Courageous Joy

Prayer for my Dad:

Background - many will remember he is a retired missionary who was trucking to finish out his time until "social security age" - though he hoped to work until 70.

Feb/March he fell from the truck and broke/shattered/pulverized his hip. He had surgery. He was in rehab. He was progressing quickly. THEN the long screw they had installed pushed through the ball joint of his hip and he had to have the surgery totally redone.

He had that second surgery in maybe July? He did the whole rehab thing again. This time the docs have had him go much slower at trying to walk etc. He saw the doc on Friday and they expected that he'd be able to finally put full pressure on the leg. There is evidence of bone regrowth. Two screws had been placed in a V shape into the new plate and ball joint in his leg/hip. The screws are now uncrossed and one of them has snapped. He has NOT been walking without a walker etc. He's been very careful to follow all instructions. He has a CAT scan on Tuesday. The screw has not worked it's way through the ball joint again but it can't be good to have the screw broken. Mom says the top broke off "like a matchstick". Obviously, they have not discussed with the doctor yet if this will need to be fixed surgically, but Dad is saying no more surgery. This is an incredibly painful surgery from all the doctors and nurses say. It makes me sick that this is happening again. Please pray for good information from the CAT scan.

Dad has not worked since the accident. At first his company and workman's comp were being very fair. This has been complicated as Mom and Dad live in OR and Dad worked in WA. They were given bad or different info in OR and this affected some of their benefits. IE in OR they advised Dad to begin taking Social Security and said it would not affect workmen's comp...when Dad did that the state of WA's workmen comp DID lower their monthly amount. My parents had to begin paying back what they said was an "overpayment". THEN Dad's company complained and said he didn't really make what they first reported...and they lowered it again. This has happened twice. They have lowered their workman's comp from $3k a month to $1K a month. Obviously, this wreaks havoc with a budget. They just received a letter saying that if they don't immediately repay all that they were "overpaid" the state or workman's comp or someone is putting lien on their home and starting proceedings.....They are in the market for an ethical, competent lawyer in WA who understands the WA worker's comp system. They are NOT trying to milk the system but this WAS an on the job accident, Dad did work more than his company is reporting and they have been making bi-monthly payments as requested by the Workmen's Comp.

Prayer on all fronts is appreciated.