Enjoying being home

Welcome home Mom and Dad! He had to see the new house on the way home

                 Dad requested a watermelon cake for himself when he got home :) Amber is getting to be a                    
                                               pro at making these things..

Finally Home

     Today Stan was finally released from the hospital and was able to come home.  For those of you who don't know; we sold our home in April and have been living in Stan's parents home. Due to stairs without railing and a few other things their home is no longer an option.  Stan needs to have as few stairs (with railing) as possible and a host of other things to help him get around safely.  As we have gone through therapy it became very obvious that after such a long time in a bed, he would need a lot of help getting around and would be very weak.  We are grateful for gracious family that have opened up their home to us while our home continues to be built.  Although we are not in our own home right now we are still in Lehi and that is home enough for us. 
      It has been amazing to watch him recover with all of his new injuries.  He has had 32 stiches in his leg where he had the fasciotomy along with the 15 other staples at the artery of that leg.  This was done to save his leg when he had compartment syndrome.  Due to this he has had some damage to the muscle and nerve causing his foot to not have full function and also a lot of nerve pain.    Learning to walk again has had its issues as he has had to accommodate a foot that doesn't want to work like normal.  We are hoping that with therapy over time his foot will recover fully.  After ending up with open heart surgery you would think that his chest would hurt the most but it is that foot that causes him the most grief.  We are grateful that his foot is the one thing that has bothered him the most.  It could have and logically should have been worse.  I'm so grateful that when it came down to it logic was not the final say in Stan's heart attach and complications. If the doctors would have been correct in their logic he would not be here today.   Although I am now and will always be grateful for those miracle workers we call doctors;  I am even more grateful that our Heavenly Father saw fit to save him and let him stay here with his family. 
      We are so grateful to be moving on to healing and to have our family back together again.  The last couple of months have been hard on all of us. 

Anniversary dinner pics

Happy Anniversary Stan & Alisha!

Beautiful roses

+ Dinner from Cafe Rio

= Romantic 25th anniversary dinner with the Miracle Man!

Hope's birthday :)

Hope's always wanted to spend her birthday at the hospital :) cross that off her bucket list.

She said as long as she is with dad she is good!

                                                                           New iPod!!

7-13-13

We got good news yesterday!  We now have a release date!  The plan is to let him go home on the 23rd of July. Finally.... The light at the end of the tunnel is becoming visible. :) and Stan is sooo ready to go home. Who wouldn't be after spending 6 weeks in ICU and then going straight to rehab. He will need a lot of cardiac therapy at that point but we are definitely on the home stretch. Thank you all for your prayers and support. I know that it has been the combined faith and prayers of his family and friends that have truly made the difference.  After all of this I have come to see that God truly does work mighty miracles in our lives. And... Our new family moto :). Everyday holds the possibility of a miracle.

Alisha

Updated pics of our Miracle Man!

Stan's first day at the University of Utah

Some occupational therapy work that he actually likes!

Finally! He's able to hold his grand baby!

7-10-13

We have had a couple of busy days and I am finally getting time to blog Stan's progress.
Yesterday he was moved to the University of Utah hospital for rehab. Things are very different here than they were at IMC but we are beginning to see some positive things. He has been upgraded from soft foods and thick liquids to a regular diet including water!!  He is super excited about water... There is something not quite right about every liquid you take in being thick like syrup. Also today they did some cognitive testing and he did very well...in fact I'd say he all but aced it!  The walker he had been using at IMC was replaced with a thick belt around his waste.  They do this because of his chest wounds. After that kind of chest trauma there is some concern of pressure being placed on his sternum.. The chance of doing damage to his sternum and ribs is not very likely but they would rather not take the chance. Instead the belt they put on him serves as a grip for the person helping him to steady him without trying to catch him and causing accidental injury. Not having that walker is hard for him; he was using his arms so much to help support himself. Now he has even more balance issues. Also we are finding that the stroke has possibly caused some vision impairment. At his point they watch it and see. We are hoping that as he heals his vision will clear.  Overall some great things.

7-8-13

Last night was a long one... Stan's blood pressure dropped just enough to be a problem.  The doctor came in and said not to worry, Stan had been in lots worse condition and it wasn't low enough to worry about too much.  This morning the doctors came in again and said that they would adjust his heart meds to help regulate his heart rate and blood pressure to a more regular rate. Because of this eventful night the University said that they didn't want him coming until his blood pressure was more stable. We are now shooting for the move to come tomorrow.
Today is our 25th anniversary. This is a major mile stone that I wasn't sure we would reach a month ago so I am feeling very blessed to be celebrating it here in the hospital. At least we can :).
I know we have had our ups and downs but thank you Stan for 25 incredible years!  I love you!

Alisha

7-5-13

He just keeps getting better.  Although progress is slow he is recovering.  Over the last couple of days I have tried to update him more fully on how far he has actually come. I'm not sure he will ever really understand but it is hard for him to see how far he has come when he doesn't know the extent of what he has gone through.
Last night, thanks to his great nurse, we were able to wheel him down the hall where we had a great view of the fireworks Murray city had going. Very little of our time has been normal at all so it was nice to do something relatively normal on the Fourth of July. So grateful for the little things.
Today he was moved out of the TICU to a regular room. This was really a wonderful thing even though it was kind of hard for me. We had gotten to know so many of the nurses there and had found some true friends as well. We are so grateful for the miracle workers that make up the TICU at IMC. Without their staff, Stan would not be with me today.  And of course his doctors who performed those miracles that came so abundantly. We will always be grateful for the entire staff of that unit.
Today he has walked a lot. It's been interesting to see him progress so quickly this week. The first time he only was able to take 12 steps and had to break half way through. This he accomplished while the therapist physically held him up. Today it was with a walker with some assistance of the therapist. I still travel behind him with the wheelchair just in case but he is doing so much better.
Thank you all for all your prayers and support. We know that it is through the combined faith we have had that he has recovered to this point.
We have truly found that through faith The Lord moves mountains. Also that miracles do still happen  today and we have witnessed many ourselves.

