there's so much to be thankful for...and I wanted to update you all on my brother-in-law, Chris. He's home for a while now. He was able to come home on Friday (May 4) where he and Tami welcomed their granddaughter, Avalynn Claire, to the world. (She was born Friday morning.)
So ~ I wanted to let you know they're home for a while...but they'll be heading back down later this month for more skin grafts. Here are Tami's last e-mails with the oldest being first.....
May 1, 2007
Chris will be going into surgery in the morning to put a temporary cover over his open foot. The covering is called integra which consist of shark and cow cartilege with a silicon layer. Pray that the "temp covering" will take so Chris can come home for the time until his skin graft. Also pray for our family as Andrea (our daughter in law) is having a little girl on Friday - Andrea and Isaiah (2 yr old) grandson live with us. Bethany is finished with UNL on Friday and will be moving back home for the summer. I have finals next week for the 2 classes I am taking at the local community college. So if you would remember us, I am feeling a little stretched. Tami
May 2, 2007:
Praise and update about Chris' surgery today. They put the integra covering on Chris' foot and stitched up the incision above his ankle. The dressing stays on for 5 days before they will change it. Dr. Hau said that the foot looked real good and that Chris may be able to go home on Friday. Chris is guardedly optimistic. He really wants to get home. He has done great and is such an encouragement to me and many others.
Please continue to pray for our family, we are going to have a new granddaughter on Friday. Pray that we all will see how God has blessed us and truly cares for us every day and in so many ways. Thank you, your prayers are a treasure that have incredible impact and value!
May 5, 2007
Yesterday the surgeon came in and took a look at Chris' foot and was pleased with how it was looking. So the pick line came out (IV) and we loaded up and headed to Norfolk. Chris is on oral meds and will go back next Friday to have the dressing changed and looked at. I get to be the nurse for the week, I am sooo not nurse material, but God is faithful and Chris has been great and understanding. We were able to go to the hospital and see our new grandaughter who is beautiful. Thank you for your continued prayers, a few weeks before this all started I was praying that I would be able to praise him in the storm (song from Casting Crowns and also when Paul chose to praise the Lord in prison). It has been such an incredible blessing to praise HIM and have my eyes on HIM in this whole thing. We have been blessed! No words come to give the depth of praise in what He is doing and for who HE is!
If you'd like to send a card or anything to help them out (refer to my April 27th post), please send it to their church ~
Chris & Tami Graham
c/o Christ Is King Community Church
203 S 8th St, Norfolk, NE 68701
Thanks, everyone, for your prayers ~ we are so appreciative!
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Monday, May 7, 2007
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
A video of Garret McCauley, right, and his brother, Miles McCauley, second from right, won $100,000 Sunday on the television show “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” They are holding an autographed photo of the show’s host, Tom Bergeron. From left are parents Mike and Molly McCauley and son Kevin. (Mike Salsbury/The Columbian)
Okay, this is crazy ~ I can't believe I have the opportunity to say this, but....
MY FRIEND, MOLLY, AND HER FAMILY WON AMERICA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS $100,000.00 GRAND PRIZE!!!!!!!!
Congratulations to the entire McCauley family ~ it couldn't have happened to better people! WOO HOO!!!!!
That's all.
*******
Edit & Addition:
Here is the article that ran in the Tuesday "Columbian" here in Vancouver ~ I don't have a link to a video of it, yet, but when I get it ~ trust me, it'll be here!
******
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
BY MIKE BAILEY, Columbian staff writer
If Miles McCauley's future includes a college degree, the 8-year-old can credit a tube of diaper-rash cream and his older brother, Garret, for providing the funds.
Garret, now 10, painted Miles' face with the cream about seven years ago. Because the boys' mother, Molly McCauley, caught the antics on tape, the Ridgefield family is $110,000 richer.
The money came from ABC-TV's "America's Funniest Home Videos." First, the video was chosen as a weekly $10,000 winner in February. It then beat seven other weekly winners in Sunday's episode to claim the grand prize of $100,000.
The family already used part of the $10,000 for a visit to Disneyland; another vacation will come from the $100,000 in winnings. "But most will be put away for college for the boys," Molly McCauley said.
