talk to Kari about all the progress she's been making through God's healing hand and she said that she can't tell.  We were talking about the patch that she should be wearing to help her re-train her eyes, I asked her if she wanted me to make her something different or put a patch on the patch and she told us it has nothing to do with how she looks with it on.  She actually asked my mom, "Mom are you embarrassed of me because you have a handicap daughter?"  My mom just replied, "No!  I'm just happy to have DAUGHTERS!"  We all told her how proud of her we are and how we are just so thankful that God has seen fit to move in this way.  We told her how much we have all learned and are growing from this experience.  We just pray that this will become more evident to her.
    Everyday I notice that she is remembering more and more, but she is a bit flustered that she can't really remember what she does in therapy.  I told her that's alright.  She did admit that she remembers some of the things that she does, only pieces of what she does.  i told her that's great.  I think all of it is so mentally exhausting for her that she just doesn't know what to do with herself.  
   Thank you guys for praying for Kari and for the rest of the family.  We know that your prayers are the reason that we have received enough - everything for this moment.  Please continue to pray for her vision - the double vision, blurriness and her spacial issues, her balance and her drive.  Her swallowing is getting better, but her test revealed that she is still aspirating, so she still need God's hand in that area.  Have a great rest of your day!
 
Be blessed
Kaziah

Kari Update

Hi All,
    Kari had a really hard day in therapy.  I heard that all her therapist worked her hard, so as usual she is tired, but she seems to very with it.  With this week being a short week because of Easter they want to make sure that she is in a good place with the longer break.  I reminder Kari that all this is for her good! "All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." ~Proverbs 14:23.  I also read to her what Peter had said about himself to her, but I think that bits of it are very appropriate for her right now, me too! "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me." ~ 1Corinthians 15:10  I feel like he was talking about t being able to have a testimony after all the things he had done, and I think this is such a great one for Kari because she is working her way to have such a great testimony for our Jesus!
      Everyday she is becoming more aware, which gives cause to want to Praise God, but also be a bit concerned because we're not sure how we would handle it if we completely understood that life as of right now is nothing like it was.  We are just really praying against any forms of depression or negativity.  We pray instead for a drive and desire to really want to get stronger and get over this mountain. We also are continuing to pray for her vision, her eyes themselves everyday look like they are getting better, but she is still complaining of dizziness and double vision.  She also needs more endurance and a drive to complete all the task put before her.  He scar is also starting to hurt her, it's very tender as it heals on the inside, the outside looks great though.  This is the first time she's really complained of pain.  She has also said that her hands are numb lately, but we're not sure if they are just going asleep or if something is going on - I asked her to try to distinguish, but she really couldn't.  
Thank you guys for praying and for all the encouragement!  I pray that you guys have an amazing rest of your day!
Be blessed
Kaziah

Kari Update

Good Evening and for others Good Day,
      I over heard my mom speaking to Pastor Dylan tonight, after service, about something she had recently realized about Kari.  She said that Kari, on the Glasgow Coma Scale, I know how ironic that the name of the scale is the same as the high school Kari and I both attended, had been given a 3 rating which means deep coma or death.  Only one percent of the people who experience what Kari has experienced live.  Whoa!  If that  doesn't make you want to make up a song and pretend like your on Glee or any musical of your choice I'm not sure what does.  I love that God every day gives me something to make a little ditty to.  That's just what He says He likes to do in His word as well, "Sing to God a brand-new song. He's made a world of wonders! He rolled up his sleeves, He set things right." ~Psalm 98:1 By setting things right He creates within us a desire to sing to Him and others about the wonders He performs.  Awesome!
    Kari is still doing well with her therapies and is tolerating the e-stem therapy better.  I think that she knows that she is improving, but I think she is longing for the old Kari even more that I am.  Today when the doctor was on call was doing her rounds I asked Kari after she left if that was her normal doctor and if she has seen her before and she said that the first time she has seen her was yesterday.   I told her that was great and pointed out that she is remembering things and she said, "yeah, but it's just not the same as before."  I told her not to worry about it and that she would get back to that place.  I also told her to only focus on what she can do.  Oh how I was preaching to myself, just typing it make me realize how much I tend to focus on what I can't do or on things for the past that I can't change.  
   Yesterday Kari had a fall.  She didn't hurt herself, but I feel so bad, I feel like it was my fault.  I had a hair appointment and my parents where stuck in traffic.  They suggested that I take Kari to the bathroom before I left, but I thought she would be fine since I had already taken her 3 times that morning.  As I left I told the tech that was bringing her lunch in that I had to leave and that my parents should be here shortly.  There was no one at the nurses' station, which is not normal, and I didn't try to find anyone.  When my parents got to Kari's room, maybe 5-10 minutes after I left, she was on the floor just kinda laying flat on her back.  I guess she got over the rail and walked a bit, maybe tried to grab onto something and just slid down.  My mom said all she said when they got there was, "It's not Kaziah fault!"  Praise God she didn't injure herself, but I feel horrible, my hair looks great, but I still feel bad, but things happen.  We keep telling Kari if we aren't in the room she's got to call the nurse's station.  So, last night when I told her to the bathroom before bed she was telling me that she couldn't go because she had to call for someone to help her, someone else, not me.  She was a bit mixed up, but she's got it all straight, at least I think now.  I don't think that we will let her out of or sight for a bit now.  
     After church today I went home and brought the dog so they could see each other, since its been quite awhile.  They were both excited to see each other, but after a bit Kari said, "Ming's gotta get down," because we had her on the bench with us and Ming was all over the place.  My mom asked Kari is Ming was being annoying and she said yes.  So the visit was pretty short, but it was the longest that Kari has stayed outside since the trip to the hospital.
     Thank you for continuing to pray.  Please pray for these specific things Kari's vision, feelings of dizziness, appetite and thirst, continued decrease of impulsiveness, better balance and mobility, continued increase in awareness, continued improvement in short term memory and increased endurance.  Thank you again.  Have a wonderful rest of your day!