Keep up the fight Stan
I love you
Alisha

7-3-13

He has walked quite a bit today!  It's amazing to see the progress he has made in the last few days!  Even his doctors and nurses are amazed. He had his dialysis catheter taken out today which means the doctor is comfortable saying he won't need it anymore. It also means his kidneys are recovering nicely.  Because of medical insurance he is going to be moved to the university if utah for acute physical therapy where he will be for at least another month.  We have gotten comfortable with the doctors and care we have gotten here so this will be a difficult move; at least for me. But I have been told that the U is a great facility as well. At this point we are very happy with his progress and are looking forward to better days.
I'm sure Stan is not aware of how far he has come but to see him now compared to where we started he looks amazing even though he has lost a lot of weight!  I'm sure it is hard for him to understand what he has come through when he doesn't remember it and feels so very weak. He only knows what he is told by everyone who has been here and by the doctor telling him "you came as close do death as anyone possibly could". We are all so grateful for his desire to work so hard and forge ahead to recovery.
We are also very grateful for the wonderful doctors and staff that have cared so well for him at IMC. Without them he wouldn't be here today.

love you Stan!
Alisha

A Miracle We Can All Take Part In

Volunteers Needed For Awhile

As many of you know, Stan & Alisha sold their home in the Spring and moved into Stan's parents home while they built another home.  Stan turned in his building permit the Thursday before his heart attack.  Stan The Man, of course had plans to do most of the work himself. Tony & Wesley, Stan's brothers have taken over on building of the house. Stan is making a miraculous recovery and will need a home to come home to.  We can all be a part of another miracle in Stan & Alisha's life.

There have been several people wanting to help in some way.  There have been several great helpers already and have been very much appreciated. Stan's new home is at a point where volunteers are needed.  Starting tonight we will be framing and would love volunteers.   Tonight we will start about 6:00ish.

The 4th of July plan:  Volunteers needed! We will start our day at 6:30am.  Work until around 1:00 then the Johnson's will be feeding the work crew some of the the famous yummy smoked pulled pork.  After lunch we will return to Stan's house and the Gurney Family will plan to work until 5:30ish.  We will have plenty of water and a jug of Gatorade.  If anyone wants to drop by with some snacks or treats I am sure they would be apprecaited.

Saturday the 6th of July will be similar to the 4th only we will  work longer and the Johnsons won't be serving pulled pork :(  It will be a big day too!

Help in General at Stan's House:  Stan's house is at a point now where a lot of help is need for quite awhile.  We will be framing for awhile, roofing, electrical, etc.  Members of Stan's family are at the home every night but Sunday.  There is plenty of work to do at the house.  If any of you have any spare time at night we would love some help. Also, guys love treats and would love some. If any of you great women who have been concerned for the Gurney family but don't know just how to help here is an option. You could drop something by anytime, that would be great.

If you are able to come anytime you will be a blessing to us all.
Stan & Alisha's New Home Address is:  948 N. 1700 W. Lehi, Utah

Things to bring:
Hammer
Tape Measure
Big Caulk Gun
Tool Belt
Nail Gun
Skil Saw
Any other tool you think might be helpful.


A BIG Thank you to you all and as it is now said in the Gurney Family, Each Day Holds A Possibility Of A Miracle!

7-1-13

Just a quick update...
He is doing well and getting stronger every day. In fact he is progressing even faster than his doctors and nurses expected.  Right now we are looking at taking out his dialysis IV on Wednesday. As long as everything is going well and he has no setbacks we are looking at making the move to rehab later this week or next Monday. Because of insurance we will be moving him to the acute rehab center at the University of Utah. We have felt very secure with his care at IMC so this is kind of scary move to make but we need to do it. Also we have continually felt that things are going to be ok so we are exercising faith as we look ahead to this transfer.  And as we have throughout this journey, we move forward with faith. :)

Miracle Man pics!

The Miracle Man goes outside for the first time in a month!  

Keep up the hard work Stan!  We love you!

6-29-13

     He still is progressing. He was able to go on an outing to the fountain this morning and really enjoyed the fresh air. He earned this by being able to sit in a regular chair yesterday. The doctor just came in and says no dialysis again today!  Good news for the kidneys. It means they are really starting to do their job. Also they have begun to up his tube feeding. As they up his tube feeding they are lowering his TPN (IV) feeding. Also a good thing :). His lungs are getting stronger and his voice is getting stronger too. The doctor just said how amazed she is at his recovery rate.  One last thing. The general surgeon is feeling it is safe enough to start him back on the baby aspirin. They really need to keep the stint in his heart clear. As long as he doesn't have any more bleeding we should be able to continue forward. What a miracle man.
     Our home is being worked on everyday. I get pictures from family members on site that I can show Stan. He cries a little with every one. Not because he is sad but because he is so grateful for all of the service we are receiving. As I said before... All I can really say is thank you. We are very blessed.

6-28-13

No real change today other than we are trying for every other day dialysis. We are hoping that his kidneys are now working well enough to start slowing the dialysis down.  I guess there is one more thing... Because his stomach is tolerating his tube feeding they are going to up it a little faster feeding. Hoping this goes well too.
Again Stan has asked about the house and if someone is working on it. Also about the medical insurance. When I told him about all the help we are getting with the house and through the fund raising he has teared up in gratitude. He asked me if I realized how hard it was to be in these circumstances and I said yes. When he is so used always being the one giving it is terribly hard for him to be on the receiving end. Stan has always been a proud man that prides himself on his ability to be there and support his family but he is very grateful for the many blessings he is receiving.

July 4th BBQ

The last BBQ fundraiser did so well!  But we had several people say they weren't able to get their orders in before we sold out.  Steve wanted to give these people another chance so he is personally smoking 20 pork shoulders/butts for July 4th.  He only has space to do 20 this time so please get your orders in ASAP to be sure to get yours.  As soon as the 20 are sold, we will not be taking more orders. Click HERE to be connected to the order page!

Thanks again for your support of Stan and Alisha!

June 27, 2013

Today dad has kept us quite entertained :) Hope and I went into see him today, he pretty quickly said come on let's get out of here! And the laughs never stopped after that. He has been kicking his feet off the bed thinking he is gonna go home, and if he needs something you better get to it fast or he will get after you. It will be a big day when they can take him on a wheel chair ride. While the dialysis was running today, the tech was telling Hope about the machine. Dad turned to him and said what flavor Ya makin? Watermelon he replied haha. Later dad kicked Hope and I out. Said it was time for us to go home.
He is doing well breathing on his own, just sore from all his surgeries. They put him on the tilt table again today, stood him completely vertical for 10 min. He did great. White blood cell count was up again this morning, they said it doesn't necessarily mean it's infection. They started his regular feeding tube again slowly to see how he handles it.

