Update on Connie's progress

As we end week 3 of Connie’s recovery…we are thankful for the wonderful care-givers and incredible technology which Connie is benefiting from. Of course it’s my joy to keep her comfortable…and see that all her needs are met. When we came home from the hospital, she was walking ok, but to be sure there is no chance of infection, the steps were taken to be sure that it heals well. This is somewhat of a set-back in terms of time, but it is the safe route to be sure she is completely healed. I said earlier that “…there are some hard days ahead”…and they are here. The wound has been sealed with what’s called VAC Therapy…or vacuum assisted closure therapy. It’s similar to vacuum sealing food, only this seals the wound from infection, and speeds healing. Check out the web site mentioned earlier in my last blog.

Connie and I are so grateful for good friends Yvonne Dunlap, and her husband Ed, for her decision to travel all the way from Southern California to spend 10 days here cleaning…cooking and assisting in Connie’s care.

Thanks too to John and Stephanie Dyer who loaned her a car to drive here from the airport in Tri Cities. Yvonne’s decision to come was timed to fit in with the 2weeks of food that has been provided by our Church community here…and we have been well fed!! Too many to name here, but thanks to Jon and Nina Collier for setting it all up!!

This is a first experience for us. It’s not something you can plan for except in a general way like maintaining a daily walk with God…with Jesus Christ that is authentic…that is alive and on-going. I do know this, that having memorized many verses of the Bible over the years, it has been those promises…those facts…those truths that have sustained us, and will sustain us in the days ahead.

Check out this song by Matt Redmond which we sang at our church just hours before the accident. I watched Connie as she sang…with her eyes closed in worship and praise. Now as she lies recovering we still sing…”Blessed Be His Name.”

Thanks for your prayers

All is well

RogandConnie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du0il6d-DAk&feature=related

Our near death experience

Dear Friends and Family,

It’s been just over 2 weeks since Connie’s accident. It just may be that some of you have not heard about so I wanted to bring you up to date. Connie was at a moving sale and had parked her car on a rather steep driveway. She had gotten out of the car...and somehow noticed it moving backward...tried to get back in. The open door dragged her down…and the left front wheel ran over her right leg…causing a wound requiring 35 stitches…it ran across her body braking 7 ribs and fracturing her scapula…and as the wheel came near her head…she turned away and the tire caused a surface wound on her head just back of the ear requiring 15 stitches.

I was at home…and when called…got there within 3-5 minutes and found her on the drive…alert but hurt badly.

We had been there earlier in the day and bought some things for the apartment we are preparing on the lower level of our home. I offered to let the folks having the sale to use my pick up to haul away things to the dump when they were done…so after helping me unload the things we bought at our home, the fellow,named Brad took my pick up back to the sale. I had given him my cell phone number.

Connie then decided to go back…and that is when the accident happened. Brad called me immediately…and than ran to her side and prayed for her…and comforted her.

I arrived moments before the ambulance and medical crew and of course in shock watched them care for her as Brad’s girl friend Wendy, put her arms around me as I could not believe what was happening. They are two very special people to us now!

I went in the ambulance the 7 miles to the Chelan Hospital emergency room, and went to take care of necessary paper work and found myself in the waiting room…heartbroken and alone.

I’ve read of people and spoken to others who have gone through this experience…but when you are IN it…and the reality of what is happening sets in, it is indescribable.

Standing there…I cried out to God to spare Connie’s life…and found myself talking with God as I never have before. “I cannot know why this is happening…and will not ask why…but our lives are in your hands…and I trust you God… …I acknowledge you as the Lord of our lives and I give my wife and her life to you…and ask for your peace in this tribulation…as you promised in your Word. I learned Prov. 3:5-6 as a kid…”Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him…and He will direct your path.” and I just repeated it as a prayer and at that moment, I experienced the Peace of God.

Soon the room was filled with friends…and the doctor came in to tell me the head wound was superficial, and there did not appear to be any break that could cause brain damage. He suggested we be airlifted to a larger hospital where her wounds could be examined by a neurologist. What a relief that was! Those moments with friends were so helpful to me, and soon we were on our way to Spokane on a specially equipped fixed wing plane.

