Greetings from Texas.

I am amazed that even though time is marching on, we have not been forgotten. I know this because I get daily reminders from the website and letters of encouragement in the mail. I wish that I could respond to the many churches and individuals personally.  Thank you all for your outpouring of love in the form of money sent, care packages, scripture, hymns, e-mails, CDs, and on and on.  A mere “thank you” seems inadequate to express my gratitude.
 
The boys are happy among close friends again. Meredith continues to be flexible and cheerful when she gets a daily nap. I am seeking God’s face because there is no other face to seek. I have daily ups and downs all the while knowing that God has put me in this storm for purposes I may never know.

Hymns have been the theme lately. One of my favorites is Jesus, lover of my soul. This is all I could sing those first days in the ICU. And it is the one I sing most often when I need comfort.

There has been no real change in Dustin’s condition. The staff at the Plaza has been wonderful and helpful in caring for Dustin. Continue to pray for the daily management of bedsores, contractures, and therapy.

Many Blessings,
Leigh Anne Salter

Dustin left the hospital Tuesday evening and returned to The Plaza at Ridgemar facility.  He has recovered from his pneumonia and other infections.  Please pray that Dustin remains infection-free.  The brain-trauma specialist determined that it was not a good time to assess Dustin. 

Leigh Anne and the kids are settling back into Fort Worth.  Still, they have many decisions to make concerning housing, transportation, and finances.  Pray for wisdom for Leigh Anne as she tries to determine what is best. 

Some people have asked for Dustin’s address at The Plaza.  His address is: 6600 Lands End Court / Fort Worth TX 76116

Dustin is currently in the ICU at Harris Hospital (Downtown) in Fort Worth and will likely be there for the next several days.  He continues to have a fever, as well as an elevated heart rate.  The doctors have placed him on oxygen but are beginning to wean him from it.  Though the cultures are still out, Dustin possibly has a variety of infections in addition to having pneumonia. 

Please know that Dustin’s return to the hospital is answering some prayers.
First, Dustin is receiving physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.  Second, Leigh Ann is resting easy knowing that doctors are monitoring Dustin around the clock. 

Today, after seeing Dustin, a physiatrist requested that a traumatic-brain-injury specialist examine Dustin within the next few days.  Leigh Anne asked that we pray specifically for the time this specialist will spend with Dustin.  Pray that Dustin shows accurate responsiveness to the specialist’s requests.  Pray that the traumatic-brain-injury specialist is patient with Dustin and that he accurately reads Dustin’s responses. 

Leigh Anne covets your continued prayers.  She and the kids are handling the whirlwind transition to Fort Worth with grace–all are holding up well emotionally and physically.

Dustin was moved to an ICU last night (sorry, I didn’t get the hospital) because of a touch of pneumonia, an accelerated heart rate and a decreased Oxygen level. While this is not so great medically, Leigh Anne is excited that her husband is receiving more and better care. There are simply more resources available in a hospital context than there are in a nursery home facility. Since this was a medically necessary move, insurance is covering this stay in ICU.

Do pray that this pneumonia would soon pass and that Dustin’s body would regulate itself well. One note: since Dustin was originally admitted on Nov 8, he has lost 40 lbs. He now weighs 160 lbs.

Keep praying and know, that no matter the content or the intent of our prayers, they all go through Jesus, who knows exactly what we need.

Though Dustin’s flight yesterday got delayed because of the weather, he did arrive safely in Fort Worth last night, having tolerated the flight well. Dustin is getting situated into his new facility, including getting a longer bed (the first longer bed wasn’t long enough!).

As for the rest of the family and their adjustment, Jacob and Nathan are already back in school, Meredith is wanting brownies for breakfast and Leigh Anne spent last night with her husband. Continue to pray for this period of transition wherein no one really knows what to expect.

For those of you interested in sending a note to Dustin and Leigh Anne and/or the kids, here is their address in Texas:

The Salters
PO Box 33896
Fort Worth, TX 76162

We want to continue these updates and are working on getting someone in Fort Worth to take it on. When that gets established, there will be a link here to the new website.

Do remember a few things:

• you can listen to or read Dustin’s sermon on Providence delivered 3 days before the accident
• you can donate to the RUF Campus Minister’s Crisis Relief Fund online at ruf.org (which funds will go to help with financial needs that the Salters will/do have)
• you can continue to pray: for the adjustment; for the Body of Christ to rise up in Fort Worth (as they have already done); for Dustin’s healing