6-26-13

He is finally free of the ventilator and the tube down his throat!  This is great news but also has its setbacks. He had become increasingly irritated with the ventilator tube so even after it was out he continued with a little higher blood pressure and a fast beating heart. It took time and a few different drugs to get him calmed down but he finally did. As soon as he was able he started asking "why does my chest hurt?" and "why can't I move?"  These are obvious questions to me and everyone else but to him it's a different story. This is the first time he has really complained about pain so I'm thinking he is becoming even more aware and his mind is clearing.  He has been told numerous times today by many how much better he looks. He only seems to know from now....and he feels horrible!  Hopefully as time goes by and he gets more mobility he will feel better.  He is so incredibly weak.

6-25-13

     Today has been a really good day for Stan. He has been breathing on his own all day without difficulty and will likely get the breathing tube out tomorrow. My favorite part of the day came at about 4:00 pm when I came back from a rare outing. I left to go to the Lehi City baby contest to watch our grandson and to go by our building lot to see the progress of our new home. I took some pictures to bring back and show Stan. As I flipped through these pictures Stan had tears streaming down his face as he cried. I told him we could look at them later and I didn't show them to him to make him sad. He shook his head no and I asked if he was just grateful. He nodded yes and I tried to tell him how blessed we are. He continued to silently cry as I told him of the blessings we had received in the last month. I reminded him of what a good man he was and that he had blessed many people and those people wanted to now help him.  He continued to cry.
     Although we have a long road to go still; Stan and I would like to let you all know we are so grateful for the love, support and services done. We are grateful for the many prayers that have been offered on our behalf. We are richly blessed.
     I am grateful to see such progress in Stan and to see his love and character coming out. I am so blessed to be married to such a man.

June 25, 2013

He is finally coming along.. Even the doctor said there is a light at the end of the tunnel! Which is huge for this doctor to say. Dad has stood twice this morning, did really well. He has been writing with a paper and pen lots. Asking about the kids, when he can go home and how is the new house. Oh and WASH MY HAIR! Haha so good to see him comprehending things! White blood count is still good. Bleeding has pretty much stopped. Yay! They will do a ct scan in the next couple days to check that infection. He has been breathing on his own well, he has to go 24 hrs without help. So pray he will be able to do that and take the ventilator out tomorrow! That's the plan as of now.

We cannot thank the hospital staff enough. They seriously couldn't be any more amazing! He is well known at IMC, the whole staff waves everytime they walk by :)

6-24-13

     Today as I got up I wondered if we would have any surprises come up. It seems as if every Monday since this all started there has been some big hurdle. First there was the need to take him off the heart lung machine,  then the concern over the bleed on his brain and then last week was the worry over his  gut and internal bleeding.  When I made my routine morning call I was told he had a good night.  That always seems to at least start the day off right. Halfway through the day he was still doing good. So I think we have finally passed through a Monday without something scary happening.
     I always feel better about the day when no real difficulties come up for Stan. Today though they tried to move his breathing tube to another position in his mouth to prevent sores forming but finally had to move it back. This is something that they have done at other times without much trouble but today was different. He got so irritated with it and couldn't seem to quit gagging and coughing so they finally had to give him something to help him relax a little. He finally rested a while and was able to finish his dialysis treatment. He has been breathing on his own for a good portion of the day and the doctor said that he should be able to take out the breathing tube by the end of the week. In fact the doctor for the first time said "the week shows some promise". For an intensive care doctor this is about as positive as we are going to get but I'll take it :).  
     Other than his rough time with the breathing tube he has seemed more aware and less foggy than I have seen him in the last four weeks. He is also getting much stronger and was able to stand for a minute several times today. He really still doesn't like sitting in the chair but he was wanting to go walk. Hard thing for him is that he needs to be able to sit before he will be able to walk. He was more willing to work at it though today and that is good. He even asked for paper and pen to write. He wrote "wash my hair". It was kind of funny;  he was wanting out of the chair until he decided to ask to have his hair washed. Then it was worth it to him to sit for twenty more minutes so he could have his hair washed.  He likes to be clean.  I'm so glad he is finally getting strong enough and more willing to fight his fatigue and get to work rebuilding his strength. He will probably still be here for a while longer but as long as we are moving in the right direction I can't complain.
Overall a pretty good day in the ICU.

Alisha

6-23-13

    I hope we are on a role :)  Although things have been going well and Stan seems to be doing better, he sure had a rough day in spirits. I can't imagine what it must feel like having a tube down his throat for so long and unable to really communicate. He seems to be getting more frustrated with it. The nurses keep telling me that frustration and feisty is good. It means he is feeling better and ready to work his way out of here. I can take some poor attitude for a little bit as long as he is responding and willing to work. He did however take my phone and was able to text a message to me. Some of what he typed was just jumbled but amidst the jumble was the word "blessing". He wanted a priesthood blessing. Between his dad and the nurse he had we got him a priesthood blessing. Most of the blessings he had gotten up to this point have felt to be for the family as much as for him but this one was for him.  To me asking for a blessing was a miracle. He has been in such a fog mentally.  He knew he wanted a blessing and found a way to ask for it.  This really made my day :)
     What an experience this has been.  Although it is far from over, we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. He is likely to need months of physical/occupational therapy but hopefully we are getting closer to leaving the critical stage behind. What a blessing that would be.
     I am continually amazed by the many prayers on his behalf, and am grateful for every one. Each day I am reminded that our Heavenly Father is very much aware of our difficulties and has his hand in every minuscule part of our journey. It is such a testament to me of my faith in God, the power in both prayer and the many priesthood blessings he has gotten. As I already said each prayer has been heard.  Each priesthood blessing has been a gift from God.  I am eternally grateful for the many miracles I have seen come about in the life of my sweet husband.  Thanks for fighting Stan!  I love you!

Alisha

 

6-22-13

    After the last couple of days that have been so up and down, I think we are due for some good news...
Last night he actually slept. His bleeding slowed dramatically from the previous night.  We hope that continues. He only had one blood transfusion instead of the four he has had in a 24 hour period. Also it looks like the kidneys are beginning to wake up. When I came in I also found out that his white count is 10.7. This is great because normal range is 5-11. To be in that range means no infection.
    Yesterday when I talked to one of his doctors they were still really concerned about the bleeding and they were really worried that surgery would end up being needed. I figured at this point that some more prayers were in order....not that it ever stops :). I prayed for his bleeding to be able to stop and that he could heal. When the doctors are worried is when I go back to the one person I can always trust. Prayer and trust in our Heavenly Father is what I have needed every second of every day as we have journeyed through this trial and I know that he is in charge of the outcome. The many miracles we have witnessed have occurred because of the great faith we have together and I know that has truly made a difference.  I believe that through our faith and prayers his doctors have been guided, he has been comforted and we as a family have been blessed. Thank you all for your faith and prayers. Please keep them coming.
With The Lord anything is possible :).  He is still moving mountains.

