Fr. Nigel Update, Friday, 9:36 AM

Friday 11/20/09

Fr. Nigel Mumford continues in critical condition and will be considered critical until he is off the ventilator and is out of ICU, but he is stable which is very important. He is more alert every day and his sense of humor is evident even though he is hardly able to communicate. Lynn has become more adept at reading lips and although he doesn’t try to speak too often, when he does it is usually to express some pain that he is in or a physical need that he has, such as being cold or having an itch, etc. It’s hard to imagine, but he is still unable to reach up and scratch an itch on his nose, etc. He will be able to do that once he has regained his strength and the use of his muscles. I was told by a nurse that your muscles atrophy after one week of lying in bed without moving, and Fr. Nigel was lying there for 3 weeks without moving, so he has some real work to do to get his muscles back in shape.

All of his vital signs are normal, his fever is gone completely, and all of his organs are working well, with the exception of course of his lungs. Our Lord has certainly answered your prayers.

The doctor told Fr. Nigel yesterday that he had the Swine Flu and how close he was to death. After the shock of that, Fr. Nigel praised the Lord and thanked God for his recovery. He is more determined than ever to get better and get out of the hospital. Since yesterday was day 41, we likened his progress to his coming out of the desert. Fr. Nigel said that he realizes how "transforming" our God is. ( He actually mouthed that to Lynn!)

Please pray for:
The complete healing of Fr. Nigel’s lungs so that he can be removed from the ventilator

Regaining strength in his muscles

Freedom from any pain that Fr. Nigel is experiencing

Peace for Fr. Nigel during this difficult time of limited communication

Peace and strength for Lynn and the entire Mumford family

Thanks and Praise to our Lord for the healing that has taken place and for the healing that will take place in Fr. Nigel’s mind, body and soul. Thanks be to God for answering our prayers. Truly, our God is an awesome God!

From Elizabeth Strickland
Albany Intercessor