LAURALAUGHLIN.COM :: Live, Laugh & Love Like Laura Laughlin

Laura had another solid day. She did well enough to be moved right out of ICU and back to the third floor. Her new room number is 329. Laura has spent the past two days sleeping quite a bit. This was to be expected after the big surgery day. Unfortunately, this doesn’t give much to report to you on an update. The good news is that it is very beneficial for her to be resting. We know that Laura waking up is eminent. We wait patiently for this miracle to unfold. As Laura grows stronger and begins to recover, we will all draw strength with her. This will be a great experience and I am thankful to have so many wonderful people to share it with. Don’t ever give up. Don’t even let doubt enter into your mind. Keep persevering and we will all be rewarded in the end. JESUS BORE MY SICKNESS AND CARRIED MY PAIN. THEREFORE I GIVE NO PLACE TO SICKNESS OR PAIN. FOR GOD SEND HIS WORD AND HEALED ME. (Psalm 107:20) We love you, Jeff and Laura Laughlin.

August 30, 2005

Thanks for all of the prayers and messages of encouragement; because Laura’s final surgery went great. She spent the night back in the ICU unit. Assuming (which we will do) that all things go well, she could be moved back to the neuroscience floor as early as tomorrow. It appears that Laura will be moved out of the hospital next week around Wednesday. We have chosen for her to stay within the St. John’s family by selecting the St. John’s skilled nursing facility. It is located right across the street at the intersection of Ballas and Conway. This facility is the best fit at this point for Laura’s needs. Do not forget that this is a temporary move. Lord willing, she will progress and be moved right back over to the rehab unit of the hospital. If we look back over the course of these past 6 ½ weeks, there are some exciting issues. The reality is that Laura’s body, mind, and spirit are incredibly strong. Glancing back her body has never really had a complete chance to have full healing time. There has always been something going on from fluid drains, to spinal fluid infections, to ventricle swelling, to high fevers, to installing a shunt, to a craniotomy, to a filter being implanted, to her skull bone surgery. These items were all needed and the St. John’s staff has done incredibly awesome work under the guidance of God. What I am trying to say is now all of this stuff is behind us. Laura has a green light on that wonderful road of recovery. Her physical body will team up with that awesome spirit and full healing and restoration will ensue. The bible verse that hope, faith, and love; the greatest being love was read at our wedding. Thanks for all the love. We could not do it alone! FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER. (Psalm 136) We love you, Jeff and Laura Laughlin.

August 29, 2005

As you are reading this, Laura is under the knife for the final time. Her skull will be restored back to its original condition. It will be a great relief for all involved to know that surgeries are behind us. Now, we await the completion of her immaculate recovery. It will be inspiring. Laura has been so incredibly strong willed over the past few days. While the doctors say that this procedure will stunt her recovery possibly for a couple days, we believe that Laura will simply prove them to be wrong. She will overcome all the odds and draw on her inner strength to overcome this challenge. Laura is reaching “firsts” almost on a daily basis. Today, was the first time that we saw her completely lift her head off of the pillow. It was not a case of us reading into anything, we looked over and her head was a good 3 inches lifted off the pillow. When I ask her for a kiss and lean down to give her a peck, she always finishes the kiss. Her mouth is moving and opening more. Laura’s yawns are larger and more pronounced. She is tracking us better and better. We are attempting to get her to stick her tongue out of her mouth. She appears to be putting more effort in each day towards this task. We can tell that it is frustrating for her, but Laura keeps pushing forward. She is a real testament of what courage, strength, and a positive attitude can accomplish. Keep praying for these miracles. FOR WHATEVER IS BORN OF GOD OVERCOMES THE WORLD. AND THIS IS THE VICTORY THAT HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD --- OUR FAITH. (1 John 5:4) We love you, Jeff and Laura Laughlin.

