SUNDAY JULY 31

Had a call a few minutes ago, it was Marvin! I was so shocked could hardly answer but sure was good to hear his voice strong and clear. He just wanted to thank me and all of you for helping him make such progress in his time of need. Lets see what I can remember of our conversation. First he went to Church today and took his first nurishment by mouth. It was Communion ( can't think of a better way to start eating again). Second he has more movement in his wrist and more strength in his legs. The swallow test folks are going to test him in the next week to see if he can go back on solid food by mouth. Cathy and Mandy are still with him and that is good. I asked if he needed anything and he said some nerf balls would be good as he needs slight resistance to build up his grip. Then I talked to Cathie and she sounded better than she has in over a month. I think they are getting settled in at Shepard's and while I know there are times when depression hits that is less each day. Cathie made a special point to haave me pass on to each of you how much your outpouring of love, support and prayers have meant to Marvin's progress. She also said that they spent about 40 minutes out in the lovely garden which is attached to Shepard. Marvin has always liked being outside and I know this did a lot for his spirit. I'll close for now but keep the support and prayers working as they do indeed make a real difference.

More good news

Marvin is out of isolation! He has a new roomate who only speaks spanish so he may learn a new language as well as how to move again! He had more movement in his wrist last night. He is also more cheerful and that is a great thank you to you your cards and your prayers. You prayed for healing on throat and breathing and we have both! God is so good. A wonderful new friend dropped by a basket of goodies to share with his visitors and Steve and Gail sent cantalopes with the best flavor to his room. He can't eat them yet but soon.. very soon, we hope.
God's Blessings to you
Cathie

Marvin's Journey to Shepherds

The ride to Shepherd's

Shepherd's Entrance

The nurses of Shepherds

The deadly game of Uno

UPDATE FOR JULY 26

Cathie called a little ago with all sorts of good news. First the pulmonary physicians at Shepard's have evaluated Marvin again and he has made such progress that he may be able to breathe without assistance in about a week. Second the staff that evaluates his progress on swallowing had similar good news as they seem to believe he will be back to taking nurishment by mouth in a week or so. Finally the insurance company has contacted Shepard's and changed their determination once again to double the time Marvin will have coverage.
Needless to say Cathie and Marvin are in much better spirits today. He is still in a private room as they clear up the infection he has had for some time. Cathie reminded me that she had asked everyone to pray for two things, that he could breathe better and be able to take nurishment by mouth. Out prayers have definetly been heard and she wants to thank everyone who helped get this message through. While Marvin is not out the woods yet he is on the path and has need for our continued prayers. More later.

Room 318

Marvin has been moved to a spectacular room, overlooking Shepherds garden. The room is a single, and Cathie will be staying with him while he is here for a few days.

The move is a result of a recently discovered bacterial infection that Marvin has. This infection has been the cause of his weakness and diarrhea.

In other news, Marvin was able to move and push back with his wrist, as well as sowing continued strength in his legs.

We ask for continued prayers for both Marvin and Cathie as they battle this new infection and the daily struggles of Marvin's recovery.

Sunday Update

As you may know Marivn has be assited by a feeding tube becuase they had found that he was asparting food particulates (breathing his food :)

When I talked to him, he said he had no complaints about what he was eating here at the hospital, and has in fact gained 7 lbs.

No surprise the Shepherds is much less frightening than the ICU, which was the most difficult time for Marvin and everyone around him. Here it is aparent that were on a direct path to recovery and health.

Marvin was able to go outside yesterday, which would have lasted longer if ti had not been during this heat wave.

Please pray for his breathing, swallowing and movement in his hands.

Kristin + Michael

UPDATE SATURDAY MORNING JULY 23

Spoke to Cathie on the way out door . She said that Marvin now has the feeding tube and the operation went well. He is resting in bed this morning and that they both really enjoyed our posts to the blog last evening. She stayed late and that is why I could not get her on the cell phone. Lets keep the prayers and encouragement coming as they work. More later as I learn more.

