Micah Andrews - GMA Story

Good Morning All,

Please check out Micah's Good Morning America story here: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/boy-suffers-internal-decapitation/story?id=12035541

God bless you all!

Sincerely,

David S. Mendel, REALTOR®, CRS, ABR, CDPE, e-PRO
RE/MAX Renaissance Realty
Valley Premier Team
www.ValleyPremierTeam.com
9059 W Lake Pleasant Pkwy, Suite B200
Peoria, Arizona 85382
(O) 623-889-2575
(M) 602-291-3283
(F) 866-813-4935

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Micah Andrews - UPDATE

Hello Everybody,

I know this is a couple days late & I apologize but we've just reached a milestone & I'm thrilled to let you know Micah went home today! He still needs to return regularly for rehab but the Andrews family is reunited at long last!

I've attached a link to a recent videos of Micah. He's playing a silly game with his dad. Click (HERE) to view it. We're all overjoyed to see this & even happier when we consider how God has blessed him (and us) through his recovery. As a reminder, he's not done. There's still lot's of work ahead but this video is evidence that God still performs miracles today!

Thank you all for following Micah's progress & for your continued prayer. It's meant so much to me to be able to convey his story. I've been truly blessed through it. I am discontinuing weekly updates but still welcome your calls, texts or e-mail. Feel free to touch base with any questions or drop by the office & say hello to me or John (please call first).

Keep praying & may God bless you all!

Sincerely,

David S. Mendel, REALTOR®, CRS, ABR, CDPE, e-PRO
RE/MAX Renaissance Realty
Valley Premier Team
www.ValleyPremierTeam.com
9059 W Lake Pleasant Pkwy, Suite B200
Peoria, Arizona 85382
(O) 623-889-2575
(M) 602-291-3283
(F) 866-813-4935

Micah Andrews - UPDATE

Hello All,

As promised, I've got some exciting updates for you. Micah had the opportunity to go home (for the day) over the last weekend! The Andrews took him home Saturday so he could reacquaint himself with the house. The doctors were very specific that he had to have low stimulation so no visitors but Micah had an absolute blast playing with his own toys & just being with his family. He returned to the rehab center in the evening & repeated the same schedule Sunday.

Micah also had a field trip yesterday. Heather & the rehab nurses took him to the Zoo! You can imagine how exciting that was for him.

Micah continues to progress. His feeding tube has been out for the last week & he's eating well. I've attached a link of a video showing him eating a "pop-tart." Click HERE to check it out. You've probably already seen the attached picture too. If not, check it out & look at that smile!

We're all hoping that Micah will continue progressing & recovering. The Andrews are hopeful that Micah will be able to return home soon but he will still have daily rehabilitation. Your prayers are being answered so keep praying!

Thanks to all of you for your support! God bless...

Sincerely,

David S. Mendel, REALTOR®, CRS, ABR, CDPE, e-PRO
RE/MAX Renaissance Realty
Valley Premier Team
www.ValleyPremierTeam.com
9059 W Lake Pleasant Pkwy, Suite B200
Peoria, Arizona 85382
(O) 623-889-2575
(M) 602-291-3283
(F) 866-813-4935

Micah Andres - UPDATE

Hello All,

I'm sorry to disappoint you but I don't have any pictures or video for you, as I haven't been able to get down to see Micah this week. That said, I've asked John to take some video. Hopefully I'll have it tomorrow will provide it to you along with a full update.

Thanks for your patience!

God bless you all...

Sincerely,

David S. Mendel, REALTOR®, CRS, ABR, CDPE, e-PRO
RE/MAX Renaissance Realty
Valley Premier Team
www.ValleyPremierTeam.com
9059 W Lake Pleasant Pkwy, Suite B200
Peoria, Arizona 85382
(O) 623-889-2575
(M) 602-291-3283
(F) 866-813-4935

Micah Andrews - UPDATE

Hello All,

It's been a very exciting week for Micah! He's been working & playing hard - Regaining energy & maintaining it longer.

Micah has started to eat more solid foods, including macaroni & cheese, graham crackers & "goldfish." He's chewing, swallowing & digesting without issue. The doctors haven't removed his feeding tube yet but they're continuing to evaluate him & should remove it soon.

Micah's eyes have been more centered and he's focusing on targets more quickly than before. During play, he's selecting items by color (upon request) and he's having a lot of fun with both play & therapy. He's generally very responsive & in great spirits!

The therapists have been helping Micah with standing, balance & assisting him with walking. He's ever begun speaking again! His speech has been limited to words like "yes," "no" & "daddy" but he's progressing well! I've attached a video link of Micah is therapy today. Click HERE to check it out. Also attached is a terrific snapshot of Micah - Incidentally, his neck brace will be coming off soon. The Andrews are very excited about that, as I'm certain you are too.