Keep getting stronger Stan!
We love you!
Alisha

June 21, 2013

The roller coaster continues... On the plus side, Dad pulled his hands up to his chest today which we haven't seen yet. Yay! However that also means they may have to tie his hands down so he doesn't pull his breathing tube out. Bleeding slowed some this morning but has started up again. If it doesn't stop they will be forced into another surgery which they don't want to have to do. Very dangerous to try and do that now. His colon really needs to heal on its own with no other complications. So sadly to say we are in need of some serious prayers again.

Thanks everyone for being so willing, you are all awesome! Keep up the fight dad

6-20-13

The last couple of days have been a roller coaster full of ups and downs.  Just as I start to feel like things are settling down, the bleeding picks up or his blood pressure will drop a little, due to the pain medicine they gave him. When he isn't feeling well, he is less alert, so that makes it hard to know what he needs. When I came in this morning, the bleeding had slowed down again. The doctor seems to be encouraged that he is not really having pain in his stomach now, but they are giving him something to help slow down the bleeding, because he has had four transfusions in the last 24 hours.  He is also on antibiotics.  Our hope is that the colon will heal on its own so he won't need surgery. Surgery at this point, is just not safe for him. He has been through so much already.

As far as physical therapy goes, he is still doing it. As the doctor said, "movement means blood flow and blood flow promotes healing". He is getting a little stronger every day, and he is usually more willing to just get through it. He is also getting a little bit feisty with them. The nurse told me she likes it when they get feisty, because it means they are ready to fight and work hard enough to get out of bed.

Keep up the fight Stan!  I Love you!

June 18,2013

3 rough weeks dad has been here, another rough day today. Three steps forward one step back the nurses say. After a few tests they found he has a clot in his colon, causing lots of bleeding. His handful of doctors are consulting about what to do and how to help the problem. They have stopped his blood thinners and given him some kind of antibiotic. The bleeding has slowed some, the thinners take a couple days to ware off. Pray that it will heal on its own... They can surgically remove it but the doctors aren't sure that his heart is strong enough for another procedure like that. We have been amazed at the faith from everyone around us. We are so blessed

6-17-13 continued

The day got better!  When I got back from lunch they were just sitting him up in his chair. I sat next to him and held his hand as usual. He kept leaning towards me and seemed to be quite alert. I asked him if he wanted a hug. He shook his head no. After a few more times I noticed to was doing this with some aim. I asked him if he wanted a kiss. He vigorously nodded :)  He still has the breathing tube in his mouth so I gave him a kind of corner kiss but he was happy with that.  After that he leaned into me and wanted a hug. Such a sweet moment and such a peaceful memory for me to draw upon when things get tough as I'm sure they will from time to time.

6-17-13

If this is a roller coaster, I really want to get off.

He actually had a great night and has been sleeping well the last couple of days. The problem is, he is having a hard time waking up.  He needs to be more awake before they can take the breathing tube out. This morning he was a little more sleepy than usual, so they rushed him off to get another CT scan. They were a little concerned that the bleed on his brain had started bleeding again, and this is why he can't seem to wake up. This was quickly ruled out and his blood work looks good, so they think he is just exhausted. Also, the doctor said that when someone has had a stroke like he has; they are often very sleepy for a couple of months. Hopefully he is getting some good healing time in while he is sleeping. Everything else looks pretty good. His white count is going down, and there is no sign of infection. Also, the rest of his swelling is finally starting to go down. I hope and pray that he wakes up soon so he can take physical/occupational therapy more seriously.  And I could seriously use a hug!

Happy Father's Day

New family picture :) the nurses were nice enough to let us all go see dad for Father's Day. Usually they only let 2 of us at a time. I think dad was pretty excited to see us all. We made him a comfy blanket, camo of course. Jeff made him a picture to hang on the wall. And a couple other things mom opened for him. Happy Father's Day dad keep up the hard work! We love you

Finally found the favorite pic we have been looking for the last couple weeks! Dad loves his back hoe.. This was merry Christmas from the gurneys 2009!

Father's Day

   As slow as recovery can go we still can find gratitude in each day. First of all I find gratitude in the fact that we still have my sweet Husband with us. I continually look for the miracles and blessing that surely show up each day. It may show up in numbers, it may show in the time he is able to withstand sitting, it may show in the regulating of his heart beat and breathing, it may show in a smile or a wink he gives me. Each day there is at least one small victory and for that I am incredibly grateful. Today he has numbers (chemically) that have earned him a day off dialysis.  This will free up three hours that they will use for physical therapy. This is exhausting work for him but each time he gets a little stronger which we are grateful for. The stronger he gets the closer he gets to getting off the ventilator.  Also his white count is slowly coming down. Between that, the settling of his temperature, and a few other things they believe that the inflammation is getting under control. This is great news. Each day that goes by without some sort of setback the better his chances are. We pray that he continues in this pattern.
   I came by the fund raiser that my family had yesterday for a few minutes. I was overcome with gratitude for all the family and friends that were there to support Stan and our family. There were friends that we had not seen in years, friends of our extended family, and aquaintenances that are soon to be our neighbors. It is truly a beautiful thing to see so many serving with such a united effort and I must admit I was suprised at how well it was attended. I know Stan has been an example to many and a force for good in all our lives. His love for service has always been a sight to behold. He will be proud of the work you have done. I know if things were different he would have been right there with all of you. It's going to be different for him to be on the receiving end but I must say that we are eternally grateful for you and the time and effort put forth on our behalf. I guess the best thing I can say is simply thank you.  The blessing of your service has surely not been unnoticed.

