Katherine had a steady day yesterday. Our medical friends continue the attempt to open her natural brain drains by increasing the cranial pressure. The process slows Katherine’s responsiveness but is showing some results. However, her friend, Whitney, brought a “People” magazine and it received 2 “thumbs up” from Katherine! The medical team is fabulous and they are offering superlative care.
Katherine’s heart rate was high and she spiked a fever so they are backing off a bit on her breathing and physical therapy efforts. This is a huge battle. God encouraged Joshua as His people moved to new territory, “Be stong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:)
The Fox Television network in LA (Channel 11) did a story on Katherine yesterday. Additionally, I received a call from a newspaper reporter in Florida who was writing about Katherine. So the prayer team is growing and a powerful witness for King Jesus is being shared.
Katherine is on a wavy road that is leading to restoration. She had a good day yesterday. Her breathing is progressing which is the vital prerequisite for getting off of the ventilator. Her own brain drain seems to be starting to work!!! Therefore, they are still delaying the surgical placement of a permanent brain shunt. Her right eye has been glued shut to promote healing and that is helping and her doctor is thrilled at the progress. Keep praying specifically for Katherine’s breathing, swallowing, brain drain, eyes and for her brain stem functions to continue to regenerate!
More good news: Our friends at Pepperdine Law School are allowing Jason to graduate, so Law school is completed! His full focus is on facilitating Katherine’s recovery.
We are deeply indebted to all of the prayer warriors. We are doing James 5–applying the “oil” which represents securing the best medical help and then praying like our hair is on fire! As you intercede, you are actively participating in God growing our faith-building miracle.
Katherine is steady and continuing her steep and treacherous mountain climb. We praise God for her progress and ask for more!
Many have asked about their 7 month-old son, sweet baby James. A dear friend, Anna, who is expecting her first child in September, stepped forward and has provided superlative care for James. Anna brings James to the hospital every afternoon to check in with Dad and the family. He is extra cute! We treasure your prayer support for Katherine, Jason, and James during this tough yet tender season.
“He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.” Philippians 1:6
God continues to grow our Miracle through Katherine!
Yesterday the staples were removed from her head. Jason described it as “a backwards 7.” Her breathing keeps strengthening. She spent more time in the special rehab chair in order to challenge and strengthen her neck muscles which are tied to her swallow, gag, and tongue performance. Keep praying that these primary functions will increase and even take a leap forward.
The focus of today is her brain draining the cerebral fluid.
Lastly, here is a sweet picture. Katherine signaled for her Mom to get in bed with her. Katherine then motioned for Jason to get on the other side. He said there was not enough room so he placed his head on Katherine’s shoulder. Katherine then pulled her Mom’s arm over to cover Jason’s shoulder. It is a snapshot of how God designed us for each other and for a love relationship with Himself. (1 John 4:7-8)
Prayer Requests / Video Summary:
1) Katherine is breathing independently for most of the day
2) Starting to use a physical therapy chair
3) Pray for her right side of her body as it is the weakest side
4) Katherine has a cornea tear, pray for healing
5) Pray that a shunt does not have to be put in… her brain is not filtering the fluid as it should
No one could have imagined that Katherine would spend her first Mother’s Day in the ICU at UCLA. We live in a fallen, dangerous and unpredictable world. Therefore, we desperately need JESUS and EACH OTHER! (John 3:15-18; Romans 10:9-10; Hebrews 10:24-25)
Praise Points:
Katherine is making great progress in BREATHING! They gave her some oxygen, but there was no “pressure support” from the ventilator—so she was breathing on her own for most of Sunday!
She has been receiving some physical therapy in a special chair. Her movement is increasing. Jason said something funny and the left side of her face went into a slight smile! Dr. Gonzalez, her surgeon, comes by often because “Katherine makes my day!”
Katherine is continuing to make move forward in the area of her cough/gag/swallow mechanism.
On Mother’s Day she got to see sweet baby JAMES! It was a good meeting. Most of the time, she holds his picture and a cross.
Prayer Needs:
The medical team will try one more time to get her brain drain to open up and if it does not respond then they will need to put in a “brain shunt.” The ventrix needs to be removed to prevent possible infection.
