Update On Pastor Matt Snell

Dearest Family and Friends,
Matthew is now back home in good 'ole Keene and making appropriate
progress.  There are good hours and there are bad hours, as is expected.  We have learned through this process to literally live "hour-by-hour" and  "day-by-day."  We are tightly managing his Coumadin levels, which will be a life-long necessity.  (Blood will want to stick to his metal valve, so the risk of blood clots is a serious concern.)  He takes his prescribed walks and does his breathing exercises every hour.  Pain management and monitoring his 6 prescriptions is our focus, but only 3 of these medications will be life-long.  We are thankful! If standing close to him, you can hear the "ticking or clicking" of the mechanical valve.  Interesting and fascinating and odd all at the same time.  :)  Open Heart Surgery in general is amazing, but I am dazed that God has allowed Heart Surgeons to know how to replace an Aortic Valve and how to "fix" the human body.  We know that there is a long process ahead, but we thank GOD that we are at TODAY.  We do thank God for today.  We are told that Matthew will not feel like "himself" for 3-6 months, and not really be back to"normal" for a year.  But what is "normal" anyway, right?   :)
We continue to ask God for...
~continued protection and healing in this recovery
~protection from infection and sickness
~balancing of his Coumadin (blood thinness/thickness)
~proper pain management and proper rest (he has a new Lazy Boy to call his
own now!)
~patience for Matthew in this long recovery process (it's hard to hold a spunky pastor down!)
How can we ever say THANK YOU for all of the love and prayers you have all shown us?  We are grateful beyond words for each and every one of you.  We are humbled by your care and thank God for you.  We have been in awe of the "Body of Christ" during this time.  We have felt your prayers and have been upheld by your encouragement.  Thank you for the calls, cards, flowers/plants, and e-mails.  You have ministered to Matthew and to his  family.  Our girls (Ashley-9, Abigail-5, Angela-3) are adjusting to getting back to school and home.  They all wear "heart" necklaces that their Daddy gave them on the night before surgery. I know that Matthew has loved hearing from each of you, and plans to personally contact you sometime in the future.  Your continued encouragement would be so appreciated through these next couple of months. May Jesus bles you all for your kindness to us.  THANK YOU for your
prayers.
Grateful and Thankful,
Joy Snell for Matthew and our girls :)
Matthew & Joy Snell
(Ashley, Abigail & Angela, too!)
662 F Road
Axtell NE 68924-2413
308-743-2611
mjasnell@rcom-ne.com  (family e-mail)
keeneefc@rcom-ne.com  (Keene EFC e-mail)