We have had prayer requests from time to time for Jason Richards. His grandfather is GCI pastor Martin Manuel. Here is an update from Martin concerning Jason.
Jason is in the ICU at Seattle Children’s Hospital fighting pneumonia. His heart transplant has gone well over the past four months, but he has felt the effects of fairly minor complications: weakened respiration while his diaphragm recovers form surgical injury and weight loss due to poor appetite; otherwise, his recovery has been remarkable. Now his doctors are trying to treat pneumonia that has set in over the past few days and have him under oxygen support to restore his lungs to normal function. They plan to reinsert the NG tube so that he can receive nourishment and start to regain weight.
As many of you know, Jason and his family have gone through difficult days over the past two years. Through it all, our Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit have held them, carried them, comforted them, and provided repeated healing and recovery. Please pray for them and for us too as his grandparents—in our frailty, we struggle with complete trust and we stress easily. Over and over, we have witnessed the grace and glory of God; praise him!
May God, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, continue to strengthen you and your family during this difficult time – and that Jason will continue to get better with the arrival of each new day and regain his strength and appetite soon.
In Christian Love
Grace Covenant Fellowship
Alabama
Here is a further update from Martin on Jason’s condition:
Jason’s doctors have placed him on a ventilator for breathing and sedated him while they continue to search for the cause of the lung infection. Identification of the cause, whether bacteria, virus, or fungus is essential to treatment. We appreciate your prayers and know that they are heard not by one far off but intimately close to Jason and his family.
we pray for jason and all the family that we hold fast to the promise that jesus christ will not forsake us let us keep the faith.
PRAISE GOD AND THANK HIM FOR YOUR ENCOURAGING WORDS AS WE ALL KNOW IN OUR HUMAN FRAILITIES, WE NEED TO STRENGTHENED OFTEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. IT IS NOT ABOUT FAITH, IT IS ABOUT BEING HUMAN. THANKS FOR YOUR TRANSPARANCY. AS YOU SEEMED TO DO AS DAVID DID AND ENCOURAGE YOURSELVES ON THIS JOURNEY. WE WILL JOIN YOUR PRAYERS FOR JASON AND HIS FAMILY. WE ARE GOING THROUGH SIMILAR TRIALS RIGHT NOW AND LIKE YOU, CONTINUE TO SEE THE ALMIGHTY HAND OF THE LORD ON OUR LIVES AND THE LIFE OF THE ONES DEALING WITH THE HEALTH ISSUES. IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL TIME TO REASSESS OUR KNOWING HOW TO OWN THE SCRIPTURES GOD HAS PLACED IN OUR LIVES FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS. WE KNOW THAT IT IS BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED AND THANK GOD FOR THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONS WHO ARE GIFTED BY GOD. AND WE THANK HIM FOR THE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY HE HAS GIVEN TO US THROUGH HIS MERCY AND GRACE. WE CONTINUE TO LOOK FORWARD TO REV 21:4. UNTIL THEN, WE PRAY FOR GOD TO BLANKET YOU IN HIS LOVE AND HOLD YOU CLOSE.
Manuels and Richards’, thank you for drawing us into yours and the Father in heaven’s deep and abiding love for Jason. Praying for the Lord’s presence with him and his loving touch and the result of that wonderful relationship.
Dear Family….Your family’s love for Jason and each other during this ordeal has been a constant source of inspiration and appreciation for us all…you are always there for each other with support, prayers and the love of God…Your example is a precious example of how we are to love each other in the family of God…I know that God is with Jason through you all and he is already included in the ultimate healing we all will experience in Christ…thank you so much for letting us share in your great care for Jason…Haz