from davey:
"Things continue to be good. I told Katie about the radio interview and how her story was being used to glorify God and she said "good". I continue to pray healing over her body on a regular basis, and we continue to see progress. At least 4 times today she has sat up and looked around, to which the nurses immediately get her a sedative to keep her laying resting.
She continues to try to talk, but can usually only get out a few words as a time. However, you can obviously see her mind at work, which is the important thing. I can't begin to say enough about the love and support that we have received from everyone here and abroad.
I honestly spend a good portion of my day looking at the blogsite for notes from you all. I am humbled and amazed at how compassionate and caring all of you are (got your card Mertz!).
I also can't say enough about our 2rc family. I have never been involved with a more caring and devoted group of people (no offense to other groups of people I have been involved with). "
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45 comments:
I just listened to the radio broadcast and was blessed beyond words by your your thoughts and words Davey. Both of you are an amazing testimony to the Lord, always were in the EBC days and I can tell you haven't changed one bit. =)
I remember you and Chad were the ones who 'recruited' me from Camp Horizon - now I consider myself truly blessed to be able to lift your families before the Lord.
We will continue to pray for Katie's progress. I shared your story and pictures with our girls today and now they pray for "Miss Katie" any chance they get. =)
Love and prayers, Bob and Kathy Kerwin, Uncasville, CT
I recieved an email regarding Katie on Friday from a friend of mine and have been glued to this blog ever since. I don't know Katie, however being a sister in Christ we will meet one day! We serve such an amazing God and I am completely confident that God will heal her! She will raise your children! I am in constant prayer for you family and complete healing for Katie. From Stephanie Collins in Clive
Davey, Meredith, Katie, and everyone involved: I'm a stranger to all of you but just read your blog and wanted to express my very best wishes to all of you for Katie's swift and total recovery. I join you in your prayers, and ask especially that God bless all of you with courage, strength, strong faith, and comfort during this awful time.
Becky W, originally from Des Moines, now in Minneapolis, found you through a friend's link on Facebook.
Hello Bloom Family! We are friends of the St. Louis Blooms and have been in a state of prayer for your family since Friday. Please know that there is quite a group here in Missouri that are praying for healing and are so blessed by the testimony of just how BIG God truly is! Thank you for sharing and being vulnerable!
The Moores
I was doing the mundane task of getting the mail today and thinking how unfair it was that the world just keeps moving forward as my friend Katie is working so hard to recover...when out of the mail box there was her face shining up at me from a CB Realestate flyer!! Reminding me how far she has come already and how fast!!
I am just her client but she has a way of becoming your friend and touching your life, none the less!
Prayers to all involved!
Lisa
Davey, we have been in a state of prayer since Friday morning, and have been/are being blessed to be reminded what a Mighty God we serve.
I've also been reminded of the many ways that you and Katie both have been a blessing in my life. Though I haven't seen you in far too long, you both are a precious part of my life. Along with praying for complete healing for Katie, we're praying for you, the children, your families, etc. So glad to know you are surrounded with love and care, and are in the hands of our loving Father.
Love,
Laurel (for Jonathan, I, and the Blessings) Smith; living in St. Clair MO, but still Kansans at heart
Davey, many prayers are going up from Hendersonville, North Carolina. We haven't seen you in years... but it seems like just yesterday we were serving together at KBC. Thank you for taking the time to update the blog. We check it several times a day to find out how we can pray more specifically.
God bless the 5 of you.
Eric and Rebekah Byrd
(Ethan, Isaiah, Abigail, & Chloe)
Thank you Davey for sharing your heart! I have been gripped by Katie's story since early Friday and it is truly amazing to hear how God is working. Your faith and trust in our Father is such an encouragement. I went to Emmaus with Kyle and am praying for each of you!
Katy Rinehart Anderson
I have to say that I have literally thought about your wife Katie and your family all day. I am in continual prayer for her total restoration and healing of her brain. Every time I've gotten in my car today I've put on one of my favorite worship songs that I like to listen too. I couldn't help but think of Katie and how it applies to this situation. I wanted to share it with you. I truly believe that God was speaking to me about her and that He is going to use this for his glory and as a testimony to all...even in other parts of the world. Here are the words from the chorus and bridge:
"Savior, He can move the mountains, my God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save. Forever author of salvation, he rose and conquered the grave, Jesus conquered the grave.....
Shine your light and let the whole world see,singing for the Glory of the Risen King..Jesus.. Shine your light and let the whole world see, singing for the Glory of the Risen King." (Hillsong Live Mighty to Save CD)
As I listened to this I prayed, I felt the Holy Spirit and had faith that he will save/heal her completely. If he can move mountains, and if he conquered the grave, then he can for sure heal Katie. I couldn't help but smile every time the bridge came on...I envisioned right now this spot light on your wife/this situation, but it's not just a spot light...it's light from Heaven..from Jesus and right now there are lots of people watching, waiting to see how this is all going to play out and I smile because I have faith that God is going to heal her and he will get the Glory. He's using this situation and good is going to come out of it.
