From:                              Gary Wilburn [Gary@ProgressivePub.com]

Sent:                               Tuesday, May 06, 2008 5:27 PM

To:                                   Arthur P. Sultan; abby wise; Albert Knaus; Annie & David Miller; Brian Lombardi; bonnierumilly@optonline.net; David Tait; Chuck McCollum; c_graziano@msn.com; janchris@aol.com; Tatroe, Donna; David Brown; Douglas Leess; Rick Cooper; Elizabeth Krentz-Wee; Reed Jr., Francis C; Gail Linstrom; hoettgen@Licr.org; PAUL HARTLEY; Habib Naseem; Imminct@aol.com; jrlaird000@yahoo.com; jamie@fpcnc.org; Joan@fpcnc.org; J. Tracey Mackle; Jim Godsman; Kathleen Dwyer; Mitch Moore; stephanie moore; Nedo152@aol.com; Paul Hetrick; Peter Hanson; poppasquash@presto.com; poppasquash@presto.com; PegRBull@aol.com; Margaret Hooker; pamgarner@psne.org; Robert Ker; RMills138@aol.com; Robert Moore; Rudy Weber; Robert Harbinson; stephanie moore; Stephen A, Wise; Sean McCarthy; c_graziano@msn.com; TGQUINNCT@aol.com; Tina St. Armand; Virginia Ford; barryglaser@att.net; ken@drwattts.com; vrnwattss@gmail.com; wwbdds@earthlink.net; 1kdolan@aol.com; daviddolan@aol.com; jpaatticake@cox.net; susanc@dslextreme.com; falton@aol.com; jklalton@aol.com; tinamcmurry2@aol.com; Bev Wilburn

Cc:                                   Gary Wilburn; Bev Wilburn

Subject:                          FW: Once a preacher always a preacher!

Attachments:                 IMG_0861.jpg; IMG_5992.jpg; IMG_6013.jpg; Baja Easter Sermon 2008.doc

 

 

 

 

 Greetings from the Wilburns in Baja!

 

Thought you might like to see what a retired Preacher and Church School Director do with their time.  This Easter Bev and I (along with a Presbyterian seminary graduate whom we just met) put together the first-ever Easter Service in our little community of La Mision.  To our surprise nearly 40 people showed up for worship and brunch!  Christians and non-Christians.  It was beautiful.  Wish you were here.  See attachments.

 

Please keep Gary in prayer as he undergoes surgery in San Francisco on Wednesday, May 14, at the Pacific Medical Center.  Pray for the surgeon who will perform this laparascopic surgery in which 4 wires with electrodes will be attached to his diaphragm and 1 as a ground.  These will enter his body through 5 incisions, as will a camera to guide the surgeon.  This will result in the wires extruding from a small incision in his chest where they will be capped and remain bandaged until he connects them to the battery-pack he will wear throughout the day.  When activated, the electrodes will stimulate the diaphragm to function normally in forcing air into the lungs.  The regiment begins with 4 sessions a day, each a minimum of 30 minutes.  The hope is that this will rest and strengthen the lungs to perform on their own at least as well as they do now, if not even more productively, which is what we are  hoping  for. 

 

As you know, this is a national trial test of this procedure and equipment.  Results from Gary and the other 99 trial patients will be used to determine the effectiveness of this technology and the safety of permitting its use with other ALS patients in the United States.  We are praying for a perfectly-executed surgery.

 

We will return home on Sunday, May 18. 

 

This email is being sent to those of you who have contacted us about this surgery.  Please feel free to copy others as you deem it helpful.  The more prayer support the better!

 

Much Love and Hope,

Gary and Bev