August 26-28, 2005

As you know, Laura had the venecava filter procedure on Friday afternoon. The surgery went perfectly and she recovered quickly. The surgeons were very satisfied with the location of the filter and the way in which it was secured. On Tuesday morning at 8AM, Laura is scheduled for her final surgery. Dr. Backer will take her skull bone back out of the abdominal wall and place it back in its proper place. The surgery should take a couple of hours. This procedure could slow her progress, but only short term and maybe for a couple days. After that, we know that Laura will progress by leaps and bounds. We really appreciate all of the love and support. We are thankful for the large number of visitors that come to see Laura. We all know that Laura loves to see family and friends. It is really important for her recovery to know that we are there for her. Unfortunately, sometime probably after the holiday weekend, Laura will have to be moved to a skilled nursing facility if she doesn’t qualify yet for the rehab program. Keep in mind that this is a temporary solution. The hope and prayer is that she will progress enough in the next week to qualify. Lord willing, this will take place. Everyone will be made aware immediately regardless of which move is made. It is even more crucial for Laura to see visitors and be told how much she is loved. The goal is rehab and from there, a trip back to our new home. I want to share one more story with you. While I was leaving the hospital on Saturday evening, I ran into the nurse that had Laura the very first 3 days of her arrival. Now that Laura has recovered a great deal, I felt it was alright to now talk about how grave a condition she actually was in. When I asked that nurse how bad it was, she said that, “Laura was right there.” I said, “What do you mean by right there.” She replied, “Laura was dying, her blood pressure was really low, and we were scared we were losing her.” In recent days, many doctors have been by Laura’s room and seen her progress. They are astonished and have even said that this is definitely a miracle. If you don’t believe in miracles and the power of our God, I hope that you are at least closer to that becoming a reality. Our sweet Laura walked up the stairs to heaven and knocked on the door. Fortunately for us, they told her to go away. We aren’t ready for you. You have work to do on earth. BELIEVE IN MIRACLES! THEY WHO SOW IN TEARS SHALL REAP IN JOY AND SINGING (Psalm 126:5) We love you, Jeff and Laura Laughlin.

August 25, 2005

OK, I apologize in advance; this will be brief cause I am running really late this morning. I decided to still write it so you won’t worry that something went wrong. Laura is doing well. She seems to be slightly improving each and every day. Pray for the venecava filter procedure to go well Friday afternoon. After that, we should only have one procedure (re-installing the skull bone) left. If you haven’t had a chance to come up and see Laura, I can tell you that it is encouraging to see her interact with others. I believe she will be talking before we know it. Thanks for all your active support. YOU HAVE GIVEN ME ABUNDANT LIFE. I RECEIVE THAT LIFE THROUGH YOUR WORD AND IT FLOWS TO EVERY ORGAN OF MY BODY BRINGING HEALING AND HEALTH. (John 10:10) We love you, Jeff and Laura Laughlin.

August 24, 2005

I know it sounds repetitive, but another solid day for Laura. No problems or issues encountered. Each day that passes gets us one day closer to welcoming her home. It is a long process, but the reward will be worth the journey. I do want to update everyone on the tentative schedule for Laura. This Friday afternoon (around noon), the doctors are going to be installing the venecava filter. This is the device that I talked about before that prevents possible blood clots from jeopardizing her life. This is a permanent procedure. The doctors ensured me that there is minimal risk (less than 1%) and it is a basic operation. Laura’s skull bone will be placed back into her head on early Tuesday morning. Remember, this is tentative, but it is in Dr. Backer’s schedule. From there Laura will spend the night back in ICU. Then, she will have a day or two back on the neuroscience floor. At that point, she will either have to qualify for the St. John’s rehabilitation program or be released from the hospital. We are looking at Thursday or Friday of next week for this big change. If she goes to a skilled nursing facility, we will choose a great one and make everyone aware of her location. Keep in mind that this would be a temporary solution. A staff member at St. John’s will follow her progress. When she is deemed ready, Laura would be moved back to St. John’s to begin her rehabilitation program. There are many details and unknowns, so I can’t possibly type them all. Just hope, believe, and pray for the best! We need complete healing and restoration of Laura’s brain. If you are interested in seeing more pictures of Laura, me, family, and friends, do the following: 1) go to susanjacksonphoto.com 2) click on online weddings under the weddings tab 3) scroll down to Laura Sherman and Jeff Laughlin (the date is 8/7/04) 4) click on the hyperlink and enter laura (must be lowercase) as the password. You will have access to over 1000 of our wedding pictures. Enjoy at your leisure! Sorry Susan if this clogs your site. I apologize in advance. IF YOU WILL SEEK HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART, HE WILL RENEW YOUR STRENGTH AND MAKE CLEAR YOUR PATH (Proverbs 3:6). We love you, Jeff and Laura Laughlin.

