News From The Hope's

When I received this email from Karen Hope, I was encouraged from the message it contained. I think that Karen's message can apply to many of us in so many ways. Please read her letter and feel free to comment on it, letting us all know what Karen's letter means to you.
Scott




Breanna got out of the hospital last night. If she continues to do well over the next few days we are hoping Terry and Ian can come and bring us HOME! The people here are wonderful but we miss our family in Bull Shoals. Breanna is improving but she has a long recovery still. When you stretch your spinal cord hard enough to pull down on your brain stem and then cut it loose, you can expect some odd things to happen. It also affects the area where she has the syrinx in her upper spinal area. She is having some numbness in her left leg and still having vision problems but they are getting better. I think the best thing for now is to continue to pray. Pray specifically that God be glorified in everything we say or do. It is easy to get angry when I think she spent four days in the hospital because the emergency room doctor ordered a medicine she was allergic to, but I have to think of all the people who asked " when are you getting a lawyer?" It was so easy to say, " God had this in His plan" Then I would get the same question. "HOW can you be so CALM!!?" Oh how wonderful is our Father in heaven that I would be afforded the opportunity to explain the rest I find in Him! My body grows weary but my soul does not! I have had my moments indeed but it does not take long for me to find my peace in my Fathers arms. This has been such a struggle all my life and yet now it seems so natural. He is in control! How much more could you ask for? I have had my "WHY" moments as I watched Breanna struggle with pain I am sure I could not handle, but He reminds me the "why" is because He is the great I Am. It was so simple when I finally saw it. Will I ask "why" again? I am sure I will, but now I have the answer! I can return to Him over and over and not need a human answer to that question ever again. God does not answer prayer in our time or in our way but He never leaves us alone. People assume if God does not answer with healing if we have prayed for it, that He has either chosen not to answer or we did not pray correctly. That is so not true. He hears our every word. He wants to know our desire but we must believe that what happens after that prayer is His will and not ours or we do not really want His will but our own. I would praise Him every day if Breanna was miraculously healed and I will praise Him every day if she is not. It breaks my heart to see her struggle to have a life that is in the smallest of ways "normal" compared to this worlds standards. However, seeing her struggle may be hard but I can praise God she is here for me to see those struggles. I know her reward in heaven will be great because she never curses the Lord for His will in her life. I am grateful for the opportunity to grow closer to the Lord these last 36 days. We as a family have also become closer in so many ways.

Thank you all for your prayers, cards, letters and calls. We can't wait to get home!
Karen

P.S. sorry about the mini sermon, I am just overwhelmed by His love! As for the physical needs, we are fine here. You might ask Terry about what if any needs they have there.

Hi,
I have sent this link to Breanna's Caringbridge site so people can keep up with what is going on. Please share this with the church so those who can will be able to check for updates. It saves me a lot of time if they can go there instead of having to send so many e-mails.

Love and Prayers,
Karen

www.caringbridge.org/visit/breannahope


Please go and visit. Pray for them. Send tham a card or letter, let them know you are thinking of them.
Scott

Breanna Update

HI,
It is hard to take in the fact that Breanna has both a spinal fluid leak and meningitis, however if they had only treated her for the leak then we would have had to treat the other later. Also we have had the privilage to minister to three families who have lost children while we were here. We do not know how they feel but we do understand the pain. We miss you all and we are grateful for the calls and cards.
Love, Karen

Breanna Updates

I will put all three of the updates on this post as I just now saw them and it wouldn't make much sense to post three seperate times. Thus far, there are definately reasons to praise the Lord! Alas, therre are also many reasons to keep praying. So, without further delay, here are the emails, in the order I received them.

Breanna started getting up on her own last night. Her double vision is beggining to correct itself and she may check out of the hospital as early as this evening!
Love and Prayers,
Karen


Breanna will most likely be released today or tomorrow. We will be going to the RMH. There are a few neurological issues that need to be addressed yet. She is still having double vision all the time and they think she may need a sleep study because she does not breathe on her back the way she should whether she is medicated or not. This could be one of the reasons she has been so tired even when she sleeps. They also feel she should start occupational therapy as opposed to physical therapy. We may try and get some of the appointments with doctors up here since they are more familiar with her issues.
Karen

Breanna is out of the hospital and here at the RMH. He follow up visit is next Thursday and if all goes well we will start home next Friday. She is still seeing double and there are a few other things we are keeping an eye on. She said she never realized riding four blocks could be so hard! She is resting after taking some pain meds. Please continue to pray for her recovery and that the double vision will correct itself.
Love and Prayers,
Karen

Let me encourage all of us to continue in our prayer efforts. Remember, The fervant, effectual prayer of a righteous man, availeth much!
Scott

More Prayers, Please

Good Morning,
We discovered at 4:30 this morning that Breanna would continue breathing if we turned her on her side. She went to sleep at 5:00 and slept really hard until 8:00 when the nurse returned for vitals. She is resting well and turning from side to side with only a little help from us. She had a tough night but she is a tough young lady. Terry has returned to the RMH to sleep for a while then we will trade and I will try to sleep. We covet your prayers.
Love, Karen

Please Pray For Breanna Hope

Hi,
Please pray for peace for Breanna. She is not afraid of the surgery but she dreads the recovery. She will have to lay flat on her back and it hurts her head to lay flat. She is dreading the pain from the surgery and the headache. She is very jittery and her heart keeps racing because of the fear of being in pain. I know God could take that from her. Not only the nervousness but also the pain. That is our prayer.
Love and Prayers,
Karen



Form Scott: I believe that Breanna is having surgery tomorrow (Tuesday, 7th), may I suggest a time of fasting and prayer on her behalf either tonight or tomorrow morning?

Hope Update-A Time For Prayers

Hi,
Breanna has a tethered spinal cord ( a mild form of spina befida) She will be having surgery on Tuesday to clip her spinal cord loose so it is not being pulled when she moves. She will have 3-5 days in the hospital and she will have to lay flat at all times until they see there are no spinal leaks. He usually keeps his patients at the Ronald Mcdonald house for a few days before he lets them travel. Please pray for continued grace and peace about this surgery.
Love and Prayers,
Karen



This is the address for sending mail

Ronald McDonald House
544 S. Drexel Avenue
Chicago, IL 60615

You can put our name on it and they will put it in our box.

Thank You,
Karen

A Prayer Request From The Hope's

I had forgotten how sad it is being here with these families. Every family has a tradgedy, some more than others. I am so overwhelmed by the grace of our Lord. I cannot imagine how the families with no faith make it from day to day. There is a beautiful little girl that is dealing with the fact that her cancer has returned and cannot be cured. A little boy with huge dark beautiful eyes that smile at you from a body the size of a child less than a year old when he is actually 3. He is in need of a kidney and liver transplant. A family fighting desperatly to keep their daughter alive at any cost because they have no hope or assurance of what happens after death. Please pray for us to keep our eyes on our Lord so that we may in some way touch their lives while we are here. My heart breaks not just for the physical state but the spiritual state of these families.
We love you all,
Karen

A Message From The Hope Family

We called the Ronald McDonald House today and they have a room for us! We are in Letchfield IL for the night and we will continue on to Chicago in the morning. Breanna is holding up but in a lot of pain. Tell everyone we miss them and please continue to pray for us.
Love and Prayers,
Terry and Karen


The Hopes will be pressing on to Chicago tomorrow (Sept. 30). We are praying for healing. We want the doctors to find an answer (from God) and have a cure. Please join us in this prayer!
Scott