Dustin’s condition remains very serious.

Doctors are running many tests (Spinal Tap, EEG, MRI among them) trying to discern the cause of the sepsis and why his heart rate is so low. It has not been above the mid 40s all day and frequently dips into the 30s.

In the first verses of his letter, Jude writes:

To those who have been called,
who are loved by God the Father
and kept by Jesus Christ:
Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.

May we pray this for Dustin, Leigh Anne, Jacob, Nathan & Meredith.

Dustin is back in the hospital (the ER of Harris Downtown, Ft. Worth).

He is in septic shock — a very serious condition.

The next 24-48 hrs are crucial.

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

Leigh Anne and the kids left South Carolina today and have landed safely in Texas — with a whole welcome party there to receive them, of course.

• Thank God for their safe arrival in Fort Worth.
• Pray for Dustin’s transport tomorrow (the 31st).
• Pray for a happy reunion tomorrow evening.
• Pray for the Salter’s transition back into Fort Worth.

Concerning Dustin, the plan at this point (since insurance has denied Kindred) is for him to be taken to the Plaza, a skilled-nursing facility, upon his arrival in Fort Worth tomorrow.

Trusting the two perfect hands of our Father …

There are some changes in Dustin’s condition and treatment that are noteworthy.

1) Several times over the last week or two, they have placed Dustin on a ’tilt table.’ This is a table that he gets strapped down to and then he is raised up to almost standing upright. He hasn’t gotten past 45 degrees, but having been on his back or sides for the last 11 weeks, 45 degrees is quite significant. This exercise helps put pressure on his legs and feet, helps circulation to his feet and lower legs, reduces tone in his muscles by stretching them out, and generally loosens up his muscles and joints. He endures this fairly well, keeping a good BP and has also shown some signs of trying to help posture himself and does occasionally respond to commands to move a toe or raise a thumb or following with his eyes.

2) They removed the trach this morning. This is really a positive thing. In many ways, Dustin has come a long way from 3 months ago in the ICU when the ventilator was breathing for him and he was having to be suctioned out 6-8 times a day. Now, the doctors feel he is able to take care of all those things on his own, and see no reason why he ought not be able to continue doing so.

We are now 5 days away from Dustin’s flight back to Fort Worth. Please continue fervently in prayer for:

• Dustin’s healing
• Leigh Anne’s endurance, rest and peace
• Dustin’s safe transport (31st)
• Leigh Anne and kid’s safe travel (30th)
• the transition back to Texas (praise God for great friends who are working out all the details!)
• the insurance company to pay for 2 weeks at Kindred!

Psalm 20
¹TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A PSALM OF DAVID. May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! ²May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion! ³May he remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! ⁴May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans! ⁵May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions! ⁶Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. ⁷Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. ⁸They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright. ⁹O Lord, save the king! May he answer us when we call.

RUF Announces the Establishment of the RUF Campus Minister Crisis Relief Fund

The RUF Campus Minister Crisis Relief Fund, established by the RUM Permanent Committee, is for the benefit of RUF Campus Ministers and their families who are in an extraordinary financial crisis and need, ordinarily due to medically related issues.

Reverend Dustin Salter was the RUF Campus Minister at Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, Texas for 9 years before his recent move to Greenville, South Carolina where he continued serving RUF as Campus Minister at Furman University.

On November 8, 2006, 4 months after the Salter’s move from Texas to South Carolina, Dustin was on a bicycle ride one block from his home with his two boys when a sudden fall resulted in a severe and sustained brain injury. Dustin’s wife, Leigh Anne, and their three children, Jacob(9), Nathan(7) and Meredith(2), will be moving back to Fort Worth, Texas on January 30^th and Dustin will be transported to Fort Worth the following day–January 31^st. There he will continue to receive long term nursing care.

Dustin’s case is an example of the need for the RUF Campus Minister Crisis Relief Fund. RUF is currently on 110 campuses across the nation and employs 170 field staff. Due to our size and growth we are aware that other crises may arise.

For those interested in making a contribution to the RUF Campus Minister Crisis Relief Fund you may contribute online at www.ruf.org.