Dustin’s condition is little changed. I heard no talk today of infection or a fever. That is good. The respiratory therapist mentioned that it is good that Dustin hasn’t developed an infection because of his tracheotomy. Infections because of that are a frequent occurrence and to prevent this, she even double-gloved as she suctioned out his lungs.

Some things to be in prayer for:

• the doctors have more seriously begun talking with Leigh Anne about Dustin’s long-term care options. There are no places in South Carolina that will take someone who is on a trach. and is unresponsive. Leigh Anne has difficult decisions to make in this area in the coming weeks and months. Pray that God would give her great wisdom and peace with decisions she makes.
• the main threats to Dustin and his potential recovery are infections and other complications. The head trauma has done its damage. Pray that God would keep infections at bay so that Dustin might stand a better chance of recovery.
• the kids: Leigh Anne has taken them to see Dustin once and may do so again this week. Pray that God would help her minister to them and help them process, even as she must process things herself.

We may be at mile 6 of a marathon. While we do not know the end from the beginning, our God does. And so we press on, trusting his fatherly wisdom, compassion and providence.

To My Many Friends and Family Known and Unknown,

It has now been 18 days since Dustin hit a bump in the road that brought dark providence into our lives. I cannot begin to say thank you enough for the outpouring of love and support you have given me and my children. I truly feel God’s presence upholding me every minute. Thank you for your unceasing prayers. Amazingly, I sleep well at night largely due to the fact that some of you awake and pray for me throughout the night. The body of Christ is so beautiful.

I’ve had many good talks with the boys and they understand, as much as children can, the seriousness of the situation. At the same time, they are trying to figure out what it means to trust in Lord with all their heart. Continue to pray for me as I minister to them and help them believe daddy’s words on God’s providence.

I’ve experienced a whole range of different emotions, but at this moment my heart is sad because I miss my best friend. I know the road ahead is long, but I do know that I’m not alone, so together we wait for God’s glory to be revealed.

Love,
Leigh Anne

While there is no change in Dustin’s cognitive condition, he is running a bit of a fever (99-101 degrees). He is being treated with antibiotics and Tylenol to try and control the fever while doctors seek to determine what is causing it — they have taken some cultures and are awaiting the results.

Leigh Anne took the kids to see Dustin today — the first time they’ve seen him since the accident (17 days ago). Do continue in prayer for them as they process the situation [Jacob (9), Nathan (7) and Meredith (2)].

All house guests (friends and family) have now left the Salter home. There are a few more folks coming in from out of town in the coming days, but as we settle in for what seems like a long haul, Leigh Anne will need prayer especially for endurance, rest and … honestly, only the Lord knows what else. Many ‘locals’ have been waiting in the wings and your time is rapidly approaching when your ongoing help will be required. Thank you for your patient and serving hearts.

Pressing on …

Just a quick note to let you know that Dustin has been moved from the intermediate ICU to a private room (room 2310 at Greenville Memorial Hospital).

There is no change in his condition.

Be joyful always; pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
(1 Thessalonians 5.16-18)

Dustin has been moved to an intermediate ICU. This does not indicate an improvement in his condition, but is the natural progression in situations like his. He continues to breathe on his own and is receiving nourishment through the feeding tube (PEG).

His cognitive condition is in no way changed.

Do be in prayer for Leigh Anne and the kids, as well as for Dustin’s parents and brothers, and for Leigh Anne’s family — tomorrow is Thanksgiving; we trust you will pray accordingly.

Doctors removed the valve that measures Dustin’s intracranial pressure from his head this morning. They are continuing him on the anti-swelling medication, though at a reduced dosage. Being moved to a private room may happen in the next day or two. Dustin continues to breath on his own, though he is developing a bit more mucus in his lungs than he should be. Doctors want to keep an eye on that as it runs the risk of leading to pneumonia.