August 23, 2005

Laura had another great day. They put her on the medication, Sinemet. From what I have gathered, it helps to alleviate stiffness and aids in the increase of muscle movements. Laura was put up in the recliner chair twice today. I was fortunate to be there for the second time. She appears to really enjoy the change of pace. Laura was so relaxed and comfy in her new surroundings. Laura is very stable and is improving on a daily basis. Thanks to everyone who visited today. We all got to see some amazing stuff. Laura is tracking people with her eyes and head. Everyone there would agree that her PURPOSEFUL movements are unmistakable. Laura is so energetic and strong willed. My only hope is that others will get to experience her strength, as her recovery becomes a reality. We are desperately praying to hear a few words from her. We are all encouraging and cheering Laura on. She will be back soon. Keep the fight. Laura definitely is!!! RECEIVE INSTRUCTION IN WISE DEALING AND THE DISCIPLINE OF WISE THOUGHTFULNESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS, JUSTICE, AND INTEGRITY. (Proverbs 1:3) We love you, Jeff and Laura Laughlin.

August 22, 2005

At this point, Laura is stable and doing quite well. I didn’t happen to be there during the morning hours, but there were accurate reports that she stuck out her tongue as many as 4 times. It has not been witnessed or recorded by the medical staff, yet. However, we all know Laura’s track record. It will be documented soon enough. This is wonderful news, because doctors have been barking this command at Laura over the past few days. With Laura’s move to the 3rd floor, it is time now for her physical therapy to become more aggressive. We were informed that starting tomorrow, she will be sat up in a chair 2 times per day (the chair is a recliner similar to a lazy boy). This is going to be great for Laura’s recovery. A change of pace like this is just what she needs. In addition, Laura may even be transported periodically outside for some fresh air. She is still a little ways off from that occurring, but we all know that it will happen with Laura. Several people have asked where she is now located. Laura is at St. Johns on the 3rd floor, Room #346. I continue to be amazed by the outpouring of love and support that we are receiving. We are humbled daily by it. Thank you. JESUS IS THE LORD OF MY LIFE. SICKNESS AND DISEASE HAVE NO POWER OVER ME. I AM FORGIVEN AND FREE FROM SIN AND GUILT. I AM DEAD TO SIN AND ALIVE UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Col. 1:21-22) We love you, Jeff and Laura Laughlin.

August 19-21, 2005

This was moving weekend for Laura! Overall, it was a great weekend. She was moved to a “step down” room late Friday night. This meant less care was needed and that Laura was becoming more medically stable. Then, on Sunday afternoon, she was moved to the neuroscience section of the hospital on the 3rd floor, where she will remain until she is ready for rehabilitation. Laura is now declared, medically stable. Doesn’t she just continue to defy odds? I want to give a special thanks to those that have sent special gifts or items to the hospital. With this new room, Laura is allowed to have flowers, candles, and other items that we deem appropriate. As I was sitting in the room, late Sunday night, I had an idea come over me. Earlier, we had brought some flower bouquets into the room. At this point, Laura was sound asleep (eyes closed and head rested to the side). I decided to pick out the strongest smelling flower in the bunch. I placed it directly under her nose, as I knew she could only breathe through her nose. Almost instantaneously, Laura’s eyes popped open, her head came off the pillow, and her body became active. It was incredible! After a few minutes, I pulled the flower away. She then, retreated to her original position and went immediately back to sleep. Keep praying for complete health, healing, and restoration. Laura’s next step will be rehabilitation. Let’s get her there quicker than the medical staff expects. THE MOUTH OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN IS A WELL OF LIFE (Proverbs 10:11)We love you, Jeff and Laura Laughlin.

