Andy's Update

Dear Friends,

This past weekend Andy was able to come home for the first time and we were able to celebrate his 60th birthday with our church family. Many dropped in to visit on Saturday and a small group came on Sunday morning before the church service to bring "church" to him at home. It brought back memories from the early days when Andy led church services in our home; now he was on the receiving end and enjoying the fruit of his labors!

Going back to the hospital on Sunday evening was difficult for him and he is looking forward to coming home again this weekend. He is making progress in his ability to stand and take a few steps, but we still haven't seen any movement in the arm. For someone who has always worked out, especially his arms, this is a real heartache. But we continue to choose to have hope that he will recover even the use of his arm.

He has begun a prayer notebook and asks all his visitors to write their names and a prayer request so that he can use his time in bed to intercede for others. Just this morning our neighbor came by and said she needed to go visit him because she was in need of a pastor. He has given out the booklet he wrote on the difference between the Catholic and the Evangelical church to many in the hospital. Many staff members are interested in knowing more.

Our son Mark left this morning to return to Chicago and our son Michael begins Navy boot camp today. We are feeling their absence. But the good news is that our son Ben and his wife Jennifer are coming on March 8th for 5 days, so that is something to look forward to.

Thank you for all your kindness and prayers; we do feel spiritually sustained and strengthened for each day.

love to all,

Linda for both of us

Great News!

Dearest, dearest friends and family,

Saturday was St. Valentine's day- the 33rd one we have celebrated together as husband and wife. My gift to Andy was to get permission to stay overnight with him. I actually got to sleep in his hospital bed with him (they had promised me a cot, but none was to be found)! As we spent time together in the hospital we reflected on all the years together and how little we could ever have imagined so long ago that one day we would be celebrating it in a hospital in Italy recovering from a stroke. Life is unpredictable. Sometimes it is good that we don't know what's ahead; other times it would be helpful. One thing is certain- we KNOW how the story ends for Andy and Linda- "and they lived happily ever after"- forever in the presence of the Lord!!!

One of the hardest things about a stroke is the uncertainty of the future. Will Andy ever walk again? Will he remain disabled? Will his life be forever changed? I must admit that these past three days have been the bleakest in regard to considering the future. But, just like our heavenly Father, whose mercies are new every morning, we received great news this morning.

Mark and I were able to speak to Andy's physical therapist at the hospital who has the reputation of being the very best. She was extremely positive and reassured me that he will definitely walk out of the hospital on his own two legs and be able to climb the stairs to our apartment!! This morning she already got him to the point of pulling himself to a stand from the side of the bed. She even got him to bend over while seated to untie his shoes!! Now she is working to get him to the point that he will be able to come home for a weekend pass in two weeks! You can imagine how that motivates him to work on getting those legs moving!! His left arm will be a greater challenge. As of now he has not been able to move it, but she feels hopeful even there that we will see improvement.

It's funny how God prepares His children for what He knows is ahead. This autumn the Lord spoke into my heart a new thought. I was facing a trying situation which called for some personal sacrifice. In the past my sister and I have shared a motto, which we learned from Amy Carmichael, a missionary to India in the early 1900's. In times when sacrifice was needed she would say "see in this (trial) a chance to die (to self)". The Lord gave me a new motto back in November. He said, "Linda, see in this (sacrifice) a chance to love"! For Christmas I made little bracelets for me, and Cindi and my three daughters-in-law, with the initials A C T, followed by a little red heart "a chance to love". So in hard days when we must put aside our lives for the love of another we look at our bracelets and remember-here is a chance to love. I am wearing my bracelet in these special days and finding great peace- I have been given a chance to love my husband in a new way- and thankful for it!!!

thanks to each of you who have also signed up to stand with us and find in this "A Chance to Love"!!!

Linda for both of us

Andy's Update

Just a quick update: the nurses got Andy up and into a wheel chair this morning- he was able to put some of his weight on his left leg, but not able to actually hold himself up or take a step yet. His left arm continues to be immobile at this point. The surgeon did come in this morning and evaluate the case. His name is Dr. Fagioli, which means "bean" in English so Andy said he will have Mr. Bean operating on him!! He is a vascular surgeon and seems to have a good reputation here. Anyway, he has decided that the risk of surgery at this point is too great so it will be postponed for quite a while. The resident doctors have said that there is plaque in the carotid artery that is a concern- they are watching that and treating Andy with anticoagulants and statin drugs. We are thankful for each day's progress and trusting the Lord for the future.