That includes younger brother, Kevin, 6, as well as Garret and Miles.
McCauley said she often tapes events at home when her husband, Mike, is working as a pilot for UPS.
"Most of the time, though, the camera is out of film, or the batteries are dead," she said. "But when I saw the back of Miles' neck was covered in the cream, I grabbed the camera and started filming."
In the video, Molly McCauley asked Garret what he had done.
Miles responded, saying his brother had painted him with sauce, a term the family used to describe the diaper-rash cream. Garret had lathered up his brother because Miles had a blemish on his face.
Just after Miles turned his head toward the camera, the video ends.
"The batteries went dead," Molly McCauley said.
But there was enough on the tape to impress the show's producer and make it one of the top three videos for the February show.
A studio audience vote determines the weekly winners. Three times each season, the audience chooses a $100,000 winner from between six and eight weekly winners.
The vote for the most recent $100,000 contest was made by visitors to Walt Disney World.
About 40 friends and family members were at the McCauley home Sunday to watch the show. The visitors did not know the McCauleys had won until it aired.
McCauley's said her sister, Lori Young of Ridgefield, gets credit for the windfall.
"(Lori) said if I didn't, she was going to take the tape and send it in and she wasn't going to share any of the prize money if it won," McCauley said.
Although the McCauley brothers now have a hefty college fund, they weren't too happy after the show was over on Sunday.
"They were crying before they went to bed," McCauley said. "They were sad to see this all come to an end."
"They wanted to know Sunday if they would ever see (host Tom Bergeron) again. They think of him as Uncle Tom now."
Friday, April 27, 2007
The Flood of Care...
Okay ~ so I've got this idea as to how we can help Chris & Tami out during this time. In talking to my sister I've discovered that Chris probably won't be able to go back to work until July at the earliest. Tam continues to work for Todd Dickey in Norfolk, about two and a half hours away from Lincoln, but there are a lot of trips back and forth...and gas is expensive (as if I have to tell you that...) It also means a lot of eating out that they can't afford (have you eaten at a hospital lately? It adds up!) So...with all this I've thought of ways we can help them out from across the miles....
If you'd like to send Chris an e-mail...click on the linked title above to send it through St. Elizabeth's -OR- send it to: husband_21dad_24@hotmail.com
If you'd like to send Chris a card with your get-well wishes you can send it to:
St. Elizabeth's Hospital
555 S. 70th Street
Lincoln, NE 68510
Attn: Burn Center
Chris Graham Rm 135
If you have the resources, it would be great to shower them with gift cards for the necessities. Cards from gas stations, McDonalds, Applebees, Starbucks, Hy-Vee groceries, Pizza Hut, Subway, Grisanti's, Valentino's, Qdoba, Burger King, Wild Oats...I know they don't sound like the necessities, but when you're away from home and having to eat they become necessary. I know Tam has gone "grocery shopping" and picked up bread and peanut butter & jelly, cereal (which she then asks for an extra milk with Chris's meals to eat), and stuff like that, but if food could just be taken care of it would be such a blessing.
You can send it to the address above for now ~ if it changes I'll make note of it here and via my e-mail updates.
If you can't send a gift card or whatever...please just drop them a quick e-mail or card and let them know you're praying.
Also...if you're a moto-crosser you can help out Tami's employer by buying via e-bay from powersportsnation. here's a link to his store: http://stores.ebay.com/powersportsnation (tell 'em Tami's sister sent ya!)
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
God bless you!!
Trayc
If you'd like to send Chris an e-mail...click on the linked title above to send it through St. Elizabeth's -OR- send it to: husband_21dad_24@hotmail.com
If you'd like to send Chris a card with your get-well wishes you can send it to:
St. Elizabeth's Hospital
555 S. 70th Street
Lincoln, NE 68510
Attn: Burn Center
Chris Graham Rm 135
If you have the resources, it would be great to shower them with gift cards for the necessities. Cards from gas stations, McDonalds, Applebees, Starbucks, Hy-Vee groceries, Pizza Hut, Subway, Grisanti's, Valentino's, Qdoba, Burger King, Wild Oats...I know they don't sound like the necessities, but when you're away from home and having to eat they become necessary. I know Tam has gone "grocery shopping" and picked up bread and peanut butter & jelly, cereal (which she then asks for an extra milk with Chris's meals to eat), and stuff like that, but if food could just be taken care of it would be such a blessing.
