The Peace of God

Philippians 4:7 (ESV)

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

The last couple of weeks have been extremely stressful. I'll hit the major points.

• After receiving information from NeuroRestorative, the nursing home in South Boston, VA called to say that they were not equipped to handle Mike.
• NeuroRestorative (NR) believes our only option is a state hospital on a TDO (temporary detention order), which in this case means he is a danger to himself or others, because otherwise, state hospitals say they do not handle TBI survivors. This can only be done through the CSB (community service board) in his home area and as long as he is in a facility that can handle him, the CSB will not step in.
• That would mean Mike will come home and if we have a threatening situation, then we take him to an emergency room, and hope the CSB will refer him to the state hospital rather than just give him a shot and send him home (which was done twice previously). I don't really want Mike to go to a Psych facility, as the more he is confined, the worse he is; however, I also know I am not equipped to handle him.
• The only other possible option is to contact the over 200 facilities in Virginia, be turned down by the majority of them, have Mike on Medicaid, and then he could possibly be sent to BrainTree in Massachusetts. Virginia Medicaid has an agreement with BrainTree and there are several Virginia TBI survivors there now. This facility is experienced and equipped to handle all areas of Mike's care, plus they have a more progressive treatment plan for TBI survivors than NR. Virginia does not have any facilities like this. While this would make it difficult for me to see Mike, it may be the best possible place for him at this time. I have started typing the address labels for the 200+ facilities and Lisa at NR is mailing me the information she sent to the other nursing homes.
• One ray of hope in these past 2 weeks was a very extensive e-mail from the mother of a TBI survivor who shared her experience and knowledge from the past 12 years of her son's recovery. Her informative and encouraging e-mail is more valuable to me than anything I've heard or read over the past 19 months. Her son also has diffuse axonal injury, but the brain has continued to heal and try to be "efficient" despite severe frontal lobe damage and shrinkage. She said if she told her son about Mike's current condition, he would shake his head and say "early days". Her main advice to me was not to think in terms of long-term placement. Not to settle for the way things are now and never give up hope. 
• Brain Injury is so extremely slow, it is like no recovery that we have ever been familiar with in the past. Yet, there is still hope that Mike will get past this phase and become calmer and able to be at home, productive, and part of the family again.
• Dealing with Medicaid, NC Retirement System, learning about trust funds, and talking with various organizations and people, I learned that I didn't know what in the world I was doing! I have contacted the lawyer again to help me sort all of this out. She is reviewing what I have done, and I hope to hear from her tomorrow or Wednesday to know if she can help me.
• Some things happen very fast. I e-mailed our state senator, Frank Ruff, and will meet him face-to-face tomorrow, Tuesday, December 3 at noon to tell him the barriers we have faced in finding the right care for Mike in Virginia. I also invited Anne, the Executive Director of BIAV (Brain Injury Association of Virginia) to join us. I can share our personal story and Anne can speak more about what legislation is needed. Please pray about this meeting. I am going to ask Senator Ruff what would be the best way to get the attention of the state in this matter and will let you know what you can do after our meeting.  My brother-in-law, Ed, has drafted a template of a letter that can be personalized and sent to the various state legislators. If Senator Ruff thinks this is the best way, I'll post the template on here.
• Over the weekend, various family members fasted and prayed for our situation. This passage from Isaiah stood out to me. Isaiah 5:19 "Woe....to those who say, "Let God hurry, let him hasten his work so we may see it. let it approach, let the plan of the Holy One of Israel come, so we may know it." I have definitely asked God to hurry up, but that is not His way. On the same day, this insight from Luke 10:41,42 by Elizabeth Burkhart met me: "do not become so involved in details, so tied up in planning for the future that you forget to live today. only one thing is necessary, I am present here, now..."  Stay focused on God and praise Him continually.
•  I also thank God that He prompted Keegan and Amy to come for the weekend. It was such a joy to spend time with them. We talked, prayed, watched football and played games together. They were just what I needed to get my mind off of all of the above. 
• Another true God-incident....A friend of my cousin, sent me a small, yet powerful book called The Cycle of Victorious Living by Earl and Hazel Lee. Such perfect insight for this crucial time in our situation. Don't fret. Do commit, trust, delight and rest in the Lord. The Lee's quote Oswald Chambers as saying "All our fret and worry is caused by calculating without God."  Eph. 3:20-21 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory." "Use the power God has given you to do something about the situation that could cause you to fret." "Fret is often removed not by praying but by doing." I also liked what they said about "Commit-Hands Down". It is a great visual of releasing our hold by turning our palms down instead of up. Palms up, the object has to be taken from our hands and can leave traces of the object on our hands. Turning the palms down indicates truly releasing the object or situation totally to God's control. Delighting and rejoicing in the Lord is essential. Praising Him for who He is, not what He does.
• Today, I have had the greatest peace, joy, and lightness of Spirit. Something I have not had for quite some time. I believe the fervent prayers and fasting of our families, have truly lifted the heavy burden of stress I was carrying last week. A couple of times today, I felt the joy of Jesus bubbling up inside of me like a fountain about to overflow. Very unexpected and surpassing understanding - a joy and peace that can only come from the Lord. Our situation has not changed, but a battle was waged this weekend against the powers of darkness on our behalf and I am reaping the harvest of joy for which Christ won the victory long ago.  All praise to our Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus, and Holy Spirit! Philippians 4:6-7 from The Message sums it all up beautifully:

Philippians 4:6-7 (MSG)

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Amen! and Amen!