Be blessed
Kaziah

Kari Update

Hi all,
     How are you guys?  Hope all is well.  I am currently sitting in Kari's room trying to get her taxes done!  Praise God I figured out how to log onto her account so it's so much easier than I thought it might be!!!  Kari had another good day today.  "The LORD is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him." ~Exodus 15:2
      When I got here this afternoon I asked Kari how her day was and she said, "pretty good."  I asked her what she did and she said, "Uh...I don't remember, but I think I told Mom, didn't I Mom, you tell her." My mom said that in PT they have Kari walking with a table walker, and then she'll walk with a normal walker.  So that's so awesome.  They also have her catching balloons and balls, when I asked Kari about that she said, "it's not fun it feel like I dying."  When I asked her what she meant she said that it was difficult because she had no idea what she would have to do, I guess it's suspenseful for her.  I thought that was cute. 
      After diner we went outside for a bit and then came back inside because she was feeling uncomfortable because of her eyes.  Right now she is knocked-out, which is so great!  There is no restlessness and no attempts to escape, Praise God. I am so thankful for the little reminders of what God is continuing to do in Kari's body.  Thank you for praying.  Please continue to remember her in your prayers - specifically her balance, her strength, her vision, her short term memory, endurance and her ability to find the correct words to express herself. 
Be blessed
Kaziah

Kari Update

Hi all,
     How are you guys?  Hope all is well.  I am currently sitting in Kari's room trying to get her taxes done!  Praise God I figured out how to log onto her account so it's so much easier than I thought it might be!!!  Kari had another good day today.  "The LORD is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him." ~Exodus 15:2
      When I got here this afternoon I asked Kari how her day was and she said, "pretty good."  I asked her what she did and she said, "Uh...I don't remember, but I think I told Mom, didn't I Mom, you tell her." My mom said that in PT they have Kari walking with a table walker, and then she'll walk with a normal walker.  So that's so awesome.  They also have her catching balloons and balls, when I asked Kari about that she said, "it's not fun it feel like I dying."  When I asked her what she meant she said that it was difficult because she had no idea what she would have to do, I guess it's suspenseful for her.  I thought that was cute. 
      After diner we went outside for a bit and then came back inside because she was feeling uncomfortable because of her eyes.  Right now she is knocked-out, which is so great!  There is no restlessness and no attempts to escape, Praise God. I am so thankful for the little reminders of what God is continuing to do in Kari's body.  Thank you for praying.  Please continue to remember her in your prayers - specifically her balance, her strength, her vision, her short term memory, endurance and her ability to find the correct words to express herself. 
Be blessed
Kaziah