JULY 21 afternoon

Dearest friends
Marvin was able to move his legs and feet today with more range than before. When leaned forward in his chair he was able to pull himself back. It was a wonderful thing to see him smile. The first one in two days. The feeding tube will be inserted tomorrow and we have decided to view it as one more way for him to let his throat heal and help with his nausea. I spent a long time in the chapel today and God is working with me. Thank you for the cards and continued prayers.
Cathie

UPDATE FOR JULY 21

Cathie and I just talked and she is really depressed this morning. Marvin got the results of his swallow test back and while he can take some fluid, apparently the mechanism that keeps fluid from going down the wind pipe is not working well so they are taking him off all nurishment by mouth. The Physicans have stated that they will put in the stomach tube (PEG) either today or tomorrow so he can get proper nurishment. Marvin is still working hard at Pt and Ot each day but Cathie says that he is also depressed from these setbacks. As if that was not enough the health insurance company ( CIGNA) which had told them they would cover Marvin for three months at Shepard is now saying they will pay for only 30 days. I told Cathie she needs to get herself and Marvin a lawyer who specializes in dealing with Health insurance. Wish I had more positive thoughts to pass on this morning but I don't. Keep the cards and prayers coming as they will make a difference. If I hear more will send it to you.

UPDATE FOR JULY 20

Talked to Cathie just now and got the latest on Marvin. He had a very strenous day yesterday in Thearpy and Cathie said that the Physical Thearpy staff pointed out to her that even if can not yet move his arms he is making the muscles in his arms contract. The down side of all this effort on building up his muscles is that he suffered from plain old leg cramps last night and did not get much sleep. He is continuing to eat a little more each day but that has brought on a little nausea ( Cathie and Mandy got him a milkshake while out yesterday and he drank a little). He also had a little temperature last evening ( degree or two)but this the staff took care of. Marvin is starting to meet the staff and other patients and that is a positive sign in my book. Cathie says that Marvin has reached that stage of recovery where he has periods of depression ( over the slowness of his progress) but that the staff and patients are all helping him get through that. He finally received my mail yesterday that I mailed Friday so it may take a few days but keep the cards coming and of course the prayers. If anyone happens to be going to Atlanta, look on the link for Shepard Center on the side of the blog and there you will find directions on how to get to Shepard. It is only about one mile off I-85 not far from downtown Atlanta. Best time for a "short" visit is between 4:30 and 8:30 PM during the week. Will close for now and hope this helps keep everyone up to date.

UPDATE FOR TUESDAY JULY 19

I just spoke to Cathie by telephone and will relay what she said about Marvin's progress. First he is doing better. He went to physical thearpy yesterday and is back in therpy as I write this. Mandy is still in charge of getting him to eat more solf food each day and he is still getting the TPN nurishment through the IV. The hospital chaplin has been by a couple of times and does a good job at encouraging Marvin to keep a positive attitude. He puts great hope in the power of a good attitude and prayer in positively affecting the rehabilitation. The Doctors are still more cautious in their assessment but that is to be expected. Marvin has a new chair with even more automated functions and I wish I had a picture to send of him in it but do not. Apparently this chair will allow him to move about and also raise and lower himself. Better watch out or Marvin will be making rounds with the Medical Staff. Keep the prayers coming and also the cards of encouragement will be most appreciated and useful. It does take a few days to get mail delivered as I found out that the mail I sent on Friday has not yet arrived (maybe today). Finally Cathie seemed in better spirits than I have found her in several days, as Marvin does better so does Cathie. Oh couse having both Children there has been a great help too. More later

UPDATE FOR JULY 18 FROM CATHIE

Cathie just emailed me an update and am passing it along.
Dear friends. We had a meeting with one doctor today that was not the most uplifting. Trey and Amanda and I feel that there is more than we were given hope for with this DR. He has some movement in his legs and he is upstairs working his liitle body so hard in rehab. o much is possible with a positive spirit. The chaplain is one who feels that energy work and asking for God's help in healing is most important. We feel that he will be a good resource for us and Marvin. Trey is trying to work with his computer while here and Amanda has kept my spirits up. He can swalow better and we hope eat more solid food and a few days. He puffs on a machine with a straw to get the nurses when he needs help. Such devices will help him move his motorized wheelchair also.I want to go back upstairs and see how his PT went.Love to you and thank you for your prayers.Cathie

Sunday Evening Post

Cathie just called and I am relating what she said. Marvin had a rough night with some temperature. However today the fever came back down. Marvin had hoped to get back in the wheelchair today but he was just not well enough. However he did get to go to Church. The nurses just rolled his bed down to the service and Cathie said that he has been getting better ever since. It must have been something to have the preacher, the medical staff and even the other patients all praying for Marvin's recovery. On the positive side he is eating more each day and that is very good. Cathie was tired so kept it short and said would post this tonight.

