Saturday, June 12, 2010

hey everyone. this blog is our best attempt to keep all of you, dear friends and family, updated on the life of Geoff. right now it's Maggie writing, although i'm sure that i won't be the only Hathaway child to be posting comments here throughout the next few weeks. i just want to thank you guys personally for all of the beautiful support and love you have shown our family this past week; it is honestly so overwhelming and gives us so much strength to carry on.

i'll bring you guys up to speed on some of the details of this past week. my dad was rushed to the Montevideo Hospital on Monday morning after he showed signs of having suffered a severe stroke. within the hour he was airlifted to North Memorial Hospital in Minneapolis, MN, and rushed to ER and then the ICU. after an MRI was done, we found out that my dad had, indeed, suffered an ischemic stroke. he had what is known as a 'dissected artery', a tearing of the carotid artery that ends up clotting the brain with blood. he currently does not have control over the right (dominant) side of his body or speech.

the danger with this stroke lies in the fact that the blood in his brain can cause swelling -- an anticipated but scary reaction to a stroke. this potential swelling can prove fatal if the swelling continues to put pressure on his skull, which has no room for expansion of the brain.

the first few days after the stroke, we thought we were seeing steady improvement -- and we were! -- but yesterday morning after the latest CT scan came through, we learned that the swelling had suddenly increased, and we would be forced to do surgery -- to open up a portion of the skull to allow for the brain to expand a bit more without putting so much pressure on the inside of his brain. with the surgery completed, my father remained in critical condition -- the surgery did not FIX the problem, it only eased the intensity of the swelling.

throughout yesterday and today he has remained under sedatives and a respirator . . . the swelling remains, and the doctors have been continuing to put all of their efforts together to pull my wonderful father through this phase, the critical phase.

both Sam and Etty have flown home from their travels in New York and Europe, and are here supporting my dear father and mother in this ordeal along with Clara and Rose and i. there are always at least two of us spending the night in the waiting room so that we can keep loving and watching over my father, and we are all here during the day. we have had incredible support from family and friends, who have helped us through each day. but of course, our greatest source of STRENGTH comes from our Lord, and we rest in His arms and TRUST in His faithfulness and goodness. our prayers remain full of FAITH and HOPE, and we PRAY often.

we hope to keep you updated frequently so that you, too, might be able to walk with us on this journey of faith and prayer. i could write for hours about my father and what a wonderful, faithful, passionate man he is, but i know that your hearts already abound with love and respect for him . . . as many have told us, if there is anyone who can pull through something like this, it is my dad -- a man of great courage, discipline, and determination. and we BELIEVE it.

"One thing God has spoken, and two things I have heard; that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving."
-- Psalm 62:11-12

30 comments:

  1. We stop and pray several times a day for Geoff and the rest of the Hathaway family.

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  2. We continue to hold you close. Praying and living in the hope that God brings us. Thanks for starting the blog.
    The Hamptons

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  3. Thank you for this blog, I continue to pray for Geoff and for the rest of the Hathaway family.

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  4. Thank you so much for keeping us updated - we are praying with you and for you - and all our love is being shipped to you - We love all of you.

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  5. We absolutely love Geoff and the whole Hathaway family. We are praying for God's intervention.

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  6. Janet and Family,

    Thank you for starting this blog to keep us all up to date with the status of Geoff. You already know that Geoff is a very strong and determined man and his determination and the faith and prayers of all of us, we are hoping for a speedy recovery.

    Joe & Alyson Helgeson

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  7. FEAR NOT, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; YOU ARE MINE.
    When you pass through the waters, I WILL BE WITH YOU;and when you pass through the rivers, THEY WILL NOT RUSH OVER YOU. When you walk through the fire, YOU WILL NOT BE BURNED; the flames will not set you ablaze. FOR I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD. Isaiah 43:1-3.

    Our God is a BIG God, and this verse help me to remember that he is always with us

    We love you guys! Terri Emery

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  8. Beloved Hathaways,

    When life is up and when life is down, turn to God and God's people for comfort, for peace, and for solace. Know, indeed, that you are all God's Beloved and that does, indeed, love for each of you. Trust now, and always, in your Creator's boundless and inclusive love for all of God's children.

    I would encourage you to listen to the following song as many times as necessary. When I am down, I listen to it and I'm brought right back up. Understandably, you might need to listen to it a few times.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHFvUvlKjwk ("You are Mine" by David Haas)

    Be blessed!

    Cody

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  9. We love you and are praying for you. With much love,
    Doug, Emily, Cassie and Sophia Wright

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  10. The Kwilinski FamilyJune 12, 2010 at 8:09 PM

    We are holding you up in prayer. Thank you for the blog.