August 18, 2005

Laura has passed the five-week plateau. This message will be brief, because I started too late and there isn’t much to report. We believe she will be moved to a “step-down” room either on Friday or Saturday. As mentioned previously, this will be a needed and welcomed change for Laura. I, personally, as well as everyone who visits can see the amazing progress that Laura’s physical body is making. I will tell you that she looks the best that she has ever looked today (well, since the day of her accident!). She appears alert and responsive. Her wake/sleep cycle seems to be in tact. Her traech was capped throughout the day. This means that Laura was completely breathing in and out of her nose and mouth. She did struggle slightly, but this is to be expected. Her body is re-learning the breathing process. Who knows, with how well her breathing progresses, it may be soon that the traech is removed. Keep praying for more and more positive developments to manifest within Laura. She needs you more than ever. We are indebted to everyone’s love and persistence. Thank you! FATHER, I RESIST THE ENEMY IN EVERY FORM THAT HE COMES AGAINST ME – I REQUIRE MY (LAURA’S) BODY TO BE STRONG AND HEALTHY, AND I ENFORCE IT WITH YOUR WORD. I REJECT THE CURSE, AND I ENFORCE LIFE IN THIS (LAURA’S) BODY. (James 4:7) We love you, Jeff and Laura Laughlin.

August 17, 2005

I apologize for leaving out some news from the previous email. I was so focused on Laura’s surgery that I forgot to mention that she turned her head on command. It happened Tuesday night (late hours) and is documented by the nursing staff. She was told to turn her head and look at the nurse. She did it! This is great news. We have known all along that Laura IS progressing. It is especially important when the doctors and/or nurses confirm the movements in writing. Pray for more of this to come. Laura is our little champion. The surgery to install the VP shunt went off without a glitch. We all knew and expected it to go well. I credit all of you for the unwavering belief, faith, and continual prayers. She rested for an hour after the procedure and then was as good as new. There is no new news on installing the filter. The staff is monitoring that issue and maybe there will be an update on it down the road. It could be any day now that Laura is moved out of this particular ICU unit. That will be a great moment for her and the rest of us. There are many advantages to the relocation. First, the therapists will be more aggressive and with God’s help, movement and stretching will lead to complete awakening. Second, they can take her outside to breathe in some fresh air. Finally, her room will have fewer restrictions. She could possibly have candles, cards, flowers, more people, more stimulation, etc. All of these are good things. Pray for the miracle of Laura to continue and for progress to accelerate. AND THEY OVERCAME HIM BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB AND BY THE WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY. (Revelation 12:11) We love you, Jeff and Laura Laughlin.

