Stroke

We have been sending e-mail updates on Steve's progress from his embolic stroke. This time we will update the blog so that everyone who wants to know is aware of what is happening.

Since 2005 Steve has had atrial fibrillation. It happens when he gets some MSG in his food, or when he is stressed. It used to happen every now and then for about 12 hrs, usually at night. Lately it has been worse, he cannot eat spices like curry or mustard and the arrhythmia has been lasting up to 48 hrs.


When we returned to the US in July we went to see a cardiologist in LaPorte who put Steve on more medication. Steve had a trip to Rwanda and Zambia planned in September for three weeks so an ablation was scheduled for October.


However, a few days into his trip Steve was at a board meeting three hours from the capital, Kigali. When he didn't show up at breakfast or the meeting at 8:30, Charles and others went to find him. They thought it very strange that he didn't answer the door and got management to open for them. They found Steve barely conscious, with paralysis on his right side and garbled speech. They took him to ER in this small town where it was confirmed it was a stroke. Needing to transport him to Kigali as quickly as possible, they looked into some military helicopters but they were all broken so he was taken by ambulance. From the Kigali hospital it was decided that he should be airlifted to Nairobi Hospital. This finally happened at 3 a.m.

In the meantime, I was at home on the 15th. I woke up around 5 and had the distinct impression that I should get my prayer journal out because God wanted to speak to me. I resisted at first because I was tired, but finally I did and was led to Phil 4:6-9 "Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus ..."


In my spirit I heard the words "I have not created you with the capacity to worry, but to praise Me. Anxiety is poison to your soul. My directives are here - bring every little thing to Me in prayer and supplication and thank Me for them. Leave them with Me, don't take them back. My peace will fill you and guard your heart. Train yourself to dwell on the good, not the negative. This does not come naturally - you must train your mind to follow these paths. God will supply all your needs and the needs of those you are concerned about - not just physical needs of provision but all needs. Give [family members] to Me as well as Steve. Pray and intercede, giving thanks, and allow My peace to invade your life. I will work in their lives and answer prayers. Rest in Me."

Around 8 a.m. I received an e-mail from WR telling me about the stroke. Charles and other colleagues were so good to stay with Steve and Charles accompanied him on the flight to Nairobi. Naturally, I was upset about what was happening, but God's peace surrounded me and family members were with me. I decided to fly to Nairobi and with the excellent help of Steve's travel insurance, I was able to get a flight that same afternoon. My brother drove me to Chicago and off I went.

I was not able to connect to internet during the trip and when I arrived in Nairobi at midnight local time I was not sure if Steve had arrived or where he was. But I took a taxi to Nairobi Hospital and talked to a nurse who confirmed he was there. I could not see him until 6 a.m. but at least I knew he was stable and had eaten some meals. Through the night I prayed and rested on the prayers of many people who already knew the situation. The reunion at 6 was sweet but he was not speaking very much at all.


As I look back to Saturday I can see the progress and vast improvement he has made. He now walks unaided, he is getting the strength back in his right hand, he enjoys physical therapy and he is regaining his speech. Yesterday he started naming his siblings and their dates of birth, with some help. We are working on things that are embedded in his mind such as counting, alphabet, months of the year, family names, etc. In conversation he knows what he wants to say but it does not always come out clearly. I was also impressed when he went to the computer to find some documents. There is still frustration but it is remarkable that he can do as much as he can.

The view outside the window of his private room:

Walking the halls:

I have been staying at a guesthouse within walking distance of the hospital. They give amazingly large English breakfasts and the best tilapia I have ever eaten.


The best news is that we will be discharged on Saturday. We know there will be need for lots of patience as he regains his speech, but we are so thankful to God for the healing and grace He has given us and for the support of family and friends around the world praying for us. Charles and the Kenya WR staff have gone the second and third mile to accompany us and we will be forever grateful.

We ask God to give wisdom to our doctors in the U.S. as we continue down the path of correcting the arrhythmia which caused the blood clot and the stroke. We are thankful for good medical care both in Kenya and the U.S. and most of all for the Master Healer.