Tonight a new patient was admitted beside Andy (there are 4 beds in his room); a man in his 50's with a mild stroke. I spoke with the wife and she remarked how calm we seemed. I was able to share my faith with her. She is a devout Catholic and pulled out her rosary beads. She told me that she was praying to the Madonna (the Virgin Mary) and asked me if I prayed to her too. I explained that the scripture does not teach that there is any mediator beside Jesus and we pray directly to Him. She asked me what prayer I used (she only recites the Ave Maria or Our Father prayers). I explained that we talk to God in a personal way. As I spoke with her I was again overwhelmed by the complete absence of a true knowledge of God, just an entrenched system of traditions which cannot help her to find peace at a time like now. This morning I read in Luke 5 where Jesus is accused by the Pharisees for not keeping the "traditions". He goes on and tells them a parable about putting new wine in old wine skins, and then he concludes by saying, "no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, 'the old is good' ". That's just what we find here in Italy- the old traditions are good enough, there is no place for the "new". But unfortunately the old does not bring peace or comfort or life. May this dear woman find true faith!

In Christ Alone,

Linda

Quick Update on Andy

Just a quick update: the nurses got Andy up and into a wheel chair this morning- he was able to put some of his weight on his left leg, but not able to actually hold himself up or take a step yet. His left arm continues to be immobile at this point. The surgeon did come in this morning and evaluate the case. His name is Dr. Fagioli, which means "bean" in English so Andy said he will have Mr. Bean operating on him!! He is a vascular surgeon and seems to have a good reputation here. Anyway, he has decided that the risk of surgery at this point is too great so it will be postponed for quite a while. The resident doctors have said that there is plaque in the carotid artery that is a concern- they are watching that and treating Andy with anticoagulants and statin drugs. We are thankful for each day's progress and trusting the Lord for the future.

Tonight a new patient was admitted beside Andy (there are 4 beds in his room); a man in his 50's with a mild stroke. I spoke with the wife and she remarked how calm we seemed. I was able to share my faith with her. She is a devout Catholic and pulled out her rosary beads. She told me that she was praying to the Madonna (the Virgin Mary) and asked me if I prayed to her too. I explained that the scripture does not teach that there is any mediator beside Jesus and we pray directly to Him. She asked me what prayer I used (she only recites the Ave Maria or Our Father prayers). I explained that we talk to God in a personal way. As I spoke with her I was again overwhelmed by the complete absence of a true knowledge of God, just an entrenched system of traditions which cannot help her to find peace at a time like now. This morning I read in Luke 5 where Jesus is accused by the Pharisees for not keeping the "traditions". He goes on and tells them a parable about putting new wine in old wine skins, and then he concludes by saying, "no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, 'the old is good' ". That's just what we find here in Italy- the old traditions are good enough, there is no place for the "new". But unfortunately the old does not bring peace or comfort or life. May this dear woman find true faith!

In Christ Alone,

Linda

News on Andy Brucato Feb 9, 2009

This morning, before my lunch time visit with Andy, a friend called to say she felt led of the Lord to give me a verse. Psalm 112:7, "He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord."

When I got to the hospital I spoke with the resident doctor who is covering Andy's case. She told me that the surgeon who was supposed to come and evaluate Andy's case was busy and can not come until tomorrow. She went on to reiterate what everyone has said so far; "this is a very severe stroke with extensive brain involvement". I asked her if she was saying that recovery is unlikely. She did not commit to an answer. Then I went into Andy's room with Elly, our daughter-in-law.

Andy was sitting up in bed and had visitors. After they left the lunch tray came and I was busy getting him set up to eat. His diet has been changed to a soft diet and, being in Italy, included a first course of pasta which he ate with joy after days of baby food!!! While I was focused on helping him eat, all of a sudden Elly said, "Andy, you just moved your foot!" He nodded, like saying, "so, big deal". He is now able to move his left foot and leg. He can lift up his knee slightly and even help himself push up in bed.