Kari Update

Good Evening,
         I hope that all of you have had an amazing week so far!  I know that I can really truly say that I realize that I am blessed, but I am a bit tired.  Kari still continues to improve...and as many of you have said it's slow baby steps, but we will take that.  I know that God is moving and as I have said before it's really neat to be able to go through this process.  I feel like I am learning to have more compassion and understanding of what it means to be a believer and to stand in the gap for someone.  Now, even when someone I don't even know is going through something I am going to be even more moved to intercede for them and the ones they love.  
         Kari is doing well in therapy, she's being more compliant and doing what is being asked of her, at least in OT and PT.  I think in speech she is having some adverse feeling about this new treatment they are trying to for her throat and the swallowing issues she has been having.  I believe that once she sees/ that it is helping her she will begin to tolerate it more and more.  Her liquids right now have to be thickened, but I have already seen that they don't need to be as thick as they use to be because she isn't coughing on them.  She is doing better with her eating and drinking.  The drinking is a little more forced, but she will do it when we break it down by the sips.  
         Kari's personality has always been shining through this whole time, but more of it is continuing to show consistently.  I love being able to hang out with her and I miss being able to do things; I miss my sister.  The place that she is now is right next to a very cute and trendy little planned community with restaurants and shops that I want to be able to enjoy it with her, so it keeps messing with my head a bit.  I want to be able to enjoy those things, but with her.  I know that her healing is happening and I just need to let God be God. 
        God knows when I need a long road and when I need a short one and I will except every turn of this journey with a grateful heart.  On the night that she got sick I was reading in the book of Exodus, right before my dad called to tell me how serious everything was.  The verse that I had just read was Exodus 13:17 ~ " When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, 'If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.'" When I think about that verse it really makes me think about all the circumstances surrounding over the past few months.  God knew that I needed the LONG road so that I would be ready to fight.  He knew that Kari needed to be where she is in order to fight, not somewhere else with the "dream" job that she has been desiring.  Things have been planned out since her birth.  I just can't help but think about the goodness of God, that He would allow this to happen, but that He would already have a plan!  How awesome is that?  One day Kari will be able to say as Joseph said to his brothers, "Don't you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now—life for many people" ~Genesis 50:20 (Message)
Thank you for continuing to pray, we know that because of all of your intercession God is moving mightily!
Be blessed
Kaziah

Brother Butch Update

Brother Butch underwent a five hour heart surgery today and the doctor said everything went very well. The family is very thankful to the Lord for His hand upon his life and the Lord's people for there continued prayers for his recovery.

For Christ's Sake,
Dylan C Schultz

Kari Update

Good Evening,
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." ~Colossians 3:15
Kari had a good day in therapy.  She was asked to sit up in her wheelchair and not go back to bed in between her therapies, and I was told she did a good job other than trying to take the seat belt off.  Every day Kari seems to be more aware of herself and what she is feeling.  Today was the first day that I heard her acknowledge her scar that she has, it runs from about halfway up her head to her neck.  When she was sitting up today she said, "look at this!" I told her I knew about it and it's okay, its just proof that she is a miracle child.  I am not sure she completely understands that, or maybe she just doesn't feel like thinking about it, but I know that it is very tender right now and is causing her pain.  This is really the first time she has talked about much discomfort at all.  She is still really tired, yesterday's alertness didn't completely continue into today, but she also didn't have any therapy yesterday and I had her drinking quite a bit of fluids yesterday.  Her power when she stands up seems to be greatly improving and when she stood today she stood right up without much wobbling.  I am very encouraged by the things that God is continuing to do!  Thank you for continuing to pray.  Please pray specifically for improvements with her eyes, a desire and drive to work hard to strengthen her little body, a greater appetite and more willingness to drink.  Finally, as Kari is continuing to become more aware of things as her brain is healing, that she won't be too frustrated and that she won't dwell on all the things she can't do, but rather where God has brought her from.  Have an amazing rest of your day!
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." ~Colossians 3:115
Be blessed
Kaziah

Kari Update

Good Afternoon,
I hope you are all having a beautiful afternoon.  Where we are is extremely sunny and beautiful out.  Where Kari's room is I can see Palm Trees blowing in the wind, just so wonderful what God's creation does, whether it was planned or not.  Yesterday Kari had a short session of therapy and the tech said she walked.  I asked how far she had walked and Kari said, "far enough."  This afternoon after church I read to the following verses... 
^"Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing." ~Philippians 2:14-16   
She understood that word, accepted and remembered that she has to work hard in therapy, not complain about having to get up, having to eat and drink.  After I was done talking she said that she wanted to pray and I just prayed for everything that I have noticed she has been frustrated with.  One of the things I noticed she was frustrated with today is not being able to find the right word.  Sometimes she gets stuck on certain words, like "toilet paper" or "bathroom" for everything.  Kari has been less impulsive lately, which makes many things so much easier, whether it is being able to sleep all night when it's our shift, or trying to make her drink or eat.  She also doesn't just blurt stuff out.  Even though the blurting stuff was fun, because that's so not her, I am glad to see that God has helped that filter come back a bit!!!  She is improving everyday, she seems to be getting stronger.  She still has her upper body strength, but her little legs have atrophied a bit.  Every time i pray for her I touch her skinny little legs.  Thank you for remembering to pray for Kari, I know that God is honoring those prayers.  Please continuing to pray for her vision, strength in her legs, better balance and the ability to find the words and things she is trying to say.  Thank you, thank you!  I pray that you all have a beautiful rest of your day!
Be blessed
Kaziah

