Dear Friends,
As many of you know Joanne suffered a major stroke this morning around 9 a.m. Emma found her on the floor in the basement where she was shaking violently. I was most of the way to my office in Colorado Springs when Audrey called with the news. We immediately called 911 and I headed for home. We also called Joanne's mom and she and the ambulance got there about 5 minutes after the calls.
Minutes later I met Joanne and the ambulance at Littleton Adventist. She was conscious but it was immediately apparent to me that it was a stroke. She was totally unresponsive on the left side of her body but had some use of her right side and was able to respond to commands.
She was given multiple CAT scans and they were immediately able to see the clot, it's size, and where it was located. They started drug therapy but determined that they needed to go in with a catheter through an artery and into her brain. They were able to get to the clot and dissolve some of it restoring some blood flow to the brain.
Now we have to just wait and pray. She has not woken up yet but is still responding to commands on her right side. She has not opened her eyes or been able to verbalize anything but she can move her hand and foot on the right side. The next 72 hours will be critical.
Here are the specific prayer requests:
1. There is a possibility of hemorrhaging in the brain because of the trauma it suffered. If she does hemorrhage that would be a very bad thing, although I haven't got a clear answer as to what exactly that would mean.
2. No swelling of the brain. If it swells they will have to take significant measures to give her brain the room it needs. That would be a really bad thing too.
3. Tomorrow they will run the catheter again back into her brain to check for blood flow. Please pray that she is getting the blood flow it needs.
I will be posting updates to my twitter: tobenheim. Feel free to follow me and I will update frequently. I am totally blown away by the support and prayers that have been pouring in. Keep it coming!
With Love and Appreciation,
Toben
P.S. We are claiming Psalms 46 for Joanne. Would love to have you read and pray over those passages for her.
Praying the Lord will be with Joanne and her family, for comfort and healing. And reading and praying over Psalm 46
Posted by: Carrie | January 12, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Praying for your beautiful wife and family.
Posted by: Joanne Kraft | January 12, 2011 at 10:55 AM
Praying for complete and total restoration in Joanne's body. Sending our love.
Erik & Wendy Selvig
Posted by: Wendy | January 12, 2011 at 11:02 AM
Praying for Joanne and for the family!
Posted by: Jill | January 12, 2011 at 12:42 PM
Praying for you and your lovely wife and your entire family in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Bonnie U.
Posted by: Bonnie Usrey | January 12, 2011 at 12:48 PM
Just read this on Beth Moore's blog-wasn't able to read yesterday so I am just now finding out about this. I am now praying like crazy for all of you!
Posted by: Bobbie Jo | January 12, 2011 at 12:50 PM
Dearest Joanne, praying for you and your sweet family. Through God Miracles are possible and I will pray for a complete recovery for you. Prayers for peace, comfort and wisdom for your family too. Many prayers and Hugs from Canada!
Posted by: erin | January 12, 2011 at 01:32 PM
Another Siesta praying for you and your family. Will continue to read and pray Psalm 46-Gods Word is so calming. Stay strong!!
Posted by: Jlboyd02 | January 12, 2011 at 01:47 PM
praying in Columbus, Ohio...
Posted by: Missey | January 12, 2011 at 02:31 PM
God bless you,you deserve all His blessings right now,I have prayed for you all,I hope all goes well from now on!
Posted by: Leona | January 12, 2011 at 03:28 PM
My prayers for Joanne and for the whole family that Gods Love embrace you all. May her healing be a visible sign to many of the wonderful majesty of our Lord. Glory to God.
Posted by: Bonnie Croteau | January 12, 2011 at 04:48 PM
Praying for you sweet friend!
Posted by: Jennifer | January 12, 2011 at 04:54 PM
Another "unknown" reader here who has become quite fond of your amazing wife.
Here is a healing testimony video I just recently viewed (specifically regarding a massive stroke) that might give you some encouragement.
http://www.awmi.net/extra/healing/moore
God is good to Joanne....ALL the time.
Posted by: Meg | January 12, 2011 at 05:10 PM
Praying for Joanne and for all of you.
Posted by: Dianne Walters | January 12, 2011 at 05:22 PM
just found out today--am praying and crying. Praying for Joanne and her recovery, and for you and Audrey and Emma. We love you all.
Lisa Craddock
Posted by: blessed | January 12, 2011 at 06:44 PM
Praying for a complete healing for Joanne. Also wisdom and knowledge for the Doctors that are treating her. She is a beautiful sister in Christ!
Posted by: Cindy | January 12, 2011 at 06:58 PM
Joanne helped me with a paper I had to write for my college world religion class a while back.
She has such a compassionate heart and an inspirational desire for pleasing the Lord.
I am so thankful she is one of HIS, but I pray He chooses to allow her to be healed and continue using her life as a witness to others!!!!!
Posted by: Shayla | January 12, 2011 at 07:30 PM
I don't know your family but have a friend who is 38 and experienced a massive stroke this summer. Brain swelling, removal of part of his skull, lots of therapy. It has been a long road but he is home, walking and talking and getting better each day. My prayer is that your wife is just as fortunate and blessed as he was. May God be with her and the doctors who are caring for her.