August 16, 2005

As you read this, Laura will be in the operating room having the shunt surgery performed (it is scheduled for 8:30AM Wednesday morning). Dr. Backer is a highly skilled and terrific neurosurgeon. Pray that his hands and his work will be guided and directed by God. The medical staff will not be combining the surgery with the venecava filter procedure. One reason is that if Laura incurs an infection (which we know the Lord won’t let happen), the doctors want to know what caused the infection. In a combination surgery, this may be more difficult to ascertain. Secondly, the filter procedure is very simple and they can do it easily at a later date. Here’s what we know and believe in our hearts to be happening. Laura will have a great surgery on Wednesday morning. Within a few days, she will be moved out of this particular ICU unit. She will begin to rapidly progress, because Laura has always been known to overcome obstacles and take on challenges. We will see her transfer into rehab. Finally, we will welcome her home with a lot of love and support. No question, it is a long road, but KEEP THE FAITH!!! THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD; I SHALL NOT WANT. HE MAKES ME TO LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES, HE LEADS ME BESIDE THE STILL WATERS. HE RESTORES MY SOUL. HE GUIDES ME IN STRAIGHT PATHS FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE. YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL FOR THOU ART WITH ME. THY ROD AND THY STAFF, THEY COMFORT ME. THOU PREPAREST A TABLE BEFORE ME IN THE PRESENCE OF MINE ENEMIES. THOU ANOINTEST MY HEAD WITH OIL, MY CUP RUNNETH OVER. SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY SHALL FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE, AND I SHALL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER. (Psalm 23) We love you, Jeff and Laura Laughlin.

August 15, 2005

We have passed right on through the one-month barrier. Laura had another good day. She was very stable and spent the vast majority of the day sleeping peacefully. The great news is that, it has been a long time since we have had any negative news from Laura. It is difficult to see how much she is struggling to communicate. I know that she wants to talk so badly, but her body is just not ready. Pray for Laura to keep gaining strength each and every day. The likely scenario is that Laura will have her procedures first thing Wednesday morning. Then, she will be moved out of her room within a day or two afterwards (assuming there are no unforeseen issues). At that point, we are small steps closer to the journey that leads Laura back home to all of us. Please, Keep praying and believing that God has already healed Laura. We are simply waiting for that healing to manifest in her body before our very eyes. Don’t forget to sign Laura’s guest book if you visit the hospital! THEREFORE I SAY TO YOU, WHATEVER THINGS YOU ASK WHEN YOU PRAY, BELIEVE THAT YOU RECEIVE THEM, AND YOU WILL HAVE THEM. (Mark 11:24) We love you, Jeff and Laura Laughlin.

August 12-14, 2005

We passed right through the four-week mark with flying colors. Laura had another good weekend. She remained very stable the majority of the weekend with regards to temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, etc. The length of time that Laura appears to be awake continues to increase. We see her progress daily. She has a long battle ahead, but we know she will get there. All of the cards, letters, and prayers are working wonders. I read to her and tell her daily how much love and support all of her friends and family are giving. (She knows about the huge party that we will throw for her when she comes home!!!). Continue to pray daily for her recovery and for the surgeries to go well. Laura is scheduled to have the combination surgery (VP shunt / venacava filter) early Wednesday morning. There is a small chance that she would get moved to Monday morning, but Wednesday is likely to be, the big day. She needs all the prayers that she can get. Thank you and keep it up. The isolation status was lifted over the weekend due to the infections being negative and the confidence of the medical staff. Laura can have visitors again and we are back to the common sense policy (wash hands thoroughly before entering, if she is asleep don’t wake her, etc.). I fully trust everyone in their judgment in dealing with Laura, keeping in mind that she is still in a vulnerable state. BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL, AND FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS: WHO FORGIVETH ALL THINE INIQUITIES; WHO HEALETH ALL THY DISEASES. (Psalm 103: 2-3) We love you, Jeff and Laura Laughlin.

August 11, 2005

Quick update today! Not too much has changed. Laura still looks better and better each day. The neurosurgeon, Dr. Backer, administered more antibiotics into the exterior ventricle drain. Things are going well with the infection. There has still been no growth on any of the cultures and her white blood cell count continues to decrease. It is possible that the combination VP shunt and venacava filter procedure will take place either Monday or Wednesday. That will be a great day for Laura. Hopefully, this will put infections behind us and pave the way for her full recovery. One more request, NO VISITORS until this procedure takes place. We were informed by staff that the less air borne pathogens in the room, the better for Laura. This should be only for 4 to 5 days. If you need to see her, you can still go up to the doorway and look in, but the nurses would like for you to be brief because of other patient’s rights. Laura is still critical with this infection. Before you know it, Laura will be out of ICU and visitors will not only we welcomed, but strongly encouraged. Let’s get her out of the danger zone, first. I hope everyone respects and understands this temporary policy. AFFLICTION WILL NOT RISE UP A SECOND TIME. (Nahum 1:9) This is a good verse relating to the infection. Pray for the infection to be killed and not return so that the big combination surgery will be a major success. We love you, Jeff and Laura Laughlin.