Kari Update

Good Evening!
         Kari had a good day today.  She did all her therapy today and slept well last night.  When she and I were eating tonight I quickly got up to go get her diner tray and she said, "How'd you do that?"  She was talking about me getting up with no effort, I told her it was through doing hard work, but it really made me think again about how much we take for granted.  God sees fit to allow the majority of people to have the ability to walk without wobbling and to do things without thinking about them on a daily basis.  It makes me just so thankful not only for every breath, but for every slight movement with in my little toe to the firing off of messages in my nerves.  
       "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by              human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and            breath and everything else."  ~Acts 17:24-25
      Another thing Kari asked me today was, "What am I going to do with myself?"  I am not exactly sure if she knew what she was saying, but I think it was one way of voicing a bit of her frustration, but what a great question.  I told her to just keep working hard and just do her best.  She seemed satisfied by that answer, but I think her question was just a great life question..."what am I going to do with myself?"  I know that I want to live a life poured out, but what am I doing with myself to honor that desire that God has placed on my heart? May we all do the hard stuff to honor the Lord!
      Oh how we have so much to be thankful for.  I am so grateful for all you guys who continue to be faithful to pray for Kari and my family!  I pray that God continues to bless you for your faithfulness!  
Be blessed
Kaziah

Kari Update

Hi Ya'll,
      Kari had a pretty good day today.  They said that she did a great job in PT.  They broke it up into two 30 minute sessions, and she did well.  When I asked her about it she said, "they're trying to kill me," my dad replied, "they're just trying to breathe life into you...build up your endurance, help you."
      Today was the first day that I could step back and say WOW as far as the improvement with her movements and is showing more control.  She is doing a good job of eating and drinking and her eyes seem to slowly be improving, Praise God!  She is sleeping through the night pretty well, without aide of any medication.  She has a doctor that evaluated her today and he said that she was frustrated enough to need medication which is so awesome. 
     Kari had a group of really cute visitors yesterday, her "Stars Club," Wed. nightBible Study, 3rd-6th grade girls.  She was able to stay awake and the girls were able to talk to her and tell her what they had been up to.  She also had visitors all day to day and she seemed to appreciate the visits and said that it was nice to see them all. 
    Kari is still complaining of being tired and at this moment is extremely restless, she just can't seem to find the right position, but she sure is trying.  I am just so blessed by the fact that I am able to see some physical signs, but I know that they are nothing compared to whats happening in the spiritual. Thank you for continue to pray and believe for Kari's complete and total healing.  Specific things to remember to pray about, are continued healing and improvement in her vision, endurance, short-term memory and recalling facts when she's tired, and problem solving/safety decisions.  Lately, no matter what goes on with me, I might start to complain and then I remember how good God is and how He just continues to honor praises.  I feel a bit like David in Psalm 21:1-7     For the director of music. A psalm of David.
"The king rejoices in your strength, LORD.  How great is his joy in the victories you give! You have granted him his heart's desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. You came to greet him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—length of days, for ever and ever. Through the victories you gave, his glory is great;you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken."
Be blessed
Kaziah

Kari Update

Good Afternoon!
"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."   ~Corrie Ten Boom quote
       How true is that statement.  This is such a great reminder for me that only God knows what He's up too, and I can trust Him because He's Omniscient.  "God makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet."  ~  Psalm 103:6
Kari decided to take an unsupervised walk today and fell out of her wheelchair.  Not to worry, her ego was the only thing bruised.  Praise God for people who could act as hand to put Kari right back on her rear.
        Please continue to pray for Kari to get and appetite and to be willing to try harder in her therapy.  God is doing a work in her. Each day Kari becomes more and more aware of her limitations and her personality is still there.  What has become increasingly difficult to discern is if she is aware of some of her negativity and lack of effort or if this is completely associated with the parts of the brain that were injured due to the bleed.  Thank you for continuing to pray for her.  Please remember to pray specifically for her vision, her safety, her problem solving ability, as well as an overall increase in her endurance. Thanks again!
Be blessed
Kaziah

