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Where's Kenya?



 
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Web Editor- Don Tarvin
Updated 25 Apr 2012

March 26, 2012

Dear Churches, Family and Friends,

I was able to spend only a couple of hours with Larry tonight as I had to wait three hours to see a doctor. I didn't get to the rehab facility until 6:30. He was very glad to see me, but was also rather depressed. He has not be able to stand the pain, nor has he been on his feet much. He was supposed to have had physical therapy today, but something happened and it never took place. Larry was blaming himself, thinking he is too difficult to work with. And, because I wasn't able to get there earlier today, he was very lonely. He asked that anyone close to the Elkhart area and could do this, to come an see him please. He is at Hubbard Hill, Room 2107. He has PT at 10:30 and OT at 12:30, but later in the afternoon would be good. If he is asleep, don't hesitate to wake him.

His appetite still is not good and doesn't eat much, which frustrates his nurses because then they aren't real sure just how much insulin to give him.The meals there are okay - some better than others, but right now nothing tastes good to him.

Please keep him in your prayers concerning overcoming the pain, etc. This part is very difficult for him. We had another long talk about that tonight about how he will become an invalid if he doesn't start using that leg.

Thanks,
Marty

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March 24, 2012

Dear Churches, Friends, and family,

Larry is now back at the same rehab facility he had after his heart surgery. He was moved Friday morning. He is doing okay, but has a very low tolerance to pain and is afraid to try to move that hip/leg. I reminded him yesterday of a very dear African friend who had the same surgery in Kenya, but then couldn't afford the rehab and thus he can't use his leg much at all and has to walk on crutches. Larry was much more willing to try yesterday afternoon after that, but cries out every time. His incision looks good. The doctor used a skin glue (which I had never heard of before) so there are no stitches or staples to be removed. His vitals are all good. Please pray for him to be able to endure the pain and start making some progress during his rehab.

Thank you all for praying for him. Some of you have called, but he has not felt like talking to anyone and I answers those calls when I am there. Later on, I will give him his phone number into his room because I think it will be easier for him to hear than on his cell phone.

In Him,
Marty
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March 21, 2012

Dear Churches, Family, and Friends,

This is just a note to let you know that Larry Stringfield had his hip surgery today. It was scheduled for 11:00 EDT, but it just have been closer to 11:30 before he actually went under. I do know that they gave him an epidural (sp) beforehand and the surgery took right around one hour. Everything went very well. About an hour later he was taken up to his room and I was able to see him. This surgery was very different from the last one in Oct. Larry was very arware of everyone and everything that was going on when he woke up. However he is in a lot of pain - even with the pain pump. The nurse finally had to give him an extra percocet late this afternoon to help tide him over for a while. His blood sugar just before they brought up a liquid diet was only 158 which is excellent for a diabetic right after surgery. Often it is in the 300-400's. His sugar has been normal almost everyday since his heart sugery. Before that it always too high, no matter what or how little he ate. So, we are happy about the good numbers he is having right now sugar-wise.

Please keep him in your prayers for the next couple of weeks. We are hoping to get him into the same rehab facility that he used after his heart surgery. If we can get in there, the dr. thinks he can be transferred on Friday of this week! I thought it might be next week before he could be dismissed from the hospital. His cell phone is 912-222-8378.

Thank you all for praying for him once again. It is truly our hope that we can leave this summer for Kenya. We are anxious to get back after all this time.

Marty Stringfield
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