August 10, 2005

No bacteria growth on the cultures for nearly 3 days now! I must take this opportunity to thank everyone for praying for the removal and death of all infections. In addition, Laura’s white blood cell count has drastically decreased. For those that aren’t aware, your body produces more white cells to combat infection. Therefore, it is a great sign for Laura that the infection is gone or is being eliminated. Laura is becoming more and more attentive each and every day. We know that she is going crazy being stuck in a bed unable to speak. All of that personality and energy was never supposed to be bottled up. We can sense her alertness and frustrations. We are 110% convinced that she has awareness and will be waking. She will have so many stories to tell about her struggles. Keep praying hard and supporting Laura. The battle is not over. This miracle story WILL have a happy ending. Laura WILL be the Laura that we knew. The recovery WILL take time and patience. We WILL be there for love and support. One day, we all WILL welcome her home. God’s WILL, WILL be done!!! WHO HIMSELF BORE OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BODY ON THE TREE, THAT WE, HAVING DIED TO SINS, MIGHT LIVE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, BY WHOSE STRIPES YOU WERE HEALED. (1 Peter 2:24) We love you, Jeff and Laura Laughlin.

August 9, 2005

Keep up the prayers. They are working magically! As you know, the main concern currently is the infection of the cerebral spinal fluid. The good news is there has been no bacteria growth on the cultures for the past two days. This is a great sign, but we are not out of the woods quite yet. The doctors will feel more confident if we can make it through Thursday with no bacteria growing on the culture samples. That is why your prayers, love, and support have become so vital for Laura. Unfortunately, she is still isolated (meaning robes, gloves, and masks for visitors). I hope everyone understands this situation for the short term. It is for her protection and the protection of others. On another note, the swelling appears to be way down over the past 24 hours. There hasn’t been a CT scan to confirm this, but the right side of her head (where the skull bone was removed) has sunken way in. It has taken on a vertical appearance as opposed to a typically curved head. Sounds bad, but is great news. The doctors told us way back that when the swelling went away, that side of the head would react in this manner. Our hope is for the infections to be killed off, the swelling to complete it’s receding, and the brain to begin healing itself. The brain is getting close to a condition that is maximized for healing to occur (lack of swelling, reduction of antibiotics, good vital signs, etc.). I am only able to visit Laura in the evenings because of work, but she was very attentive. Her eyes were COMPLETELY open and she looks great. I believe she will wake up and make our dream of her miracle come true. Keep the hope, faith, and prayers alive. Laura is our little champion. IF ANYONE IS A WORSHIPPER OF GOD AND DOES HIS WILL, HE HEARS HIM. (John 9:31) We love you, Jeff and Laura Laughlin.

August 8, 2005

We had a minor scare with Laura on Monday evening. At about 1AM, we headed to the hospital for what appeared to be an emergency. The neurosurgeon was called in to do an immediate procedure. The drain tube in Laura’s head had become “plugged” by some blood and this rendered the drain ineffective. They removed that drain and installed a new tube on the other side of her head. All in all, a successful procedure and they stated that it was not even a setback. Laura is still dealing with a serious infection in the cerebral spinal fluid. They are treating it with antibiotics. Pray for all infections to die off and vacate her body. These late night visits to the hospital are getting more and more difficult. The feeling of helplessness as you drive to the hospital is overwhelming. Your heart pounds, your body shivers (even when its 90+ degrees). It is amazing how close you become with God in these moments. We prayed from the moment we started the trip. We placed everything into God’s hands. He delivered for us again. The miracle is being worked out through Laura, but it is not on our time schedule. We must be patient. All miracle stories must have their low points. God is testing our faith everyday, in every way. HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS. HE WAS BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITIES; THE CHASTISEMENT FOR OUR PEACE WAS UPON HIM, AND BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED. (Isaiah 53:5) We love you, Jeff and Laura Laughlin.

