Update on Shelly

Hello to all!

First, let me thank everyone for the prayers and concerns that everyone has offered up on our behalf to the Creator. He continues to answer faithfully.

Today is Yom Kippur. We have been fasting and praying for our souls as we stand before the Father. This morning Shelly and I had a talk about how sometimes the Father asks us to do things (like fasting or having surgery) that we don’t like to do. We need to be obedient even when we don’t feel like it and when it isn’t something we want to do. She has had a good attitude about fasting today and has done a good job. (She was on a limited fast due to her meds.)

I talked to the Nurse at UAB today regarding the surgical review board’s decision for Shelly’s surgery. Shelly has been determined a candidate for the surgery. However, they want to do an invasive monitoring prior to the surgery to pinpoint the exact location of seizure activity. This means that they will implant an internal monitor directly onto the brain and induce seizures. When they remove the monitor they will do the lobectomy and remove the area of the brain causing the seizures. This also means 2 surgeries and up to 10 days in the hospital (could be shorter but a minimum of 5 days). We will see the doctors a couple times and the surgery could be scheduled for January.

After the discussion with the Nurse I asked Shelly if she wanted to know what was said. She said, “Sure,” and I told her the procedure. She isn’t thrilled but was not real upset (thank you Father!)

I must say this is NOT the direction my flesh wants to go and while the nurse was telling me the procedure, my stomach was in a knot! (Father forgive my weakness of faith.) It seems the talk this morning was for both of us as we continue this journey in a direction we don’t really want to take. I know that we have asked the Father to open every door in the direction He wants us to go and to close the doors if this is not His will, but… We still have a will and He won’t make us do it, just like fasting. He will tell us this is His wish for us, but we can choose if we follow it or not.

Continue to pray for:
* The doors to be opened in the direction He wants us to go and closed in the direction we are not to go.
* Shelly to be able to fight the spirit of fear that continues to fight with her and torment her.
* We be obedient to the leading of the Father even when it doesn’t feel good or we don’t want to.

I know that this will build our faith as we could never imagine and I know that all things He plans for us is to bring Him glory and us to maturity.

We may also need the finances to stay in a hotel for the 10 days or the graciousness of hosts to provide a place for us to stay while Shelly is in the hospital. They require 1 adult to stay with her constantly, but they will not furnish meals for the adult… this means that someone has to relieve the adult to go eat. We will need a place for 2 adults to stay while one is with Shelly. I believe that my mom, Satch, and I will be with her for the week and they will only allow one to spend the night.

You can donate to help us via Paypal to clberryr@gmail.com

Blessings to all!