Please continue to pray. Micah is doing so much better & we've all witnessed true miracles with him but he's not done. There are still long term uncertainties and concerns. Your prayers matter & are effective! Join me now in prayer for his continued recovery, for his parents physical, emotional & spiritual strength and in praise to our Lord for the miracles He's performed in this little blessing.

Thank you all & as always, God bless!

Sincerely,

David S. Mendel, REALTOR®, CRS, ABR, CDPE, e-PRO
RE/MAX Renaissance Realty
Valley Premier Team
www.ValleyPremierTeam.com
9059 W Lake Pleasant Pkwy, Suite B200
Peoria, Arizona 85382
(O) 623-889-2575
(M) 602-291-3283
(F) 866-813-4935

Micah Andrews - UPDATE

Hello All,

Well it's been a terrific week for Micah. He's progressing so much. There's still work ahead but he's been doing so well.

Micah's eating more & more but still has the feeding tube in. He's not chewing yet but I'm sure he will soon. He enjoys playing with toys & has much better control over his extremities. He loves rough housing with John & laughs a lot! He's just on the cusp of speaking again. He's begun to make sounds in response to questions & John mentioned that he was trying to say "yes" last night, when asked if he'd like more pudding. It came out as "yeah" but he's almost there!

I visited yesterday & got a nice picture of Micah with his dad (attached) & a terrific video for you all to see. Click HERE & see for yourselves what miracles God has performed! That said, keep praying.

Thanks again for all your prayers, help & well wishes. The Andrews value & thank you all beyond words!

May God bless you all!

Sincerely,

David S. Mendel, REALTOR®, CRS, ABR, CDPE, e-PRO
RE/MAX Renaissance Realty
Valley Premier Team
www.ValleyPremierTeam.com
9059 W Lake Pleasant Pkwy, Suite B200
Peoria, Arizona 85382
(O) 623-889-2575
(M) 602-291-3283
(F) 866-813-4935

Micah Andrews - UPDATE

Hello All,

I spoke with John today & Micah is making lot's of progress! John has also been trying to get back into the swing of business but is juggling being at the hospital so as to not miss anything. Elizabeth is home with John & they're both thrilled about it! Heather soldiers on at the hospital but remains in good spirits.

John shared that Micah has been working hard in rehab & is much more balanced than a week ago. He's reaching for items with more precision & his energy level is growing. During exercise the nurse will sit him on a large ball & slowly tip him forward, back & side to side. Micah's job is to correct the tip & re-center himself. He's doing well with it. They're also working with Micah on standing & walking. He still requires a lot of help with the walking but he's doing well with standing. Micah is able to sit up now, more or less on his own!

The nurses continue working to help Micah eat so he can be removed from the feeding tube. He's got the basics down & swallowing isn't an issue but recently he's had a difficult time keeping food down so the feeding tube is still in for the time. Eating & speaking share some muscle and brain process commonality so the solid food is important to retraining speech too. That said, the rehab team has been encouraging Micah to speak and he's proactively making sounds in response. That's a good first step.

I apologize for not having any pictures or video this time around but we'll get some more out soon. Thank you all for your continued support & prayers! Keep praying...

God bless you all!

Sincerely,

David S. Mendel, REALTOR®, CRS, ABR, CDPE, e-PRO
RE/MAX Renaissance Realty
Valley Premier Team
www.ValleyPremierTeam.com
9059 W Lake Pleasant Pkwy, Suite B200
Peoria, Arizona 85382
(O) 623-889-2575
(M) 602-291-3283
(F) 866-813-4935

Micah Andrews - UPDATE

Hello all,

John & Heather want to express their continued gratitude for your prayers. They're welcomed, needed & working! I'm going to be transitioning to weekly updates so you an all see the blessings happening but please keep Micah & the whole Andrews family in your DAILY prayers.

It's been an exciting week for Micah! At the beginning of last week Micah was pretty limp when someone would pick him up, his movements were fairly erratic and he had very limited control of his right side. Now - a totally different story! He's becoming increasingly active, more precise with his movements (like picking up & holding onto a ball) and attempting to sit up on his own, on the right side! He still requires some help but he's progressing by leaps & bounds. It's so encouraging to see.

The rehab team is working on retraining Micah to eat orally. He's doing great & will be getting some chocolate pudding today! The doctors will be removing the feeding tube within the next few days, once they can verify Micah's not aspirating food or liquids. All very exciting!

I've attached a picture of John, Micah & Elizabeth from my visit today. They all look great! I've also recorded a short video of Micah having a "pillow fight" with Heather. You can see just how active he's become. Click HERE ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifTkEoc6SVU ) to check it out...

It was a great visit. I'm looking forward to even better ones. Thanks so much for your continued prayers. Keep praying & God bless you all!

