Sunday night into Monday morning, the vomiting was under control however, the hiccups started. Late Sunday night Wes began hiccuping which went all the way through the night. We didn’t get much sleep and around 4:30 we called hospice. After multiple tries with medicines, the longest thing that would work is 30 min of not hiccuping. In the morning a hospice nurse, Aya stopped by to see if there was something else we could do. By 2:00 they got Wes a new medicine and the hiccups were now under control. Fourteen hours of uncontrolled hiccuping was finally at an end!!!
Another issue has been thrush. If you have talked to Wes lately, you would have heard his voice was very raspy. The thrush was not only on his tongue but down his throat. We had been using Nystatin for a week and it just seemed to be getting worse. Nurse Aya got Wes on to something stronger and we could see and hear the effects within the day.
Monday night was the first restful night Wes has had in a few weeks. Because of the different hiccuping medicines we attempted, he was very lethargic, however, overall he was feeling much better. When he awoke Tuesday morning he drank half of his large cup of juice (which lately he’s hardly drank that much all day). Throughout the day, every time Wes would take a drink of juice he was praising God for how good it tasted and felt going down. Nurse Mikki stopped by to assess how things were going and later returned to give Wes some much needed fluids.
This morning Wes sat up on the edge of the bed, I praise God for his energy. After I gave him his morning meds, he asked to try to eat some soup this morning and so far he has handled it well. Wes has also gained a few pounds in the last two days.
There are things we do everyday when we are not sick that we never really think about. It’s just what we do. However, when we struggle to do those things because of illness or some other reason, we become thankful for those little things that we were able to do and can now do again. What are you thankful for?
I am thankful for this great news! Every time I eat or drink some thing I often think of Wes! Praise God for answers to prayer in al these areas. So thankful for the medical people who are there to assist and and assess wisely. Thank you Jesus!🙏💕🥰. Love you guys!
What a wonderful update! So thankful to hear he put on a few pounds, ate and drank and had some energy. Praying for more of all of this!
I’m thankful for all your family has done. I’m jealous of the huge reward you will all have in eternity. I’m thankful for the proverbs 31 woman you are.
John and I are so thankful for this wonderful update on Wes doing better. Glory to God!!
Yes I too am very thankful for this encouraging update and also thankful that hospice has made such a difference for Wes in his progress.
I am thankful that folks like you can share your story with such Grace and still find joy in the small moments. This encourages me when I am feeling at a loss for a moment over seemingly minute and insignificant things. I am grateful for our God and the blessings he has given us.
Finding joy in small things is the gift God gives us to survive hardships. I know sometimes when my mind gets the best of me, something simple catches my eye (usually in the form of nature, or a child, or my animals) and distracts me from the negative. But I know, that is our Lord saying “focus on Me and let your suffering disappear!”
Continued love and prayers!!!
I am thankful for you, Karen, for your faith, for your love of God, Wes, your children and your friends. You are an example of bravery in the face of BIG challenges. You are an example to all of us who love you. You love as God taught us to love – unconditionally. I love you. I pray for strength in your body so you can continue. I pray for the Peace that passes all understanding. I pray God’s hand to touch you gently, to refresh you and give you His peace. God bless you and yours. Love you, Diane
Thankful for your news and Wes being able to get up and eat!! I am also thankful for seeing my son become more thankful for the little things after being in the ICU back in March with a horrific bout with MIS-C. Thankful for how God was in control and for answered prayer. Love to you all!! The little things are more precious than we realize until they are taken from us. Hugs.
My heart is so joyful reading this! The little things are so special.
I am thankful that in all things God is walking right beside us. You guys are not alone in this (as we see the evidences of body members responding to this post), but more important than that, God Himself is with you. As we celebrate the little victories, I can see the Father responding with Joy as His child praises Him.
I am thankful that God’s goodness is being broadcast through you all – even in this most difficult and painful time – He is shining through you. Others do see Him clearly because of you all!
We love you guys – and are grateful for the example of Christ you are.
Continuing to pray for Wes and all of you … so thankful for these praises … that God has given Wes some relief and is able to drink juice and eat soup. That’s wonderful!!! God Bless You Karen for your strength in the Lord … continuing with my prayers throughout the day and night. God Bless You Wes … you have been such a blessing to so many in your lifetime. God is good!!
Our Father is Jehovah Raphe, HE answers prayer, and HIS banner over us is LOVE! Halleluia!
