Author: Rick

Here is an update from Howard’s daughter Katie

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Hello again!

I am again writing to update you on my dad, as it’s been a little while. The reason I haven’t written is because there really isn’t any change or improvement. After arriving home from the hospital my parents were exhausted and my dad especially, being very weak and off balance. Two days after my parents left the hospital, we received the news that my Uncle Murray, in Australia, passed away. He had cancer and we knew he didn’t have much longer, but it’s still hard. My Mom has mentioned that my dad is very disconnected with everything and everyone. He isn’t himself; he barely speaks all day…. he just wants to sleep constantly.

What do we know?
We know that there is swelling in his brain from the West Nile Virus.

What do we do?
Because there is no cure or way to help him medicine wise, my mom is putting him on a strict diet of foods known to bring down inflammation. He is receiving cognitive therapy and hopefully can be set up soon with physical therapy.

The challenges
My dad isn’t able to use his right side well, so this makes getting around on his own impossible. My Mom helps my dad with everything, things like: helping him put toothpaste on his toothbrush, sometimes help with meals, bathroom breaks, dressing, showering, and so on. This has been a huge learning experience for both of them! My dad, being the strong, capable man he “normally” is, he doesn’t always realize he can’t do things. He has fallen twice when trying to get out of bed and walk on his own. The second time he fell my mom said it broke her heart when she asked him why he attempted on his own and he responded that he thought he was better that day. And for my mom, she is learning how to help a big man without falling down with him! She has a belt around him that helps her steady him and together they get around. My Uncle Wes comes in the evening to help my dad make it up the stairs safe and sound for bed.

We continue to ask for your prayers for my dad’s healing and for my mom as she takes care of him. Thank you so very much for continuing to stand with us. Again, we so appreciate your support and prayers.

One last thing, my sister is able to sneak up to Canada for a week this month, we’re thrilled that she is able to go, even if it’s short. We’re so thankful that she will be able to help and encourage my parents during that time.

That’s all for now, thank you for praying for us all! Blessings, and Happy Thanksgiving to our Canadian Family and Friends! There is always so much to be thankful for, even in the midst of trials, so we are counting our blessings and continuing to praise our mighty and faithful Father.

Bye for now,

-Katie

Thank you for having prayed for Murray while he was still with us. I received news that yesterday at 7:30am PST Murray breathed his last. As far as I know Murray intellectually tried to be a dedicated atheist to the time of his passing, but truly only God knows the journeys that took place in his heart even up to his final hours. We will not know the dialogues in the heart that took place. Yesterday morning Murray slipped out of his body and he likely then observed his body laying in the hospice care bed with his friends around him mourning. He likely tried to speak with them and they could not hear and then as he ascended away into dimensions more real than this one, I wonder what he thought or experienced? If at that time his mind was still clouded with the demonic wisdom of materialistic atheism he likely wondered, “Why am I conscious? What’s going on?” But as the layers of blindness are removed I sense strongly that he will have been liberated from these dark powers in the mind and heart and returned to his true heart which as a youth confessed Jesus Christ as LORD. Returning to this truth he is likely at this time overwhelmed by the powerful, healing grace and love of his true Father, stepping into his true home, seeing clearly what he has really always known deep down in his childlike heart, but tried to suppress through bitterness or pain. God knows, we trust. God loves, for He is love and does all things well.

Murray is survived by his mother Esther, brothers Wes, Merrill, Howard, Vern and sister Jen. Your prayers for them are much appreciated during this difficult time in the Dyck family.

Thank you so much,

t.

“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”
1 Corinthians 3:11-15

The news on Howard is that he has been diagnosed with Viral Encephalitis caused by West Nile Virus. He’s been released to go home as there’s nothing more they can do for him in hospital. Recovery is uncertain. Merrill says “he’s still totally out of it”. Below is an email just in from Katie his daughter who also is part of the staff at the Bible School. She says it’s untreatable.

t.

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Well, it finally came, a diagnosis. The doctors received some tests back and my dad tested positive for West Nile. This is very unexpected, and has thrown us for a loop, but they’re sure that is what has caused his symptoms. It’s very rare and doesn’t affect most people this badly, but it has my dad. So now what? Well, they told us it is viral and untreatable. What he needs now is physical and cognitive therapy, and time. So this morning my Mum asked if there was any reason to remain in the hospital, if they were going to do anything else, and they said no. So she asked for my Dad to be released and they’re now back “home.” We have a good friend here in San Carlos that will be doing zoom therapy starting Monday and we will continue to pray that the swelling in his brain goes down and that he becomes his normal self again! The doctors said it could take a while, even up to a year for my dad to recover. Crazy.

Please pray for my Mum as she becomes his primary care giver. He still has double vision, is very off balance, is still very tired, and sometimes still confused. My Mum is happy that he will be more mobile and able to sit outside and work on recovery from the comfort of “home.” We’re so thankful for all the prayers, and please continue to pray that he will recover completely. There are still many unknowns, but we continue to trust in our heavenly Father for complete healing, encouragement, and wisdom for this road to recovery.

Denver and I have been busy prepping the school for a missions course that starts Monday, among other things! Life is intense, but good! Thanks again for standing with us in this difficult time, we continue to feel at peace, and though we have been confused by this diagnosis, we’re thankful for an answer and a plan for recovery.

I hope this finds you encouraged, whatever your days have held. And I’m so thankful we have an amazing, faithful God walking with us in everything! So incredible the hope we have.

Bye for now,
-Katie

I just received this update on dear ole Howie which Susan texted me today. It says:

“So this afternoon they finally confirmed (what I thought all along) that Howard has encephalitis. The don’t know if it is viral or bacterial. He is responding to antibiotics. It sure is slow though. One doc mentioned steroids so I’m thinking that may be what they do. From what I’ve read it’s not a speedy recovery.”

“Kidneys are recovering well. Just so very thankful we can move forward now!!!”

The 24 hour time period the doctors gave in which Howard was to either survive or not have passed and he has improved! Thank you for praying. Susan wrote me this evening that the doctors say his kidneys are a little better. He had kidney failure because of the dye for the MRI.

The MRI revealed fluid around the brain causing inflammation and swelling. He is seeing double vision, dizzy and often can’t distinguish between reality and hallucination. The doctors don’t know what is causing the fluid build up. But Susan said this evening that he had a better day today and was lucid pretty much all day.

He’s not out of the woods yet, but it was sure good to get some better news today. Susan (Howard’s wife) is with him in the hospital. They gave her a bed next to Howard. She is exhausted but said she is so thankful the crisis is over.

Again, thanks so much for your prayers,

t.