University and Pump

Sorry for the massive delay since our last post. Life has been busy for lots of positive reasons. We went to Cornwall with friends, Steve and Nina, in August for a week. This was a really special time where we had lots of laughs and saw some beautiful places. We found that Cornwall is actually very accommodating of wheelchair users, despite the steepness of some of the landscape. Coming back from Cornwall, Andy's spasms became unbearable and so we had to tweak his medication and there was a definite regression in what he was able to do in his physiotherapy sessions.  However this did reassure us of the effect that Andy's daily therapy is having on managing his condition and enabling him to continue progressing although it still seems painfully slow to Andy.

As I write we are currently in Malvern at Regents Theological College and Andy has just completed his second day of lectures for his open learning degree in Applied Theology. We came on Tuesday evening and are going home tomorrow. Everyone here has been very accommodating and there is a real sense of community amongst all the students. The past two days have demonstrated how determined Andy is but also how his physical strength has improved to the extent that he has managed such intensive and long days of lectures and other freshers events. With the help of Student Disability Fund Andy will have the support that he needs to make his learning viable. Sarah, Andy's study facilitator, is an ex student of Regents and she will be spending time with Andy each week so that Andy can dictate his assignments.

There is another major event happening next week as Andy will be having his intrathecal baclofen pump fitted on Tuesday 1st October. Please pray that this has the desired effect of managing Andy's tone but also reducing his fatigue meaning that he is better able to communicate and can cope better with and improve in his therapies. Please also pray that we are able to quickly get the levels of medication to the correct titration for Andy's specific needs so that he can continue with progressing in his therapies as soon as possible as the NHS has agreed to fund another intensive course of rehabilitation once the pump has been fitted.  Please pray for Emma as she will be staying overnight with Andy during his stay in hospital and this can be quite draining.

Andy has also been busy writing his book and this has provided amazing insight into his experiences and his thoughts and feelings now so watch this space.

We are so thankful for God's sustaining power. At the beginning Emma felt quite strongly that God would provide daily sustenance like he did with the Israelites in the desert and God has been faithful; we are undoubtedly being sustained. We thank you so much for your prayers and support.