We just wanted to give an update on Ben as we just received more news from my parents. Thank you so much for your prayers and concern for him. It really seems to be a miracle that he came out of the coma after just a few hours. Most peple who get this kind of menegitis are comatose for several days or weeks and suffer long-term debilitating effects. He seems to have been spared all of that. He is still weak and in the hospital but seems stable now. My parents arrived safely to Kijabe, Kenya and are with Ben. The school term ended Friday at RVA so all the other students have left. The doctors seem to think he is progressing well and are awaiting a test result to see how long of IV antibiotic course is required (one to two weeks) as they try to identify the particular strain of bacterial menengitis. They are also trying to determine exactly how the infection was aquired. He is contagious for another 24 hours so they have had to wear masks when around him. They may release him to recover in a more comfortable setting (in the home closeby where my parents are staying) in a day or so if he continues his good progress, but obviously the IV treatment must continue. Pray for Ben's continued recovery from this and the knee surgery. Pray for his younger brother Steven who is disappointed to have to spend more than half of his month-long easter break at school instead of at home in Tanzania. He is usually only home from boarding school three months a year but his entire Christmas break was spent in the N. America for my sister's wedding so it has been over 6 months since he has been home.
In Christ, Jesse
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jesse and Joy Johnson <jesseandjoyj@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 26, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Subject: Jesse's brother Ben
To: jesseandjoyj@gmail.com
From: Jesse and Joy Johnson <jesseandjoyj@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 26, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Subject: Jesse's brother Ben
To: jesseandjoyj@gmail.com
Dear Friends and Family,
Jesse's brother Ben is in the hospital in Kenya with bacterial meningitis, probably as a complication from the spinal block used during a routine knee surgery. He is now coherent and responding (he was in a coma for a while) but is still in critical condition. Jesse's parents do not really have enough money to travel to Kenya, but are planning to borrow some to try to reach him by tomorrow night. For the moment his dorm parents are standing in. Please pray for healing and a full recovery for Ben-- he will need to be on IV antibiotics for 2 weeks at least. Also, please pray that the Lord will provide for Jesse's parents and that they will have safety in travel.
Thanks!
Joy