Sincerely,

David S. Mendel, REALTOR®, CRS, ABR, CDPE, e-PRO
RE/MAX Renaissance Realty
Valley Premier Team
www.ValleyPremierTeam.com
9059 W Lake Pleasant Pkwy, Suite B200
Peoria, Arizona 85382
(O) 623-889-2575
(M) 602-291-3283
(F) 866-813-4935

Micah Andrews - UPDATE

Hello all,

Sorry it's been a few days. I had the opportunity to visit Micah Saturday & get some updates. Largely he was doing the same but slowing progressing with his therapy. It's difficult for doctors to speak in "averages" because everyone is so different & injuries vary but it appears Micah is making strides. Last night John e-mailed me the following:

"Hey Dave.

Micah had a huge day today!!  You saw him yesterday.  He was really starting to use his right side and his eyes were tracking more center-right.  We saw a lot more activity out of him as well.  Today was even better.

When I walked in the room, Heather said "Watch this".  She teased him a bit with a pillow, then placed it on his chest.  He proceeded to "fight" it off with both arms and legs!  He was giggling and smiling the whole time.

I had to do it too!   He was really pushing on it.  I was blown away with how much strength he had.  He really had command over all of his limbs.  He's still not very accurate with reaching for things, but I'll take it!  Today was a true miracle.  I wish you could have seen him.  This week is going to be awesome. "

I absolutely love John's optimism! That said, it's hard not to be excited about this progress. I told him it's one of the most encouraging things I've ever heard. It's funny - Yesterday in bible study we had a question posed to our small group that asked "to name a person, living or dead, who's influenced your life." Of course most, including myself said Jesus who obviously has but we also named others. The truth is anyone I named, in one way or another, was encouraging to me because I could see Christ playing a role in their life. After thinking about it this morning, I'm adding Micah to my list of people who encourage me. Again because of the enormous & clear presence of Christ in his life. I'm also encouraged but John & Heather's faith in the face of tragedy. Instead of tearing them apart, it's brought them closer together. Instead of "testing" their faith, it's strengthened it. This is ONLY possible because of Christ in their lives & their obedience to Him.

It's unfortunate that the situation is what it is but I'm so blessed & thankful that I can grow in Christ through of it. I'm incredibly encouraged & hope you are too!

Keep praying & God bless you all!

Sincerely,

David S. Mendel, REALTOR®, CRS, ABR, CDPE, e-PRO
RE/MAX Renaissance Realty
Valley Premier Team
www.ValleyPremierTeam.com
9059 W Lake Pleasant Pkwy, Suite B200
Peoria, Arizona 85382
(O) 623-889-2575
(M) 602-291-3283
(F) 866-813-4935

Micah Andrews - UPDATE

Hello All,

Well the past couple days have been a lot of work for Micah. He's in full rehab now but doing well. The team works him for a solid 3 hours daily. He's been staying up a bit longer than that but still needs a lot of rest.

Initially he wasn't using his left side, his eyes tend to track to the left & he has difficulty releasing his jaw after biting down but yesterday he began to raise and use his right arm! John mentioned that in the morning Micah can track his eyes a bit more to the right but he reverts to the left when there's more stimulation. The Andrews and the rehab team are all working with Micah to help him relax his jaw after biting down and to relearn his body in general. It's a difficult & time intensive process but Micah has responded better that they'd anticipated.

I've linked a video (from late last week) for you to see. It's shows how very sweet Micah is. Click the link & enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UEE-iJ5K_U

Please continue to pray for Micah & the whole Andrews family. Many of your prayers have already been answered but the needs continue to be great. As well as Micah is doing, he still has a long road of hard work ahead. Help pray him back to health!

Thanks to you all & God bless!

Sincerely,

David S. Mendel, REALTOR®, CRS, ABR, CDPE, e-PRO
RE/MAX Renaissance Realty
Valley Premier Team
www.ValleyPremierTeam.com
9059 W Lake Pleasant Pkwy, Suite B200
Peoria, Arizona 85382
(O) 623-889-2575
(M) 602-291-3283
(F) 866-813-4935

Micah Andrews - UPDATE

Hello all,

Micah has been moved & has officially started neuro rehab! They're doing initial assessments but it's still hard work for Micah. He's been staying up longer and longer each day. The neuro team has already identified a few areas that Micah needs help with & they've been working with his parents to help him retrain these functions.

I had an opportunity to visit yesterday & Micah looks so good. His grandparents & sister came to visit too. I've attached a picture of Micah & Elizabeth. It was absolutely precious when she sat down next to him & held his hand. It was terrific to see him smile too. He's such a happy little guy. It's very encouraging to see.