August 5-7, 2005

This weekend was, for the most part, uneventful. We did share our wedding anniversary together on Sunday. I want to thank everyone who took part in the special prayer service Sunday morning at St. John’s. I thought it was wonderful. The service was beautiful and hopefully everyone enjoyed it as much as I did. The VP shunt surgery has been postponed indefinitely. Laura developed an infection in her cerebral spinal fluid at the exterior drain. The team of doctors is in the process of treating the infection. When things stabilize, the procedure will be performed. Pray for any and all infections to immediately leave Laura’s body. She is still showing signs to family and friends that waking up may be coming. Laura’s heart rate is elevated more when awake. Her eyes are more responsive and when someone enters her field of vision, she definitely appears to know it. We are believing and faithfully waiting for God’s miracle to occur. I am starting work today (Monday, August 08, 2005). When and if you visit the hospital, please be careful. We are working from a common sense policy. There are many things in play: - Laura needs rest (that is when she heals the most). If she is sleeping peacefully, let her be. - She has infections and is highly susceptible to infections. Therefore, YOU and her are at risk to bacteria. Keep hands washed thoroughly. - We don’t exactly know what she hears. You have to assume that she hears everything. Please, keep idle conversation or chatter outside the room. - Check with the nurse on duty. Sometimes, they need time to be with Laura and have no one in the room. They will let you know what the policy is. Everyone is there for one reason only, to love and support Laura. We have to keep in mind her safety and overall well being. I thank everyone personally for using great judgment up to this point. Keep praying daily to bring her back. We all miss Laura. Without your help, the battle will become more difficult. When all of us pray fervently with a common purpose, the power resonates to God. Tell him what you want! NOW THIS IS THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE IN HIM, THAT IF WE ASK ANYTHING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, HE HEARS US. AND IF WE KNOW THAT HE HEARS US, WHATEVER WE ASK, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE PETITIONS THAT WE HAVE ASKED OF HIM. (1 John 5:14-15) We love you, Jeff and Laura Laughlin.

August 4, 2005

Laura has completed three full weeks and she is a survivor. The VP shunt will be performed early Monday morning. Regardless of any other measures (CT scans, vitals, etc.), Laura’s progress will be measured by essentially what is visually accomplished. Pray and hope for consistent purposeful movements and a complete recovery. Here are the stats given to us by the team of doctors for an injury such as Laura’s: - 7% chance of vegetative state - 8% chance of complete normalcy (virtually no limitations) - 85% unknown (landing somewhere between these two possibilities) This is why I am giving this over to God and to all of you. God can work with 0.8%. He can work with 0.08%. He can work with 0.000008%. In this context, 8% becomes a large number. Laura has a long time period to go, please remain steady in your convictions. What you give to her, she will return tenfold. That is a promise. FOR IT IS GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU BOTH TO WILL AND TO DO FOR HIS GOOD PLEASURE. (Philippians 2:13) What a powerful sentence. Accept him as your savior. Then, you are GIVEN the Holy Spirit. It is God working in both you and the spirit form of God. You need to will it completely in mind, body, and spirit. Finally, do it! This requires action. The end result? Laura will be healed and restored and pleasure will be realized. Keep on believing! We are forever indebted and grateful. We love you, Jeff and Laura Laughlin.