You can send it to the address above for now ~ if it changes I'll make note of it here and via my e-mail updates.
If you can't send a gift card or whatever...please just drop them a quick e-mail or card and let them know you're praying.
Also...if you're a moto-crosser you can help out Tami's employer by buying via e-bay from powersportsnation. here's a link to his store: http://stores.ebay.com/powersportsnation (tell 'em Tami's sister sent ya!)
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
God bless you!!
Trayc
The prayer request list...Part 1
If you click on the linked title above, it will take you to the burn center page for St. Elizabeth's where Chris is now admitted.
Here are the prayer requests Tam & Chris have shared via their e-mails...in some instances I'm including the entire e-mail so you can see what's going on when it's written....
********************************
From 4/27... (Chris)
To be specific pray that I will handle the surgery well and that the Doc will be able to find the problem, correct it and that my healing will be more progressive because of it. Pray for Tami she is having a hard time handling this, and at first when they transfered me here to St. E's it was like pulling the rug out from under me (stole that from my father-in-law). I am adjusting better now, I feel good other than my foot hurts a little. I did have my hopes up on getting home sooner, I just have to put it all in the Lord's hands and remember He sees the big picture
From 4/25... (Tami)
Pray that Chris will be able to do ok with the pain, they are definitely going to be drugging him up. That I will be able to be a source of strength for him and I know that strength has to come from the Lord because humanly speaking I can't do it. I cry just thinking about what my husband is going to go through. There is a lot to think about and in it all the Lord is in control pray that we will trust him and see Him in the midst of all this. Thanks and once again know that your prayers mean so much.
From early 4/25... (Tami)
They are going to try and treat the wound so the ankle will clear up. Otherwise the surgeon will have to remove tissue around the ankle. They really don't want to do that because it makes the skin graft more challenging to heal. Please pray for Chris as he will probably be experiencing more agressive treatment to his foot. Right now the wound is 3 1/2 x 7 inches. Chris was talking to the doctor that told him they were moving and Chris recalled what Pastor Greg told him on Monday, "expect the unexpected" We are seeking the Lord moment by moment and appreciate your prayers.
From 4/24... (Tami)
Pray that we will learn to let go and let God. Chris a very responsible and hard working man and it is very hard for him to receive from others what he feels he should be providing. Pray that he will see that God loves him in many ways and one way is through receiving what HE gives. You have no idea how much it has meant to us to receive the love from all of you. Last Thursday we were sitting outside in the sun (the first time Chris had been outside for 13 days) and Chris expressed how difficult it was to process all the love that he had received from so many and yet means so much. I think that we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg. We thank you again for remembering us in prayer. Last Sunday Joe Metcalf asked me if we felt prayed over. You have no idea how much your prayers have sustained and covered us in all of this process. Lord give us eyes to see and a heart to receive - YOU receive our praise!
From 4/20... (Tami)
The surgeon just came out and said that he took a good 2 inches on the left side and about a H1/2 inch on the right side of the wound. The ankle bone is clear of the infection so far. He said he would see him on Monday. Please pray that Chris's foot would clear of the infection yet in his foot and ankle area. Also pray for his state of mind. He has been pretty up but is concerned about his foot. Thank you for praying.
From 4/12... (Tami)
(This is from the first surgery...I'm including the part of the e-mail Tam talks about how God has answered some prayers....what an encouraging reminder that God does hear and answer prayer...)
Then this is where I believe that the Lord spoke to him. The Dr. was perplexed as to where the source of all this infection was coming from. He remembered that we had said that it started in the foot and he saw that Chris' foot was considerably worse than the evening before. He went into the foot and found a very large absess that spread from the top of his foot to the side and ankle. The doctor removed the dead tissue on the top of his foot and will leave it open for a while and then do a skin graft later. He is feeling great.