I have a video that John took of Micah the other day (some of you have already seen this on FaceBook) & I'll get it posted soon but I wanted to give a quick update this morning & remind everyone to keep the Andrews family in prayer this morning, as you go into worship.

Thanks so much & God bless you all. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Sincerely,

David S. Mendel, REALTOR®, CRS, ABR, CDPE, e-PRO
RE/MAX Renaissance Realty
Valley Premier Team
www.ValleyPremierTeam.com
9059 W Lake Pleasant Pkwy, Suite B200
Peoria, Arizona 85382
(O) 623-889-2575
(M) 602-291-3283
(F) 866-813-4935

Micah Andrews - UPDATE

Hello all,

Sorry it's been a couple days. Honestly there's not been much to report but as you know, sometimes no new is good news. That said, here's what we know today.

Micah had been having a rough time with withdrawals from medication. He had a fever and "shakes" the night before last. Heather did get to lay in bed with him & just hold him. I'm certain that was comforting to both of them. The doctors are trying to balance giving him enough meds to treat pain and counter the effect without causing future withdrawals. This is a gentle balancing act because everyone's different. There's no single formula but they're working at it.

Heather & John had an opportunity to hold Micah yesterday. This was simply fantastic! I've attached a picture of Heather & Micah. It's such a sweet sight!

Micah will be starting neuro-rehabilitation at Barrow TODAY! They're one of the top facilities in the country for this treatment so it's quite a blessing that Micah is going there. I've heard from several people in the medical industry that this is the place to be. Another prayer answered!

As promised, the Andrews are just about ready for visitors. Please give them a couple days to settle into the new schedule & *** VERY IMPORTANT *** make sure to call John BEFORE coming. You will get to see Micah but he'll be on a strict rehab schedule. The docs will NOT allow a session to be interrupted so for your own time-sake, schedule ahead. When you call John, you might need to leave a message because reception in the hospital is limited. A text might get to him faster. Please wait for him to reply with a time. The rehab schedule is not the same from day to day so please check each time you plan to visit. Barrow is located at 350 West Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ 85013. It's basically the 3rd Street building by St. Josephs.

Thanks again for all your prayers & KEEP PRAYING. Rehab will be hard work for Micah but God has performed many miracles here. I'm certain there are more to come!

God bless you all!

Sincerely,

David S. Mendel, REALTOR®, CRS, ABR, CDPE, e-PRO
RE/MAX Renaissance Realty
Valley Premier Team
www.ValleyPremierTeam.com
9059 W Lake Pleasant Pkwy, Suite B200
Peoria, Arizona 85382
(O) 623-889-2575
(M) 602-291-3283
(F) 866-813-4935

Micah Andrews - UPDATE

Hello All,

Yesterday was a terrific day! Micah has started into his pre-rehab stage where they wake him every couple hours & lightly exercise him about every 4. This is not an easy process as Micah doesn't have control over his full motor skills (yet). They actually started this the day before yesterday & and as I mentioned in the previous update, it was incredibly difficult for his parents to see their son "groan" and "foam" at the mouth. He'd become frustrated and that's about it.

While they started into the process early yesterday, the doctors were trying to prepare the Andrews with the idea that Micah may never be the same. They said "He's still your little boy but he may be a different little boy." This was disheartening. When they started into the exercises, Micah began much the same as the day before but John explained to me "It was like God tapped me on the shoulder & told me to say..." and at that moment John said "Micah, D-I-A-P-E-R." This is a joke he and Micah shared. When Micah heard this, he relaxed, stopped groaning and smiled! Everyone including the doctors cheered. One of them began to cry and had to leave the room. None of them were prepared for this because a smile indicates that Micah did several things. He heard what was said, processed the information, remembered the joke and physically reacted to it! This was one of those precious, small miracles that we've all been praying for. By the way, this was repeated several times throughout the day! In fact, I had the opportunity to snap a picture of Micah when John had threatened to tickle him. Again, A huge blessing that Micah can understand and react to the anticipation of being ticked. I've attached the picture to share with you.

Please understand, Micah tires quickly & has a long road ahead to recovery but yesterday was encouraging beyond words. Especially for John & Heather. Prayer works! Please continue to pray for Micah's progress, the Andrews strength & the peace of all those who were involved in and affected by this horrific accident.

Thank you all so much - Enjoy the picture & God bless you all!

Sincerely,

David S. Mendel, REALTOR®, CRS, ABR, CDPE, e-PRO
RE/MAX Renaissance Realty
Valley Premier Team
www.ValleyPremierTeam.com
9059 W Lake Pleasant Pkwy, Suite B200
Peoria, Arizona 85382
(O) 623-889-2575
(M) 602-291-3283
(F) 866-813-4935

Micah Andrews - UPDATE

Good Morning Everyone,

I spoke with John last night & he shared some of yesterday's events with me. The doctors woke Micah up completely. He started by tracking things with his eyes. He responded to voices, especially John's & Heather's but could not speak. The more they stimulated him, the more frustrated he became. He would try to speak but couldn't find words so he'd "grown and growl". Eventually he would tire & slip back to sleep. This was incredibly difficult for John & Heather to see but not uncommon for Micah's condition. The drainage port in Micah's head was leaking a bit so the doctors tightened it up with sutures. This was not a major concern but again, disconcerting for the Andrews.

