Date: Sat, May 12 2007 2:49 pm
From: April 


Hello,
Oh my goodness...what a long day/night. We really need your prayers for
Ashley. Last night at youth group at church the kids went to play
outside
and they were giving each other piggy back rides. Ashley went on to get
a
ride too ( with hesitation) and her friend started to run and tripped
--sending Ashley flying through the air and landing on her face. She
wasn't
knocked out--but felt like she couldn't breath so she instantly started
running toward the doors to the church..she doesn't remember much after
that
.but they spent time cleaning up her face and called one of the nurses
over
who happens to help with youth. She looked at her and called us--we
were
already on our way to get her so we drove quickly and when we arrived
it
took everything in me to be strong for her. Her pretty little face was
covered in blood and scratches and cuts. We took her straight to the
emergency because the nurse and Jason notices that her lip was torn
away
from her gum.  Emergency took her in right away and we spent the better
part
of the night there (until just before 2am) 3 doctors worked on Ashley
and
froze her mouth, did x-ray's which revealed her jaw was not broken!
Thank
the Lord! But they did find out that a nerve on the right side of her
moth
had been severed and they could not repair it :( They spent 4 hours
stitching her up and kept her awake for it. I was able to come into the
little operating room and hold her hand & wipe her tears. I am thankful
the
doctors and nurses where so understanding. They put about 200 stitches
in
her little mouth and sewed her lip back on to her gum. They had to skin
graft from other places in her mouth so they could get it all back
together.
The doctors said after that we could take her home and that she
shouldn't
talk for a few days so not to pull the stitches out. The plastic
surgeon
called early this morning because they were hopeful of getting her in
to
work on that severed nerve..but after reviewing the pictures and
speaking
with the 3 doctors who worked on her they called and said the damage
was to
extensive and they wouldn't be able to save the nerve. So what that
means is
there is a "Slim to none" ( doctors words ) chance of her nerve growing
back
and working. Most smaller kids will repair themselves..regenerate . But
Ashley is almost full grown and he doesn't feel that will be likely
with her
So she is in desperate need of your prayers!! We know God can do
ANYTHING
and He CAN fix this nerve so that Ashley can move that part of her lip
on
the right side and feel hot and cold. This also could minimally effect
her
speech and she will need your prayers for all these things to heal up!
If
the nerve can repair itself it would take about 2-3 years anyway
because it
grows something like a millimeter a month..very, very slow growing IF
it
regenerates itself..which he does not think will happen in Ashley's
case.
Ashley is home now..resting...but in a great deal of pain because the
freezing just came out about a half hour ago. She is on medication for
the
next 7 days for pain and to prevent infection. She can't eat normal
food for
at least one month and even then it will be slow going. She is on jello
and
pudding, soup, yogurt and water for the next while. I tried to feed her
some
yogurt this afternoon but the pain was too much for her as she opened
her
mouth. I felt horrible because she was so hungry too.
Please, please keep her in your prayers!! And also her friends as well.
This
was very traumatic for the kids who witnessed it and who encouraged her
that
it would be safe when she felt otherwise. I've had several phone calls
from
her friends crying today and it has caused much pain on the kids
involved.
Please remember them in prayer as well. They really feel awful. And
Ashley
has cried a lot because of how bad her friends feel. She doesn't want
them
to blame themselves.
Anyway, sorry this is so long winded.
I wanted to make sure we had all her friends and family praying for her
recovery and complete healing!
I will update as things change. I know Ashley covets your prayers and
will
be so grateful for each one of them.
God bless you all richly !
Thanks for your prayer support.
Love April