Thursday, August 11, 2011

Update Thursday afternoon

Dale's been waiting to read Vespers Rising. He and his mom have been reading the series together. Someone brought him the book today. When his mom, Kirsten, showed it to him, he got very excited and held the book in his hands, opened it up, and turned the page.
Today he coughed, and the cough produced a tear. He wiped his own eyes. Later he motioned toward his mom for a tissue, and wiped his own mouth.
He just gave his mom a kiss.
He's having an MRI later today. This will check his brain activity and help determine if the neck brace can come off. Dale is breathing completely on his own, but still has a feeding tube, and an IV. Monitors continue to track his vitals.

Psalm 107:8 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

19 comments:

  1. I praise God that Dale is a Testimony to the nations that God still answers prayers......My prayers go out to you and may you have a speedily recovery Dale! Call on the name of jesus for He is able to save and Deliver! i would love to have you and your Family on my Television Program Testimonies:The Experience! Be Blessed and know that God is able!

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  2. Ever since I heard about Dale & his family, I've been paying. I know personally he has a long road to recovery ahead of him, but he has the ultimate cheerleader on his side, God. Just under 18 months ago, three weeks after I gave birth to my second child and 1 week after I turned 30, it was discovered I had a brain tumor & cyst growing into my brainstem. I also had horrible hydrocephalus that required emergency surgery the following day after discovery. If I could write the entire story, you would be able to witness Gods incredible hand touching every part of my life & this story. After a four hour crainotomy, I awoke unable to walk, talk, and swallow. I spent a total of 6 weeks in the hospital. Of that 16 days were in the ICU, a few days in PCU, and the remaining time in Rehab. I left the hospital with a walker, Ted hose, waist cincher, feeding tube, and permanent suction tube. At home I had to have someone with me 24/7, I had a stool for seated showers, handle bars on the toliets, and a Doctors order to go to speech, occupational & physical therapy three times a week. I had to have help all days with my kids because I was a stay at home mom. Even through all of that, I am still amazed at what God has done. I started driving again last fall after I was cleared of my previous Grand Mal seizures & the meds I had to take. I rapidly gained back independence & became a full time stay at home mom again shortly after that. After 11 long months with a permanent feeding tube, I had it removed. I can carry & play with my boys again. It may not be as I always imagined, but God has provided those experiences for me in new ways. I'm still charging forward with God holding me steady. Without Him, I am confident I never would have made it this far. I hope to have my final surgery next week at OHSU. I could share so much more, but I know lots of people feel a calling to share with you & your family. Please know that I posted your story on my blog so those in my prayer chain would also add you. Please visit it at www.bussjessica.blogspot.com - Please know your near my heart and I will continue praying for you often! Jeremiah 29:11
    Blessings, Jessica

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  4. Vespers Rising sounds like my kind of book. I love who-dunnits, trying to solve things. Sounds like Dale is doing great! He is JESUS' kid, and I get the distinct impression the Lord wants him here. Even when he was unconscious, he was witnessing to the world, how much better when he can talk !!

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  5. I've felt so emotional about the story of your son. We were at the beach this past weekend, on the Washington coast. I have a 12 year old son, too. My 6 year old was playing in the waver and taken by surprise when one of the waves knocked him over. Life is so precious. I praise God for taking care of your dear, sweet son, and I praise Him that He is in control and that He is a good God, always. May you feel God's presence and peace through the days ahead. I will be praying for your sweet son and your family.

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  6. oops.... typo... I meant to say he was "playing in the water." :) I also would like to add that I'm so glad you have this blog where we can read updates. I will keep following along and praying.

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  7. Praise God. This story has been a witness around the world, to the power of prayer and God's response to His faithful people. May you have continued blessings and full restoration of health.

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  8. I am praying for Dale's speedy recovery. Our extended family has maintained a presence on the Long Beach peninsula with a summer home over the last one hundred years so we are considered semi-locals because of all the people we know there. Dale is one lucky guy to have a hero like 12 year old Nicole Kissell take it upon herself to rescue him after he had gone down in the local surf. I have witnessed a few beach rescue during the summers I have spent on the Washington Coast and I know our local rescue teams are the best trained teams when it comes to these types of rescues along with the local Coast Guard rescue teams based out of Cape Disappointment, WA. and Astoria, OR. and ordinary citizens who went out of their way to help someone in distress. Both the local rescue teams and The U S Coast Guard place themselves in harm's way on a daily basis along with genuine heroes like Nicole Kissell and other individuals when someone needs their help. Every time I see a rescue member on the Long Beach Peninsula or a local USCG member I always thank them for their service to our local community along with the volunteers who assist the professionals with their rescue missions.
    Finally, I will continue to pray for Dale's quick recovery and I know God is watching over him and his rescuer Nicole Kissell. I know the power of prayer because I am a Heart Transplant recipient who received a new heart exactly six years ago and I know God listens to your prayers because I only spent one week in the CCU after my transplant which amazed both the Doctor's and the entire medical staff who had predicted I would be in the CCU for at least two to three weeks. Tell Dale after reading his story I know he is a fighter who will not give up and his story of survival exemplifies our Father the Almighty's power of LOVE !!