Please pray this morning specifically for Micah's healing & a general sense of peace for the Andrews. They're all still very much in need of our prayer. This brings another point to mind. A lot of people lately have asked me how Megan (the driver of the car the Andrews were in) is doing. Honestly, I don't know. I've never met Megan & my focus has been so much on Micah & the Andrews that I haven't asked. Robyn (my wife) had pointed out how terrible a shape she must be in. She's right. In fact, the Lord has put it heavily on my heart this morning that I ask for all of us to pray specifically for Megan's healing. Physical, spiritual & emotional. We all know this was simply an accident. Anyone who's driven for more than a few months in a busy city has had a near miss that was simply unavoidable. Unfortunately for all involved here, it wasn't a miss. Bottom line, we all need to pray for Megan. I ask all of you to make this a special priority today.

God has already worked many miracles in this situation. First & foremost, everyone involved is alive but let's not forget that John's brother has come to Christ through this tragedy. God continues to work in this (and all) situations. He's blessed the Andrews with peace & strength that's beyond this world. He's brought believers closer together through prayer, thereby strengthening the Body of Christ. He will perform many more miracles & be glorified in it. It's an honor to be able to pray directly to a God who not only listens but genuinely cares and wants a one-on-one relationship with us! Pray with me this morning for all these things & know our Father in heaven loves us.

Thank you for your continued support & prayer. God bless you all!

Sincerely,

David S. Mendel, REALTOR®, CRS, ABR, CDPE, e-PRO
RE/MAX Renaissance Realty
Valley Premier Team
www.ValleyPremierTeam.com
9059 W Lake Pleasant Pkwy, Suite B200
Peoria, Arizona 85382
(O) 623-889-2575
(M) 602-291-3283
(F) 866-813-4935

Micah Andrews - UPDATE

Hello all,

I've spoken with John today. He said Micah is recovering. He's been breathing "above" the respirator today. That's good. Unfortunately he does have a fever of 103. He's also in some pain from the surgery, although they expected that and it appears he has an infection too. This was an eventuality they expected and are prepared for.

In other words, please keep praying. It's great the surgery was successful and Micah is on the road to recovery but he hasn't been brought completely out of sedation so there are still many variables.

Thank you all so much! God bless you...

Sincerely,

David S. Mendel, REALTOR®, CRS, ABR, CDPE, e-PRO
RE/MAX Renaissance Realty
Valley Premier Team
www.ValleyPremierTeam.com
9059 W Lake Pleasant Pkwy, Suite B200
Peoria, Arizona 85382
(O) 623-889-2575
(M) 602-291-3283
(F) 866-813-4935

What a day!!

What a great day!!  As you all may know, Micah's surgery was successful!  God is good and he does answer prayer! 

 I also want to thank his surgeon, Doctor Theodore.  Before the surgery, he spent some time with us along side Micah.  Dr Theodore is a very large man.  He took his big hand and gently touched little Micah's cheek.  "Oh buddy" he said, softly.  He then turned to me, looked me in the eye and said " I'll treat Micah as if I were operating on my own son".  I believed him.  He did an incredible job, not only with my son, but with comforting us.  We're truly thankful that Dr. Theodore was our surgeon.

This is a huge step forward, but we have miles to go.  Now that Micah's neck is repaired, the focus is on recovery.  Over the next few days, the doctors will be pushing him when they can by reducing his ventilator and sedative.  The hope is to have Micah off of the ventilator and sedation as soon as possible.  We're in a race against time.  The longer he's on the ventilator, the harder it is on his lungs.  He also runs risks of infection from all of the tubes he has in him.  Please continue to pray for these things specifically.

We'll do our best to keep you updated as Micah continues to improve.  I'm convinced that your prayers are driving his recovery.  I can't thank you all enough.

Micah Andrews - UPDATE

Hello All,

*** GOOD NEWS *** I just spoke with John. He said Micah had a very successful surgery!

The doctor who performed the surgery is apparently the authority in this procedure. He said Micah responded exactly how he should have. They fused his C1, C2, & C3 vertebrae using titanium wire & a piece of his rib!

Micah is having the "Halo" removed now. If his vital signs remain stable, they'll start "pushing" him a bit later tonight in an effort to begin the waking & healing process.

Micah still has a long road ahead but this news is evidence of prayers answered! The Andrews remind you to continue praying but are so thankful for all you've already done & for your prayers to come!

