Day 2
Day 4
Day 6
Day 8
Day 10
Oct 31, 2007
Thomas Recovering-
These are a few pics from the hospital. Everyday Thomas is looking more like himself. Continue to keep him in your prayers. Thank you for praying for us.
Day 2
Day 4
Day 6
Day 8
Day 10
Day 2
Day 4
Day 6
Day 8
Day 10
Oct 29, 2007
Settling. What does that mean anyway?
Elias and I laid in bed tonight and he grabbed my face in his little hands, as he does every so often, and said, "I love you so much. I missed you." Then he went on to tell me how when they were pulling away from Chicago just over a week ago, he thought maybe he could be a superhero and fly out of the van and back to us. I can tell he's so torn between being here and being in Chicago. Tonight he told me he was sad and missed his friends in Chicago...specifically Noah, Gabby and Elijah, who are like cousins to him. It's hard to get into a five year-old's brain and process with him all that he is feeling. Especially since my surroundings were familiar to me from the time I was born until the time I graduated from high school. It won't be so with my kids. And i keep taking solace in how God made Thomas and I the way we are for a reason and how He placed our children in our care for a reason.
We celebrated Thomas' homecoming on Saturday, his birthday yesterday and today we are unpacking a small portion of our belongings and trying to make this home for now. Thomas is continuing to heal and we are both looking back at the past couple weeks with a sigh of relief for that part of this ordeal being over. Thomas shared with me how there were a couple of days where he was so depressed that he didn't see how anything would get any better. I had the same feelings at various times, usually with the various medications he was taking. But I knew that it was my turn to be the strong one and so it was in those moments of Thomas' raw vulnerability that I embraced him and whispered that everything was okay....that it would be okay... and that we were going to make it through all of it together. We read Scripture and praised God, even though our emotions were leading us into self-pity.
Again, I'm amazed by all of you who have responded to our needs. Can't tell you how good it feels to be surrounded by people who genuinely love us.
For us,
Cristi
We celebrated Thomas' homecoming on Saturday, his birthday yesterday and today we are unpacking a small portion of our belongings and trying to make this home for now. Thomas is continuing to heal and we are both looking back at the past couple weeks with a sigh of relief for that part of this ordeal being over. Thomas shared with me how there were a couple of days where he was so depressed that he didn't see how anything would get any better. I had the same feelings at various times, usually with the various medications he was taking. But I knew that it was my turn to be the strong one and so it was in those moments of Thomas' raw vulnerability that I embraced him and whispered that everything was okay....that it would be okay... and that we were going to make it through all of it together. We read Scripture and praised God, even though our emotions were leading us into self-pity.
Again, I'm amazed by all of you who have responded to our needs. Can't tell you how good it feels to be surrounded by people who genuinely love us.
For us,
Cristi
Oct 27, 2007
Another chapter ends, a new one begins...
Sitting here with Thomas on OUR COUCH in OUR LIVING ROOM! Hooray! He is out of the hospital. After begging and pleading today, he was released back into the world of fresh air and unsanitized towels and sheets...a world where people don't have to put on a gown, a mask and gloves just to be in the same room with him.
I have to say that yesterday seemed like a miracle to me when I walked into the hospital room and found Thomas sitting up and eating, answering my questions in a non-lethargic way. The day before he was so sedated and while it was nothing compared to the paranoia and hallucinations that had occurred while taking Percocet the night before, it was sad to have the day go by without seeing Thomas smile or laugh. I missed him this past week. A week that has felt like at least a month.
Thomas is doing so great and I can't help but know down to the very deepest crevices of my heart that all of our prayers were heard by the Father. He has healed so remarkably and his face and arms look better everyday. We are praying for no infections, as I'm the one now responsible for the dressing changes. And we are praying about the next steps in life. Do we stay in Chicago or move to Indy? We will hopefully be going to training for the mission organization "Avant" in January, and right now that's all we know. I keep having whispers of that passage in John (I think) that talks about the Spirit...how it is like the wind and we don't know where it came from or where it is going. That's kind of how I feel right now. We don't know where we'll be in a month, but right now that isn't really bothering me. All I know is that I'm so glad Thomas is alive and is my best friend and husband and the father of our three children. I'm so glad that we get to make more memories at parks, in the car driving...taking walks late at night or meandering at target, scanning the clearance racks for stuff we don't need. Gosh I love him.