Hard work

This is what a long hard working day full of physical therapy has earned him... He is actually sleeping naturally....finally. He has got to be exhausted. Poor baby :)

6-15-13

Progress is slow. At this point it has been nearly three weeks since the fateful day that has changed our lives.  Although he is much more stable now, he is so week he can barely hold his head up or give a kind of sideways thumbs up. We are now trying to build up some strength. He needs to get some  strength through his torso so he can support himself but he also needs it so he is able to be able to breath on his own without support. He has been breathing on his own through the ventilator but with some pressure support. If he wants to get rid of the tube down his throat he needs to work. He has had kind of a down day and is week enough he is hardly responding like he has been. Even a shake or nod of his head is more than he can give. Hopefully he can have a day with some rest mixed in with a lot of physical therapy and be more willing to put some work in tomorrow. Every day he is getting a little stronger but still progress is slow.  I have been told by his nurses that for every day a person lays around like he has, it takes a week to recover. And that is not counting the extreme beating his body has taken.
Although he has overcome much he has a long ways to go. And at this point it is all up to him and his desire to overcome his weakened body and fight.  As I watch him struggle I continue to have faith and keep putting one foot in front of the other. As I am not a quitter and as stubborn as ever, I will continue to support him with love and persistence. We pray that he will find his inner strength to continue to fight when he is too weak and tired to do anything. He has a lot to live for and I believe our Heavenly Father has some more for him to do here. Maybe he needs to remember that :)

Thanks for all your prayers and support
Alisha

Come get a sandwich!

Fundraiser had been a HUGE success.... Thanks to these awesome men we had a good turn out. Thanks everyone else for ordering!

Pulled pork sandwiches with chips and lemonade for $7 12:00-3:00

Improving..

Couple pictures so you can see how dad is doing :) starting to look more like himself

6-13-13

Last night Hope came to stay with me so was able to get a lot of dad time in. It was good to see he recognized her and seemed very excited to see her. He even winked at her. At some point I was standing there holding his hand and Stan opened his hand pulled away and opened his hand to Hope. She was thrilled!  She has always been a daddy's girl and has had a hard time knowing and seeing how sick he has been. I'm not sure how much aware he truly was but what a blessing a hand squeeze and a wink did for our sweet Hope.  We know that he is really in there;  a little foggy but definitely still there :).  As his brain heals he should gain more of a clear mind but he has been through an awful lot.
 Not too much change today. They are trying to slowly ween him off  the ventilator. Yesterday they introduced some new heart meds and he has done very well on them. Physical therapy came in and got him sitting in a chair!  They had to secure him in but, sitting is sitting. Yeah!!  His muscles are very weak so his movement is slow but we are glad to see that he has some movement. He is able to move his legs and is getting to have a good thumbs up for the doctors. His doctor said that he could be many months before he will get his strength back (both physically and mentally) but time will tell. As long as he continues to recover I can wait as long as he needs!  I love you Stan!

Alisha

June 12, 2013

Moms new favorite phrase :) the kids at Jeff's school made this, it will definitely hang in the new house! We cannot express how thankful we are for one miracle after another.

White count is down a little. Still no report of infection. Physical therapy just came and had him sitting then assisted him to stand. Held him up really but he was vertical!  Still waiting on the CT scan and neurology to see if they can start him on the blood thinners for his stint. He did go into surgery last night to get his legs closed up and all went well. Pray that his muscles in his legs heal well. Time will tell. Thanks again for all your support!

Remember today is the last day to order Father's Day meat!!

BBQ Reheat info!

We have had such a great response for the BBQ Fundraiser!  Thanks for all the orders/support!  Steve asked me to post this.

Please email me if you are planning on reheating your order Sunday or later.  The BBQ Teams will prepare your food and cool/refrigerate or freeze.  Include your name/order and when you plan on reheating.   Steve@bbqpitstop.com

Thanks again for every one's support! See you Saturday!

6-11-13

   Let me start with a sweet experience Stan and I were able to share last night. I had come in later to tell him good night and when I stood by his bed I placed my hand right next to his. He quickly grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze. To some this may not seem like much but to us there is great meaning in it. Three squeezes means "I love you". I don't remember when we started this but it seems as if it has always been. As I have stood by his bedside each day I have squeezed his hand like this multiple times a day just waiting and hoping for some kind of response. I just needed to know that he knew I was there and loved him. Of corse I've wanted a response. When your husband and best friend is in the condition he has been in, you really feel at a loss and alone because even though I am right with him he isn't really there with me and for me emotionally. So last night I did the same "I love you " squeeze and this time he squeezed back!  I asked him if he was trying to say "I love you" and he nodded yes. The peace I feel from this one small motion from him is great. I'm so grateful for the tender mercies I have seen continually through this time and have faith that they will continue.
   Medically he is continuing to improve. He is now being weaned from the ventilator and each time they let him breath on his own he has done great. He has started doing some physical therapy and is progressing slowly. He has a long way to go because he is so weak. He is just barely able to hold his head up a little bit which is a step forward from yesterday. After being through what he has and then just laying there for two weeks, takes its tole on the body so it will be a while before he is able to get back his strength. As long as he is moving forward I can wait. As far as the fasciotomy of his leg, the incisions made to help with swelling, it is scheduled to be closed up this afternoon.  We are praying that when the doctor goes to close it the muscle is healthy and he can do it without skin grafting or further surgeries.
   We are grateful for the progress he has made and pray that he will continue to progress and in due time will make a recovery that he can be proud of and happy with.  We love you Stan. Keep up the fight!

6-10-13

A little more responsive again today. Seems to recall events and family. Last evening when all the kids came by to see him it was Jace that brought a little extra spark to his eyes. Really good to see the recognition he is beginning to have.  He is periodically breathing on his own still and other than when he is really exhausted he does quite well. They started physical therapy today and had him sitting up with his legs hanging over the bed.  He was not holding his head up at all not to mention the rest of the body but its a start. He really needs to get moving.  We are in recovery mode thank heaven. We pray that he can stay on that road to recovery.

BBQ Reminder!

Don't forget to order your BBQ for your Father's day get togethers! Your dad will LOVE it! And it's helping to support Stan and Alisha!  Click here to see the menu & order!

Thanks for all your love and support!

The Johnson Family

Note *Meat CAN be frozen and reheated at a later time*

6-9-13

We continue with the baby steps. Today they are giving him a chance to breathe on his own. He actually is doing beautifully so far. Hopefully in the next couple of days he can get rid of the ventilator. He has graduated from 24 hour dialysis to 12 hour. He is still struggling to wake up but is slowly progressing. He is sometimes even able to respond with a shake or nod of his head. We still have a very long road ahead but at least the road is visible :). Keep praying for us. We all have felt the great blessings of combined faith and love.