Now let us rest in the LORD, rest=worship, “…be exalted LORD, in all the heavens, earth, family, in my life!”
Psalm 46:10
blessings,
raul elvia mesquita
Wow, I do dwell on the minutia that inconveniences me… thanks for the reminder to recognize the blessings which come in abundance. Praise God for comfort and relief to Wes’ symptoms and for your steadfast love and care for him! And for the wonderful support caregivers! May God continue to show Himself amidst all of this!
Thankful for God’s good news! Thankful for your sharing His good news!
So encouraged and so thankful for the rest and enjoyment in the juice for Wes. I praise God every morning for a multitude of “things” but it is seeing the light of a new morning that I delight in the most. I rest in His renewed mercy and praise Him for that. So thankful to see this sweet picture of Wes. Miss you all xoxox
Thank YOU LORD for this report and thank you Karen for the reminder of being thankful for the miniscule that we overlook,
moment by moment.
Karen, thanks for the update, I have always tried to appreciate the little things in life, I now have a deeper appreciation. Still praying for you guys, a lot. Please give Wes a hug from all us Ries’s. Love you guys so much.
Thank you God for answered prayers. I am so thankful to hear the improved update. Praying that food and drink will continue to stay down and he will continue to gain both weight and strength.
I am thankful for a God who cares, who sent His only Son to assure my salvation. I am thankful for a God who walks beside us through thick and thin. I am thankful for the family He has blessed me with. I am thankful for a daughter and son-in-love who are willing to share the good and bad with those who care and those who need to hear what a Great God we have. I am thankful for the Great Physician who is guiding the hands of those who are caring for Wes. I am thankful for all the prayer partners that are there for all of us. I am thankful GOD IS IN CONTROL ALL THE TIME. Thank you Karen for asking.
As others have said, I am praising God for these small yet very significant changes! Continuing to pray for all of you.
Love you Wes! You are such a fighter!
Hope you were able to enjoy the soup and the drink!
Nice to see this pic of you!
Praying every day for you!
Blessings for all the little things! ❤️
We thank God for your testimony of the blessings of the Little Things. We take so much for granted. It is so nice to see this picture of Wes and we pray that the little Blessings of the Lord will be coming everyday as He allows food and drink to stay down and strengthens him. “The joy of the LORD is his strength” much love to all and daily prayers.
Continuing to Pray and praise God. My pastors wife and I said a special prayer for you on Sunday! Looking forward to see how God does a miraculous work in and through y’all! Love y’all very much!
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Thanking Almighty God for this news! Continued prayers for you all!
This makes my heart so happy to hear! I am so thankful he has gained a little weight and that he’s feeling a little better. I was thankful to pick up my kids from school today, it’s such a gift to have them in school again in person and to hear the conversations about all the people they interacted with throughout the day. People are a gift from the Lord. Praying Wes continues to be able to eat and drink, praying for an offer wanting sense of God’s love and presence, praying for joy and laughter. Praying against hiccups. Much love to all of you!
Praising God with you! Praising God for the nurses that go through this everyday and know what meds to ask for. Praising God for the encouragement you ALL are to so many. Praising God for your strength! Praising God for the energy He is giving to Wes to eat and and drink! God continue to remind us of the little things in our lives we take for granted. Thank you God for Wes, Karen, Dakota, Kadin and Kasey. You are a shining example of who you are through them. Continue to walk beside each of them. Thank you God for who you are and what you’ve done for us on the cross.
Prayers for you and the family. I am sure things are rough. God has things in our path that we don’t understand. Thankfully we know the eternal outcome. One day we shall all meet Him and oh what a joyous reunion that will be. We love you all! May God give you grace and strength to go through this rough time. I think of the footsteps in the sand. Right now there is one set of footprints because God is carrying you. Trust Him as he carries you in this dark time. His footprints are sure!
Praising God for these seemingly small things that are in fact HUGE!! The strength and energy, that the hiccups ended, as well as being able to eat, drink and put on some weight. We are celebrating these things with you 💙
Even in the hardest circumstances, you all are such lights shining so brightly in an ever increasing dark world. We love you all and are praying everyday for you!!
Such a blessing to hear the good news and Wes
able to eat and drink a little!! Praise to our awesome Lord and Savior who hears our prayers! Also thank you Lord for Wes’ loving wife, Karen and their children who walk with the Lord! Praying for each one you everyday to continue in faith and strong in our savior,
Jesus Christ who draws near to us as we draw near to him.. Love you all, Betsy
Hi Coddington tribe, just wanted you to know that we are praying for you all from Cooperstown. “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf . . . ” And the anchor holds fast in any storm, trust in it’s secure hold.