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  9. I am a very private 43 year old man who has been blessed by my beautiful wife with 3 awesome boys -- Dales story and the photographs of the rescue have hit me straight in the heart.

    Dale: You were brought back for a reason... one that you might not understand until later in life (if ever). Continue to trust in God, live an honest life, and love all people as equals. You don't know me, but you've already had a very profound impact on the rest of my life.

    Nicole and the other rescuers: You were, for one short instant, the chosen hands of God, your bravery and selflessness are traits that few in this world choose to exercise.

    This story is exactly what the world needs at this specific moment in time and I pray that it continues to make its way around the world.

    Dale, may God continue to watch over you and I pray that you make a speedy recovery.

    Humbly,

    D. L. Rodd
    Suwanee, Georgia

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  10. To God be the glory!!! We continue to pray for your recovery, Dale. God has a plan for you. Blessings to your parents and all who love you.

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  11. I just read about Dale's story on yahoo news. It is very touching and I teared up reading about it. I am so glad to hear he is making progress and I find it so sweet that he enjoys reading and that you read with him. I will continue to follow this blog and hope for things to continue to get better! I don't know him, but I feel that Dale is a very special boy. Thank you for keeping us updated.

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  12. To God be all the praise and glory!!! I rejoice with you and all those that were on that beach that day for the miracle that God has done! May the Lord continue to give Dale a speedy and complete recovery so that he can be about His father's business. Blessings to you all and may God continue to use your story to touch the hearts of many whose hearts have drifted from Him or who don't know Him at all!!! Thank you for keeping us updated.

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  13. Thank the Lord for protecting Dale from dying. I pray for a full recovery and trust The Lord Jesus to use this story for His glory to reach others with the good news that Jesus Saves.

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  14. Praying with you for a complete recovery for Dale. 1 Peter 2:24, Psalm 107:20

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  15. Praise be to God! We are overjoyed for all of you. How wonderful that this miracle was give to all of us, now in these tough days. God is so good, and showing this to our country to again unite us to him wiht Dale as an instrument. To hear the word miracle used so properly by doctors and the media is wonderful. To God Be the Glory. Your witness as parents, right from the first minutes your heard,of your trust in Jesus, no mater the outcome, was what this world is hungry for. Thank you for your witness. Jesus I trust in you. As a parent who have also been gifted with a miracle, our 7 year old healed from bone cancer during her port surgery, it is our duty to go and tell others, and to support and pray for those who are struggling and fighting the good fight. May God continue to richly bless Dale and all who come into contact with him during these days. Tom Plymouth, MI

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  16. My niece, Riley, is in Dale's class at school and Riley and her brothers (Ages 6 & 9) were spending the day with me on Sunday. On the way home from church we called my sister (their mother) and she told Riley that Dale had been under the water too long and was brain dead and that pretty much the only thing that would save him was if God performed a miracle. Riley was very upset and crying (as well as me). When we got home I lead the three of them in a prayer asking God to please perform a miracle and bring Dale back to life. Later that day we heard the news that Dale had woken up and was speaking. I am so glad that my babies (as I call them) got to experience praying for a God to perform a miracle, and seeing Him answer it. Most of my life I didn't really believe that God would answer my prayers. It wasn't until I was in my mid to late 20's that I found that God does and will answer my prayers. I don't want my niece and nephews to grow up feeling the way I did most of my young life. I want their faith in God to be built up as young as possible, which is why I'm so thankful to God for letting my babies experience this. I know the way the Lord works some times and when they're older and going through some hard times in their life where they need to have faith in God, this is something that the Holy Spirit will be able to bring to their remembrance. I'm so sorry Dale and his family have had to go through this and I'm so grateful he's recovering. Romans 8:28 says "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." I know that this has not only helped to build the faith of my niece and nephews, but probably countless others. And I hope Dale's parents and other fellow church members who are at the hospital are using this an opportunity to witness to the doctors, rescuers and others who may not be saved and who got to see a miracle of God performed first hand. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

    Psalm 36:7 KJV
    How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

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  17. Dale, your story is an inspiration to people everywhere. You are a brave young man and a testament to the power of prayer and to the love of friends and family and even strangers the world over who have been touched by your story. Much love and appreciation to you and to your wonderful family. May All Good Things Come To You!

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  18. I tried to finish that series but I dropped it at book six. :)

    Dale's progress rate is amazing!! God is definitely lending him a hand through all of this!!!!!

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  19. Just wanted to add my prayers and support. Dale's story has moved me deeply and I thank you for encouraging my faith. Our children's lives are in the Lord's hands. Praying for a full recovery and for the many burdens you are carrying, for peace and rest.

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