11 Dec Update on Sandie Birdsall

Sandie Birdsall remains in Intensive Care, following her emergency surgery on December 1 (as reported here on December 3). Brent, her husband, posts regular upodates on his Facebook page. On Wednesday, he posted the following:

GREAT NEWS. Sandie was extubated (her breathing tube was removed) around 2:30 p.m. Throughout the afternoon she made remarkable progress. Her eyes were open. She was checking out her surroundings, albeit with bleary, somewhat drugged eyes. Her progress was beautiful to behold.

One concern: as we celebrated Sandie’s progress and bombarded the poor gal with too many questions, there was one concern that we noted. Sandie was not able to move her left hand or shrug her left shoulder. I’m hoping it’s primarily an atrophy issue, but I’d be lying if I didn’t acknowledge that I am struggling with anxiety. Please join with me in prayer for Sandie’s FULL recovery. Lots of work and physical therapy are ahead of us. I’m concerned about and I’m praying for Sandie’s ability to regain strength and coordination in both her hands.

09 Dec Prayer: Wife of Pastor Edner Antoine

Pastor Edner Antoine, from our church in Philadelphia, God’s Church by the Faith, informs us that his wife is experiencing kidney failure. He’s been spending a great deal of time going back and forth to the hospital. We told him we would add her to our prayer list.

09 Dec Update on Sandie Birdsall

Sandie Birdsall has had her ups and downs since entering a Minnesota ICU on Monday, December 1. Her husband, Brent, posts regularly to his Facebook page about Sandie’s condition. She still in the ICU.

At 11:23 this morning, Brent posted the following:

Sandie just underwent her fifth angiogram. Her doctor said tomorrow’s angiogram should be her last. She also had an angiogram last night and the doctor has been satisfied with the results. They go in initially to observe the blood vessels, using a special dye. They want to measure the level of vascular constriction/spasm. Then they apply a special med that relaxes/enlarges the vessels, thus allowing better blood flow.

Her vital signs have been improving. Her rest was better last night. She communicates well with her eyebrows, shoulder shrugs, and toe wiggles. She is still intubated (a machine assures that her breathing is steady and not stressful), but the doctor also talks about getting her off that machine in a day or so.

Yesterday the doctor mentioned (not promised) that Sandie may be out of ICU by the end of the week. I’m hopeful that she has come through the worst of it. I’m still not ready to hang out the “Mission Accomplished” banner; that will have to wait until we get her home.

For you dear friends who have been faithfully praying, I want you to know that Sandie shows all the signs of being on the upswing of the recovery process. Thanks again for your love and concern. It means so much to Sandie, myself and the whole family.

03 Dec Sandie Birdsall in ICU After Surgery

Sandie Birdsall is currently in an Intensive Care Unit in Edina, Minn., having undergone emergency surgery for an aneurysm on Monday, December 1. Sandie and her husband, Brent, served as UB missionaries in Sierra Leone and, until 2007, as senior pastor and wife at College Park UB church in Huntington, Ind. Brent is currently on staff with a non-UB church in Minnesota.

On Tuesday, December 2, Brent gave a detailed description of things on his Facebook page, and then added an update today (Wednesday). You can read it after the link below.

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03 Dec Sandie Birdsall in the Hospital

Brent and Sandie Birdsall are well-known in United Brethren circles for their years as UB missionaries and in the UB pastorate. Brent is currently on staff with a non-UB church in Minnesota.

On Monday, Sandie was rushed to the hospital after she thought perhaps she was having a stroke. Tests revealed an aneurysm. She underwent surgery, but remains in serious condition.

03 Dec Dale Miller Resigns from Montgomery

Dale Miller has resigned as senior pastor of Montgomery UB church (Montgomery, Mich.), effective December 28, 2008. He writes, “After much time in prayer and seeking the will of God in our lives, I feel led by God to accept the call to ministry in another church.”

26 Nov Update on George Rhodifer

George Rhodifer sent this update on his condition.

“My doctor told me she is satisfied with my recovery from my blood infection and that she did not see any reason at this time to consider any more Chemo treatments unless my condition changes. She is going to monitor me and see how I do. She will tell me more when I meet with her December 2. She told my daughter that I beat the odds, because I should not be here. With my will to live and my faith in God, I may just go on beating the odds.”

George is pastor of Olivet Church in New Lebanon, Ohio. In early September, he was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer and given three months to live.