Praying for Wes and you and your children! I remember hearing Wes preach at Oasis a very few years ago. What he said impacted my life. Sharing how you and he are clinging to the Lord and praising for the little things is a great testimony. I am praying the Lord will strengthen your hearts and comfort you as you hold on to Him.
Job Chapter 42…… and then Job prayed for his friends and the Lord restored Job fully and gave him double for his trouble ….. And like a Phoenix, he rose from the ashes and soared like an Eagle uplifted by the wind…….
Thank you for the update. How you craft praise from pain, focus on Him as your source of strength and joy is inspirational. Yeah for rest after hours of hiccups. Yeah for the ability to drink, taste and tolerate juice. Yeah for the refinement of joy that deep suffering awakens.
Thankful today for eyes to see the sunrise, strength to walk independently and ears to hear the voices of those I love.
All gifts from Him.
Thank you Jesus.
Love you guys.
Barb
I am thankful for you, Karen. I know what a privilege it is to care for a loved one and yet so tiring. Praying for your strength. I am thankful for the little blessings you have shared in this update. Most of all, I am thankful that the Lord knows our exact needs moment by moment and he is the source of our hope and strength. Love and hugs to both of you and the kids.
Thankful for your hearts, your praise, to remind me. Thankful for my beautiful daughter we prayed for over 2 years trying to conceive. Thankful for spring! And seeing new blooms daily.
Stay strong Wes, I am so moved by your love for our Heavenly Father.
Our boys were Todd, Troy and Tyler Gaugler. They are now grown up and are 30, 28, 26 respectively. Wes, you very favorably impacted them in Crosswalk at Sandy Cove years ago. Thank you for that. We relish good input from Christians outside our family. Thank you for this God-honoring story of your and your family’s journey. We look forward to meeting you again in heaven. With our wives. With our kids…all of them. We both want that and I find it amazing that God wants that even more ! -Larry and Dorothy Gaugler, NYC
I am sure that we met at Sandy Cove. Our three boys, Todd, Troy and Tyler Gaugler, spoke very highly of your speaking at Crosswalk. We relish the input of people outside our family in pointing our kids to God. Our boys are now 30, 28 and 26. Two are married. We so appreciate you and you family handling this difficult journey in a way that honors God. We look forward to re-meeting you in heaven. With our wives. And with our kids. All of our kids! Isn’t it amazing that as much as we want that, that our God wants it even more? -Larry and Dorothy Gaugler, NYC
I’m grateful for the people God has put in my life. I’m grateful that I haven’t lost faith (a deep fear when I first became a Christian). To lose it entirely would be impossible, but I didn’t know that then.
I’m grateful for my friends and family, and so much support I didn’t know I had. I’m grateful for my new job. The company I was with for 9 years recently shut down all U.S. operations, and my last day was 1/6. I’m grateful that I got 5 weeks’ worth of unused vacation in my last check. And I’m grateful that – while the wait was nerve-wracking – I found the right position, and am actually very happy there. And I’m grateful that I got to throw away my heavy steel-toed shoes!
I’m grateful that my step-mom (Sandra) has finally beat cancer, after an intense 2-year battle with multiple types of treatment. After two different types of radiation therapy, chemo, mistletoe therapy, and finally an operation to remove her spleen (which they couldn’t do initially), she is now okay and back to work. She co-owns a Caravan park in Scotland.
I pray that there is yet a way to cure Pastor Wes of the cancer, vomiting, pain and other health issues, without making life miserable along the way. And I pray for God’s presence and love to be felt throughout the family, no matter what the outcome.
And I am grateful for the faith, devotion and generous, giving spirit that you have always shown others.
Karen, We are very thankful for your writing on this website. You do an unbelievable job at it. You and Wes and your family are such a witness to all of us at such a difficult time. How you all are handling this, reminds me that we need to live every day like it’s our last. We continue to pray as a family every day for your entire family.
I am thankful that “though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” That “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” That we are encouraged (most sensibly) to “fix our eyes on Jesus,” and to “approach the Throne of Grace with confidence, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” That God wastes nothing and rewards generously. That we can exclaim “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” And never, ever grow tired of exclaiming for all eternity.
Your writing is so beautiful, Karen! As is your testimony of steadfast faith.