Posted by: Jill | January 12, 2011 at 08:43 PM
I am praying for you and your family. Joanne is an incredible woman and I have never even met her!
Posted by: Tiffany | January 12, 2011 at 09:05 PM
Omigosh!! I will definitely add her to my prayers! I'm just a reader of her blog, but I live just down the street from that hospital...if you need anything, please let me know!!!
Posted by: Rachel | January 12, 2011 at 09:11 PM
Psalm 46:5 NLT, "God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.From the very break of day, God will protect it." Just as we are the temple she is the city because God dwells in her! She is fully protected.
Sister Siesta - Praying for you all!
Chel (Fort Worth, TX)
Posted by: Rachele | January 13, 2011 at 01:13 AM
I have never been to this blog but a mutual friend sent me. I am so sorry for the reason I found it, I wish I had been here much sooner for much better circumstances. Know that Jehovah Jireh has her in His hands and no weapon formed against her shall prosper. She shall return to speak the word of the Lord on this blog and across the interwebs.
Posted by: Angel | January 13, 2011 at 07:21 AM
We are holding a prayer vigil at the feet of Jesus for your family. Please Lord, your will is best. Amen
Posted by: Vickie | January 13, 2011 at 07:33 AM
Prayers...
Posted by: Dyan | January 13, 2011 at 09:20 AM
oh no this is awful .... two people in my family went thru this already.. i'm going ot pray for healing, my heart and thoughts are with you. all the way from France. big hugs to Joanne, you're a figther Joanne get-well soon.
Posted by: Valerie | January 13, 2011 at 11:59 AM
I have only known Joanne through her blog, but she has pushed me to be a better Christian, better mother and better wife. I am honestly a better person having read her words of wisdom. Prayers to your family for strength and saying prayers for her to heal.
Posted by: Michele in Wisconsin | January 13, 2011 at 06:26 PM
Our thoughts are with you through this difficult time.
Posted by: Lindsay Dianne | January 13, 2011 at 06:46 PM
Toben,praying for your family and Joanne.
Eveline!
Posted by: Eveline! :) | January 14, 2011 at 01:09 PM
Praying, dear ones...praying earnestly for you.
Much love in OH
Posted by: Heidi Jolliff | January 16, 2011 at 07:08 PM
Praying for Joann, for complete healing and that God's will would be done. Praying that she hasn't had a bleed nor will she, praying that her brain has not started to swell, praying for wisdom and guidance for all of the medical professionals who come in contact with Joann or you, praying for total peace for Joann, for you Toben, for your girls, and for the rest of the family, Father God please give Joann the strength to heal and to fight so that she may give you the glory for her healing! Lord, you are the Great Physician please touch her body, lay your hand on her and make her whole. Claiming Psalm 46 for her. Thank you for letting us know how to pray. We will continue to lift you all up. {{{Hugs}}} to you and the girls.
Posted by: Wendy Crouch | January 17, 2011 at 07:41 AM
Continually praying since I received word Thursday of Joanne's stroke...prayers for Joanne's healing, and strength, comfort and encouragement to Toben and the girls, Kristen and family, and Kay and Charlie. We became neighbors and friends some 30 years ago! Joanne was the favorite babysitter for my children and Charlie and Kay dear friends! My heart goes out to all of you---Love and prayers, Susan Moher
Posted by: Susan Moher | January 17, 2011 at 07:09 PM
Still praying and will continue to do so.
Posted by: Jamie Patano | January 18, 2011 at 02:12 PM
Toben,
You express yourself so well, keep writing! May He give you His peace, the peace that surpasses understanding, the peace only He can give. Be still and know that I am God. When you pass through the waters I will be with you I will go before you and be your rear guard.
Isaiah 30:15
In quietness and trust is your strength.
Psalm 148:6
The LORD lifts the burdens of those bent beneath their loads.
Linda
Posted by: Linda Hughes | January 18, 2011 at 06:06 PM
Praying for all of you!
Posted by: Mommie LIfe | January 19, 2011 at 10:24 AM
I am praying for healing and recovery for Joanne, my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
~Blessings~
Sally
Posted by: Sally-Anne Russell | January 19, 2011 at 01:38 PM
Praying...
Posted by: Erica Johnson | January 20, 2011 at 11:00 AM
Lord please lift up Joanne and her family Lord!!!! I pray that the clot is removed and all forms of illness are released out of her Lord.. and I pray for the you to move the hands of the Doctors Lord, by your stipes she is healed!!!!! I pray these things in Jesus name AMEN!!!!
Posted by: sherry french | January 20, 2011 at 09:35 PM
Toben, Today I read a blog you posted 8/7/10 about your move back to CO and how you hade money saved and that allowed you to spend more time setting up your home with your family. You had family all around and you had been pondering why God wanted you back...Now you know. Joanne has had a grat time being back with her Mom and Dad. You have had wonderful memories to hold on to while Joanne is going through this. Thank God you and your girls have this family so close. My thoughts are of Joanne,Audry,Emma and you at night before I go to bed, the minute I wake up and through the day. I am a survivor of a stroke. God is amazing. Prayers for Joanne.
Posted by: Debi | January 21, 2011 at 06:41 AM