I'm not a doctor, but it sure seems to me that after only 5 days being able to eat solid foods and move your leg is a good sign. We choose to believe this is a work of the Lord on his behalf. From the way the doctors talk I don't think they expected this. Let's wait and see what else God has in store for us, and let's thank Him together for these encouraging signs of progress!

Our son Mark has been able to get a ticket to come to Italy and will arrive on Wed. morning. We are thrilled about that! Michael is also trying to get permission from the Navy to come for a visit as well. Ben and Jennifer may be able to come in March on her spring break. What a joy to have our children near at such a time!

love and thanks to all of you,

Linda

Andy's Condition

Before I give you news about Andy let me thank each one of you for the emails, calls, concern, prayers, financial help, encouragements....!!! I can testify that we are being upheld every moment. We have not experienced any moments of overwhelming fear or sorrow. We feel completely at peace; truly that supernatural peace that "passes all understanding". This morning Andy told me how he passed those hours on the floor of the bathroom- reciting scripture, in particular Isaiah 41:10 "Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Andy said he was never afraid. Let me encourage all of you to start memorizing scripture; you never know when you'll need it!!!

This morning Luke talked with the doctor who told him that Andy's right carotid artery is blocked, which was the cause of the stroke. He will need to have a surgical procedure to fix that. They are concerned about the fact that a large portion of his brain was affected by the stroke and they may need to wait for some healing there before doing the procedure. He is still at risk of another stroke in the meantime, but they are treating him with medication to prevent that. We should know on Monday when they will do the procedure. At this time they are unable to predict how much rehabilitation we can expect. But somehow neither of us are asking questions about the future; we are just resting and taking each day as the Father gives it to us.

This morning in my devotions I was in Luke 5- the story about the paralytic whose friends carried him up on the roof to get him to Jesus. When Jesus saw the faith of the friends He said, "Your sins are forgiven". I've read that passage a thousand times but today I saw it in a new way- from Jesus' eyes. These friends would stop at nothing to get their friend healed. No obstacle was going to stand in their way. Whatever it took. Jesus, seeing that kind of determination, gives them something greater than what they wanted. They would have been satisfied with physical healing, but their friend would have eventually died someday anyway. Jesus gave him what he really needed- spiritual healing so that he would live forever, and then he gave them the lesser gift as well, physical healing.

As Andy lies paralyzed in bed we would be tempted to settle for a lesser blessing- physical healing- but what we both want is a greater blessing- we want others, in particular Andy's brother and family members to have their sins forgiven. The beauty is that our God is able to give both, the greater and the lesser!! Would you pray with us that the Father would use this event in the life of Andy's family for their salvation, and for the salvation of Italians?

thanks to each and every one of you,

resting in Jesus,

Linda and Andy

Andy Brucato suffers a Stroke

Some of you already have received the news, but for those who have not, Andy had a massive stroke yesterday morning, Feb.4. I was away with Ester on a trip for YFC in Palermo at the time. We were there to help launch a new work with teens in that very needy city and to support a new Italian young man who will be our second fulltime worker for YFC. We spoke about the spiritual battle that is raging for the souls of teens. When we flew back to Pisa (3 hours away from Bologna) we received a number of urgent calls asking if we knew where Andy was. He had missed two appointments that day and when some of the elders went to the house with the keys they found the door locked on the inside. I gave them permission to call the fire department to break down the door. They found him on the floor in the bathroom. When we arrived in Bologna we went to the ER and were told that he had had a massive stroke.

He is presently in a special stroke unit, one of the best in the city. He is paralyzed on the left side, but he is coherent and can communicate with difficulty. I am thankful that he is still alive and, although the CAT scan shows significant brain damage, his mind is clear.

The doctors say he may remain stable or he may get worse. We won't know for another day or two. I am just glad to be able to be here with him in his time of need.

This morning in my devotions I read Luke 4, the passage about Jesus' return to Nazareth. He reads from Isaiah 61 and I am holding on to that passage, in particular the verse that speaks of the Messiah's coming to give us "a mantle of praise in place of a faint spirit". In Italian (I do my devotions in Italian) the translation is even better, it says a mantle of praise in place of a broken(defeated) spirit. I choose to "cloak" myself in praise rather than allow myself to be broken by this sorrow. Thank you for helping me through your prayers. I will keep you updated.