Symanzik Family Update

I really enjoy the writings of Brennan Manning. He is the author of "Abba's Child" and numerous other books. One book of his is a daily devotional called "Reflections for Ragamuffins." I share this reflection with you all -

The Decision to Care

Our natural repugnance and ingrained resistance to the inconvenient, unpleasant, and often messy business of compassionate caring is well illustrated by a story told at a recent AA meeting: A construction worker stopped after work for a few beers at the local watering hole and got home just in time for dinner. His little daughter, who had peanut butter and jelly all over her face as well as a deposit in her pants, rushed into his arms. To say that he was "taken aback" would not accurately describe his emotional state. Wheeling around to his wife, he muttered, "How the heck do you love something that smells like this?" Calmly she replied, "In the same way I love a husband who comes home stinking drunk...You work at it."

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast
it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily
angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Hi,

Thanks for praying for me.
I am feeling better since surgery.
Before I went to surgery my Mom sang to me my favourite hymn, "Jesus Loves Me This I Know." Then my Daddy went with me to the pre-op area.

I am smiling more and starting to chew on things.
I chewed the IV tubing apart and Mom and the nurses weren't so happy about that. They wrapped my arm in a towel so I can't get to the IV now.

Me trying to chew on my IV tubing before they wrapped it up
in a towel.

I don't like to move my left hand. The doctor wants me to start physical therapy again so I will on Friday.
The doctor said I might be able to go home tomorrow! YEAH!

I have asthma so here I am getting a breathing treatment.

Keep praying for me and my family. The nurses all tell me I'm "lucky" to have the parents I do. I don't know about the luck thing, I just know that Jesus loves me and I thank God for blessing me the way He has.

Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Jerard had surgery today at 1p for installation of a shunt in his right ventricle. He came through the surgery fine. Kurt went to be with him in the post-op around 4 and they came to the room around 6p.
He is resting well now.
Thanks for praying for him.

We received the biopsy slide report from St. Luke's Hospital in Manila.
Two doctors up there reviewed the slides and concurred there was no malignancy! Praise God!
I will just need to have another mammogram in October.

Jerard had a CT scan of his head today and was admitted to Davao Docs Hospital in preparation for surgery on Monday.