A word from Dan

To all of my family and friends,

I wanted to write a personal note to thank everyone for all of the prayers and support you have given my family and I over these past weeks. Thank you for all of the cards, calls, comments on the blog and visits they have been so encouraging. I am still recovering and so thankful to be at home. My kidney's continue to improve every day and I am working to gain back strength. My biggest challenge is learning to walk again after all of the muscle I lost in my legs and body . The other day I was trying to walk without my walker (Yes I am now training for a walker race in the 90 and up category) and I started to stumble and knock stuff down like my fullback Austin B. at Champion. However, I really wanted to be smooth and graceful like my halfback Caleb. Hopefully over time I will end maneuvering like Caleb. One of the things I am looking forward to the most in the future is seeing all of my football players at Champion on the 15th. After my tests on Saturday I will know if I am completely done with dialysis and hopefully I will get the tubes in my chest out (inserted surgically for dialysis). Thanks again for all of your prayers and support.

Many blessings,


Dan and Mari

He is home!

I am currently sitting in Dan and Mari's living room looking at Dan sitting on the coach!!!! Dan was released from the hospital and came home today at 3:30 PM and he had dialysis for hopefully the last time. Every day his kidneys and blood levels have been improving. They will test his kidneys Saturday to determine if he will need to continue on dialysis on a short term basis. Our prayer is that his lab values will completely normalize and he will need no further treatment. His biggest obstacle at the present moment is relearning how to walk and not being able to eat sweets! His loss of 47 pounds has been inspirational to many and he is already receiving calls from several modeling agencies to book for photo shoots (jk-Dan is telling me what to say as I write) Dan and Mari would like to thank you for all of your prayers and support! God is so good and this whole journey has been a testament of the mighty God that He is. A God who hears our prayers and does what is impossible with man! Many blessings to you!

He keeps getting better!

Every day Dan continues to improve with very noticeable changes. Melissa, Grace and I saw him twice today and he looks so much better with his strength continuing to improve. He can even stand up with the assistance of a walker! Dan is no longer using any breathing assistance, he is urinating regularly and has lost 47 pounds. Mari keeps teasing Dan saying what a crazy way to loose weight. At this point the virus that caused all of this is still not known and Dan's kidneys still need to heal fully. He is required to eat food with lower sodium and will continue to be on dialysis until his kidneys are fully healed. His spirits have also been lifted more especially today. The Dan we all know and love continues to re-emerge with a joke here and there. They are even talking about sending him home sometime in the near future (maybe even a few days...?). Anyways God has been so faithful and we have seen such noticible answers to prayer...just had to share the latest with you.

Joy Needed...and an idea!

More good news...Dan was moved out of ICU tonight and is now back in DCU. His strength is slowly coming back and he is even able to eat some regular food. On top of that he continues to produce more urine which is a good sign in relation to his kidneys. Dan however is really discouraged! The combination of all the trauma, the potentially long rehab process and his current state has brought him really low. Here is where you come in! On top of praying for an infusion of joy, hope and encouragement here's another practical idea. I think it would be great if Dan was bombarded with cards and notes from all of us telling him how much we love him and how he has impacted our lives. One of the amazing things through this whole situation has been how many people have responded in prayer, concern and support for Dan. Then again it really is not that much of a surprise because Dan and Mari are pretty incredible people. So...lets bless their socks off and tell them (especially Dan)! Since Dan is still pretty weak too many visitors will prevent him from resting so cards or pictures are the best bet. You can mail cards to 1211 Windecker Dr. Chico CA 95926. Have fun!

Latest News

More good news, part of the result from the kidney biopsy came back indicating that Dan's kidneys are not permanently shut down. The recovery rate is not as clear at this point but this was good news! Also, all of the lab results came back negative which included West Nile and several other. This is good but also means that they still do not know what has caused all of this. Dan continues to look much better but is still really weak. Just scratching his nose takes significant effort. The prayer is that his kidney's recover in record time and Dan's strength increases. Happy Thanksgiving!

Perspective

Psalm 103 came to mind this morning after hearing the good news of Dan being off the vent. During this Thanksgiving season I am reminded of who the God we worship, praise, and thank is! It is not that He has ever changed, but at times our perspective or memory has. Sometimes we (I) have spiritual amnesia…forgetting that He is the God who forgives, heals, redeems and satisfies! This Thanksgiving I am challenged and encouraged to “forget not all of His benefits…” as I am thankful for family, friends and so much more. I hope this verse encourages you as well! May you as well be thankful for the family and friends that are around you tomorrow…I know that I can say on behalf of the Dailey family…we are and you are a big part of that!

Psalm 103:1-5
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits

3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

He's off the vent!

Great news Dan is off the ventilator! By last night Dan was breathing on his own without the ventilator. Last night the doctor was going to do a bronchacoscopy (test on his lungs) and he was unintentionally fighting them and the vent pulled out. So not only is his breathing better but he still has that fighting spirit! He is making more urine, but the area he needs the most healing is his kidneys. They are going to do a biopsy on his kidneys to find out the extent of damage. Your prayers are working so keep them coming. Mari told Melissa last night that as she was praying yesterday the Lord impressed upon her that He is using this whole ordeal with Dan to bring people together and reveal to them how powerful their prayers are when they are united. May He, the great healer continue to be lifted up and may our trust and faith in who He is and what He can do only increase! Next up lets see these kidneys restored and healed. Also, continue to pray that they identify the virus that caused all of this. Many blessings to you today!