Sunday--The Lord's Day--April 17

Good evening to everyone.  I promised I would write back and let everyone know what the doctor said at Jacque's visit to his rehabilitation doctor on April 6, 2011.To say the doctor was amazed is an understatment.  Jacque walked in without a walker.  He even jogged in place to show the doctor how great he was doing. The doctor dismissed Jacque and told him he could go back to work the first of May. Jacque also went and visited all the therapists at the hospital.  They were so excited to see him.  They were amazed too.  The balls of Jacque's feet and his toes still feel like they are asleep, but he can wiggle his toes and walk completely normally. His balance is good and strength improves daily. He can almost do one chinup on his chinup bar at the house. HE IS DOING GREAT.  PRAISE GOD. We want to thank everyone again for all their prayers, love and concern. Jacque says that nothing bad has come out of all of this.  He is closer to God, closer to me, closer to his children, and realizes how loved he is. May God bless all of you.  Happy Easter.  We will report again when we have some news of interest.  I do want everyone to know that my son-in-law is running in a race to raise money for research to defeat cancer and autism.  Please read his blog--runbushongrun.blogspot.com.  Donate if you can.   Love--Laure :)

March 30--Home is wonderful!!

Just want everyone to know that Jacque is doing great.  He is walking without a walker and will do his last day of physical therapy on Friday.  Yes, he is being released!!! He is going to the gym and exercising. He even jogged some today!!! He still has some numbness on the balls of his feet and his toes.The arches of his feet feel normal and so do the heels.  His hands still have some tingling and sometimes they shake a little,  but they are so much better. He can write and use his hands and can do everything for himself. He has gained almost ten pounds.  He now weighs 159.  He is sleeping well and feels so good.  Everyday he gets so much stronger. He has an appointment with Dr. Linderman next Wednesday.  I can't wait for the doctor to see him!!! He will be so amazed at how well Jacque can walk!!!Thanks to everyone for all the prayers.  Thanks to our God for His healing touch.  We are so blessed!!! We are so thankful.  It is hard to believe that just a few weeks back Jacque could not even sit up without help.  His improvement has been fantastic.  He will probably go back to work the first of May.  We will just wait and see what the doctor says.

Our two weeks at home have been great.  Everyone has brought food. I haven't cooked a meal yet.  We have had lots of company.  I have written lots of thank you notes.  Jacque has been making lots of phone calls. He is trying to thank as many people as he can.  We will probably spend the rest of our lives thanking our God and our friends for bringing us through this difficult time.

Have a blessed night---I will let everyone know what the doctor says.  Thanks again for all the prayers. And if anyone ever wondered if God hears and answers prayers--THE ANSWER IS YES. I am sort of like Jimmy V--Never give up--Never give up. Laure :)

March 15--Final Chapter

Well our blog is about to end.  This will be our final chapter.  We are going home.  Praise God.  I have survived hospital rehab and I am a stronger person because of it.  I am walking well with a walker and in the next months I should be fully recovered.  Everyone is amazed at the speed of my recovery.  I give God all the glory.  You will never know how far I have come with HIS hand guiding the way.  It has been a real miracle, one that I am humbled to be a part of.  I thank everyone once again for their concern for my health and for their prayers on my behalf.  I know the Lord was amazed that I had this many people praying for me.  I know I was amazed and humbled.  The final bible verse for this blog is:  "We are perplexed...but we don't give up and quit...we get knocked down but we get up and keep going." 2 Cor 4:8-9  May we all remember these words and never give up when problems arise in our lives.  God bless and as all prayers end so too this blog will end with--AMEN. 
Love in Christ--Jacque :)

March 14

Good evening to everyone.  God is good.  I am blessed and so thankful.  Today has been a hard working day in rehab.  The therapists have worked me and stretched me and walked me.  I am so tired.  Can you believe that I only have one day of therapy left?!!!  I can hardly wait to get home.  I miss Winnfield so much!! Today I had a nice surprise.  Harmon and Jean Drew came for a visit this afternoon.  Laure and I really enjoyed their visit.  They are two super nice people. Of course, my personal angel came by to check on her daddy.  That is the only bad thing about going home on Wednesday, I will not get to see Jamie every day.  Tomorrow we are treating the rehab floor staff to lunch.  Laure has someone catering a meal for everyone from the director to the maid.  That is the least we can do to show our appreciation for all they have done for me.  I have no idea how I will ever repay all the Winnfield crew who have done so much for me in my absense. I don't know how I will ever repay all of you who have prayed for me. But most of all, how do I to repay my God who has blessed me they way I have been blessed?  Maybe this difficulty I have been through will inspire someone to become closer to their God.  May I give my Jesus all the glory.  I guess this blog will end soon.  It has been a great trip. One that I will never forget. One that I am sure has made me a better person.  Good night and God bless.  Jacque

March 13--Sunday--The Lord's Day

Well I am back.  Yesterday I went to Monroe to see my mother.  I haven't seen her in two months!!!  While I was in Monroe, I also got my hair chopped off and got my hair dyed.  Boy, did I need it. I also went to mass with Mom, my sisters Connie and Terri.  We enjoyed boiled shrimp for supper and some of Mom's homemade soup.  I had a great day.

