Update - 12/17/08

Tate is home!! :)

He arrived back here around 1:30 yesterday afternoon. The nurse was here for 3 hours yesterday and got all his tubes and pumps hooked up. My parents were quite overwhelmed with all the boxes of materials they sent home from the hospital! He was so thankful to be able to sit by the fire and play cards and laugh! Just keep praying for his intestines to heal and for him to deal with seeing food and handling it in a way that honors God.

He will be on the TPN for as long as it takes for healing. It could be up to 6 months. If you'd like to come visit Tate, give us a call at 578-1193. Tate would love to play some games with friends!

Update -- 12/15/08

Hello Friends and Family -- From the S.F. Hospital this time!

On Saturday, Tate was transferred to a new room (with a room-mate this time) and now has internet access!

My Dad and I are here with Tate in his room right now! It's the first time I've seen Tate in a week! Oh how I've missed his smile! :)

We've only been here an hour and a half and have already talked to 6 nurses!

They are preparing everything for Tate's departure from the hospital tomorrow!

Lord willing, he will be released at 12pm. That way, he'll be between feedings and IV antibiotics. Once he's home, a home care nurse will be in to get Tate hooked up again with his antibiotics and home TNP system.

When we got here, Tate had his Bible open on his bed and was talking to his nurse about what he was reading. Pray that even in his last hours here that he would be a testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Tate says thank you for all your prayers and letters and cannot wait to see everyone once he's home! Another praise is that Tate has actually gained a little over 2 pounds in the last few days! Pray that this nutrition system would continue to strengthen and heal his body.

With love from the hospital,

Tate, Mae, and Paul

Update -- 12/12/08

Friends and Family,

Thank you all for the continued prayers! God is so good!

My parents and Drew have been at the hospital all day with Tate. They'll be home later tonight.

Today the nurses were supposed to teach my parents how to administer Tate's nutrition and antibiotics through his pic-line for when he comes home. My Mom said it turned into more of a decision making day.

Tate's release date is scheduled for Tuesday: Praise God!! :)

Unless there are any unexpected problems that arise before then, he will be released on Tuesday! Today was also the first time Tate was able to leave his hospital room because his scans which tested for infection came back negative! When I called, he and Drew had already ventured to the game room where they were playing together and interacting with other kids.

My parents decided today that in order to decrease the likelihood of bacteria getting into Tate's port once he's home, during the day, he will be given his 2 different antibiotics via the pic-line. He will wear a back-pack, which holds the bags of fluid. (Those will be delivered by Walgreen's home care, I believe.) Then at night, he will be hooked up to the TNP, (or TPN? I can't remember ;) in order to receive his full nutrition.

The nurse mentioned to Tate and my parents this afternoon that he will be living at home with the pic-line and total nutrition system for at least a few months. After hearing that, Tate emotionally broke down at the thought that he won't be eating anything for a while.

We've been encouraging him by dwelling on Matthew 4:4, which talks about man not living by bread alone but by every word which proceeds out of the mouth of God. Tate will need to rely on the "meat" of the Word for strength, during his break from physical food. Pray that emotionally, God would continue to strengthen him and prepare him for coming home and being around food all the time.

Thank you for your prayers!

In Him and Through Him,

Mae & Family

PRAISE -- Update -- 12/11/08

Tate called a little while ago with news that made his "heart cheer up!"
He is now allowed to drink a little water and may even be able to have little sips of diet soda!

Pending how he's doing, the doctors are working on the possibility of him coming home next week and we would be trained to administer his IV antibiotics and nutrition using his pic-line here at home. The doctor also indicated that TPN (Total Nutrition by IV) may be needed for up to 6 months.

Thanks for praying!

Update -- 12/11/08

Friends and Family,

My Mom is feeling much better this morning, and according to my Dad who is currently at the hospital, Tate is doing well. He didn't have a fever last night, so the 2 antibiotics seem to be addressing his infection.
He now can have visitors, but because all the test results have not come back yet, he cannot leave his room.
My Mom says if people want to visit, Tate would love it. She says his days are very long...not even broken up by meals. (He can't even have a sip of water or an ice chip.)
He loves all types of games, and I'm sure would enjoy seeing friendly faces and playing a game in his room. We are thinking of making a visiting schedule so people would know times that no one will be with him. His grandparents are going down today and Drew is going tomorrow.

During his stay at U.C., he will not have internet access, because the wing of the hospital he's staying in, doesn't provide it.
He does though, have his cell phone: (707) 494-5747, and loves to be texted or called.

All that we've heard from the doctors this morning is that they may want him to use the "pic-line" for 4-6 weeks with no food or drink.

I've printed out all the comments posted on his blog, to deliver to him today. I know he will enjoy reading them!

In Christ Alone,
Mae and Family

Update -- with pictures!

Here are a few pictures that I received from my Dad tonight. He says, "At least he gets to play madden football on Nintendo!"

I have no new "news" tonight, just continue to pray for Tate's spirits and he deals with the fact that he won't be coming home soon.

My Mom is home now, recovering from Panda Express food-poisoning last night. Pray that her body would recover as well.

Thank you again for all your prayers for Tate and our family.

Thank you for all those who have volunteered to bring meals, etc. I'm thankful for brothers and sisters in Christ who reach out to our family during these difficult times. We all sincerely do appreciate it.

