Thursday, January 4, 2007
It has been over two weeks since I’ve posted an update on Dustin’s condition. While I’m sorry to keep you feeling in the dark, there really has been dreadfully little change. He remains largely unresponsive. He will, occasionally turn his head toward you when you ask him to, or try to hold up his head when the physical therapists tell him to. He continues to have sleep/wake cycles and his trach is capped. While these are encouraging signs, they do not yet qualify him for placement in a traumatic brain injury facility. He continues on IV antibiotics. Eight weeks since the accident and largely little improvement.
The Salters remained here in South Carolina for the holidays and had a full house most of the time, with family and friends in from all over the place. I believe the Salter Hotel housed 15 people one night. Once all the house-guests were gone, Leigh Anne and the kids spent New Year’s Eve with Dustin, watching a movie.
Some specific things to pray for:
- Season of fasting and prayer: from noon to one o’clock tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 5. While there will be a few brothers gathered at Dustin’s bedside to pray for his healing, let us all join our hearts and voices in prayer to God who alone can heal.
- Leigh Anne is going on retreat for a few days. This weekend, she plans to leave Greenville and head to Atlanta for the RUF Staff Wives Retreat. She will be gone for 48 hours — the longest time away from Dustin’s side in over 2 months. While the time away will be good for her, it will no doubt be very difficult as well.
- Furman RUF. Tonight they have their first large group since Christmas break. Various pastors and RUF staffers are going to each take a month at a time and preach through the Psalms for the remainder of the school year. Furman RUF Large Group meets every Thursday at 7pm.
In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.
January 5th, 2007 at 11:18 am
Hey Leigh Anne,
You have our continued prayers, with you Dustin and the family being put before God each Sunday here at the church. And know that (aunt) Annette continues to ask about you.
I wish there was better news, but I’m glad you will be taking care of yourself by going on this retreat.
Much peace, much grace,
Kevin
January 5th, 2007 at 11:26 am
Thanks for the update. I’m so glad you are going to Atlanta. I will pray for refreshment for you. I am proud of you for going. I’m glad you have such good support!
January 5th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Glad to hear of the update. Wish there were better news. Thank God, you’ll be in Atlanta for the weekend. “You deserve a break today…” and this is so much better than MacDonald’s. Fewer calories, too!
Love, Fran
January 6th, 2007 at 7:21 am
Leigh Anne and Kids,
We will continue to pray for Dustin’s healing and you, your family and Furman RUF. Our church is Westminster in Johnson City, Tennessee. That’s how we found out about you. We’ve prayed for you and your family(we have 4 children)and will continue.
RUF had a big influence in my life at Belhaven in the 80’s with Billy Dempsey.
With love in Christ,
The Shell Family
January 6th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Dustin, Leigh Anne, Jacob, Nathan, and Meredith,
We are petitioning the Father for you in Christ that the Spirit would comfort you and sustain you. We pray that if it is God’s will that he would heal Dustin and restore him to your family. Our God is faithful! He is very good!
In Christ,
David and Amy Claire
Cincinnati, OH
January 8th, 2007 at 7:40 am
Good morning, sweet friend! We’re back to school this morning, so I’m up early with lunch boxes, etc. and had a few minutes to myself =) I pray that the retreat was a blessing to you this weekend. “…strength for EACH DAY and bright hope for tomorrow…blessings all mine with ten thouand beside!”
Dearest love to you all, H
January 9th, 2007 at 11:34 pm
Good night my friend!
I just wanted to let you know that you and yours CONTINUE to be in our thoughts and prayers!
When I read about the retreat, I couldn’t help but think about our many times together….yes, it COULD take US 6 hours to get to Kaleo Lodge from Fort Worth:)
Please know that you are loved by all of us and Our Heavenly Father!
Good night!
Karen
January 10th, 2007 at 9:00 am
Dear Leigh Anne and beautiful children,
Everytime our church gets together as a body, you are lifted up. Everyone will continue in prayer on this journey with you.
Persevero,
Cheryl Babington
January 10th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Hey Leigh Anne~
Hope you had a restful time this past weekend and that your soul and strength were replenished with the goodness of the Lord. John is memorizing these verses this week and when I read them, I thought of you:
“And so, since the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.” ~Col. 1.9-11
We are still praying for you and your family.
With love,
Jennifer
January 11th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Leigh Anne,
I read about Dustin’s accident in our newsletter, Lexington Pres. in Columbia, SC. My husband is a PCA pastor-outside the bounds- and I just wanted you to know of my prayers for you and your children. I am so sad all of you are going through this and so grateful that you can hide under the Father’s wings for comfort. I know the body of Christ will continue to lift you up daily.
Because of Him,
Keith Crosswhite
January 12th, 2007 at 9:56 am
Leigh Ann,
I pray for you and the family each day, even though I don’t know you personally. Remember, I am Betsy Christiansen’s friend and know about you through her daughter and son-in-law. The Lord just keeps reminding me and giving me a burden to pray for you.
This morning, God’s Word was so powerful that I wanted to share Eph. 1:17-20 with you.
“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.”
Just as God said His Word will not go out in vain but will accomplish that which He purposed. So I pray God will accomplish in your heart what He purposed through this Word.
The Father loves you and the family so much that He burdens people all over the world to pray for you. Oh what Love!!!
Elizabeth Smith
Surfside PCA
January 12th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
thanks for this update. the image of you all sitting there watching a movie is precious. still praying in charlottesville. gt