I know without a doubt that God intervened and prompted the doctor to look at the foot. Bob Smith stopped in today and said that that absess would have blocked the antibiotics from getting to the infection. So we are very hopeful that we are making some head way. We can't thank you enough for your prayers. Even going through each day has been in a way that God's hand has been on Chris.
Please continue to pray for recovery. Chris is getting a little anxious about getting back on his feet and getting back to work. But without a doubt God's is in control no matter what the outcome and He is to be praised because His Hand reaches to realms far beyond this earth. He is our refuge and strength in time of trouble and all the time!!
****************************
That's all the farther I'll go back for now....thank you for praying for my sister and her husband and family! Being so far away is only easier knowing God is a breath away. Thanks and love to you all....
PS Chris' email is "husband_21dad_24@hotmail.com" if you would like to send him note.
Here are the prayer requests Tam & Chris have shared via their e-mails...in some instances I'm including the entire e-mail so you can see what's going on when it's written....
********************************
From 4/27... (Chris)
To be specific pray that I will handle the surgery well and that the Doc will be able to find the problem, correct it and that my healing will be more progressive because of it. Pray for Tami she is having a hard time handling this, and at first when they transfered me here to St. E's it was like pulling the rug out from under me (stole that from my father-in-law). I am adjusting better now, I feel good other than my foot hurts a little. I did have my hopes up on getting home sooner, I just have to put it all in the Lord's hands and remember He sees the big picture
From 4/25... (Tami)
Pray that Chris will be able to do ok with the pain, they are definitely going to be drugging him up. That I will be able to be a source of strength for him and I know that strength has to come from the Lord because humanly speaking I can't do it. I cry just thinking about what my husband is going to go through. There is a lot to think about and in it all the Lord is in control pray that we will trust him and see Him in the midst of all this. Thanks and once again know that your prayers mean so much.
From early 4/25... (Tami)
They are going to try and treat the wound so the ankle will clear up. Otherwise the surgeon will have to remove tissue around the ankle. They really don't want to do that because it makes the skin graft more challenging to heal. Please pray for Chris as he will probably be experiencing more agressive treatment to his foot. Right now the wound is 3 1/2 x 7 inches. Chris was talking to the doctor that told him they were moving and Chris recalled what Pastor Greg told him on Monday, "expect the unexpected" We are seeking the Lord moment by moment and appreciate your prayers.
From 4/24... (Tami)
Pray that we will learn to let go and let God. Chris a very responsible and hard working man and it is very hard for him to receive from others what he feels he should be providing. Pray that he will see that God loves him in many ways and one way is through receiving what HE gives. You have no idea how much it has meant to us to receive the love from all of you. Last Thursday we were sitting outside in the sun (the first time Chris had been outside for 13 days) and Chris expressed how difficult it was to process all the love that he had received from so many and yet means so much. I think that we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg. We thank you again for remembering us in prayer. Last Sunday Joe Metcalf asked me if we felt prayed over. You have no idea how much your prayers have sustained and covered us in all of this process. Lord give us eyes to see and a heart to receive - YOU receive our praise!
From 4/20... (Tami)
The surgeon just came out and said that he took a good 2 inches on the left side and about a H1/2 inch on the right side of the wound. The ankle bone is clear of the infection so far. He said he would see him on Monday. Please pray that Chris's foot would clear of the infection yet in his foot and ankle area. Also pray for his state of mind. He has been pretty up but is concerned about his foot. Thank you for praying.
From 4/12... (Tami)
(This is from the first surgery...I'm including the part of the e-mail Tam talks about how God has answered some prayers....what an encouraging reminder that God does hear and answer prayer...)
Then this is where I believe that the Lord spoke to him. The Dr. was perplexed as to where the source of all this infection was coming from. He remembered that we had said that it started in the foot and he saw that Chris' foot was considerably worse than the evening before. He went into the foot and found a very large absess that spread from the top of his foot to the side and ankle. The doctor removed the dead tissue on the top of his foot and will leave it open for a while and then do a skin graft later. He is feeling great.
