The scariest week

My friends, I am so grateful for the online community!  My heart is brimming with thankfulness as I write to thank you all for your prayers for my son, Preston.

Long-time readers will remember that Preston has a complicated medical history.  When he was 14 years old, he had major open-heart surgery which entailed replacing his ascending aorta with a graft and his aortic valve with a mechanical valve.  Mechanical valves are amazing, but they carry a danger of forming blood clots. 

Preston is now 21 years old and is a senior at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.  He's amazing--he's strong, smart, funny, kind--everything I could ask for in a son.

Last Tuesday, as Preston was riding an exercise bike, his artificial valve threw a clot and Preston had a stroke.

I asked for prayers for Preston, and so many people responded.  A friend of mine remarked that heaven has probably been overwhelmed with the number of prayers lifted for Preston.

Preston gets a visit from a wonderful therapy dog.  She made Preston smile!

Thanks to the healing hand of God and the diligent efforts of God's friends the physicians, nurses, and other health professionals, Preston is doing well.  He was discharged from the hospital on Thursday evening.  He continues to recuperate at home (where it's a lot easier to rest than at the hospital!).

Please keep praying for Preston.  We are asking God that he will be completely healed, and we would appreciate your prayers for that, as well.

And look how he smiled when they brought his discharge papers!

Meanwhile, please join me us thanking and praising God for Preston's progress.  This wonderful son of mine is alive and well and has a very bright future.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!