I'm sorry this was a little lengthy. I know I don't know you guys personally, but I am 100% backing you in prayer. I know people at 2RC and I actually went there for a while years back. I look forward to hearing the good news of the day you get to walk her out of that hospital. Keep strong and let the Lord be the lifter of you head in times of weakness.
"The Lord Your God is with YOU, He is mighty to Save." Zephaniah 3:17
Just wanted you to know a couple more churches have joined in the prayer team for Katie. Mom sang at a small Baptist church near grandview last night and at part of the concert she asked that the congregation lift up Katie in prayer as well as her home church, Westchester E Free is committed in prayer.
Your love and commitment for Christ is touching so many lives and it's amazing to see God's healing hands in action.
-Cheryl Voss
We are praying for you and are thrilled to be watching this modern day miracle unfolding right before our eyes. Our faith is growing through this trial. We continue to pray and will watch with faith for full healing.
David and Grace Keith
Dubuque, IA
Just wanted to let you all know that we've been praying since friday for you. I'm sure you've heard, but the prayer service on Sunday for Katie was very incredible. We left feeling confident and hopeful in God's promises and truths. We KNOW that Katie shall be healed...praise God! We love you all so much and can't wait to be together again.
Cort and Melissa Brown
Davey, we are praying for yall, Im blown away at the number of people all over the country who are praying for Katie, you and your children..Yall are truely Loved
Lynn,Lori,Curtis,Kristen,Alik..Smith
Bloom Family,
We received a prayer request from our small group leader, who works at John Deere and had heard about Katie from a co-worker. My heart was so heavy, but as I read the updates and how full of faith and hope you are, I am just EXCITED to see what God is doing and is going to do. I am home raising my kids now, but I have worked in the past with people in a rehabilitation setting (even right there at Methodist/Younker) that have had similar brain injuries; I've seen some MIRACULOUS recoveries, and God is a BIG BIG God. Just wanted you to know of other 'strangers' praying...I've forwarded Katie's story to praying friends in at least 3-4 other states too.
Praying for you and your family LOTS,
Beth in West Des Moines
Dave, Katie, and fam: we are continuing to praise God for what He has done so far, and trust in His continued strength for what is ahead.
--Alan & Lauren Crim and fam
I've been praying for you all since Friday AM. I have to confess to feeling pretty hopeless & wondering how this could possibly be reversed when I first was asked to pray. But I was obedient in petitioning the Lord and am humbled to watch His power at work. I have such hope for Katie's full recovery! I will continue to hold your family up in prayer.
Sylwinn T. from St Louis
We are so encouraged and praise God for the progress Katie has shown! Thank you for keeping regular updates on how she is doing.
We firmly believe that the Lord has a special plan for Katie, and that this is only the beginning...God called her out at a church service a few months ago, and we KNOW that he has a special annointing on her life. He is going to use her life to spread the word of his Kingdom and she is going to touch many lives in years to come! We BELIEVE in complete, total healing!
"For he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." - Psalm 91:14-16
Chad and Ashley Ireland
We are praying for you all as you walk along this journey God has called you to. What a testimony you are of the Lord's faithfulness & sovereignty! May you continue to find encouragement and peace as our Heavenly Father continues to reveal Himself & HIS plan for your lives, even in this situation so beyond our comprehension.
Leaving you in HIS Grip,
Patrick & Denise (Mullins) Denney, Battle Creek, MI
We are adding our Amen to the prayers we've read about here. We are thankful to the Lord we can do this work on behalf of you and your extended family we know and love so much.
Fred and Sue Scott...
former Muscatine dwellers,
in-laws of Nate Douglas,
parents of Naomi Scott Keyser
Davey thank you so much for sharing this journey with us. You, Katie, all of your little blessings and your whole family are continuously in my thoughts and prayers, even in my sleep. I pray that the Lord will continue to lift you up in His arms and give you strength, hope and endurance. I also pray that He will completely heal Katie.
You may not remember me but I will never forget how kind both of you were during my Emmaus year. You have always been such a wonderful example of Christ...always an encouragement to others.
Katie Zylstra Graham
Hey Davey,
Caroline and I as well as our church family are praying and fasting for the complete recovery of Katie.
Continue to lean on the Lord in faith my brother. We look forward to see how God will glorify His name through all of this.
Tim, Caroline and Afton Newcome
Katie helped me buy our home while my husband was in Iraq and I cannot begin to express the how wonderful she was. She kept saying she wanted to take my son home to play with her girls.