I'll update again once Micah's at the next stage. Thank you all for everything - May God bless you!

Sincerely,

David S. Mendel, REALTOR®, CRS, ABR, CDPE, e-PRO
RE/MAX Renaissance Realty
Valley Premier Team
www.ValleyPremierTeam.com
9059 W Lake Pleasant Pkwy, Suite B200
Peoria, Arizona 85382
(O) 623-889-2575
(M) 602-291-3283
(F) 866-813-4935

Surgery Update.. :)

I receive a text from John that read "His surgery went perfect". AMEN!!! God is Good!


Billy Hobbs, REALTOR ®, ABR, e-PRO
Certified Distressed Property Expert
RE/MAX Renaissance Realty
The Cosenza Team
602-377-6848 (Cell)
623-889-2530 (Office)
1-866-536-9575 (Fax)
billy@thecosenzateam.com

Surgery

The surgery has officially started. They expect it to be most of the day. Thank you for your continued prayers.
Billy Hobbs, REALTOR ®, ABR, e-PRO
Certified Distressed Property Expert
RE/MAX Renaissance Realty
The Cosenza Team
602-377-6848 (Cell)
623-889-2530 (Office)
1-866-536-9575 (Fax)
billy@thecosenzateam.com

Update on Micah's recovery..

     I wanted to take a moment and thank everyone for their prayers and support.  This past week has been difficult for our family, to say the least.  The outpouring of love has been incredible.  Heather is getting along fine.  She's still banged up, but nothing is broken.  Elizabeth is doing well.  She's still dealing with some whiplash and a sore right thigh.  She's limping pretty good, but never complaining.  Elizabeth has been staying with her grandparents until Micah is out of the woods. 

Micah is stable.  His brain appears to be regulating his body temperature better.  The first 3 or 4 days were a constant up and down with his temp.  It would range from normal to just over 102.  

His liver sustained some damage in the wreck, but appears to be healing well.  He lost some blood, but received a transfusion and hasn't needed one since.

He has some contusions in his lungs, but at this point, haven't been affecting his breathing.

The surgery to repair his little neck is scheduled for 9AM tomorrow morning.  Please be in prayer.  The surgery will likely take 6 hours.  They're going to fuse his first 3 vertebrae with titanium wire and a piece of one of his own ribs.  His doctors have told us that he'll actually have a fairly normal range of motion eventually. 

Once the surgery is complete, the focus is going to be on his brain.  Micah's brain sustained significant damage from the accident. He has a drain in his brain to relieve the pressure as it swells.   At this point, we just don't know how much will be affected.  What we do know, is that God is good, He's in control and he definitely answers prayer!  He answered us.  We still have Micah.  We're trusting God to heal him.  Please be in prayer with Heather and I tomorrow and through out Micah's recovery.

The doctors are going to give him a day or two to heal after the surgery, then they're going to start pushing him.  The plan is to wean him off of the ventilator, reduce his sedation and see if we can wake him up.  We'll have a better Idea of what we're dealing with for his rehab at that point.

We'll keep everyone posted as we hear back from the Surgeons tomorrow.

Thank you for walking with us as we're going through this.  Heather and I really appreciate you.

Micah Andrews - UPDATE

Hello all,

The doctors are trying to prepare Micah for surgery. They've reduced the rate on his ventilator in an effort to make sure he can breath on his own. They've been reducing the sedation every 4 hours too (though they increase it to promote healing). He opened his eyes for a few minutes today. Although this doesn't speak hugely to his condition, it's very encouraging to the Andrews.

Micah's surgery is scheduled for 9am tomorrow. Please be in prayer tomorrow at 8:45am (if possible). Let's lift Micah up to the Lord & ask He guide the doctors' hands during the surgery. Pray also for healing, recovery & comfort for Micah's parents.

They'll be fusing 2-3 vertebrae with titanium wire and a piece of his rib. He will have limited range of motion initially but this should improve with time & age.

Rick Stone of RE/MAX Renaissance Realty has completed the donation/information site. Please visit www.MicahAndrews.info for further info and/or to make a donation. Please note the Andrews family is asking more for prayer than anything else. Rick created the site in an effort to raise funds that'll likely be needed during Micah's rehab. Donate if you can but PLEASE continue to pray either way...

Thanks again for all your support. Your prayers are meaningful beyond words and a huge source of strength to the Andrews family.

God bless you all!

Sincerely,

David S. Mendel, REALTOR®, CRS, ABR, CDPE, e-PRO
RE/MAX Renaissance Realty
Valley Premier Team
www.ValleyPremierTeam.com
9059 W Lake Pleasant Pkwy, Suite B200
Peoria, Arizona 85382
(O) 623-889-2575
(M) 602-291-3283
(F) 866-813-4935

Donation Site

As was stated in the last update, a website has been setup in order for people to donate to the Andrews family if they feel so led. The site, thanks to Rick Stone, is http://www.wix.com/yotr2010/Micahandrews. 


