Melanie

It is with a sad heart that I report that Melanie went to be with the Lord tonight at 12:23.  It is with rejoicing that I can say that I believe that sweet child is now in heaven healed and restored! 

Patrick arrives Wed at 3:30pm and He knows.  Sarah is heartbroken but not destroyed.  

If you want to know the details please read on.  If not, pray for my friends. 

photos of Melanie and her family

To tell you the details- 

My plan was to come to Birmingham today to see Sarah and Catherine (Patrick's sister), to take them to dinner or whatever and visit with Melanie at 8pm.  As I left Auburn I was informed that the reports had not been good.  The ventilator was still on high and last night they were told she had pneumonia.   Almost half way here I got a call that things were not good and they were chemically keeping her alive.

When I arrived I discovered that her blood pressure was being chemically maintained about every 20 minutes or so.  Her blood pressure would drop and her oxygen level would too.  Her oxygen level was only around 70 percent.  When we visited at 8pm the nurse was having to give her the drug every 10 minutes or so.  The nurse Heather was great.  Catherine Wise (one of the students who went to Uganda in May) was with me and we got to spend over an hour with Melanie and talked with Heather.  Heather answered a lot of questions for us and explained some things.  We talked to Melanie and told her that her Dad was on the way.  Patrick had already left Uganda and was on his way to Amsterdam (his layover).

When Catherine Wise, Suzanne, Catherine (Sarah's sister in law) and myself went to visit at midnight the MD was there with the nurse and we were told that they could not keep her alive any longer with the medications.  Her body simply wasn't responding.  Her lungs were too sick and her body was quitting.  We got Sarah and told her the news.  We gathered around the bed and prayed.  Sarah did not want to be there nor hold Melanie, so she left the room.  I asked if I could hold her and they said yes.  So I held her for a minute or two then Catherine (Patrick's sister) came back and asked if she could.  I gave her to Cathrine and she held her while they disconnected the ventilator.  And Melanie went to be with the Lord.  

They got her disconnected from all the tubes and attachments and put her in an outfit.  And apart from the swelling she looked like the Melanie we knew.  Catherine Wise held her and we all spent time reflecting on her short life.  Sarah requested not to see her tonight, so she didn't.  

What was really neat was that Patrick has continually said that he saw his dtr as an evangelist.  Well, I know that tonight there was amazing testimony for all those who may have overheard us.  As we prayed and shared.  And Catherine Wise had made 2 little signs with verses- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me and Ephesians 3:20- to Him who is able to do more than we can imagine or ask for... While we were visiting at 8 with her we saw the verses were down under the bed- the bed rails were down so they covered them up.  I took them off and stuck them on the shelf behind her bed.  When they cleaned up Melanie and had her dressed the nurse, Heather had taken the verses and stuck them on the top of the bed, laid them on the mattress above her head.  As if helping Melanie testify to the truth of those verses.  

We were able to speak with Patrick when he landed in Amsterdam and tell him things were not doing good.  And then when we found out that she would not make it we were able to call him to tell him that she was surrounded by those who loved her and she would be leaving this world.  Herbie spoke with KLM and they were going to try to move him to first class for his trip to Detroit and then to Birmingham.  Sarah has asked me to stay in Bham and go to meet Patrick with her at the airport so I will be here.  Herbie is helping to scope out options for whatever they decide.  And Patrick will be able to visit with Heather tomorrow night and see where Melanie was so lovingly cared for.  

It has been a heartbreaking day.  Pray for Patrick and Sarah and Catherine.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to speak words that we cannot.  To God be the glory for all that Melanie's life was.  He IS good.  And He IS faithful.  

Comments

[Tracy Spratlin Polk]

Andi,

Thank you for the update. Please let Sarah and Patrick know that they and their entire family is in our prayers. If their as anything that we can do please let us know.

Tracy

[Jason Martin]

Thanks for the update, Andi. Please let Patrick & Sarah know they are loved and they are constantly in our thoughts and prayers. Let us know if we can help.