When I heard a familiar name on the radio this afternoon, I stopped, trying to remember why t sounded like someone I knew. As I was putting the milk away at lunch, Katie's magnet stared at me and I realized why the name sounded familiar.
Your family will be in my prayers and I hope Katie get well soon. She is a fantastic person!
Hello,
Keep the Faith! We did and this is what happened. My sister was in a terrible car accident two and a half years ago. She is the mother of four children. She was driving and was T-boned. The impact was so hard that it broke her seat belt and ejected her forty feet beyond and out the passenger side window where she landed on her head. The doctor's said that they could see nothing but, blood inside her skull and there was nothing they could do.
She was in the process of getting a divorce at the time. The doctor's said that she would be a complete vegetable and that we should take her off life support. She had three sisters, a brother and mother by her side that prayed. Her husband wanted her taken off life support as she had a sizeable insurance policy. We prayed and interviened. The doctor's told us she wouldn't be able to live and took her off the breathing machine. We prayed. She started breahting on her own..still in a coma. For six weeks she was in a total coma. We prayed and thanked GOD. She opened her eyes. She could not talk but, we saw in her eyes that she knew us. We prayed and thanked GOD for every miracle he gave us no matter how smaill.
This continued on for a year. She was in a semi coma. She was on a feeding tube. We prayed. One of her speech clinitians told my sister that she could hear a voice in her cough and told her to speak. My sister replied, "What do you want me to talk about?" This was a year after the accident. We thanked GOD and we prayed some more.
Because of the brain injury all of the muscle surrounding her joints turned to bone. She was totally locked inside her body without the ability to move. We prayed. GOD sent us to a specialist in Chicago that was able to perform surgery. After four surgeries and numerous complications including blood clots and infections she is finally able to move her arms and legs. She can now put on her glasses and feed herself. We prayed and thanked GOD every step of the way.
My sister is now on the road to recovery after two and a half years. She is learning to sit up and hopefully, walk again. She is cognitive to 90% of where she was before. She is a delight to be with and every day we give thanks and praise to GOD for her continued improvement.
I have had the priviledge to work with Katie in the real estate world in the past and look forward to again in the future and as I read her blog I give thanks for her continued recovery and pray for her as well as, her entire family. This isn't an easy process but, it is so worthwhile! Keep the faith as GOD does perform these miracles in HIS own time.
If you ever want to ask questions of our recovery process and research on brain injuries please don't hesitate to contact me.
My continued thoughts and prayers for Katie and the family,
Nancy Hagen
Hello! I don't know you or Katie but have been praying for her since my freind Cindy Strahan told me the news. Another freind Amy Gifford has also shared this blog. I want you to know that I have passed this on to my Real Life Church family to be praying for healing for Katie. Thank You for creating this blog so we can continue to see God's great work!
My the Lord Bless You
~Ashley Luce
Real Life Church
Ankeny
Just finished listening to the radio program.
What a wonderful opportunity and one that you certainly didnt "miss"!
May we strive to be the mighty oak in our faith and not just a "mustard seed" all the time!
Still lifting the whole family up before the Lord daily....
Shirley Sluiter
(Timothy's mom-in-law) :)
Davey,Katie & family,
We Praise the Lord for all He is doing through this and continue to lift you all up in prayer and for complete healing of Katie.
In Him,
Laura DuCett Anderson
To my precious Katie,
Davey took me in to see you this afternoon. I held your hand and told you I loved you. My prayers are being lifted up to Our Heavenly Father truly without ceasing. I wake up in the middle of the night and I pray for you. There are people all over the world whispering and crying out your name in prayer. I believe your name is spoken to Our Father every minute of every hour without ceasing. We all love you so much and He loves you more than we can ever imagine. I know and believe you feel His presence every moment. He says, "He will never leave us or forsake us." We are all your cheerleaders, Katie. We're cheering you on and lifting you up to Jesus! You are so loved!
Asking for a miracle in the Name of Jesus ~~
Ronda
still praying... just wanted you to know that I had a stroke and brain surgery in 2005 (I was 44 years old with three teenaged boys). I was left with my left side totally paralyzed. The CT scans still show the brain 'damage' but God allows me to live every day knowing that He miraculously healed me. I have no paralysis. I am a friend of Chad (Katie's brother) and Mindy. Prayers are going out to all of my friends who are spreding the word to all of their friends and so on... God's family is bigger than we can fathom!
Hey Davey and Family!
Hang in there. We are praying hard for you all. I feel blessed that we had a trip planned for this weekend. I am looking forward to seeing family and Katie. We will be flying into Ankeny on Friday mid-afternoon.
See you very soon.
Ryan and Tonya
We have been and will continue to pray for complete healing for Katie. We praise God with many others for what He has, is, and will do through this situation. Thank you for your commitment to Jesus Christ and the wonderful testimony.