His cognitive ability is not much (if at all) improved. Though much of Dustin’s involuntary body functions continue to work (e.g., breathing, digestion, some reflex), the apparent damage to his brain continues to limit any kind of Eye, Verbal or Motor reponse (the 3 categories for the Glasgow Coma Score). This is because the part of his brain that controls breathing, etc. (the brain stem), was not much effected by the trauma. Nonetheless, the full extent of the damage done to his brain is yet to be known. While there is no real stated prognosis from the medical staff, any recovery beyond the state Dustin is currently in, we can expect to be extremely slow. We pray for the best and plan for the worst.

The good news is that we do not serve a God of prognoses and probabilities, but the God who spoke the universe into being, parted a massive body of water so that millions of his people could walk through on dry ground, made 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish feed thousands of people, restored many from the death bed back to functioning life, and did himself rise from the dead to vindicate his message of redeeming love and grace. This is the God whom we serve, to whom we pray: the God who is near the brokenhearted, who lifts the heads of the downcast, who is with those who are lowly and humble. This the God of Dustin’s salvation, the God who holds the Salters in his gentle and compassionate hands. He is our hope. He is the source of eternal life — to know God through Jesus Christ.

Jesus, Lover of My Soul
Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, ‘til life’s storm is past;
Safe into the haven guide; receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none, I helpless, hang on Thee;
Leave, oh leave me not alone, support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed, all help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head in the shadow of Thy wing.

Thou, O Christ, are all I want, here more than all I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name, I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art, let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart; for all eternity.

Reformed University Ministries has established a fund to help support the Salters financially. While Dustin does have medical insurance, it caps at $1,000,000. That sounds like a lot of money, but in situations like this, that money will be used up much faster than one might think.

To donate, please send checks to …

Reformed University Ministries
1700 North Brown Road, Suite 104
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
made payable to: R.U.M.
noted: “Dustin Salter Care”

In coming weeks, you may also be able to donate money online through the RUM website.

There is no significant change in Dustin’s condition.

He is off of the sedative and is breathing on his own. The ventilator is unplugged. They  do, however have him on a little bit of Oxygen.

At some point, possibly in the next day or so, Dustin will probably be moved from the ICU to a private room. That will happen once the port monitoring his intracranial pressure is removed and the anti-swelling medication is stopped. While being moved from ICU sounds like it would require an improvement in his condition, that is not necessarily the case. There has been no real change in his condition (positively or negatively) for several days now. It seems that we are just waiting …

As we wait …

Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4.16).

Although there has been a lot happening in the last two days, there is no dramatic change in Dustin’s condition. Here are relevant particulars:

• Dustin has received the tracheotomy and the PEG (feeding tube)
• the CT scan did not reveal much difference (positively or negatively) from previous scans
• the doctors have taken Dustin off of the sedative medication. He is therefore, not is as deep a coma as he has been.
• as a result, they have also turned down his ventilator. So he is breathing pretty much on his own.
• the doctors are continuing the anti-swelling medication though it sounds like this might soon have run its course
• Dustin’s GCS (Glasgow Coma Score) has not risen above a 5 — which means that things remain very serious.

As before, feel free to leave Leigh Anne and/or the family “Comments” through these posts or E-Cards through the hospital system (http://www.ghs.org/egreeting.asp NOTE: Select “Greenville Memorial Hospital”). These are a very helpful way to express your love and concern.

Longing for Glory …

Dustin’s intracranial pressure continues to be higher than desired. That being the case, the doctors are keeping him on the medication that is designed to decrease the swelling in his brain. They are having to balance that drug’s positive effects (decreased swelling, hopefully) with its negative effects (dehydration). Dustin continues on the sedation medication (and on the ventilator, therefore) which allows his body to do less work.

He is scheduled for a CT scan at some point today as well as a tracheotomy — placing a breathing tube in his neck — and to have a feeding tube (PEG) placed directly into his stomach tomorrow afternoon. These latter two are neither decidedly positive or negative procedures. They are normal steps taken at this point when it seems a patient will be in this state for a while. They are designed to help facilitate breathing and nourishment respectively, as well as help prevent complications (like pneumonia, etc.).

If you would like to leave Leigh Anne or anyone else in the family a note, simply click on the “Comments” link at the end of any post and we will make sure that she or whomever you address it to receives it.

From Leigh Anne, the family and those of us here ‘on the ground’, thank you for your faithful and fervent prayer.