2026 Health Updates

"Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." John 21:18

                             The reality of mortality becomes our source of vitality as we draw closer to Jesus!

For other recent updates, please visit my 3-minute podcasts,  Welsh Morning Moments, at the top left.

The written updates appear below, the most recent at the top.

13 May, 2026

Yesterday I went back to Morriston Hispital for a follow up visit with the ENT doctor. He took a lood at everything in the larynx, and showed me the video of everything looking a nice healthy color instead of an angry red, and everything is working fine. He discharged me and I'll be followed up my the speech therapy team to strengthen the muscles to help with swallowing.

I also saw my long-time neurologist who reviewed the Myasthenia Gravis. My vision is no longer double but I'm still having trouble getting a clear focus. He recommended increasing the dosis of imunosupressant the final step and see how that goes. 

 ... Your prayers are still appreciated that the lingering cough disappear, and that I regain the weight and strength that I lost over these last few months. 

8 May, 2026

Finished the last course of antibiotics Wednesday, and am feeling a good bit better. I still have some residual coughing, but that should disappear soon. I'm going in for a chest x-ray today to check that all has cleared up well. Thank you so much for your continued prayers, and that I recover my strength again soon. 

30 April, 2026

On the story goes... A check-up yesterday by the doctor who prescribed me the doxycycline gave my chest a good listen, and said the infection is still hanging on. He has given a new 7 day prescription for Cefalexin, a very strong antibiotic, which he thinks should take care of this once and for all. Here's hoping and praying!

"Send me Your light and Your faithful care, let them lead me;" Psalm 43:3

29 April, 2026

Thank you for praying! I finished the extra five days of antibiotics yesterday, and things seem to be finally clearing up. I'll be going in today today for a final check-up to make sure things have improved enough that I don't more of this doxycycline that I've now taken for 12 days, after the previous two weeks of other antibiotics. "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16

24 April, 2026

After finishing the third week of antibiotics yesterday, I still had lots of cough and saw a nurse practitioner in our local clinic. She has extended the treatment of antibiotics and also ordered a chest x-ray because there is still a lot of congestion on my lungs. She said that because I am taking immunosuppressants, the antibiotics may just take longer to do the job. She did a CRP test which showed there was no rampant infection, thank the Lord. Thank you for your prayers!

19 April, 2026

These words, and the whole of Psalm 30, told my story in stunning clarity and overwhelmed me with tears and wonder and gratitude!

"O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit." Psalms 30:3

17 April, 2026

As hoped and planned, we returned home to Betws Ifan yesterday. Thank you, Lord!

I still had a lot of coughing, so visited our local GP practice, and was put on another week of antibiotics to clear the remaining infection. Your continued prayers are very much appreciated. Blessings...

14 April, 2026

Our plan is to stay with our hosts here in Porthcawl until Thursday, and then head home. I have discovered this morning that they have a music ministry, which explains much about the warmth in the home... a regular place of worship and creativity! The "God encounters" just continue one after another. Yesterday's podcast is just one tiny sample of God's extraordinary care of and goodness to us. No wonder John said at the end of his Gospel in 21:25, "And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen."

April 2

On top of the Myasthenia Gravis and infection from last Thursday's extraction, I developed a terrible cough over the weekend, then a painful sore throat had started by Monday morning. I almost cancelled our planned trip to Swansea but by noon felt enough relief to go ahead, and keep the DVT follow-up in Carmarthen en route. Little did I know that the decision would in all likelihood save my life!

When I was interviewed here in Swansea at Morriston Hospital by two ENT doctors, a surgeon and a lady who I figured out just now must be the ENT Head. They both looked through a tube they inserted through my nose to my airway, and had me do and say a few things. Then they conferred together for a long time, and came back and slid that nasty little camera in again and took another look. The surgeon left and then she talked me out of my very reasonable fear of steroids with some gentle intimidation about the possible dangers described below. 

I got prepped to be entubated, three IV hookups in my arms and hand, but didn't actually get put under for the 48 hours as planned. I found out later that they needed me to be ready in case the airway were to have actually closed. I was being monitored very closely, and had it been necessary, ICU staff could have been put under in a matter of minutes.

Adult supraglottitis is a potentially fatal, rapidly progressive inflammation of the epiglottis and surrounding structures, often causing severe sore throat, dysphagia, and airway obstruction. It requires urgent ENT assessment, often in a high-dependency setting, with management focusing on securing the airway, IV antibiotics, and steroids. 

The description was "spot on"... to the point where I felt severe pain from inflammation, even shooting pains going up my right eustachian tube which has given me blockage problems for years, and the days in ICU!!

So thank you Lord, here I am telling the story!