Dear friends,
Early in the morning on November 13, Josh experienced severe neck pain and lost the use of his right arm and leg. He was taken to the ER and diagnosed with a vertebral artery dissection that produced a spinal stroke. He has been in the ICU since then while his doctors manage the situation with a lumbar drain and medication. The good news is that his mind and speech were not affected, and he has regained a great deal of strength in his arm and leg. However, he is very weak and has side effects from the drain that make it difficult for him to sit or stand for very long. We hope that he will be able to leave the hospital in a few days, but he has a long road to recovery and we're not entirely sure what twists and turns the path will take. After a brief discussion about why Boethius is Josh's favorite author, his neurologist told him that he is a "very lucky unlucky man" and we feel that this is an apt description of the situation.
We are grateful to God for hearing our prayers and showing so much mercy, as we know that this situation could have ended quite differently. We are very grateful for the emails, texts, and prayers that have been offered from all corners of the US and around the world. The love and support we have received have been deeply humbling. We are also very grateful for the excellent care that Josh has received at St. Luke's Hospital in Boise - the nurses and doctors have been excellent in every way.
We appreciate prayers more than anything, but a few folks have asked about support so we have set up a GoFundMe to help with hospital expenses. Please don't feel obligated, but it's there if you would like to make a gift.
Please keep praying, especially that his headaches will reduce when sitting up.
With Gratitude,
Paula Gibbs
on behalf of Joshua Gibbs
Organizer
