Monday Noon Update

The procedure to insert the feeding tube is scheduled for tomorrow. Pastor Bill’s hemoglobin dropped so he is also getting two units of blood today. Please keep the family in your prayers.

Judee did get a return flight back to Colorado, Jan left today, and Cherri’s daughter, Allison, is having surgery at Children's Hospital today.

Here's a picture of Judee and Gary's new grandson, Amos.

Saturday evening update

Pastor Bill's procedure today to insert the trach ventilator went well, however, they were unable to insert the feeding tube. They are ordering a feeding tube to be inserted into the stomach, which will most likely take place on Monday. Tomorrow they will try to bring him off the sedation and also try to wean him off the ventilator. Pray that this will be a peaceful process and that he will not be agitated with all that has transpired in the past two weeks.

Judee (Pastor Bill's daughter) has been trying to fly out the past two days by standby and has not been able to get a flight. Pray that she will be able to get on a flight.

Friday Update

Pastor Bill will have the trach procedure tomorrow morning. They will be inserting the feeding tube as well. While this is a normal procedure, any procedure in his condition is risky. Pray for wisdom for the doctors and peace for the family.

Thursday afternoon update

The procedure to wean the ventilator off was unsuccessful. The next step will be to do a vent through a trach. The procedure will be scheduled some time over awake the next few days. The vent trach will enable Pastor Bill to be awake. While this could be a step that will be long term, the doctors did indicate it could be reversible given Pastor Bill's good health prior to his recent illness.

Thanks for praying.

Thursday morning update

Today they are planning to try again to wean Pastor Bill off the ventilator and also reinsert the feeding tube. This is a pivotal step today, so please pray for God to do something special.

Cherri wanted me to convey to all of our blog friends how much the family has and is appreciating your comments.

Thanks for praying, loving, and writing.

Wednesday Afternoon Update

I tried to post this morning and blogger was not functioning properly. Pastor Bill spiked a temp last night as well has had an elevated heart rate. Both seemed to be under control with medication.

Obviously this is a long up and down process, so the family deeply appreciates your faithful prayers.

Tuesday afternoon update

Today they made an attempt to wean Pastor Bill off the ventilator. While his blood gases were good, his breathing was still labored so he was sedated and put back on it. They will try and remove it again in a couple of days. His chest xray was the same as yesterday, so there has been no change.

The long hospital days can be draining on the family. Please uphold them all in your prayers.

Monday Morning Update

Pastor Bill's test this morning showed no infection with around the heart/valves. The congestive heart failure is no longer an issue. They are going to try and wean him off the ventilator to see if he can breathe on his own. The doctor said that while there is improvement, he is still very critical.

Thanks for praying.

Sunday Evening Update

Pastor Bill will be having a TEE (Echo Cardiogram) tomorrow morning to determine if there is any infection around the heart. There are some risks involved with the test, so please pray that all will go well. He was able to tolerate the lower oxygen levels today.

Thanks for praying.

Saturday evening update

The report early this evening is that they will be weaning Pastor Bill off the 100 per cent oxygen which is a good thing. The pulmonary doctor did confirm however that the ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) is severe and that Pastor Bill is still very critical.

Please pray that God will bring healing to his physical body and that God's will in all of this will be accomplished. Pray that his body will tolerate the lower oxygen levels.

Pray for Ruth and the girls. Thanks for writing on the blog.

Saturday morning update

Pastor Bill had a restful night. They are hoping to back down the oxygen levels today, so please pray that he will be able to tolerate the lower amounts.

Several folks have called and asked about visiting him. I would suggest that you hold off on visits until things stabalize. He is heavily sedated, so he would not be able to communicate with you.

Your blog comments are a huge encouragement to the family, but if you'd like to send a card, you can mail your card to:

Pastor Bill Raws
c/o America's KESWICK
601 Route 530
Whiting, NJ 08759

Thanks for your partnership with the Raws family.

Friday Morning Update

Pastor Bill had a very rough night and was finally put on a breathing apparatus early this morning. He is sedated, and with the assistance of the apparatus, can finally get some much needed rest. He is on 100 per cent oxygen, so please pray that they can wean him back down from the oxygen.

I know that Mrs. Raws and the family deeply appreciate your prayers as well as your comments on the blog.

Thursday Morning

Please make it a matter of prayer to pray that Pastor Bill's lungs get stronger. At this point unless there is a drastic change, they will need to put him on the ventilator. PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!

Pray for strength for the family and wisdom for the doctors.

Wednesday Evening Update

Cherrie just called with a report that the result of the test this afternoon shows extensive pnuemonia. He called this Accute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. They have adjusted the meds so that hopefully Pastor Bill will be able to get a good night of rest. He cannot be without the oxygen mask for any length of time without it adversely affecting his breathing. Continue to pray that the antibiotics will work on the infection.

Thanks again for praying and for writing notes on the blog!

Wednesday Afternoon Update

Pastor Bill had a stable night but needs to sleep. The antibiotics are working well but they need to get his cough under control so that he can sleep as well as get his breathing regulated.

Thanks again for you prayers.

Tuesday Afternoon

Pastor Bill has made some progress today. The medical staff have placed him on VISITOR RESTRICTION so that he can get some rest.

The next 24 hours are very critical in his recovery, but the good news is that the antibiotics seem to be working on the infection and he does not have an infection around the lining of the heart.

I know that the family are being encouraged by the comments being left on the blog -- so please keep it up!

Tuesday morning Update

Pastor Bill had a rough night, to the point that they considered sending him to Jersey Shore. He has stabilized to a point that they have decided not to transfer him at this point. In addition to the strep infection, he does have congestive heart failure and bacterial pneumonia. There is another test that they need to do at some point, but it would require them to sedate him and he is not well enough to do the test right now.

I will keep you posted as I get information. Your notes of encouragement will be much appreciated by Pastor Bill and his family.

Update for Monday Evening June 16, 2008

Pastor Bill Raws was admitted to the hospital on Friday due to an infection. Around 4:00 AM he experienced some breathing difficulties and was admitted to ICU.

He has a strep infection that is affecting his kidneys and also causing some breathing difficulties. He is very weak.

We would appreciate your prayers for Pastor Bill's recovery and for strength f0r his dear wife, Ruth.

We will update the blog as information is available. Rather than phone America's KESWICK for information, we want to encourage you to visit the blog as often as possible. You can access the blog through our website @ www.americaskeswick.org.

To write a word of encouragement to Pastor Bill and Ruth, simply respond to any blog posting.

Thanks for your prayers.

Bill Welte
President & CEO
America's KESWICK