Steven Landers

A Thank You Note

2006-03-01T13:41:00.000-08:00

With thankful hearts we send our appreciation for your prayers and thoughtfulness during our family's time of need. We are overwhelmed by the generosity and ourpouring of love we have received. God has been good in blessing us with people like you in our lives and we are grateful for the kindness you have shown.
We continue to be encouraged in knowing God is not only in charge, He is involved and is watching carefully over Steven. We were blessed with a verse that He gave us and would like to share it with you.
"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be
with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."
Psalm 91:14-16
Thank you again for your prayers, love and support, your gifts of blood donations and food and comfort.
Bill and Carolyn (and Steven)

Last entry, for now...

2006-01-19T16:07:00.000-08:00

Steven's doctors have released him until six months from now for follow-ups! Such good news. Knowing God is at work continuing the healing and recovery, Steven is grateful to resume some activities. Although his energy level and stamina are slowly increasing, he has spurts of energy which he spends and then recharges over the next couple of days. We're still blessed to have many of you praying for him. We pray as well that his surgery will be a lifelong fix, his liver will be healthy and liver function will continue to be normal. What's new is the way Steven (and the rest of us) are eating no refined sugars and no fried or greasy foods for long-term liver health. Admittedly a great way to eat, regardless.
School will be a challenge. The lack of stamina is a concern as he returns to school 2nd semester, beginning Jan. 30. Pray for this as well. The school district is great, accomodating his needs and rearranging his schedule to only have 3 classes a day, as well as sending a teacher to our home for the other 3 classes. Also a home teacher is currently helping him retaining credit for first semester classes. We're grateful not to have lost his sophomore year.
Blessings on your new year. You have been given everything for life and godliness, IPeter1:3.
Carolyn

Good News and more good news.

2005-12-07T15:19:00.000-08:00

Dec.23,2005
"When they saw the star they rejoiced." Matthew 2:10
The star that shone with splendor at Christmas is known as the Star of Bethlehem and not by any other name. The light that beamed earthward is named for a dusty little village without distinction, except...except that Jesus was born there!
It is another pointer to the ways that God has of dignifying, enobling, and advancing His grace upon each of us in whom Jesus has been born. Just as Bethlehhem is a profitable business center today, because Christ was born there, so God is willing to ordain fruitfulness for each of us in whom Jesus lives. His glory is ignited over you just as over the town to which God sent his son to earth for us. Indeed Good News.* (*parapharsed from the Spirit Filled Devotional, T. Nelson.Pub.)

Steven's recent post-surgical follow-up with our doctors rendered good news. It felt unusual to hear something hopeful, having been hyper-vigilant for so long. But after a few days of emotional processing, the intensity began to lift especially since Steven's energy level is increasing, consistent with pretty good CBC and chemistry panel results. Steven has been ordered to change some eating habits to promote long term liver health and that's it; no medications! He'll follow-up in a month and if all's well then, follow-ups will be every six months. Amazing news. Amazing grace!

Through our School District, Steven is being provided with a home/hospital teacher in order to bring him up to speed from now until February when second semester begins. The hope is that he will be ready at that time for re-entry into a full school day and a full load of academics. Just beginning the process proves difficult because interest, focus and concentration are yet to be reignited.

Part of what we've learned:
Since our lives are nestled between the boundaries of God's soverignty and his unfailing love we have come to know that what happens to us is purposefully within those boundaries and isn't exculsively about us, but also about how others are impacted by an event or circumstance which was intended all along, to point to the Lord. He causes us to wonder what He's doing, what's going to happen, to be gripped by the possibilities and to pray. If we're brave, we might even enter into His presence and search out His will. And the whole time God is pleased that we have come closer to Him. That He reveals more of Himself to us. That our faith grows, that our prayer joins with multitudes of others and is rewarded. That His glory is ignited in you. That you have a story to tell, that was intended all along, to point others to the Lord.
With enormous gratitude, Blessed Christmas to all of you.
The Landers Family

2005-12-01T11:03:00.000-08:00

Hurray! We're home already! All went well yesterday and both surgeons agreed to our coming home right away. No need for an extended stay. So Steven will be recuperating at home, moving gingerly about the house, with all surgeries mending. Nothing more on the calendar for major procedures, just follow-ups for now and continued prayer for recovery.
The separation our family has experienced has been draining, so we're all glad to be under one roof joyfully beginning our December. Hope you will too! Hopefully we'll start moving toward normalcy with new knowledge of God's love for us and His sovereignty over all the details of our lives.
This testimony of healing is full of God's Glory...thank you for your part in it.

