Author: hannah

There was a water leak in Seth’s room, so he was moved to a new one. At first, we weren’t too excited to pack everything up and relocate, but this new room feels bigger (or maybe the layout just makes it seem that way) and it has a view of the helipad. We’ve been trying to catch a glimpse of helicopters landing or talking off these last two months.

One of the things I enjoy is hanging up the pictures in Seth’s room. We have so many now that it takes over an hour to get them all up. When Seth is awake, I show him the pictures one by one and tell him the story behind each one.

While putting them up this time, I was struck by how many rooms these same pictures have been in. Many still have bits of tape from the TICU room, the MICU room, the first LTAC room, and now the second LTAC room. It reminded me of Joseph’s story in the Bible. His life took him from the pit to Potiphar’s house, then to prison, and finally to Pharaoh’s palace. Many of those places were not of his choosing and may have seemed like a step backward, but God had a plan. Each place prepared him for the role he would eventually play in saving thousands from famine.

We believe God has a plan for Seth too. No matter how many rooms he may be in, God knows the full story. And someday, there will be a room prepared just for him and for each of us. Not one with tape marks, but one built to be our forever home.

Right now, Seth’s brain needs time to heal. There is not much the doctors, nurses, or we can do aside from managing his vitals while his brain goes through this storming process. What we can do is continue showing him love and providing gentle stimulation, always under the careful guidance of his care team.

We are allowing visitors who are close to Seth to see him, hoping to jog some of his memories. If you would like to visit, please text one of the Meyers so we can coordinate a time. Neurostorms are unpredictable, so if we say no to visitors that day, please don’t take it personally. We also ask that no one show up unannounced.

If you would like to send a video message instead, we would be happy to play it on Seth’s TV. Just send it to one of the Meyers.

Lastly, we’ve filled the room with everything we need. While we are so grateful for the gifts, we kindly ask that no more be sent at this time. Printed photos are still welcome and appreciated.

You’re also invited to join us for a special event as we create a memory book for Seth on June 8 at 2pm in the Arizona Lutheran Academy gym lobby. We’ll be making scrapbook pages filled with memories, stories, and photos that we can read to Seth and bring with us to rehab. If you have printed photos of moments with Seth, please bring them along. We’ll also have a selection of photos available for those who don’t have prints, along with supplies like paper, scissors, and glue. Snacks will be provided, and everyone is welcome. Please RSVP to one of the Meyers if you plan to attend.

If you’re not in town, you can still be part of the memory book by mailing us your 12×12″ scrapbook page. Be sure to use a stiff envelope so it doesn’t get bent. Text one of the Meyers for the mailing address. We can’t wait to see what you create.

Thank you again for your love and support. We feel it every day, and we believe Seth does too.

-Hannah

The Dr rounded earlier and did a pain response on Seth. He’s been gone on vacation for 10 days and was hoping he would have made more progress while he was gone. That was a little heavy on my heart. I’m going to use this as a “challenge accepted” moment though to dig into more research how we can help with Seth’s progress. Feel free to share any ideas with us!

If you’d like to share a short message to Seth, have any fun videos that show great memories such as him being goofy, laughing, dancing, or just being himself we would love to play them on the TV in his room. You can upload your videos to this Google photo album or send them to any of the Meyers and they will upload them for you. Let’s surround him with joy and familiar faces!

Pray for more responsiveness, pain to cease and billions of neurons to reconnect.

Fun fact: See video for a great example of a neuron connection.

If you come to an intersection in the hospital hallways and look up, you’ll see a reflective dome which allows you to see what’s around corner. Most of the time I forget it’s there, but those that are pushing a patient in a bed or wheelchair especially need to look up otherwise there may be a collision. Our pastor shared Psalm 121:1 with us this week. “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth”. We remind Seth everyday that he is safe and this is only temporary and that God’s got him. May we be reminded to look up to God for protection and guidance, in whatever circumstance we face.

-Darcy

Seth had a more restful night last night! His BP and HR were good most likely due to the Fentanyl patch to control the pain. Seth’s trach was downgraded and capped so he’s breathing out of his nose and mouth now. We are thankful for this progress!

Pray for another healing, restful night for all of us!