Well, to all of you who are reading this, I pray that the Lord bless you and keep you (of course He wil!) and that His face will be caused to shine upon you.
I have to say that yesterday seemed like a miracle to me when I walked into the hospital room and found Thomas sitting up and eating, answering my questions in a non-lethargic way. The day before he was so sedated and while it was nothing compared to the paranoia and hallucinations that had occurred while taking Percocet the night before, it was sad to have the day go by without seeing Thomas smile or laugh. I missed him this past week. A week that has felt like at least a month.
Thomas is doing so great and I can't help but know down to the very deepest crevices of my heart that all of our prayers were heard by the Father. He has healed so remarkably and his face and arms look better everyday. We are praying for no infections, as I'm the one now responsible for the dressing changes. And we are praying about the next steps in life. Do we stay in Chicago or move to Indy? We will hopefully be going to training for the mission organization "Avant" in January, and right now that's all we know. I keep having whispers of that passage in John (I think) that talks about the Spirit...how it is like the wind and we don't know where it came from or where it is going. That's kind of how I feel right now. We don't know where we'll be in a month, but right now that isn't really bothering me. All I know is that I'm so glad Thomas is alive and is my best friend and husband and the father of our three children. I'm so glad that we get to make more memories at parks, in the car driving...taking walks late at night or meandering at target, scanning the clearance racks for stuff we don't need. Gosh I love him.
Well, to all of you who are reading this, I pray that the Lord bless you and keep you (of course He wil!) and that His face will be caused to shine upon you.
Oct 25, 2007
Day nine...
I'm at home right now...just woke up from a nap and am about ready to go back to the hospital. Thomas has been depressed today. I think it is the pain mediciine, but it really has him sedated and feeling sad. It was not easy to leave him there. I'm just ready for this all to be over. There's so much to be grateful for and I guess I need to thank about those things. Thomas' arms are looking better and better and his face...you wouldn't even know that this only happened a week ago. It looks great. Hope you all are doing well. Thanks for all you are doing.
Oct 24, 2007
Not-so-yucky day
Hey friends...
i'm sitting here with ezra cash, missing my other babies like crazy but knowing that my mom and dad's house is a much better place for them this week. I feel so out of sorts without a thousand and one things to do....without three little people screaming in my two ears... Elias missed his first field trip today. He'll miss his first picture day tomorrow. Everyone keeps saying "It's just preschool." But it still makes me sad. He was loving it. I know that God is sovereign, even in dealing with how this all affects our kids. They had been begging to go to "momaw and papa's house" for a long time.
Today was bittersweet day, as it started chaotic with a frantic phonecall from Thomas, needing me there right away. But when I got there, he was asleep and I had time to read Scripture and pray. We had a visitor...a friend of a friend, who brought peace with him. "Blessed are the peacemakers....for they shall see God" (I am hoping that I'm not butchering that beatitute). He was a peacemaker, and stood between the gap of the medical realm and the fear and pain of having someone you love hurt.
Thomas is now on the right pain medicine and looks so much better today! His face is almost back to normal. His hands and arms are still in a lot of pain, but are healing great. I know God has heard all of our prayers. When I think about what could have been...I'm amazed.
I'll be putting up some pics later tonight...that is, if i have time.
Love,
Cristi
i'm sitting here with ezra cash, missing my other babies like crazy but knowing that my mom and dad's house is a much better place for them this week. I feel so out of sorts without a thousand and one things to do....without three little people screaming in my two ears... Elias missed his first field trip today. He'll miss his first picture day tomorrow. Everyone keeps saying "It's just preschool." But it still makes me sad. He was loving it. I know that God is sovereign, even in dealing with how this all affects our kids. They had been begging to go to "momaw and papa's house" for a long time.