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  11. You are all in my prayers. With much love, Teresa

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  12. Thanks for sharing Maggie. Know that this whole community is sending your family alot of love and support. You are steadily in our thoughts and prayers.

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  13. Los Amo mucho(Geoff,Janet,Maggie,Rose,Clara,Etty,Sam)oro sin parar por cada uno de ustedes, tengo la Fe puesta en Dios que harĂ¡ lo imposible por su hijo Geoff. Te amamos Dios.

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  14. You are ALL on our hearts and minds constantly here at the Stevens home. We find ourselves praying unceasingly for Geoff and also for Janet, Sam, Maggie, Etty, Clara, and Rose as you go through this with your husband and dad. We love you all so very much and know that God is with you in the midst of it all. Lean on HIM to get you through.

    With all our hearts and love,

    Jan and the Stevens family

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  15. Dear Hathaways,
    Yes, God is strong and He is loving. He also says that His thoughts toward you are precious and they outnumber the grains of sand on the seashore. You are precious to us too and we are praying continually for God to be strong on your behalf. Psalm 121 says that He who watches over you will neither slumber nor sleep - the Lord watches over you.

    We love you, Jim and Pam Nedrud

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  16. We are praying for Geoff and all of you. God certainly will hear us with all of Montevideo pleading for His mercy. Thank you for keeping us updated with this blog.

    Kent, Janet, Alex, Anthony, and Will Bosch

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  17. We are praying for you all!

    Peter, Erika, Sam, Travis, Zach and Emma Rohde

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  18. Janet and family,

    You are so gracious to share your lives with us at this very difficult time. Thank you for the blogspot. Montevideo is an amazing community and a praying community and I can almost hear everyone praying for Geoff and your family. We are humbled by all that God can do and I know that he is with you in those waiting rooms and by Geoff's bedside. You are in our hearts and minds throughout the days.
    Mary and Lanny Brown

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  19. What a huge relief and blessing to hear that the swelling is decreasing!! Thank you for putting up the blog! Thank you Lord for being a very real presence continuously with Geoff, Janet, Sam,Maggie, Etty, Clare, and Rose. We are praying throughout the day and will continue on.
    Love,
    Jill

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  20. Maggie---This is Julie in California. I hope you know that I am with ALL of you in spirit, every day. My prayers go out to Geoff every morning and evening (and several times throughout the day as well). I have countless friends who've added him to THEIR Prayer Circles and Prayer Chains. Love and FAITH are the strongest forces on earth. Please know, you have an abundance of both, flowing toward you, from all of us who hold you and your beloved family so close in heart. Take care. You are being thought of more than you know.

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  21. Ron and Brenda KaihoiJune 14, 2010 at 7:20 AM

    We are praying for you all! We are grateful for the blog spot and appreciate the energy you are spending to keep us up to date. We are also thankful for the pictures you posted. For us they are a reminder to live each day well. God is at work in Geoff and through Geoff. We are trusting Him to carry you through each moment of this new day. our love and prayers, Ron and Brenda

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  22. We are praying for your family. The Lord is with you all and will carry you through.
    Liz Torgerson and Family

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  23. Thanks for the updates Hathaways-we're so glad to share ths journey with your family and to know how to pray! We trust God's plans for you because He is always good! Keep looking to Him and He will meet every one of your needs. You are a precious family to so many in our community and the body of Christ-we love you guys!

    Barry and Heidi

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  24. We want you to know that we are thinking and praying for you often. We know that God has a plan for your lives and He will carry you through as you lean on Him. We love you guys and will continue to stand with you. We are believing for a full recovery to His glory!
    Donna & Gary Koosmann

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  25. My thoughts and prayers are with Geoff and your family. He is such a kind man and very strong-willed. If anyone can pull through it, he can! Hoping and praying for a full and speedy recovery.

    Meagan Manthei

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  26. "Lord, listen to my prayer; let my cry for help come to you." Psalm 102:1
    Geoff and Family, we have been praying for you and crying out to the Lord on your behalf.
    We praise Him and thank him for his wonderful answers to so many prayers. We love you, and will continue to hold all of you close to our hearts.

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  27. Good Morning Hathaways,
    We press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of us. We press on praying for Geoff's improving state and recovery. You're in our hearts, minds, and prayers.
    Love, Steve and Jill

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  28. Iglehart neighbors are praying and sending warm wishes to the Hathaway family.

    Peg and Dick Kavaney

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  29. Geoff and Janet,

    Keeping you and Janet and family in my thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery. Mike and Ann Hathaway

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  30. Dear Geoff,Janet, and Family,

    We received your Christmas card and stunned to find out about your stroke, Geoff. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. We hope the best for you in the new year. God bless you all.
    Donna and Paul

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