August 3, 2005

We are closing in on three weeks since the accident. No real changes took place today. Laura had a CT scan performed in the morning hours. The scan showed excess ventricle fluid within the brain. Therefore, the drain was opened back up. Dr. Backer, the neurosurgeon, informed us that a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt would be needed. He is hoping to perform the procedure early Friday morning. The shunt serves to permanently control fluid drainage. It is placed under the skin and connects from the brain to the abdomen. Pray for this procedure to go perfectly. Once the shunt is placed, the hope is that recovery will progress more smoothly. Ultimately, the fluid will be controlled, swelling will completely recede, and Laura will continue to show progress. Rehab appears to be on the horizon. Laura is fighting hard. She needs everyone to pull her through. Remember, pray for complete success of the VP shunt. O LORD, BE GRACIOUS UNTO US; WE HAVE WAITED FOR THEE; BE THOU THEIR ARM EVERY MORNING, OUR SALVATION ALSO IN THE TIME OF TROUBLE. (Isaiah 33:2) We love you, Jeff and Laura Laughlin.

August 2, 2005

I would have to say another successful day. Most things are similar to yesterday’s message. This is a good thing. Laura’s vitals are great, activity is increasing, and awakenings are longer and more pronounced. There is hope that the traech collar will be removed soon, because she is breathing remarkably well. At that point, a cap will be installed into the traech hole. This cap allows are to come in the throat and out through the mouth/nose. The device gives Laura the opportunity to talk, as air will be passing through the vocal chords. Let’s just say that Sunday is our one-year wedding anniversary and you can imagine what would make it the best ever. If not, no big deal! There will be other days to hear her sweet voice again. The ventriculostomy drain in Laura’s head may be removed shortly. The drain valve was closed and the pressures have remained great. This indicates to the neurosurgeon that removal is close. At that point, Laura could be moved to a “step-down” unit, where less intensive care is needed. We are probably looking at late this week. I am getting several requests from many of you that want to see some pictures of Laura and I. Go to this website: www.umsl.edu/~jml14e I created this site in early 2004. It was an assignment for one of my classes. There are two links that you can click on to access several pictures of us. Enjoy! Keep praying for Laura. We are all creating this miracle together within God’s leadership. The plan is running its course. Please, do not tire. Be patient, but with full faith and hope. AND TO KNOWLEDGE TEMPERANCE; AND TO TEMPERANCE PATIENCE; AND TO PATIENCE GODLINESS. (2 Peter 1:6) We love you, Jeff and Laura Laughlin.

August 1, 2005

Monday was another good day for Laura. As far as new goes, she was taken off the ventilator. A “traech collar” was placed around her neck (it basically keeps humidified air near her opening to make the breathing process smoother). When I first asked about the collar, the staff told me that she would need to slowly adjust to the collar. Their plan was to put her on it for a few hours, then hook her back to the machine. This would go on until Laura became accustomed to breathing on her own. To our surprise, Laura overachieved again. She did so well with the collar, that they NEVER had to hook her back up to the machine. Laura even slept through the night with the collar! In general, she was more active than previously. Laura was very alert from around 6:50 to past 8:30PM (this was her longest period of activity without needing to rest). By activity, I mean arms and feet movements and fully open eyes. We keep telling her to exercise her arms and she is listening. They are getting stronger each and every day. Her vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, cranial pressure, etc.) look great. The nurses painted her toes and fingers hot pink. When we told Laura that, she got real excited. Thanks again for all the prayers and offers of help. If you visit the hospital, don’t forget to sign Laura’s guest book. She may just heal before you know it, and you do not want to be left off the book. She will read all of your comments! AND THIS IS THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE IN HIM, THAT, IF WE ASK ANY THING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, HE HEARETH US: AND IF WE KNOW THAT HE HEARS US, WHATSOEVER WE ASK, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE PETITIONS THAT WE DESIRE OF HIM. (1 John 5: 14-15) We love you, Jeff and Laura Laughlin.

August Updates

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