SATURDAY JULY16 UPDATE

Just spoke to Cathie this morning and she relayed that Marvin is doing better than my last post. He slept through the night, has regained movement in his wrist, and some muscle control of his upper arm. They hope to be able to get him back in the chair today and Mandy was feeding him lunch while we talked by telephone. Cathie also seems to be better than yesterday and her spirits are brighter. As I told her I would put this news on the blog, she said that he enjoyed hearing from all of us but did not have room in the hospital for much more than cards. His mailing address is as follows: Dr. Marvin Murdaugh Room 302-A Shepard Center 2020Peachtree Road NW Atlanta GA30309. I told Cathie I would be glad to post messages to the Blog for her and she said that sounded great. Lets keep the prayers up they seem to be working.

Friday afternoon BREAKING NEWS

Marvin is not doing as well today as he was yesterday. He is having breathing problems and has had to get out of the chair and back in the hospital bed. Cathie relayed this to Kristen who asked that I pass it along. Mainly, we need to really keep our prayer lines open for Marvin's recovery. He is not out of the woods yet and both he and Cathie need our prayers. As we hear more this wonderful internet will allow us to keep you in the loop. It is my understanding that Mandy is going to Atlanta this evening to be with her parents and Trey is going to try to come tomorrow. Not sure how he is this afternoon but will probably get an update this evening. Bill Moore

MORE ON MY VISIT BY BILL (DUWILLY)

When I visited Marvin last evening he and I had a very nice half hour or so alone after Cathie left with the wonderful friend who she is staying with. I would have stayed longer but Marvin needed his rest so kept it short. He and I talked of many things, from how much he wished he could have seen the fireworks over the new bridge to wondering if his pet, Katie, was missing him as much as he missed her. I did get a chance to look at the schedule of his thearpy for today and he has about three hours of physical thearpy and three hours of occupational thearpy going on as we speak. That would tire me out and I'm not in the weakened condition that he is. But his spirit is still strong as I knew it would be and Cathie is a strong right arm(opps, left arm) for him to rely on. We talked about the miracles I had seen as I walked the halls of the Shepard Center and how they have the most wonderful staff reguardless of what they do. I wanted him to know that we were all still praying for him and while not always right at the bedside, we were only hours away if he needed anything. I'm still learning this blog thing so will stop for now and send my first true post. Bill Moore

From the mouth of Bill

I imagine for those of you who know Bill Moore, this will need no explanation. But for those of you who may not, Bill has known Marvin for a very long time and even has the pleasure of crediting Marvin for introducing him to his wife.

Here is what he had to say after visiting them at Shepard's:

"Just returned from visiting Marvin at Shepard this evening and was shocked to find him sitting up and eating. The chair he was in was equipped with a puffer tube to control the motion of the chair. He also had a puffer tube to call the Nurse. Marvin was exhausted from all he had done today but I watched him eat his first meal in three weeks. Not a lot but a start.
They are at a difficult place and need our prayers and positive support more now than even before." -Bill Moore

Night at Shepard's

It was a bit rough but the first night is over. He has a puffer tube so that he can blow into it for help. Such a tube is used for the phone and the TV. He is sleeping now and we hope for physical therapy sitting in a chair and a swallow study this afternoon. It is scary here without all of you to talk with and hug, but we will find support here soon and I hear that road trips are in the making from Chas. We have cried together and laughted together and with this hospital and your prayers, we hope to walk together!
Cathie and Marvin

OUR LOVE TO ALL

Shepard center

We have been welcomed by the staff and offered such help! I have a computer tech helping me with this message and he has installed a puff system for Marvin to change channels and dial the phone. He will sit in a wheel chair tomorrow and take a swallow test to see when he can have food. We are so hopeful and so is the staff here. He shares a ward with three others and we will meet them more later. Tomorrow we meet the doctors for a discussion of his injury and what he has back and what the prognosis is at this point. In a hour I will leave with Vicky Wilson who is Laura's stepmother and such a wonderful help on this trip. She and Laura's dad have offered me a place to stay until some housing opens here! God has provided so many wonderful people to help us and lift our spirits.
Thank you for your prayers
Cathie & Marvin

The Murdaugh's have Landed!