Tristan and Robin Guthrie
I don't know you and God is using you and your family to encourage my heart and faith! God is a big God and I have seen first hand this year how he comforts and pursues us to love us when we are mourning. I haven't really intentionally dealt with the fear that comes up and was so encouraged by your blog. I have chosen this past day to not give in to a spirit of timidity but to be empowered by the Power that lives within me! Thanks!
Know that even way out here in California you are being prayed for!
stacie c
Davey and family,
We have been in constant prayer for you since Friday. As I have been sharing with my friends and family about the situation, the one thing that everyone keeps saying is, "Boy, we really take life for granted." God really does these amazing things...truly unexpected things in these difficult times...the healing of Katie (which is really so easy for Him, like you said), but He is also drawing people to Himself...making us think...waking us up...and making us truly be thankful for the breath He gives us...because we forget what a gift it is...we ARE witnessing His glory ...and Katie is the vessel (John 11, esp.40). May He continue to work and cover you with His peace.
Jason & Stacy (Black) Nather, (Joshua, Hannah, Shiloh, & Moriah)
Hutchinson, KS
I'm not sure we've ever met, but my wife Kari (sister of Robin Elgard) and I are good friends with James and Eryn. Anyways, we found out about this from Eryn's blog and have been glued to your story ever since. We are praying.
Hey Davey!
The lyrics of the Casting Crowns song keep being put on my heart by the Holy Spirit as our family continues to pray for you, and Katie's complete restoration.
I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You
After listening to your radio interview with Mac today one thing became obvious to me. When God says he will not give us anything in our life we cannot bear, you are a testiment to that. Your strength and faith in Christ are a great example to your friends and family, and will be a phenomenal legacy for your children!
We love you guys, and will continue to lift you up in prayer!
Brian and TIffany Patterson
I am praying for your entire family and for Katie's full recovery.
Stacey Carpenter
REMAX Real Estate Group
stacey@staceycarpenter.com
We are thankful for answered prayer and continue to look to the Lord for your family's care.
In Christ,
ken & LuAnn Keane
Baldwin City, KS
We're praying for you all down here in Oklahoma too. We have a caring, listening God and He is with you through it all. Paul and Laura Renes
I heard about Katie from some other EBS grads, and have been praying ever since. Sometimes we forget how great a God we serve, and that He is still in the miracle business. This is nothing for Him.
I praise God for what He has done and is going to do in your lives.
1981 EBC
Davey, every time I look at your picture with your precious family it brings a smile to my face. We are still praying for you and Katie. May God fill you with His strength and peace. Kathleen
Davey, Katie, and the whole fam...Tara and I have been praying for you guys faithfully since we received Kyle's email the other day! We pray for Katie's healing and even more importantly we pray that Father will be glorified and made much of through this! Davey...good on you for your words on the radio to that end yesterday!
Colossians 1:9-12
"..asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father.."
-Brad & Tara Hofer (Ames, IA)
Davey several of my girlfriends have been praying for Katie daily. We all heard you on the radio yesterday. Needless to say the tears were flowing. Thank you for taking the time to update us daily and thank you for the reminder that all things are possible with Christ. Katie sounds like a wonderful women of God & we all are looking forward to hearing her testimony one day. God bless you & your wonderful family.
Robin
Hey, we live in Sue's old house. Katie and I have chatted as we run into ea. other here in Ankeny and at gymnastics. Our girls have done some playdates, I went to EBC with Kyle...
You have been heavy on our hearts. We are praying for you individually, as a family, and as a church.
Andy & Jenica Moffitt
Kristen Kerwin
guess I am on the same wavelength (as in radio wavelength) as my sister in law Kathy, as I just listened to your interview as well. Thank you for exemplifying faith to our household. My reading today brought me to Proverbs 31:25, your words of having a spirit of power and not fear rang true in "clothed with strength and dignity, and laughs with no fear of the future."
Praying.
I remember being a freshmen at Emmaus, praising God as you led impromptu worship around a campfire, whenever we sing "More Love, More Power", I still envision you with your guitar.
He will Carry Me by Mark Schultz
I call, You hear me
I’ve lost it all
And it’s more than I can bear
I feel so empty
You’re strong
I’m weary
I’m holdin’ on
But I feel like givin’ in
But still You’re with me
chorus:
And even though I’m walkin’ through
The valley of the shadow
I will hold tight to the hand of Him
Whose love will comfort me
And when all hope is gone
And I’ve been wounded in the battle
He is all the strength that I will
Ever need
And He will carry me
I know I’m broken
But You alone
Can mend this heart of mine
You’re always with me
chorus
And even though I feel so lonely
Like I’ve never been before
You never said it would be easy
But You said you’d see me through
The storm
I pray these words will touch your heart Davey!
Marilee Mertz Kline
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