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Prayer Request Archives
Tom and
Madelyn Barnard:
(01/05/07). Tom
Barnard is the
author of
Tuesday
Mornings. A
weekly
devotional that
is featured by
the EMFS. Please
join with me in
lifting their
family in
prayer.
Friends,
We covet your
prayers in
behalf of our
extended family.
Madelyn's
younger sister,
Marie, is in
critical
condition in ICU
in Roseburg,
Oregon, where
she and her
husband Paul
Miner have lived
for many years.
Marie has
congestive heart
failure, and we
believe her
condition is
terminal. We
are in the
process of
making plans to
fly to Portland,
Oregon—probably
early next
week—to say our
"goodbyes" to
Marie and be
with the family.
Adelyn and Tom
Winders,
Madelyn's sister
and husband, are
planning to fly
with us. Marie
has been
seriously ill
for several
years and has
been
hospitalized several
times in the
past year. We
feared we would
lose her in
early October.
She was
hospitalized
then for the
same condition.
We were on the
road to a
speaking
engagement in
Florida. Madelyn
was packed and
ready to catch a
flight from
there to be with
her family in
Oregon. But
Marie came back
from that crisis
and appeared to
be stable, until
about a week
ago. It appears
she will not
survive this
latest crisis.
This morning
we received a
call from Ralph
Paquin, son of
one of Madelyn's
closest friends,
Harriett Paquin.
Harriett passed
away this
morning in
Spartanburg,
South Carolina.
She suffered
from multiple
illnesses over
the past several
years; the one
that took her
life was Sepsis,
a blood disease.
We spent two
days with
Harriett during our
fall trip from
New England to
Florida. We will
not be able to
attend her
funeral, due to
Madelyn's
sister's illness
and the need to
travel to
Oregon.
We appreciate
your keeping us
in your thoughts
and prayers this
week.
Tom and
Madelyn Barnard
Friends
and Family,
Early
this morning
we received
word that
Marie Miner,
younger
sister of
Madelyn
Barnard and
Adelyn
Winders, had
suffered
another
brain
hemorrhage
sometime
after
midnight
last night.
She had been
in ICU in
critical
condition
for about a
week but
showed signs
of becoming
stabilized
over the
weekend. Her
sisters were
able to talk
with her
briefly by
phone on
Saturday.
She took a
turn for the
worse last
night. The
hospital
moved her
from ICU
into a
private room
and kept her
sedated
through the
day. She
passed away
quietly this
evening
(Monday)
about 6:20
our time.
She was 72
years of
age. She and
her husband,
Paul, had
been married
for 52
years. They
have two
adult sons
and four
grandchildren.
Funeral
arrangements
will be
completed
within the
next few
days. The
funeral will
be an
informal
time with
family and
close
friends.
Tom and
Adelyn
Winders
will fly
with us to
Oregon early
Wednesday.
We will
remain there
for the
funeral and
a few days
beyond. Our
plans are to
return to
Oklahoma
City next
Wednesday
evening.
Your
prayers in
support of
our family
are greatly
appreciated.
Tom Barnard for his wife Madelyn.
(03/31/07) Friends and Family, Tom Barnard update on Madelyn
(04/08/07)
Friends and Family, Easter reminds us, not
only of growing flowers and plants and spring
colors, but most important it reminds us of
God's loving care for us—for you, for me, and
for Madelyn and everyone else who believes in
Him. This message comes with our prayer that God
will bless your every good deed and attitude.
May Easter 2007 be your most memorable one yet.
It will be for us. Thank you for your prayers in
our behalf. Tom and Madelyn Barnard Tom Barnard.
Update on Madelyn (4/13/07) Friends, Earlier today
I notified family that Madelyn's doctor had
moved ahead to today an ultrasound that had
been scheduled for next Thursday. The reason
was to rule out any new infection from the
gall bladder surgery on March 27. A slight
elevation in her temperature yesterday
caused some minor alarm. The visiting nurse
drew blood late yesterday for a scan to shed
light on why her body temperature was
elevated. The initial blood
count from yesterday mirrored her final
blood count from the day she was released
from the hospital a week ago. (Good news)
Her white blood count was slightly elevated
then, and remains so now. (Okay) The lab
completed its work on the blood sample
today. Again, good news. Nothing new
resulted from the full scan, except a slight
deficiency in sodium and potassium which was
discovered and treated in the hospital.