At around 12:15 Marvin and Cathie landed in Atlanta and are on there way to Sheppard's!

I'm flying with him!

At nine AM we will fly to Shepard Center in Atlanta and the real work will begin. Marvin hurt his shoulder in the fall so they will work with that ans whatever mobility they can coax from his arms. He is ready for this and working so hard with the PT staff that I cheer each time they work together. Bless you all for the prayers and letters. We will keep you up on progress as the miracle continues.
Cathie

Shepperd's by air

I am very pleased to tell you all that by this time tomorrow Marvin will be in Atlanta.

He is being flown to Shepperd's and he will be having the operation to get the feeding tube (PEG tube) there.

Please pray for safe travels for Marvin in the air and for his family members who will be traveling by car.

The Road to Atlanta (Update)

Marvin cannot go to Shepherds until Wednesday.

This means we will be holding off on the feeding tube operation till Thursday at the earliest.

Please pray for Marvin that God will give him the strength he needs in spite of the fact that his access to calories is limited.

The Road to Atlanta

Today will be filled with making transportation and other arrangements for the move to Shepherds. If all goes well, Marvin will be transported to Atlanta on Tuesday morning (12 July, 2005).
We ask for continued prayers for his recovery.

Good news!

Marvin's fever finally broke
Additionally he has a new healthy glow in large part because the NSICU staff have increased the number of calories he can ingest from his IV.

Unfortunately his surgery has been postponed due to concerns about his breathing. We will post more about the rescheduled surgery as more information becomes available

Marvin's amazing smiles.

Sorry there hasn't been any news in quite a while...

On Thursday, Cathie and Marvin worked quite a bit with the PT and they both were very pleased ecstatic with the outcome.

Stuff that's moving:

• Both of his hands have some finger movement
• He can raise his legs off the bed
  
• He can push his legs down after they are raised towards his chest

And the really big one:

• With his legs tucked in, he was able to raise his back side off the bed ever so slightly!

When Cathie was telling me this over the phone I could tell she was grinning from ear to ear. I am convinced that Marvin too, although exhausted by all the exercise, was flashing one of his amazing smiles.

It was a very good day.

He still has a fever lingering around 100 and the cultures the doctors took earlier in the week came back positive for Pneumonia. This is a real concern, so we ask for prayers for a break in the fever as well a quick response to the antibiotics.

I will post an update this evening or first thing in the morning with any news.

Sincerely,
Kristin {one of the Murdaugh's sudo-children}

Welcome to Marvin's blog

Hello dear friends and family -

We have decided to set up this "blog" in order to keep everyone up to date on Marvin's progress. First of all, thank you all SO much for your kind words, prayers, and help. It has meant so much to us. God has sent us angels through you with your visits, your calls and cards, and your prayers.

To fill you all in on what has been going on, after being moved off the ICU floor, Marvin had a very bad night and is now back in the ICU. He has had difficulty with fluid in his lungs, infection, and he is very weak because he isn't able to swallow and get the calories he vitally needs to get stronger and recuperate. (Supposedly, this is somewhat common because the plate that is in his neck gets in the way of swallowing). This has been taking a toll on Marvin not just physically, but mentally as well, which is to be expected - we are constantly cheering him on because he's fighting so hard.

In a time that has been looking pretty bleak, today Marvin had movement in his right hand which up to this point has shown no signs of moving. We cheered and laughed and placed your cards all around his room in the ICU. We still request your prayers to help him with his swallowing. In addition, he is having surgery tomorrow to insert a feeding tube to help him get more calories. Please keep us in your prayers so that the lung infection goes away and he gets through the surgery without further complication.

We are looking at 2 rehab centers - Shepherd's Center in Atlanta and the VA Spinal Injury Unit in Augusta. Both come highly recommended by the team of doctors, and at this point we are not sure of where or when he will be transported for rehabilitation.

Thank you all again so much for helping our family get through this and for keeping us in your prayers.

Love,
The Murdaughs

Marvin can now move his toes & fingers.