Alisha

6-8-13

Not much change from yesterday. He is responding to some commands which is good. He hates the breathing tube from his ventilator and was biting on it quite a bit. Even though its not good for him to be biting it; it's also a good sign that he is because if it bugs him that means he is more aware. Coming out of the sedation is going to be something that could take a few days but a little at a time is still good. As long as we are still moving in that direction.  Later today they are putting in a different feeding tube. Also today they will be looking at his leg to see if they can get it closed up in the next day or two. Healing is going to be an extremely slow process and the two things that could set him back would be infection or pneumonia. Praying that neither of those things happen; he has had enough setbacks. And I'm trying to be patient as I would love nothing better that to be able to give him a hug and have it reciprocated. It seems patience is always going to be my test....
I'm so grateful for all your prayers and ask that they continue. Those prayers are pulling me through many scary days when it's been hard to exercise enough faith myself.  I am grateful for my beliefs and faith in my savior. If there has been one thought beyond my constant concern; it is that Faith can move mountains (I haven't been able to find where I've heard it). We have definitely been moving mountains :) and I have been blessed to see and be a part of it!  And I'm praying for more :)

Dads new room

Welcome to the VIP suite. The nurses were nice enough to move Dad a few doors down to the biggest room in the ICU, since he will be here for a while. He has been waking up a little today but it will still take a while till all of the sedation will ware off. He has nodded his head answering a question today so that's a good sign but it's still too soon to tell how his brain is functioning.

Thanks for all your willingness and prayers... Please keep them coming :)

On our road to healing

The doctor was able to close up his chest last night. All went well and he had to have very minimal meds for his blood pressure through the process.  As far as blood pressure goes he has been more stable since even through all the sedation.
Today the goal is to start to get him off all sedation. This is really important today because we still don't know what damage to his brain has been done. The doctors are very concerned about this and that is his next hurdle. I feel like he is really in there but the doctors are going to need Stan to convince them. I pray today that he will become more responsive as his sedation wears off.  Also that no more health issues come our way.
Thank you all for you prayers and love and support. The faith of many have combined to give us many miracles in Stan's healing process.

Alisha

Best news yet!

He has come out of surgery!  The doctor said it went very well and his blood pressure showed no sign of trouble during the surgery. We will see if closing up his chest will stir anything up as can sometimes happen. Next step is taking him off the sedation and trying to see if there has been any damage to his brain. Please keep praying, our prayers are being answered.

Thursday June 6 update

Well we just continue to "hurry and wait" as the nurses say. Surgery to close up his chest didn't happen yesterday. Planning on today sometime after 1:00.. OR has been backed up but we know it will be today! Dad has tried to wake up a little more since yesterday which is good news, it helps us to know he is still in there but the the doctors don't want him to wake up too much with his chest chest still open. They have given him more sedatives to keep him asleep till they take him in for surgery. The nurse this morning said he had a good night. He was a little more alert, opened his eyes when she said his name.

Love you dad, keep hangin in there :)

Father's Day BBQ Fundraiser

As family of Stan and Alisha, we are each trying to do what we can to help and support them.  The Gurney family has taken over most of the construction of their house, others have taken on this blog and now Steve Johnson, Alisha's brother, is spear heading a fundraiser.

It's a BBQ fundraiser that is perfect for a Father's day dinner or large family gathering!  There are four choices of meat, and orders will be ready for pick up between 12 and 3 pm on Saturday June 15th. Steve's BBQ team is an award winning competition team. We are fortunate that he has invited other competition teams (all award winning) and they have enthusiastically accepted.  All teams are donating their time and smokers for this great cause.

To view the menu options and get all the details click here  or look under BBQ Fundraiser on the main home page.

We want to thank everyone involved in this fundraiser for Stan and Alisha, especially Steve and the other BBQ teams for their generosity.

June 5th update

It's been such a long week full of ups and downs.  The quick update I have for today is this...
Through the night everything has stayed the same. They did another CT scan and found it to be the same.  The big news today is that the doctor is planning on closing up his chest today. Yeah for that!  It is a good step forward :)

June 4 update

 Did tests this morning, Doctor said they were looking for any seizure activity and some look at his brainwaves  I think they are trying to find out why he doesn't wake up more. Dr said for what Stan has been through the EEG does not look to bad. He has seen a lot worse. He seemed careful not to make us think it was perfect but surprised it looks as good as it does. He is currently on no blood pressure medications at all. His pressure is a little high but they are letting it ride a little high for his brain.  They did another CT scan this morning, the bleed in his brain hasn't changed which is good. They will just watch it for not to make sure it doesn't get any worse. They are planning on closing up his chest by the end of the week, they didn't close it up yesterday, in case they need to go in again and they want to reduce some more swelling also before closing it up. Doctor would like to see several positives for Stan now.    Bring on the faith and prayers.  I told him to fight threw this.

Check out Dads new decor :)

As a Family We Testify of Angels

Last night Rachael's friend shared this talk by Jeffery R Holland, we all love him. Rachael loved how it just fits Stan and our family. Rachael shared it late with her mom Alisha. It has since been passed around for all.
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/the-ministry-of-angels?lang=eng

Alisha was given a blessing when we all first gathered at the hospital last tues. She was blessed with Angels to attend her and her family. Many of us have been blessed with The Love Of God through Heavenly angels and mortal angels. Many of you have been our angels and we thank you. We are being blessed through your faith and service. We are so grateful for our Heavenly Father and His Son. Elder Holland mentioned these angels are sent in the direction of our Savior. We know and have felt angels with us. We are so grateful for the Love of God.

We love and thank you!

He is one STRONG man!

Holy crap.... doctor just came in, surgery went well. HIS HEART IS BEATING ON HIS OWN!! Pretty sure we have all been jumping up and down. Still not quite out of the woods but this is huge. We love you dad, you are quite the fighter :)

Pray..

Dad had a CT scan earlier today... there is a small bleed in his brain, which they aren't super worried about. The problem is that he is on blood thinners, which is necessary to have the heart machine running. Blood thinners make the bleed worse. Which means that machine has to come out asap. He goes down to OR at 5:30. Pray for a big miracle! He should be in surgery for a few hours.

ICU Challenge #3

Clay vs Heather

Event- Wall Sits (Heather's choice)

Good Luck Clay! 

delayed June 2 update

Slacking on the blog for the day yesterday sorry guys! Here is the latest....

Stan is off all but one of the blood pressure medicines. He has gained 60 lbs. of fluids and has lost 10 lbs.  Of that in the last 48 hours. They took him off of the sedatives at 7:30 AM so they could see how his brain activity might be. He opened his eyes part way and was able to squeeze the nurses hand when she asked him to. We were not able to talk to the doctor today but we are encouraged by today's events. He is still on life support. As of today (June 3) We saw him this morning, he is looking better since the swelling has gone down. They are planning on turning the heart machine down again this morning around 8:00. Pray it goes well!