Kari Update

Hi all,
  My parents and Kari spoke with the social worker today, and she was saying the therapist and doctors feel like she will need to be in Rehab there for 6 more weeks and then after that she might need to be in a post rehab facility.  She didn't inform them of this to be cruel, but its what they see as of now.  This could be so discouraging, but look how far and how quickly the Lord has moved in Kari's life.  Just looking at where she is now, that is the report, just looking on the surface, and not being able to see how God is moving, that is the report.  But...my God says something else.  I know that He has been and is working a miracle in her little body!  For God's report is never quite the same as ours.  "Who believes what we've heard and seen? Who would have thought God's saving power would look like this?" ~Isaiah 53:1
I don't want to limit God and I don't want to rush Him in the work that He is doing, because He always does things right, actually way better than right, He's The Overachiever, He sets the tone.  I am trusting that the word that He has spoken to me, my family, and others will come to fruition.  As the Lord said to Joshua in Joshua 1:5 "No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you," this is what I am believing not only for Kari, but in my life and all who trust in the Lord.  
Thank you for praying for us and Kari.  Please continue to pray for her vision, her willingness to do whatever task is put before her, her appetite, her impulsiveness/problem solving ability and her compliance.  Thank you for being with us on this journey and for blessing us throughout this whole adventure.  It is so nice to know that we have others believing with us!
Be blessed
Kaziah

Bro Butch

Please pray for Bro Butch who is resting because of weakness and dizziness. He will have a heart a operation later this month. The weakness and dizziness are symptoms of his current condition. There is some danger of stroke before the surgery. Pray with us against that and for healing and favor.

For Christ's Sake,
Dylan C Schultz

Kari update

Hi all,
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. " ~ James 1:1-4
Kari has had some good days of having all three therapies.  In some ways she seems to be getting stronger and improving, but then in some areas there are still some frustrations.  She is still having some issues with her vision, which in attention to her being tired, doesn't make it easy for her to want to keep her eyes open.  I also know that she is frustrated because she doesn't remember things, she's still having difficulty finding the correct words for certain things.  She's also frustrated that she can't do things on her own.  She told me today that she's tired of eating.  I understand that feeling, because if I am not doing much, say on vacation, to eat when I am supposed to eat is difficult.  She's still fighting us about eating and drinking, but she is tolerating more before she shuts down, which is a great thing.  She's still on nectar thick liquids and soft foods because she wouldn't cooperate for the study today, so please pray that for the next one she will be more willing, mentally and physically.  She is also still really exhausted, so please pray that she will have more endurance each and every day!  Pure joy, that's what we are trying to remind ourselves, and Kari and you guys.  I'm really looking to that maturity, how about you guys?  
Have a wonderful rest of your day!
Be blessed
Kaziah

Addison Bankstom

Please pray for Addison Bankston who is 3yrs Old and has been unconscious after a head injury.

For Christ's Sake,
Dylan C Schultz

Kari

Hello all,
    I can't believe that it is already April!  How much has change for my family in less than a year, it's crazy!  I never would have thought I would have had the opportunity to get to see God move in such an awesome way!  Whoa!  I went on a field trip today with a with the lower grades today and on the way to the strawberry patch my mom text me and said that Kari would be going to The NeuroMedical Center Rehabilitation Hospital in two hours.  So here I am, writing to you from a lovely, spacious room that is overlooking a beautiful view, a courtyard in Perkins Rowe.  God has truly been faithful. Kari unsolicited told my parents, "I like it here!"  What a wonderful thing!
    Last Night Kari and I has a slumber party, with no real slumbering from either one of us until about 3am, whether it was her being restless, trying to get out of the bed or nurses and aides coming in to take vitals or help us get her to the bathroom...the sleep was slow in coming.  I wouldn't have traded that experience for anything, though this morning when I went to get coffee someone said, "would you like an extra shot of espresso," and I said "YES! I could really use that." The lady next to me said, "Yea you do look a little tired."  That's how my beautiful day got started!  I'm not being sarcastic either, it was and still is such a lovely day!
Her new room is 605 at the center and her new, direct number is 225-906-4605.  Her new visiting hours are 12-1 pm and 4-8pm Monday - Friday; 12-8pm on Saturdays and anytime on Sunday, except for this Sunday, because she's new and her therapist will be on this weekend.  There are still no age limits !
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God—those whom he has called according to his plan. ~ Romans 8:28
The nurse that checked Kari in today, said that she had never seen anyone with Kari's initial prognosis come in so quickly, in all her 12 year.  I think that this has been the sentiment of all involved in Kari's treatment...and I say Yes Lord!  This good work in Kari is still being recognized as a miracle and to God be the Glory!
Thank you guys for continuing to pray and believe with us in her total healing!  Kari and I will have another slumber party tonight, I know that she will be more rested tonight, and even if she is restless, the bed's railings here are more secure, so I am more confident that she won't easily get out of bed.
Have a wonderful rest of your day, I know I will.  
Be blessed
Kaziah