Gatorade was prescribed to help correct this
condition. (Picture a non-athletic Madelyn
drinking Gatorade!) The good news about
today's ultrasound is that no new concerns
surfaced about the liver. Apparently the
hematoma they discovered during last week's
ultrasound of the liver remains stable, and
hopefully antibiotics will eventually
eradicate that condition. Some new concern
exists around the area of the drain tube
they placed in her side during the original
surgery. This may have caused her temp to
rise yesterday. So, the doctors (and
more than one are engaged in Madelyn's case)
agreed that they should schedule her for a
CT Scan, and that has been scheduled for
next Monday morning. The visiting nurse
came by again this afternoon, and Madelyn's
vitals are all good. Blood pressure and body
temp are both below normal today. So, we are
breathing easier. The fact remains that
she has gone through surgical trauma, and
while the long-term prognosis is good, the
time needed for her to heal will be longer
than any of us are pleased about. Again, she
is looking at up to six weeks being home
bound, and three to four months for complete
healing. She is very weak, but part of this
may be due to the meds she is taking. While her appetite is
still slow to come around, she enjoys a
periodic milk shake from Braums, and tonight
she asked for a couple of beef Tequilas! Thanks to everyone who
has sent emails and cards. And the flowers
are everywhere. They are beautiful. We
continue to solicit your prayers in her
behalf. Tom
Tom Barnard. Update on Madelyn.
(04/19/07) Family/Friends, Just before noon
today (Thursday), Madelyn was taken by
ambulance to Baptist Hospital, where she
was re-admitted for treatment and
further tests. She was at her surgeon's
office for a follow-up to her previous
surgeries this morning when she grew
quite ill. When her blood pressure
dropped to an alarmingly low reading, an
ambulance was summoned. Initial
diagnosis was acute dehydration and a
slightly low blood count. She was
hydrated through the afternoon and was
administered two units of blood. By
nightfall she was feeling much better,
though connected up to all kinds of
medical wires. Her doctor looked in on
her tonight and was encouraged with her
response to today's treatment. Another
ultrasound of her liver was done this
afternoon, and nothing negative showed
up. A positive sign was her appetite; it
was better today than yesterday. We will
see how she does overnight, and a
decision will be made tomorrow as to
whether or not she will be released to
return home. Your continued prayers in
her behalf will be appreciated. Tom Barnard Tom Barnard.
Update on Madelyn. (04/21/07) Friends, The news is good.
Madelyn was released from Baptist
Hospital Friday afternoon after a day
and a night of hydration with saline and
two units of blood. She was feeling much
better, and when given the option of
remaining in the hospital for a second
day or returning home, she asked to
return home. Her vital signs continue to
be good, and her appetite has increased
some. We continue to be amazed at her
turnaround following her hospitalization
on Thursday afternoon. Your
prayers—coupled with the prayers of many
others—were heard. I will continue to
update you as new things develop. But
for today, at least, we are thankful and
blessed. Tom
Tom Barnard. Update on Madelyn
(05/03/07) Family and
Friends, I have been
looking forward to writing to you
today—for two reasons. First,
Madelyn and I were married 50 years
ago today in the Sanctuary of the
First Church of the Nazarene in
Glendale, California. A few of
you were there with us. Although we
can't celebrate the anniversary in a
manner that Madelyn deserves, we
will do that some day—soon. We also
couldn't celebrate her birthday on
April 22; she had just been released
from the hospital two days before
that. We will celebrate that in time
as well. Second, and
more important, however, is today's
update on Madelyn's health. Her
initial surgery to remove the gall
bladder was 5 weeks ago this past
Tuesday. Two additional surgical
procedures were needed to correct
complications from the original
surgery. She spent 20 of the past 37
days in the hospital. She is doing
well now, although her energy level
and strength have a good way to go
before she will be running around
and shopping again. Follow-up blood
work was completed today, and the
doctor reported everything looks
"stable"—for the first time since
prior to surgery. Her vital signs
have been normal for more than a
week. We can't begin
to tell you how much we
have benefited from the prayers,
cards, calls, emails, flowers,
goodies, and food that has been
showered upon us. One of our
missionary friends wrote to remind
us that thousands of people "from
around the world" have prayed for
Madelyn during the past month. Most
of them have never even met her, but
they have been holding her up in
prayer. How can I even begin to
thank all of you enough? These updates
will be sent less frequently, unless
she takes a step or two back. In the
meantime, join us in praising God
for what he has done in the life of
one his saints. Tom Barnard |