Tomorrow, we will hopefully know if Tate will be allowed visitors during his stay at U.C. I'll keep you posted when I hear from the hospital tomorrow.

In Him,

Mae and Family

Update -- 12/10/08

Friends and Family~

I talked to my Mom a few hours ago and she said that Tate is very down this morning after the news that he'll be there for quite a while.
She said they have both had a few emotional breakdowns.
But they've been quoting scripture to each other. Especially Romans 12:1-2:

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

The doctors still hadn't installed the "pic-line" (that's how it sounds, but I have no idea if that's how it's spelled! ;) when I talked to her, but they were supposed to be coming to do that shortly. Once it is installed, it will be his only source of hydration and nutrition. Nothing will be going through his stomach; not even water.

A few specific things you can be praying for are:
1) Tate's spirits -- that God would emotionally strengthen him and encourage him.
2) My Mom's emotional strength as well. That they would both turn to God's word for peace.

Also, My Mom became very sick in the middle of the night last night, and is on her way home to rest. Pray for her recovery.

Romans 12:12 -- "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

Love,
Mae & The Bartholow Family

Update 12/9/08 @ 5:15pm

Dear Friends and Family,

We just received news from the hospital again this evening.
The doctors just told my Mom, that they think Tate will need to stay in the hospital in San Francisco at least for a few weeks. His ilium is so inflamed, and he has some intestinal blockage, but they don't know exactly what it is. They've decided to put him on intravenous feeding in order to give his intestines a break from food for a while.

They are still not sure if he is contagious yet, so no visitors are allowed at this time.
However, if he does end up staying there for a few weeks, I know he would love people to come visit and spend time with him. In the mean time, be praying that he would be encouraged through God's word and that emotionally he would stay strong.

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

Thank you for your prayers,
Mae & The Bartholow Family

Update - 12/9/08

Thank you for all your prayers, phone calls, texts to Tate's cell phone...ect. in the past 24hours. They are much appreciated. We are thankful for brothers and sisters in Christ who encourage our family during times like these.

As for today's report from the hospital...
I talked to my Mom a few hours ago and she said that there have already been 11 doctors in to visit Tate today. From the scans they have taken thus far, they believe Tate has an intestinal blockage, or possibly an abscess. Either of those problems, would require surgery to fix.
Because surgery is a possibility in the near future, they won't let him eat anything.
When I talked to her, they were going to give Tate a more permanent IV, (I forget the name)which would not just give him fluids (like the one he currently has) but would also give him proper nutrients. Currently, progress is very slow at the hospital, as his doctors are still reviewing scans and tests to be sure of what's wrong...and figure out the best solution to Tate's problem.

Thank you again for all your prayers for Tate and our family.
I'll post again when I hear more news.

In and Through Him Alone,
Mae & The Bartholow Family

Tate Update - 12/8/08

Dear Friends and Family,

It's 9:20 on Monday night, and I just talked to my parents who are with Tate in San Francisco.
As some of you know, Tate was hospitalized this afternoon at U.C. because recently he has been very sick. In the past two weeks, Tate has lost 9 pounds, has had severe pain, and fevers as high as 104 degrees. Simply put, the doctors don't know what's wrong with him.
Three days before Thanksgiving, he had some scans done because they thought he might have intestinal blockage, but those came back negative. The down-side to that, was that they don't know what is causing him all this pain and sickness.

I talked with Tate tonight as well, and he said things were going "well." He said he felt alot better than he did this afternoon. My Mom said that they will run scans and tests on him tonight to see if they can figure out the cause for all this.

Thankfully, he is in a private room at U.C. and my Mom will be able to stay with him tonight.
As of now, there is no information on how long he will be hospitalized. We'll see how the tests go tonight and what the results of those are.

When he came home from his Santa Rosa doctor's appointment this afternoon, he came into the office where I was sitting at my desk. My Mom began to pack, because they needed to leave for San Francisco as soon as possible. Tate came and sat down on my lap and I was just able to hold him for a few minutes. Wow, what a precious few minutes those were. I am so encouraged by the fact that despite all of his trials, pain and uncomfortable circumstances, he still remains cheerful and fully dependant on God alone. He has felt so awful the past two weeks, but not once have I heard him complain or whine about anything. He is a living testimony to me, and I know to many others as well, of his trust in God's supreme and sovereign plan and will for his life.

He is the perfect example of one who obeys the command found in Colossians 3:2 - "Set your mind on things above, not on things on this earth."

Pray that God would continue to strengthen him in the days to come, as we do not know what they hold. Thankfully, we serve the one who does know what each and every day holds and we can rest in that peace.

Some of you also know that I am taking Speech1A at the Santa Rosa J.C. this semester, and interestingly enough, I'm giving a speech tomorrow in class. Many of you have heard it before. It's on "why bad things happen to good people." Its main example is centered on the trials we've faced with Tate's sickness and how God has used it all for good in our lives. I know God works all things together for good, and I would ask for prayer also that God would use Tate's life, even through what has happened today, to open opportunities for me to share with my unsaved classmates tomorrow.

I know Tate, and each of us in our family, are so thankful for each one of you who faithfully pray for Tate.
I'll try to keep this blog updated as I hear more news from the hospital.

In Christ Alone,
Mae & The Bartholow Family