[Epley Update] April 26, 2006

[Russ and Flossie Epley]

What an amazing day today was! At soon as I arrived at Russ' side he 
reached for me pulling my face close to his, took off the nebulizer 
that covered his mouth and said to me, "Hi." Then he grinned from ear 
to ear. That was the first word he has said to me in four weeks! It 
wasn't a clear voice but definitely discernible. Over the afternoon and 
evening he tried to say various words. I could clearly understand the 
word  "no" and he repeated the word "hi." What a tremendous answer to 
prayer. I was hoping for a sound and he said a word!

The tube going from his nostril to his stomach had been removed giving 
him the opportunity to try speaking. He had a little dead skin flap on 
his upper lip which he worked his tongue to remove which means he still 
has good tongue action. He is very motivated to try talking.

It was as if Russ had waited all day to show off what he could do. As 
soon as I settled down from the excitement of his being able to say 
"hi", he pulled out his hand and tried signing the sign language 
alphabet. I was teaching him the letters when I decided to hesitate a 
bit before showing him the next letter. A few times he was able to sign 
the letter without prompting which means he is remembering things from 
before his stroke! By the end of the day he could sign the whole 
alphabet with very little prompting. One time I was really getting 
tired and asked him if he was tired. He nodded that he was so I 
encouraged him to take a nap. After going to get a drink I was sitting 
nearby when I looked over and saw his hand up in the air practicing the 
alphabet. He just won't give up!

The nurse told me that the battery on his shaver was dead. I asked if 
they could recharge it and they showed me that I had brought an adapter 
rather than the recharger. (The fact that our son Joel is majoring in 
electrical engineering has everything to do with who his father is and 
nothing to do with who his mother is. : >) Then I realized that the 
last two days when Russ was pointing to the drawer and wanting his 
shaver he was trying to get me to realize I needed to get the 
recharger. Today when I asked him if that's what he had been trying to 
communicate, he nodded his head. Another communication victory!

Russ' fever was totally gone today even in the afternoon when it has 
traditionally gone up.

Russ and I enjoyed having our devotions together in Philippians 3 and 
singing several hymns of praise. Russ has always been a good listener 
and hasn't lost that ability. When I prayed aloud I mentioned that I 
thought Russ would say such and such. Russ smiled in assent.

I have been working mornings at Christian Academy and then heading over 
to the hospital for the afternoon and evening. When I arrive home I 
write my daily report and fall into bed exhausted but delighted with 
God's never-ending grace and strength. Tomorrow rather than going 
straight to school I plan to start my day with a Bible study with Yuki 
Usui. That is always such a joy.

Another special joy to me is that Talitha Hansen (Christie's sign 
language interpreter her senior year of high school) is planning to 
come to Japan May 22 to help me out in my office at school and here at 
home. I appreciate God's gracious provision in Taly.

Thank you for your prayers!
Flossie Epley