Today was bittersweet day, as it started chaotic with a frantic phonecall from Thomas, needing me there right away. But when I got there, he was asleep and I had time to read Scripture and pray. We had a visitor...a friend of a friend, who brought peace with him. "Blessed are the peacemakers....for they shall see God" (I am hoping that I'm not butchering that beatitute). He was a peacemaker, and stood between the gap of the medical realm and the fear and pain of having someone you love hurt.
Thomas is now on the right pain medicine and looks so much better today! His face is almost back to normal. His hands and arms are still in a lot of pain, but are healing great. I know God has heard all of our prayers. When I think about what could have been...I'm amazed.
I'll be putting up some pics later tonight...that is, if i have time.
Love,
Cristi
Yucky day...
Hey friends. Today was a bad day for Thomas, as they took him off the drip and tried some pain meds that weren't working well for him mentally. I am laying in bed at 12:30 a.m. after a long day at the hospital. I'll get up early and start all over. Tomorrow our friend Aaron's Doctor friend will come to the hospital and perhaps be our advocate. Cook County Hosptial is not known to be the friendliest of places nor is it the best managed. Therefore, we have had our trials when it comes to getting straight answers about Thomas' healing process, pain stabilization and so on. We need prayer. I feel beat up, but that is nothing in comparison to what Thomas is going through. Please pray for him to have a compassionate nurse tomorrow and that we will find the right meds to manage his pain. Please pray that we will get real answers and that God's peace will surround us, specifically Thomas, as he sleeps. Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers.
Oct 22, 2007
Thomas' Accident- Update 1
Welcome to Thomas and Cristi's Blog-
As a favor to Thomas and Cristi, and as a way to update you all regarding Thomas' accident, we his friends have put up a blog to inform you on his progress, as well as on some ways you may support the McEwens through this difficult time. Please feel free to leave encouraging messages, prayers and notes. Also, if you are able, another great way to help the family is through financial support. To make donations, use the PayPal link on this site. Please continue to pray for Thomas as he is in a lot of pain and pray for the McEwen family through this part of their journey.
Below is Cristi's first update.
-----------------------------------------------
Dear Friends and Family,
Some of you may not know, but Thomas was in an accident at the building where we live last Wednesday. He is the maintenence person here and was lighting the furnace/boiler and the flame mixed with old gases in the boiler, causing an explosion or a "flash fire" in his face and on his arms. By God's grace, he shielded his eyes and he can still see just fine. It was a very traumatic scene, as he quickly shut the gas off, managed to let himself out of two doors with burning hands (he was NOT on fire, praise God). I had just gotten home and had seen him about two minutes prior to hearing the screaming. I thought it was school-kids across the street at first, but soon understood it was my husband in a lot pain. I ran out to him, saw his arms, hands, face, and hair and understood what was happening. He was in so much pain. Soon after, many people called 911 and the ambulance was pretty quick in responding. We live in a Christian community, and so about half of the building was out on the sidewalk praying for him while we waited for the ambulance and I heard stories of people praying all day and night together after he left.
Upon arriving at the trauma unit at the Cook County Hospital, and after a lot of pain med injections, we got a report from the Burn Doctor saying that she thought he was going to be "just fine." I questioned what "just fine" meant (alive, minor scarring, major scarring, skin grafts???) She said, "He probably won't even scar." We all in the room felt as if we had witnessed a miracle, for if you saw him when it happened, skin hanging from his body, hair and beard charred beyond belief, skin pussing and bleeding... I really believe that Jesus heard all the prayers and answered them. A wave of relief washed over me, for at this point I was just thankful that he was alive and breathing well. I kept telling him it didn't matter what happened, that we were in it together. God's supernatural peace came over me even when it first happened, and I kept thinking "in sickness and in health..." So to hear that his face wasn't going to even be affected when it was all said and done, I couldn't believe it.
As for now, Thomas is in a lot of pain. He's on a morphine drip and so it's helping a ton. This morning he was crying because he woke up in pain, having not pressed his drip through the night. But all in all, his spirits are high and his attitude amazing. He is talking with visitors and nurses and is communicating how grateful he is for all of the help and prayers we have received. He keeps saying that He feels so close to Jesus, like God has been right there with Him, talking to Him in the midst of the pain. He has made so much progress since Wednesday and they might even release him this week. His hands and arms will take the most time healing and so we would love your continued prayer. We are unsure as to what the next step will look like, but we may be moving to Indianapolis to my parents' house for a couple of months, until we can be more functional. As most of you know, we live in a tiny apartment up three flights of stairs in the city of Chicago. While we LOVE city life, I don't know how well this situation will mesh with our living situation, given that we also have three small children who are very needy 24/7. So please pray as we make those decisions.