Surgery...again.

2005-11-29T14:09:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow Wed. Nov. 30th Steven returns to Childrens Hospital for surgery. The extent of the proceedures may require only an overnight stay but could be as much as 4 nights. Please pray for all that surgery involves. The Lord has been reassuring as only He can be regarding our return visit. We continue to rely on Him answering our collective prayers for Steven's long term health. Blessings, The Landers Family

Thankfulness

2005-11-24T21:13:00.000-08:00

We are so thankful for all of you who have reached out to our family specifically to Steven while we have been challenged with this trial. We have felt your prayers and have been blessed to handle in faith all that has been imputed to us. We have understood Moses and his need to have Aaron and Hur hold up his arms so he could pray and God could bless.
Indeed God is blessing. Steven is having minimal pain and handling it with tylenol. His energy level is creeping back too. He is facing the second surgery Wednesday, but we're glad he's gained some strength ahead of time.
Blessings to all of you, we are thankful for each one. God knows how you've helped us and our prayer is for him to bless you abundantly.
With thankful hearts,
The Landers Family

Difficult Gratitude

2005-11-15T21:39:00.000-08:00

Post-surgical appointments today at Childrens Hospital revealed Steven's body is still working hard at recovery. Although unrelated to his major surgery, results of last week's test require another, different surgery for Steven. Necessary, yet less severe. Steven will return to the OR and a shorter stay at the hospital the week after Thanksgiving. A bit of hard news today, but thankful for the caliber of surgeons and hospital with which we've been provided.

Test today...

2005-11-10T10:13:00.000-08:00

11:30am Steven's resting at home, mostly horizontal on the couch. Pain meds are a must. Recovery is a process. Even still God is evident in Steven's peace and patience. Today we're heading back to CHLA for a test in order to have results by next week's post-op appointment with the surgeons. Please pray the test is effective, pray for Steven's strength and for peace for us. We're all a little nervous about Steven's pain and endurance today. Thank you again. Love, Carolyn

4:15pm Sigh of relief. We're back. Altho this was one test you'd rather not go thru, it wasn't as horrible as we anticipated, so indeed the Lord went before us and prearranged the specifics and supplied some humor. Glad its over. Thanks alot, those of you who prayed for this one!

Home Sweet Home

2005-11-05T13:50:00.000-08:00

I am at home! Soooooo glad to be here!
Surgery is easy, its the recovery that's rough.
Here's the deal, the doctor's were actually unable to find where I was bleeding from. There were too many possible places. They diagnosed me with Portal Hypertension. Basically it means that the portal vein which goes into the liver is like a backed up sink. The blood does make it through but takes its time and starts to pool. There's no way to fix that vein. My surgeon consulted with several other surgeons nationwide, she called them the "old boys," and the consensus of opinion was to decompress the hypertension by doing a shunt. In this case it means that using my own veins, the surgeons created a new traffic pattern for my blood to circulate back into my heart and circulatory system. It is pretty complex. The idea is that it keeps the blood from pooling near my liver and putting too much pressure on the nearby collateral veins causing them to burst and bleed. Pretty smart, huh?
Here's what's cool:
A week before surgery, the pastors and elders came to the hospital to pray and anoint me with oil. That was awesome. What was even more amazing was while we were in prayer, my surgeon opened the door to my room. She saw what was going on and rather than back out, she walked in held hands with us and not only prayed with us but received prayer herself. We asked that God would give her wisdom for the decisions that needed to be made and that God would anoint her hands to perform the operation. How often does that happen?
Because this surgery was a big deal, she needed to ask another surgeon to partner with her, not to mention the assistant surgeons. As God would have it, He provided the premier liver transplant surgeon not only at CHLA but nationally to be the partner for my surgery. As it turns out there were some decisions to be made during surgery and God provided wisdom and authority in the OR.
After surgery, when my surgeon spoke to my parents she said, "the surgical procedure went well and now we'll let God do the rest." There's some follow-up stuff left to do but I know God will be present for those too. I'm on the couch resting, and I know God is at work allowing my body to accept what's been done and heal. God is so present in all of this. Thank you for amazing and continued prayers. He is pleased to answer.
Love, Steve

Lapping the sixth floor.