I know without a doubt that God intervened and prompted the doctor to look at the foot. Bob Smith stopped in today and said that that absess would have blocked the antibiotics from getting to the infection. So we are very hopeful that we are making some head way. We can't thank you enough for your prayers. Even going through each day has been in a way that God's hand has been on Chris.
Please continue to pray for recovery. Chris is getting a little anxious about getting back on his feet and getting back to work. But without a doubt God's is in control no matter what the outcome and He is to be praised because His Hand reaches to realms far beyond this earth. He is our refuge and strength in time of trouble and all the time!!
****************************
That's all the farther I'll go back for now....thank you for praying for my sister and her husband and family! Being so far away is only easier knowing God is a breath away. Thanks and love to you all....
PS Chris' email is "husband_21dad_24@hotmail.com" if you would like to send him note.
The latest e-mail update...
Here is an e-mail I sent out today udpating everyone on Chris's situation...
I haven't updated in a while...But there's been so much going on with Chris and his foot.
I'll update the basics and then copy the latest e-mail from him at the end...
The last update was that Chris was going in for another surgery on April 20th. Well, from what I understand, they took about 2" off the left side and 3" off the right side of his foot. At first they seemed very optimistic about the results. By Tuesday they were saying that if it continued to look good, the swelling stayed down, and the infection started to subside like they hoped Chris would be able to go home for a month with in-home nurse care for the (now) wound, and then come back for the skin grafts toward the end of May. However, a day later they decided the infection simply wasn't getting under control like they would like. Because of this they wanted him in a more sterile environment and put in the order to have him transferred to St. Elizabeth's burn unit (room 134) for further treatment. This is also a proactive move in that the skin grafts would probably have to be done here anyway.
Tami sent a picture of Chris's foot yesterday ~ if you can imagine, the top of his foot looks almost unreal (Scott & I both said it looks like a Hollywood horror flick makeup job) with approximately the size of an 8 oz. steak missing from the top of his foot. The area is blackened in spots and obviously infected. (for someone who doesn't do well with horror flicks it was not an easy picture to look at for any length of time. Knowing there are people who are curious and trying to imagine what it looks like, if you'd like to see it e-mail me back and I'll send it in a separate e-mail ~ I don't want to attach it here because most people have pictures show in their e-mails automatically and not everyone cares to see it.)
This is definitely starting to wear on my sister. Jake, the youngest, is still at home in Norfolk during the week for school ~ he was in Lincoln yesterday for a soccer game (God's amazing attention to detail....), and Tam did get to see him play, but then only got to talk to him for about 5 minutes after before Jake had to get on the bus to head back home. When I called her she answered the phone in tears. (And, although we are cry-ers, this was more indicative of the toll this whole thing is taking on my sister than anything else.) Please continue to pray for them ~ in every report there is an amazing instance of God doing something in their lives...and it's pretty awesome.
So, with all that, here's the latest from Chris ~ an e-mail I received today....Thank you all for praying! If you'd like to help in some way, please contact me and I'll share with you an idea I have that is making this a little easier to be so far away...thanks again!
Dear Family & Friends,
Well a little update on what's happening, today the Doc looked at my foot and felt that the swelling hadn't changed, maybe even increased a little, plus some red is going up my leg. He suspects a pocket of infection somewhere around my ankle. So tomorrow morning I go in for another surgery, he said he will start out small and he wants to stay away from my ankle bone because that complicates the skin graft process. But he will have to remove any bad tissue that may have tunneled to wherever. I would appreciate your prayers, I know you have been faithful in that, since I checked in the hospital, and we appreciate it very much. To be specific pray that I will handle the surgery well and that the Doc will be able to find the problem, correct it and that my healing will be more progressive because of it. Pray for Tami she is having a hard time handling this, and at first when they transfered me here to St. E's it was like pulling the rug out from under me (stole that from my father-in-law). I am adjusting better now, I feel good other than my foot hurts a little. I did have my hopes up on getting home sooner, I just have to put it all in the Lord's hands and remember He sees the big picture.