Please visit the site and pray over your decision.  The Andrews Family is so grateful for all of the support and would covet your prayers either way.  


God Bless!

Micah Andrews - UPDATE

Hello all,

I had an opportunity to spend some time with the Andrews yesterday evening. I was glad to see them. John & I had a chance to reconcile some of his real estate business.

Micah's condition is largely unchanged although his surgery is tentatively (re) scheduled for this Friday. The doctors are hopeful that Micah's brain swelling will reduce to a point that he's stable and prepared for a successful surgery. The Andrews have mixed emotions about this but agree it's a necessity. They ask for your continued prayer.

John asked me to thank you all for your understanding about not visiting right now. He and Heather love your company but need to keep it quiet for Micah. Once he's through the surgery, they'll let me know when visitation is safe & appropriate. Of course I'll pass it on to everyone.

Rick Stone of RE/MAX Renaissance Realty is in the process of setting up a donation website. The Andrews were thankful but unsure if they should even allow this but the fact is Micah has a long road to recovery & insurance may or may not cover everything. Likely not. We ask that you visit & pray over it. If you feel led to donate great. If not, please just continue to pray for God's grace, Micah's healing, peace & strength for the Andrews family. The site in not complete yet but I'll update everyone once it goes live.

Thanks again for all your support. You can't possibly know how much it means to the Andrews & how encouraging it's been to me.

God bless you all!

Sincerely,

David S. Mendel, REALTOR®, CRS, ABR, CDPE, e-PRO
RE/MAX Renaissance Realty
Valley Premier Team
www.ValleyPremierTeam.com
9059 W Lake Pleasant Pkwy, Suite B200
Peoria, Arizona 85382
(O) 623-889-2575
(M) 602-291-3283
(F) 866-813-4935

Micah Andrews - UPDATE

Hello all,
I spoke with John yesterday & there's not been much change with Micah. His vitals are improving but the swelling of his brain needs to subside before they'll perform the surgery on his neck.

John & Heather remain hopeful & thankful for all your prayers. They've been at the hospital night & day so they're very tired. I'm asking that we not visit them until after Micah has the surgery and has some time to recover. Please understand, the Andrews love our company but need some rest & more importantly, Micah needs to heal and external stimulation (like voices) can hinder that.

Billy Hobbs was kind enough to set up a blog at http://welovemicah.blogspot.com - Check it out. All the updates I post will appear there too.

If you need to get in contact with John or Heather, please don't hesitate to call or e-mail me. I'm in communication with John daily, in an effort keep him connected to the outside world.

Thank you all for your continued prayers. Keep them coming! Micah & his parents need them.

God bless you all!

Sincerely,

David S. Mendel

Update 4

Hello All,
I received the following e-mail from John last night:

"Dave

Thanks for doing all of this. I just wanted to let you know that it really means a lot to us.

We had a roller coaster day. His numbers were up, then down and back up again. He had a seizure tonight. It was very difficult to watch. Thankfully, he had it when the doctor was standing outside his door. It started in his face, with twitches in his eyebrows, then progressed, including his left hand. It wasn't violent, just rhythmic. They gave him a good dose of medication and stopped it.

It shook me, but the doctor saw my reaction and quickly told me not to be alarmed. She said that it's his brain healing and finding new pathways. She was actually encouraged by it. It was the best news we've heard yet.

He's sleeping now. His numbers are good. His oxygen level in his blood is great. This means that he's beginning to heal!

Keep praying! You're carrying us.

Thank you for everything you're doing.

-John

*** UPDATE ***
John text me this morning & said he's led his brother Casey to the Lord. Casey accepted Christ! It's truly amazing how God can use ANY situation to His glory! I'm so encouraged & renewed by this. Please continue to pray for Micah & his family but also remember Casey as a new believer. Pray for his growth & discipleship.

Thank you all for your prayers & faithfulness. Keep praying!

May the Lord bless you all...

Sincerely,
 
David Mendel

Update 3

Hello All,

I visited the Andrews yesterday & it was generally encouraging. The doctors told them they want John & Heather to go home & sleep or at least "take shifts." John was suppose to do that Friday night & Heather yesterday. Although John didn't go home, the hospital brought a cot in for him & they both got a solid eight hours that they desperately needed.

Micah now has a "halo" on that protects his neck. He's tentatively scheduled for surgery tomorrow that'll place the "pins" to fuse his neck together. A lot of people have been asking if these pins will need to be replaced as Micah grows & the answer is no. If this surgery was performed on an adult, they'd likely loose close to all their range of motion but in a person Micah's age, he should have "normal" side to side range & his body will learn to compensate for up & down.