-Darcy

Seth had a really rough night again with high BP and HR. He was up ALL night storming alot. All thru the shift, they tried the oral and IV Dilated, Metoprolol, Hydralazine. Dr was called and he added Ativan, for anxiety (which nurse said lasted about 10 min) and a bolus of fluid.

10am Dr just rounded. He will increase muscle relaxers and will try a Fentanyl patch for prolonged pain relief.

Speech therapist was here to do an evaluation. He opened is mouth slightly for a small piece of ice and he initiated a swallow.

Today is day 50.

We’ve given out 400 bracelets so far. (Pix is of new Perry the Platypus color-if you know, you know). Let us know if you want one! If you already have one, please send the Meyers a picture of you wearing it or upload it to our Google photo album.

Over 500 people have looked at the PrayersforSeth.com and Caring Bridge websites.

Over 40,000 visits on these sites of reading or checking for new updates. (Wow!)

Countless prayer chains Seth is on around the world.

A gazillion prayers from all of you, our prayer warriors, who hold us up especially when we are exhausted from praying ourselves.

Congrats to all his friends graduating high school today! I know he’d be there celebrating with you if he could.

-Darcy

Seth’s friend, Paul graduated from ALA today. Prayer warriors, you will know his mom, Ranjini, who we are also praying for.

We are asking for big prayers today. Seth’s neurostorming seems to be getting more aggressive with his BP 195/112 this morning and now his HR is 150. Meds are given but this cycle of continued stress on his body concerns us. It’s a no stimulation day for him.

Lord have mercy on his body.

The other day I got an Amazon package. I thought the envelope said it all. (I added the God part)

-Darcy

Seth did ok during the night, at 10pm and 5am is BP and HR were high again, but those and his pain continue to be controlled by meds.

He was taken off the ventilator again. Maybe tomorrow the machine can be removed from the room.

Please pray today for relief from the pain and neurostorming that are causing the BP and HR issues. Please pray for any responsiveness, no matter how small it is.

I came across Seth’s Confirmation essay from Apr 2020. This is just an excerpt, but little did he know at the time, how much these words comfort us right now.

“My relationship with Jesus is very great. I trust in him as my Lord and Savior. I believe that He was the one who saved all of humanity by living a perfect life, being mocked, dying on the cross, and rising from the dead. I also believe that the Holy Spirit brought me to faith using people around me to keep me going and not falling away from God. The Holy Spirit influenced people to write the Holy Bible. David wrote in Psalm 50:15, And call me on the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me. That passage means so much to me because it reminds me that my relationship with God will never end because He has a plan for us no matter what happens. It also reminds me that God is almighty and that he is omnipresent (He is everywhere). For example: He helps me with my fear of getting sick because He gives people talents to know how to take care of people and if it doesn’t end well, I know that He is with me on earth and some day in Heaven.”

-Darcy

Today was another day of seemingly small improvements, but mountains for Seth.

Due to some heavy neuro-storming over the weekend, the doctors kept him on the pain meds today which helped the neuro storm impacts. Thus reduced the rapid changes & extremes with vitals (BP, Heart rate, and sweats) that resulted from neuro storms.

He is also more attentive with his eyes. Such as looking toward the door when someone comes in and tracking them as they walk.

He was cleared for small spoon-sips of water today. So now he can have both water & small chunks of ice.

Today’s progress reminds me of a rest-step for mountain climbers. Tiny, slow steps still take the climber down the path to their destination in their own time.

Likewise, we trust God that, through these seemingly tiny improvements each day, Seth will also go down the path to recovery – in God’s time.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10

-David

Seth completed Stage 12 and was off the ventilator. He still has a trach collar and the speaking valve was on for awhile. This evening, he started neurostorming pretty bad with his BP and HR jumping way up. They have given him some extra pain meds but it’s not helping so they are putting him back on the ventilator and doing an ultrasound of his heart right now.

Specific prayer for tonight:

Rest from the neurostorms and relief from the pain. Please let it be a good night, Lord.

The highschool where Seth graduated asked students to paint prayer rocks to be buried in the foundation of a new classroom addition. Each rock represents trust and confidence in our Savior to bless their building process. I asked if we could include rocks on Seth’s behalf and so we did arts and crafts at the hospital. 🙂

-Darcy