Continued improvement in her swallowing system. Additionally, the therapist said that her tongue lacks movement. Ask the Lord to “raise up” those systems that control these functions.
Her right side is weaker. Pray that the lower cranial nerves would be healing and regaining function.
There is a lot of pain attached to these processes. Ask for King Jesus to give Katherine comfort and strength. Also, pray for Jason, Kim and the family to stay healthy, steady and filled with growing FAITH!
Katherine made some progress in her breathing department but the medical team has shifted the focus to the Ventrix which is an apparatus that goes down into her brain to measure intercranial pressure and to drain out cerebral fluid. The Neurologist hoped to build up some pressure and try to open up the valve in her head that naturally drains out the fluids. They need to get the Ventrix out of her head to prevent possible infection. As the fluid built up on Thursday, her natural drainage system did not activate and Katherine was less responsive. Her physicians are considering putting in a brain “shunt” in the next few days to drain the fluids and this would require some surgery.
Jason and the family said that Katherine had a “still and quiet” day. They read God’s Word to her and prayed for her and encouraged her by sharing some notes from prayer warriors.
The highlight for 18th day of our FAITH walk was the physical therapy team putting Katherine in a special chair which enabled her to sit up for the first time! This sitting exercise is designed to help her neck which currently evidences very limited movement or strength.
Beloved Prayer Team, in FAITH join me by envisioning Katherine ARISING as God grows His miracle. In your sanctified imagination place that picture of Katherine completely restored as the backdrop. Then keep praying that her current circumstance of suffering and struggle will soon be transformed into new strength and full recovery.
“Have no anxiety about anything but in everything, by prayer and thanksgiving, make your request known to God and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:6-7
Wednesday provided a huge breakthrough–KATHERINE WAS BREATHING ON HER OWN WITH ONLY MINIMAL SUPPORT FROM THE VENTILATOR!!! This is a major step forward and we deeply thank the Lord for His kind blessings and your intercession!
The ventilator is in her tracheotomy and they have been cutting it back to help Katherine breath on her own. This morning, the nurse explained they were going to let the machine provide some “pressure support” but otherwise Katherine was breathing by herself. Then on Thursday they would remove the “pressure support” for about two hours and see how she does. They will give her some oxygen for assistance. These steps will take her down the road to removing the ventilator. Pray that it will happen soon!
ADDITIONALLY:
* Her cough and gag reflex continues to improve.
* She did receive two units of blood because her red blood cell count was a bit low.
* Her right eye is a bit better.
* Several nurses worked on her hair today. They wanted to cut it all off but Katherine indicated that she did not want them to cut her hair so they did some cleaning and arranging and it looks much better!
We have miles to go, but it is a joy to celebrate each step of the growing miracle that God is providing through His courageous servant, Katherine Wolf.
Thanks for running this marathon with Katherine, Jay and Baby James! We are standing in FAITH and seeing Katherine against the backdrop of her Jesus -orchestrated restoration. “Thanks be to God who gives us the VICTORY in our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved friends, be steadfast, immoveable, and always abound in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord, your labor is never in vain.” I Corinthians 15:57-58
"He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!")
The Katherine Wolf Fund
The purpose of this account is to help Jay and Katherine offset the sky rocketing expenses that have and will continue to accrue as a result of this occurrence. The monies received are going to be handled by Francois Viljoen, a faithful friend to Katherine and Jay. Jay is the named owner of the account, and has sole access to the money received.
There are two ways to help!
--- OPTION #1 - GIVE ONLINE ---
(Click Donate button below)
If you do not have a PayPal account, click "Continue" under Don't have a PayPal Account? on the bottom left of the page.
--- OPTION #2 - MAIL CHECK ---
Make checks payable to:
The Katherine Wolf Fund
and mail them to:
attn: Francois Viljoen
9665 Wilshire Blvd Ste 600
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
10833 LeConte Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90095
(310) 825-8611
Mail Cards and Letters to:
Katherine Wolf
24255 Pacific Coast Highway #0079
Malibu, California 90263
Our Identity in Christ - Podcast
This is a podcast of a talk Katherine recently gave the Young Marrieds group at Bel Air Presbyterian Church...called "Our Identity In Christ". It is so special! Press the play button below to listen...