One mans service...

We all know Stan has always been willing to serve all kinds of people! So thankful for all his hard work. What has Stan done to help you??

June 1, 2013 update

Heart machine is down to 3.7! Planning on trying to turn it off on Monday. Two of the blood pressure medications are completely gone, only on a minimal amount. Starting blood thinners now to make sure of no clotting, now that the bleeding has slowed. They are taking off some of the sedation also. Hoping he will wake up a bit so they can see how his brain is working.

ICU Challenge #2

Clay vs Heather

20 Burpee + 20 Pushups 

May 31, 2013 update

Today was a better day.  Stan got a feeding tube and is finally getting some food! The kidney specialist has upped the dialysis and this seems to be helping his swelling.  Speaking of which, he was weighed when he first came into the hospital and then again yesterday.  He had been up 60 pounds just from excess fluid.  No wonder he was so swollen! The Dr has also lowered the heart machine so that his own heart is doing a little more of the work.  Also, he has less blood pressure medications needed now too!  Little things but combined they mean progress.

Love you Stan! Keep up the fight!

Donations

We are all so thankful for the amazing effort and hard work of Stan's medical staff at the hospital. He's had the best of the best and it shows.  It's miraculous that he's made it this far and we are all praying to have more progress.  But, as you can imagine, the medical bills are going to be piling up for Stan and Alisha.  Many of you have asked what you can do. So, her sister, Heather, has set up an account at the Bank of American Fork for any donations.  It's under "Fund for Stan Gurney".  We are also working on getting a PayPal donate button on the blog.

Thanks for all your love and support,

The Gurney and Johnson Families

Prayers Needed!

So the biggest concern for Stan right now, is that he is still bleeding too much.  The heart machine that is saving his life, can cause blood clots and they usually give blood thinners to help.  They aren't able to give Stan any due to his bleeding situation. It's a delicate balance of clots from the machine and excess bleeding. So it's imperative for him to be able to control his bleeding in order for him to make any more progress.  Please pray for help with his bleeding!

Keep fighting Stan!

Stan, "The Man!"

Stan, The Man is my my big brother!  The other day as I stood beside Stan in his hospital bed I reminded him that he was Stan The Man who can do anything. If it is to be done he will find away. I told him to hang in there and be The Man!
I would like to share just a few thoughts of "The Man" Stan is.
Stan is five years older than me and has being doing something every minute I can think of. To get Stan to stop and sit just doesn't happen. He is never idle and always anxiously engaged in a good cause.
I have been thinking back to when Stan met Alisha. I remember it was so fun to see him be so smitten with Alisha. The grin on his face is unforgettable as we would tease him. I remember being in his Bronco doing drive bys. Stan loves Alisha. He treats her so well. I remember going camping and Stan has this wall tent he was so excited to use. I think Alisha hadn't been feeling well that day and Stan had gotten a lot of the packing done. I remember them rolling into camp and putting up the tent. Stan just kept bring blankets, pads, & a cot. I think he must have washed the blankets cause he brought one to Alisha to smell to see if he had done a good job. Alisha's bed in the tent was as close to the best comfort you could have. I bet Alisha is thinking she would love the camp beds he provided over the cot in the well lit waiting room.  I have watched Stan over the years cherish Alisha a little more everyday. "What do you need dear?" Is always heard. Stan loves his dates with Alisha no matter how cheap or simple they are.
Stan's children know that if you are asked to do something you just get on it!  He is a great dad. Stan leads his children by example everyday. There has been some tough times in the Gurney home but as a family they stick together, work through them, and grow together. Stan has a special relationship with each one of them. He is able to love each of them in their own special way. He knows just the way and thing to do to help them. Alisha and Stan work together so well to raise their family.
Stan loves our Haavenly Father. Stan is one of His trusted servants. I have noticed Stan's countenance and spirit grow over the years as he has served The Lord. It doesn't matter where he is asked to serve Stan does it 110%. We have FHE once a month. The Stanley Gurney news was Stan was put in the nursery. Oh we laughed and looked forward to his nursery stories. I remember the day Stan was set apart as a High Council Man. Stan's face that day was full of graditude, fear, anxiousness, and commitment. If Stan is asked to do something you know you are going to get the best job. Stan loves serving and has trusted in the blessings his family receives by doing so.
Stan has helped my family so much. He is always thinking of what someone could use or do. He calls me sometimes to say what about this, do you need this, or I am bringing this over. He helped us a ton build both of our houses. Oh the questions I would ask. He would help me learn mostly with patience sometimes not  or I would get, I don't know figure  it out!  I think he just wasn't getting his work done cause I kept interrupting his. Stan the man stays with a the job until it is done and done right. A motto that is used in our family is "if you are gonna do it do it right! Stan lives up to this everyday.
GRANDPA GURNEY! Wow! We loved teasing him when we found out. I would call him Stan the Old Man! He is the best grandpa.. Trey is one lucky little boy. He has the best grandpa.  His grandpa is going to show him how to do everything. Sunday I watched Stan at our house hold trey and play with him. I was thinking,my brother is the best. Look how cute and good Stan is with Trey. The Gurney family like to fight over babies and who gets them first but with Trey you have to take a number cause you know Stan and Alisha are first in line.
I told Stan at the hospital I need him to come up behind me and grab my shoulders like the  loving brother thing he does. I need to here his, What's up sis? I need to hear his little laugh thing he does. This last Sunday I was telling him how entertaining it was to watch me try and put the horses in the trailer and get them home after Jace was thrown off Harley. He laughed at me as I said I just figured it out.
I have the best big brothers ever. I love to watch them be and work together. Things happen when they get together. Stan is a hard worker. I know Stan can fight through this. Stan is there for so many of us. Thank you all for your prayers and love. I look forward to find ways to serve Stan and his family. Like the miracles have began post it is our turn to help be helping hands in many more miracles. My determined  big brother was planning on building his house over the next few months   He would take on anything to save a few bucks. And the thing is you would think he had all the training he needed to do. Stan just dives in and figures it out and gets it done. And done the best and the right way. It is our turn to return the blessings to Stan that he has so freely given to those around him.
I know this is long and I could keep going on and on about Stan The Man. Please feel free to share your stories, memories, big or small. I know these can give comfort and help. I would love to hear from those of you reading this blog about "Stan The Man" and the kind of Man he is to you. We love you Stan and will be there for you and your family! Keep fighting and figuring it out brother!