2005-11-03T17:42:00.000-08:00

Hey all: Thank you so much for all your encouraging comments. Each morning, mom and I have a time to read the Word and discuss it and pray. Each time she asks me what I want to read from the Bible and every time I say,"something encouraging." We've had sweet times with the Lord day after day.
Just now, reading your comments has been equally encouraging. I'm amazed and overwhelmed by the numbers of you who are asking about me. God had it in mind for you to be a part of my testimony of healing. Thank you for your prayers. It seems so 'not enough' to say only thank you.
Hoping my trip home is this weekend sometime. I've scuffed around the sixth floor in my grip tape slippers enough times. I'm a bit groggy but I'll look forward to seeing you soon.
Love, Steve

Homeward bound

2005-11-02T16:03:00.000-08:00

Okay, there are rumblings of discharge. Steven is slowly creeping toward the surgeon's criteria for leaving here. Although pain is better managed now, reactivating the digestive system to normal is brutal, (anyone having major surgery knows this)! Today is the first day to eat anything since the night before Steven checked in a week ago Tuesday. Even still not much of an appetite. Two steps forward, one step back still equals progress and inches us closer to the front door. Thank you for the encouraging comments. Love to all, The Landers Family

Change of address...

2005-10-30T16:30:00.000-08:00

Steven moved from ICU to post-surgical floor. Each day has new difficulties and progress. Two of seven IV's should come out tomorrow. Although painful but necessary, Steven was made to walk a little today. (He made several threats along the way. He looked like a he was pulling a Christmas tree made from an IV pole full of pumps and tubing.) First day of some smiles and a little laughter. Almost ready for visitors. Thank you for your continued prayers. God is present here. We're asking him to bless all of you. Love to all, the Landers Family

No Visitors Yet

2005-10-28T20:06:00.000-07:00

The family has asked that visitors hold off for a while. They do not think he'll be ready for visitors this weekend at all. He had a really tough day today. Please pray that the hospital staff is able to get him situated quickly and that the doctors are able to find the right combination to manage his pain.

Thank you for all your prayers!

Released from ICU

2005-10-28T13:29:00.000-07:00

Please continue to pray for Steven. He is still in a lot of pain. He will hopefully be released from ICU later today. They are still working on adjusting his pain medications. The itching continues, so please pray that it would subside. Please also pray that as he is weaned off the drugs that he will have a positive attitude. Please pray for quick healing.

By tomorrow, he could be allowed some visitors. If you want to visit, please be sure to call first to be sure he can take visitors. The number is 323-660-2450.

Please also pray for the family that they would sure have encouragement, endurance, peace and rest during this time.

Still in ICU

2005-10-27T14:49:00.000-07:00

Praise the Lord, for He is good! Steven is doing well so far. He is still in ICU. They had originally put him on morphine to manage the pain (and it was working well), however, he has developed an allergic reaction to the morphine (itching, etc.), so they are looking for another alternative. Please pray for quick healing, wisdom in choosing the pain medications and lots of rest and peace for Steven & his family!

Steven is out of surgery

2005-10-26T15:07:00.000-07:00

Steven is out of surgery! It went quicker than they expected and all seemed to go well. He is currently in ICU and will be for a couple of days. They are now looking for the pain management that works.

Day of Surgery

2005-10-26T12:08:00.000-07:00

Steven's surgery actually didn't start until about 10:05 AM today. It is anticipated to take about 6 to 7 hours total, so please keep praying. The surgeon came out once or twice already to let the family know that all is going as expected.

Meals for the Landers

2005-10-24T13:57:00.000-07:00

If you are interested in making a meal for the Landers family during the next few weeks, please email Lisa at clarkdaycare@hotmail.com to arrange it. Meals are being coordinated through the KHC Meals Ministry.

Steven's Surgery

2005-10-22T15:55:00.000-07:00

Steven home for the weekend, but is having surgery on Wednesday 7:30 AM at Children's Hospital. Please pray!