While I was gone, my two angels--Jamie and Jacque, Jr.  took care of their daddy.  It was the first time that Jacque and I had been apart in two months.  It was really hard, but I think it was good for both of us.  Have I ever told all of you we are blessed with the best children in the world?!!!! We are so lucky!!!


Today was a great day.  I got to the room at 8am.  Jacque had breakfast then he went to therapy.  He walked again with no assistance.  There are always two people right beside him to make sure he does not fall. Jacque Jr. was able to watch his daddy walk. Jacque still does not have much feeling in his feet, this is what makes walking difficult.  Everyday he has more feelings, but the feet still do not feel normal yet.  Everyone is still amazed at how well he is doing.  Our cna told us today that she had never seen a patient will Guillain Barre progress this quickly.  God is good we are so blessed.

Vivian Adams brought us a delicious lunch.  Nothing like a good home cooked meal.  I know I have gained all my weight back.  It will be diet time for me when we get home.  Vivan has been such a blessing to us.  She is definitely one of our "Lafayette Angels".

Our other "Lafayette Angels"--Bart and Judy Stewart--came by for a visit.  We will really miss them, but have plans to return in a month or two and treat them to a good supper.

After all the company Jacque and I went for a ride.  He rode and I pushed him in the wheelchair.  We went outside.  It is such a nice day here.   After the ride, he had supper and now he is taking a nap.

We only have two days left before we leave on Wednesday!!!! We know now why God wanted us to stay another week---so that Jacque would be walking without his walker!! Now mind you--he can only do this with therapists--not with me.  But that is OK--we know he can do it.

Guess that is all my news.  God is good.  We are so thankful for His loving care.  We are so blessed.  The bible verse for today is, " His strength is made perfect in your weakness."  2 Cor 12:9

God bless you all. Laure :)

March 12

Hello everyone.  All is well here.  Laure went to Monroe to get her hair done today.  My daughter Jamie tended to me until 2 this afternoon then Jacque Jr. came and is staying the rest of the day.  I only had 30 minutes or so of formal rehab today.  I also did some upper body exercises in the room.  My overall condition is improving, but I still have problems with ankles and feet.  My ankles and feet were the first to be effected when the disease process started and the doctors feel they will be the last things to recover.  I cannot wait until Wednesday when I get to go home.  I miss my dogs but more especially I miss my grandchildren.  Please continue to pray for me.  Thank you for all the prayers you have offered up thus far.  Laure will be back tomorrow with an appropriate bible verse.

Love to All,
Jacque

Friday--March 11--Best Day Ever!!!!

Good evening to everyone!!! God is so good.  We are so blessed.  We had a fabulous, wonderful, spectacular day.  First of all, we got our discharge date--Wednesday--March 16th.  We should be leaving here by 10:30 am!!! Second of all--Jacque walked 100 feet with absolutely NO HELP--NO WALKER--NO ONE HOLDING ON!!! I thought I was going to cry.  It was absolutely the greatest thing I have ever experienced in my life.  Everyone was in the hall, cheering him on.  Our nurses and therapist are like family to us. They were just as excited as we were.  Third of all, Jacque had pet therapy today.  They brought a dog in and Jacque got to pet it and play with it.  He really enjoyed himself.  Lastly, we practiced getting in and out of our car so that we will know how to do it when we go home.  He did it great--it was so easy for him. In between all of this, Jacque had therapy and exercised and worked on climbing stairs--which he did a great job at.  Needless to say, he is so tired and is totally exhausted.  There are really no words that I could type that would ever express my joy at this point.  I have cried all day out of pure joy. I am so thankful to my God for His support and love. I really don't know what I have ever done to receive such a blessing as today--but I am so thankful.  Many thanks to everyone for their love and support.  I am sure after Jacque rests he will blog tomorrow. Good night and God bless.  The bible verse for today is:
" He brought me up out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock. " Psalms 40:2