As Connie was being wheeled into the operating room for surgery for the leg wounds, I kissed her…said I love you…and she smiled…and asked me to tell Brad she wanted the lamp she saw at the sale!! Those words will stay with us the rest of our lives! I knew she would be OK…and she is improving every day.

No broken foot…or leg…no ligaments or tendons damaged…no hip damage…and no internal organs damaged. I've thought “…I believe in miracles…” but we are experiencing a miracle in her recovery…though there are some hard days ahead…we are thankful and expecting that she will make a full recovery.

While in Spokane I stayed in the home of the son and daughter-in-law of friends in Manson…it was like home to me…and friends bought our car over as they attended a conference scheduled months earlier! Other friends stopped on their way heading East on a road trip…and another couple stopped in having been back East visiting family…so we had a taste of home while there. Flowers…cards…calls…and lots of love all came to that room where Connie began her recovery…hitting the wall of morphine…which made her crazy…and when finally she insisted no more…she began to be herself…and the pain was treated with Aleve and aspirin!

Our kids on facebook call her OTC…one tough cookie!

Connie had a rough couple of days dealing with nausea and all that goes with it adjusting to new pain meds and meds to take away the nausea caused by the pain meds?? Not working too well right now although she slept better last night that she has in the last 2 weeks.

Thanks to all who have brought us wonderful meals and cards and flowers. We are so blessed with praying; giving friends. Thanks too to Nina and Jon Collier for arraigning all the details.

We are pleased that Lea Carpenter, our Worship Pastor’s bride, will be treating Connie as she is now Wound Care Specialist working from Chelan Community Hospital. What a blessing!
Connie is scheduled to have surgery to prepare the leg wound for a "Negative Pressure Wound Therapy" which Lea will install on the wound. Here is a web site which shows an animation of how it works.

Select and paste this video in the address bar on your computer: http://www.kci1.com/KCI1/sciencebehindthetherapy#what

Scroll down to the video…it’s really neat what is being done today in medicine!

To be on the receiving end of so many prayers is a new experience for us. I am a wuss...when it comes to wounds and stuff....but it’s been a privilege for me to care for Connie’s wound…and spend these days caring for her in this way. To see her smiling face makes my heart sing! Only You...my one and only you....

Thanks much,

Roger n Connie Booth

Out first blog, our first post. Welcome!

This blog is about two people who met in collage over 55 years ago, one a nurse and the other engaged in Christian broadcasting. One whose family moved a lot, the other whomoved once from the house she was born in to a house across the street.

We are Roger and Connie Booth , married in 1959 in a ceremony that included the words from the Bible, in the Old Testament book of Ruth…

”…where you go I will go…and where you lodge…I will lodge…your people will be my people…and your God…my God.”

We have moved many times over the years, and Connie has kept her word spoken on that day, and she has been a wonderful wife and mother. Roger’s work took him to 7 states and Korea in management and development of several Christian Radio Stations. Retired in 2000, we moved to Manson, Washington where we built a house…some call a hotel…overlooking beautiful Lake Chelan in central Washington State.

We have 4 sons…4 daughters-in-law, and 8 grand children, and we delight in them all.

Our desire as husband, wife and parents has been to live lives pleasing to God, trusting in Jesus Christ, who died, and Rose again to give us eternal life. With all the moves and raising a family, it has not always been easy, but we both can look back and ahead with a confidence that we first wanted to honor our commitment to each other and to our God and thank Him for a million blessings and His Love.

As of this day, April 22^nd, 2011, Connie lies recovering from a horrific auto accident she suffered on the 10^th of this month.

More about this along with a couple of web sites where you will find more information. She is recovering nicely and we are all thankful for so many who have prayed…called…and have sent cards of encouragement. Thanks so much.

We have much to live for, and much to be thankful for, and as I write this introduction to our Blog…we look forward to Sunday…Easter Sunday…when we will be together celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who died…and rose again on that Great Day so many years ago.