Your phone calls, e-mails, visits, prayers, meals, talks, kind words, help with kids, and comforting presence are invaluabe to our family. We will forever remember this milestone in our journey as a family and how the Body of Christ responded so amazing to our obvious needs. We are humbled and feel so loved. Thank You for your continued support.
Love you all,
Cristi
As a favor to Thomas and Cristi, and as a way to update you all regarding Thomas' accident, we his friends have put up a blog to inform you on his progress, as well as on some ways you may support the McEwens through this difficult time. Please feel free to leave encouraging messages, prayers and notes. Also, if you are able, another great way to help the family is through financial support. To make donations, use the PayPal link on this site. Please continue to pray for Thomas as he is in a lot of pain and pray for the McEwen family through this part of their journey.
Below is Cristi's first update.
-----------------------------------------------
Dear Friends and Family,
Some of you may not know, but Thomas was in an accident at the building where we live last Wednesday. He is the maintenence person here and was lighting the furnace/boiler and the flame mixed with old gases in the boiler, causing an explosion or a "flash fire" in his face and on his arms. By God's grace, he shielded his eyes and he can still see just fine. It was a very traumatic scene, as he quickly shut the gas off, managed to let himself out of two doors with burning hands (he was NOT on fire, praise God). I had just gotten home and had seen him about two minutes prior to hearing the screaming. I thought it was school-kids across the street at first, but soon understood it was my husband in a lot pain. I ran out to him, saw his arms, hands, face, and hair and understood what was happening. He was in so much pain. Soon after, many people called 911 and the ambulance was pretty quick in responding. We live in a Christian community, and so about half of the building was out on the sidewalk praying for him while we waited for the ambulance and I heard stories of people praying all day and night together after he left.
Upon arriving at the trauma unit at the Cook County Hospital, and after a lot of pain med injections, we got a report from the Burn Doctor saying that she thought he was going to be "just fine." I questioned what "just fine" meant (alive, minor scarring, major scarring, skin grafts???) She said, "He probably won't even scar." We all in the room felt as if we had witnessed a miracle, for if you saw him when it happened, skin hanging from his body, hair and beard charred beyond belief, skin pussing and bleeding... I really believe that Jesus heard all the prayers and answered them. A wave of relief washed over me, for at this point I was just thankful that he was alive and breathing well. I kept telling him it didn't matter what happened, that we were in it together. God's supernatural peace came over me even when it first happened, and I kept thinking "in sickness and in health..." So to hear that his face wasn't going to even be affected when it was all said and done, I couldn't believe it.
As for now, Thomas is in a lot of pain. He's on a morphine drip and so it's helping a ton. This morning he was crying because he woke up in pain, having not pressed his drip through the night. But all in all, his spirits are high and his attitude amazing. He is talking with visitors and nurses and is communicating how grateful he is for all of the help and prayers we have received. He keeps saying that He feels so close to Jesus, like God has been right there with Him, talking to Him in the midst of the pain. He has made so much progress since Wednesday and they might even release him this week. His hands and arms will take the most time healing and so we would love your continued prayer. We are unsure as to what the next step will look like, but we may be moving to Indianapolis to my parents' house for a couple of months, until we can be more functional. As most of you know, we live in a tiny apartment up three flights of stairs in the city of Chicago. While we LOVE city life, I don't know how well this situation will mesh with our living situation, given that we also have three small children who are very needy 24/7. So please pray as we make those decisions.
Your phone calls, e-mails, visits, prayers, meals, talks, kind words, help with kids, and comforting presence are invaluabe to our family. We will forever remember this milestone in our journey as a family and how the Body of Christ responded so amazing to our obvious needs. We are humbled and feel so loved. Thank You for your continued support.
Love you all,
Cristi