He was still running a 102.2 temperature yesterday morning so the hospital placed a cooling pad under him to regulate his body temperature. This pad automatically adjusts to conditions as Micha's temperature changes. By mid day he was at about 99.

Micah's vital signs looked overall good. The doctors actually closed the drainage port (that removes excess cerebral spinal fluid in an effort to prevent swelling) & his intracranial pressure was good.

They reduced the amount of sedative Micah has been receiving to determine his response to "pinch" (pain). Initially only his legs responded but a later test revealed all extremities are responding. While the dosage was higher, the respirator was breathing for Micah (this is normal) but once reduced, he started "bucking" the respirator. Breathing over it, on his own. This is good.

It's important to remember that although this is encouraging new, Micah is not "out of the woods" by a long shot. He and his family need your continued prayers now, more than ever. Micah's surgery is a pretty major deal & there is new evidence of brain injury and the doctors aren't sure how it will effect Micah.

The Andrews shared with me how they see God's hand in this situation. They feel incredibly blessed by all of us. Their strength of faith is incredible yet they take no credit for this. John told me yesterday he's "completely poured out" and is totally relying on God. He couldn't make it thought this without Him.

Again, please pass this on to your prayer chains and continue to pray with me. Let's pray for healing & comfort. For strengthening & recovery. Above all else, for God's will.

Thank you all so much for your faithfulness and friendship. You help in more ways than can be expressed.

God bless you all!
 
David Mendel

Update 2

Hello all,
John & Heather want to thank you all again for your continued prayer. They're getting very little sleep however & Heather is still dealing with the physical part of her accident too. They don't want to leave the hospital but this is quite taxing on them physically & emotionally.

Micah has had a rough last 24 hours. He's become restless & last night his heart rate went way up. It's a bit better now but the doctors will not let anyone, aside of his parents in the room with him. He MUST have absolute rest in order to stabilize. They removed the drainage "port" from his head but needed to place it again. This required an additional surgery that the Andrews would have rather avoided. The MRI results are back & the preliminary findings indicate his brain is OK but obviously they'll need to evaluate that further once he's alert. They're still keeping him heavily sedated. The MRI did reveal significant damage to Micah's spine, specifically in the neck area. He requires surgery to permanently place "pins" but they won't operate until he's stabilized. The placement of the "pins" should allow him to have full mobility as he grows but he likely won't be able to play contact sports. The docs are still concerned about his liver because there is bleeding present but they're hopeful & said "the liver is resilient." It seems the focus is on his spine right now.

Please continue to pray for the whole family. So many of you have stepped up to offer help & the outpouring of love is such a blessing. You all glorify God in doing this and it's meaningful beyond words. That said prayer is the NUMBER ONE thing they need right now. Please pray specifically for Micah's healing, his parents rest, their strength, the peace of the Lord & His will, above all else.

Once again, I'll continue to update you all as I have more info but call me if you need anything.

Thank you all so much. May our Lord bless you and comfort you through this time!

Sincerely,
 
David Mendel

Micah Update

Hello All,

I want to take an opportunity to thank all of you, on behalf of the Andrews family for your prayers. You did an absolutely amazing job, bathing Micah & his family in prayer today. Please continue as they still need it & pass this on to your respective prayer groups.

John & Heather asked me to convey their heart felt gratitude for your overwhelming response. They've had over a hundred visitors today & much appreciate it but have requested we hold off on further visits until Micah's out of the ICU. Doctors are always concerned about infection at this stage & especially at Micah's age. Unfortunately, we all bring along our own germs with our well wishes. Besides, John & Heather haven't slept - They need some rest too. (That's from me, not them.)
Heather & Elizabeth are pretty banged up but were released from the hospital and are doing OK. Elizabeth is with family & Heather remains with Micah.

Micah's status is largely unchanged. He's being kept sedated in an effort to reduce stimuli and aid in a faster recovery. He's had a couple CT scans & an MRI. The MRI results aren't in yet. He was running a fever this morning. The nurse explained this is not abnormal with a head trauma as the brain often temporarily looses the ability to regulate body temperature. They successfully treated this with cold compresses & Tylenol. The doctor suspects Micah may have a bleed in his liver. They gave him blood this morning in an effort to "stay ahead of the bleed." Micah does react to stimuli such as a "pinch." This is overall positive but again, the doctors want to limit unnecessary contact to aid in recovery.

Again, please continue to pray for the Andrews. They're not out of the woods yet but they have a lot of peace in the knowledge that God has control over this whole situation.

I'll try to continue to give updates but if anyone has questions, please contact me. Let's let the Andrews rest a bit. They really need it.

God bless you all!
 
David Mendel