I love you, Jalene

The ICU "Healthiest Heart Challenge" 2013

Being in the ICU waiting room is not a place that anyone wants to be.  We are constantly on guard when the door opens hoping to hear good news instead of bad, and we've had a lot the of bad.  So, after crying buckets of tears, Heather and I realized we needed to have some laughter.  So the logical thing to do was to tease and taunt Clay, Rachael's firefighter/paramedic husband, into athletic competitions. If you aren't aware, Heather has done a couple triathlons and is very active so it's a pretty good match up.

The rules are:
One event per night
Heather & Clay will take turns choosing the event
All events will be recorded and shared on this blog

Last night was Heather's choice:  plank.

Enjoy!

The Victor Speech

Alisha's Suite

I just wanted to show Alisha's new abode.  It's about 500 square feet and has a public/shared bathroom.  But it's home for now and we've tried to make it as comfortable as possible. 

Our many miracles...

To begin we are grateful someone called 911 at the time they did. An extra 5 min can go a long way. Where Dad works in cotton wood heights, he was close to the hospitals, a couple hospitals actually. We are grateful that dad was not in the car driving and his coworkers were looking out for him. The one thing we have been extremely grateful for, we found out yesterday that the heart machine he has is a rare thing. It is a new piece of equipment, only been out about 2 years. There are only 2 of these machines in the state. One here at IMC and one at primaries. The paramedics were debating between bringing him here or St. Marks. Obviously he was meant to be here, we wouldn't have him here without that machine. This all makes us be so much more thankful for modern technology.
As some of you know Mom and Dad were just starting to work on building a new house.
Thankful to great family members, their building permit has been rushed through and someone has volunteered to dig the hole in the next couple days. Many others want to help, we couldn't be more blessed. Dad has always been such a fix it man, always willing to help absolutely anyone. I guess this is where carma comes in. We want to thank you all for that.
One more thing quick... as some of you know Jeff, my brother from Haiti, was diagnosed with RAD about two years ago. He has gone through all kinds of therapy and help. Jeff is doing so much better now. The thing we are grateful for now is timing, we are glad this has happened now versus happening before when he was first diagnosed.
This is only a few of our miracles and the ones that stand out the most to us, I'm sure there are more to come.
Dad sure is fighting for us, keep praying that it continues...

Inches of progress

One thing the doctors and nurses have been worried about has been Dad's bleeding. Where the heart machine tubes go into his chest his main is open which can make it hard for the bleeding to stop. Last night they did a procedure to clean out his chest and found a clot in one of the tubes. So where all that blood should of been going into his chest, it was overflowing back out- making the bleeding worse. We just found out this morning the bleeding has slowed and they were able to reduce some of his meds. Which will constantly go up and down depending on the circumstances. This is good news to us, one baby step at a time. They will continue the dialasys, which will ultimately help him but change up his meds a bit to keep him stabilized.

Starting on Tuesday May 28th

Stan's morning began just as most any other work day for him. He had asked for a couple of advils because he wasn't feeling great. This was nothing out of the ordinary for him so neither of us thought anything of it. He gave me a long hug and a kiss and left to work. We texted as usual throughout the morning.  At 1:30 I got a phone call. The caller ID said it was Stan. When I answered it was not Stan but a co-worker Matt. Matt told me that he had been talking with Stan when he returned to his desk and asked Matt to just give him a minute.  After a few seconds Matt could see he was not getting any better so called 911.  The ambulance picked him up and as he got to the hospital, he went into cardiac arrest. Due to the fact that he flat lined for so long the doctors have been very concerned about whether or not his brain has been affected and to what extreme.  Upon entering the ER, the paramedics began CPR.  This was continued for about 45 minutes.  During this time, they also used the shock paddles to start his heart. It didn't work so they had to put the catheter in his artery for the heart bypass machine while doing CPR. This saved his life.
It took hours after this for him to be stabilized. Before I could see him, the Dr's performed surgery to put a stint in his artery to open it up. It was closed off 100%. His blood pressure was very low and even with medications, would not go up. I still hadn't been able to see him yet and it didn't look like it was going to happen anytime soon. A couple hours later, his blood pressure was still very low and they were concerned about internal bleeding.  I was finally able to see him just before he was taken in for the CAT scan to find the bleeding. He was swollen and looked horrible but he was at least breathing and his heart was pumping, sort of. About an hour or two later, they came back and said they found the bleeding and that it was a pocket of fluid around his heart. They drained the fluid but then needed to repair the hole that was leaking.  They thought it was either his right atrium or his inferior vena cava but wouldn't know until they could visually see it. This was when I decided to bring my kids in so they could see him.  I had tried to keep my kids from knowing exactly what was happening but at this point, I didn't know if he was going to make it. Every time a Dr came to see us, it was bad news and they finished with, "his chances of survival are slim". Our family did get to see him just before he went in for open heart surgery.  His surgery began about 11:30 PM and was supposed to last 2-4 hours. Both sides of our family was here and the hospital was very accommodating, even going as far as letting us wait in an ICU room.  During this surgery they wanted to move the heart machine to his chest instead of his thigh.  While removing the catheter, they found that the artery was damaged and needed to be repaired. This part of the surgery ended up taking about 4 hours extra. He was finally out of surgery about 7 AM. It was still a couple more hours before he was stable enough to move up to the ICU.  The surgeon ended up cutting a portion of his artery in his thigh out and replacing it with a synthetic tubing.  During this surgery, his leg where the artery was cut, began to swell. They ended up needing to cut large incisions into his calf to reduce the swelling.  These may require skin grafts to close. This was about 10 hours from my first phone call.

May 30, 2013 update

After many many phone calls and texts, we decided to set up a blog to help keep people up to date without stressing Alisha or the kids out.  So, check back here for current updates.

The most recent news is that he still has the heart bypass machine, and will be for 3-5 more days, but he went in for surgery for an internal echo cardiogram to see if they can turn down the machine to help with clotting.  He is still bleeding more than they would like.  It's a very delicate balance.  He also is beginning continual dialysis to clean his blood.  This is to be expected because the kidneys are slow to respond, the Dr's say.  This should support his other organs so that they can recoup.  He seems to respond to Alisha and the kids well.  His blood pressure continually rises when she is in the room and talks to him.  He also opened his eyes for Alisha and Rachael this morning.

Alisha sent me these pics of him from this morning.

Please continue the prayers! They are helping!

We love you Stan!  Keep fighting!