Thanks to everyone,
Chris
I'm going to be posting a list of prayer requests Tami & Chris have asked in their e-mails on my blog ~ http://trayctalks.blogspot.com ~ check it regularly since I sometimes go there to write about what's going on without filling your in-box with multiple e-mails. Likewise, if you would like to NOT receive these updates please let me know and I'll remove your name...thank you!! God bless...be on the lookout for where He's working today, okay?
Trayc
Whether we can mentally grasp what God is doing isn't the task we have at hand...whether we are available to see God moving is the question we must ask ourselves as we go about our daily tasks.
I haven't updated in a while...But there's been so much going on with Chris and his foot.
I'll update the basics and then copy the latest e-mail from him at the end...
The last update was that Chris was going in for another surgery on April 20th. Well, from what I understand, they took about 2" off the left side and 3" off the right side of his foot. At first they seemed very optimistic about the results. By Tuesday they were saying that if it continued to look good, the swelling stayed down, and the infection started to subside like they hoped Chris would be able to go home for a month with in-home nurse care for the (now) wound, and then come back for the skin grafts toward the end of May. However, a day later they decided the infection simply wasn't getting under control like they would like. Because of this they wanted him in a more sterile environment and put in the order to have him transferred to St. Elizabeth's burn unit (room 134) for further treatment. This is also a proactive move in that the skin grafts would probably have to be done here anyway.
Tami sent a picture of Chris's foot yesterday ~ if you can imagine, the top of his foot looks almost unreal (Scott & I both said it looks like a Hollywood horror flick makeup job) with approximately the size of an 8 oz. steak missing from the top of his foot. The area is blackened in spots and obviously infected. (for someone who doesn't do well with horror flicks it was not an easy picture to look at for any length of time. Knowing there are people who are curious and trying to imagine what it looks like, if you'd like to see it e-mail me back and I'll send it in a separate e-mail ~ I don't want to attach it here because most people have pictures show in their e-mails automatically and not everyone cares to see it.)
This is definitely starting to wear on my sister. Jake, the youngest, is still at home in Norfolk during the week for school ~ he was in Lincoln yesterday for a soccer game (God's amazing attention to detail....), and Tam did get to see him play, but then only got to talk to him for about 5 minutes after before Jake had to get on the bus to head back home. When I called her she answered the phone in tears. (And, although we are cry-ers, this was more indicative of the toll this whole thing is taking on my sister than anything else.) Please continue to pray for them ~ in every report there is an amazing instance of God doing something in their lives...and it's pretty awesome.
So, with all that, here's the latest from Chris ~ an e-mail I received today....Thank you all for praying! If you'd like to help in some way, please contact me and I'll share with you an idea I have that is making this a little easier to be so far away...thanks again!
Dear Family & Friends,
Well a little update on what's happening, today the Doc looked at my foot and felt that the swelling hadn't changed, maybe even increased a little, plus some red is going up my leg. He suspects a pocket of infection somewhere around my ankle. So tomorrow morning I go in for another surgery, he said he will start out small and he wants to stay away from my ankle bone because that complicates the skin graft process. But he will have to remove any bad tissue that may have tunneled to wherever. I would appreciate your prayers, I know you have been faithful in that, since I checked in the hospital, and we appreciate it very much. To be specific pray that I will handle the surgery well and that the Doc will be able to find the problem, correct it and that my healing will be more progressive because of it. Pray for Tami she is having a hard time handling this, and at first when they transfered me here to St. E's it was like pulling the rug out from under me (stole that from my father-in-law). I am adjusting better now, I feel good other than my foot hurts a little. I did have my hopes up on getting home sooner, I just have to put it all in the Lord's hands and remember He sees the big picture.
Thanks to everyone,
Chris
I'm going to be posting a list of prayer requests Tami & Chris have asked in their e-mails on my blog ~ http://trayctalks.blogspot.com ~ check it regularly since I sometimes go there to write about what's going on without filling your in-box with multiple e-mails. Likewise, if you would like to NOT receive these updates please let me know and I'll remove your name...thank you!! God bless...be on the lookout for where He's working today, okay?
Trayc
Whether we can mentally grasp what God is doing isn't the task we have at hand...whether we are available to see God moving is the question we must ask ourselves as we go about our daily tasks.