Winkie is still currently in a drug induced coma. The lowdown thus far: He went in originally for a hernia operation. That's when part of the bowel pushes out through the muscle wall. The hernia operation was a success. However, after the surgery they found blockage in his transverse colon. They opened him up and found leakage in his gut, abrasions on it, and a transverse colon that was literally sagging like a pinched water hose. It was also swollen. They operated immediately, removing 10cm of his bowel, rejoining the sections. However, the gut hadn't been cleaned internally before surgery (it takes days to properly clean a bowel) and the doctors saw it as an immediate need situation. So, coupled with an apparent incomplete colon section rejoining (there was apparent seepage at the point of rejoining evident after the surgery, which meant the stiching didn't tightly hold) the waste in his gut began to seep out, spreading infection throughout his entire abdominal cavity. Since that second surgery, infections were found in his lungs, bowel and kidneys. His appendix was also found to be leaking. They operated a third time, removing another 10cm of bowel, making sure this time that the rejoining would hold.

At the moment, he is in his second drug-induced coma, on anti-biotics and basic intravenously fed nutrition. He is also on a ventilator (breathing machine). His bowel function had completely ceased for a time, and so now, the two main things he faces are the restoration of proper bowel function and fighting off the infection that rages throughout his body. Dr. Lim has consented (at least, for the time being) to the administration of Dr. Richard Schulze's Intestinal Formula #1, a formula guaranteed to cause peristaltic action (the movement the bowel makes to move food within itself). We started him on the first dosage today. Hopefully, within the next 4 days, we should begin to see good results.

Please pray specifically:
1. For the restoration of his bowel function
2. and for his body to win the war against the infection it faces

The sooner his proper bowel function is restored, the sooner the Dr. and nurses will allow us to give him supernutrional and/or cellular nutritional products that will we believe will greatly speed his recovery and help him to fight off the infection (and yes, even Super tonic [Winkie juice] too, once he's conscious).

Mom and I (Fae and William) are fine. We are slowly adjusting to Korean life. It is alot like New Zealand here, and God has sent us many helpers since I got here. We have been asked to speak tomorrow at the church (Harvest Shalom) that has been taking care of Dad. We ate dinner tonight with the pastor, a gracious man, and a few of his staff.

Thank you all for your prayers of faith. Thank you also so very much to those who have been contributing financially in this hour of desparation. God bless you very much!

Love,

William Pratney

04/11/200

Good news! We spoke with Dr. Lee (the anesthesiologist) this morning. Winkie has been taken completely off of the sedative (sleep inducing drug) now. He is still only on antibiotics and a pain killer. Which means that slowly, he is becoming more fully conscious. Kidney function continues to increase and already they have begun to feed him some water (down his throat). He was even more responsive today, and with his head actually tracked at least some of our movements. He still has quite a high heart rate, and it would be good to see that come down. But things are looking up, and with a continued IV fluid reduction alot more of the swelling is coming down.

Truly the Lord, He is God. There is no one greater. Hallelujah! Thank you for your continued prayers of faith.

William Pratney.

END.


Shane Anderson

We finally got a rough estimate on when we might be able to leave. Dr. Lim came by this morning and said he thinks Winkie should be able to leave on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week (May 15th or 16th). Assuming Winkie is able to and well enough, we should be in New Zealand by May 18th.

His condition? Well, he'll have to travel with his stitches, but he's okay with that (ready to go home, I think). He's had a rash or something that's developed on his lower legs- red dots all over - don't know what it is - but Dr. Lim's arranging for a dermatologist to see him (he believes it's something other than a rash or allergic reaction). Also, Winkie's left hand continues to be a concern for him, as he still cannot write well yet, and experiences quite noticeable shaking in it when attempting to use it. We showed this to Dr. Lim and he said he would also arrange for a neurologist to see him. Winkie is still under observation. He is still getting X-rays, blood tests, and they're still trying to monitor his temperature and blood pressure. Dr. Lim is concerned (nothing to be alarmed at, just trying to be prudent) with Winkie's bowel condition. We found out that this is the reason for the continuing X-rays.

Winkie sleeps now as I write this. Mom and I are about to take him out for a walk. I look forwards to walking the shore of our beach in New Zealand.

Thanks to everyone who prayed prayers of faith for him. He is alive! And he's making a marvelous recovery. I never could have guessed that leaving with a medical outreach missions team for Africa over a month ago (as a videographer and A/V technician) would have resulted in me having to come to South Korea, Asia, to attend the bedside of a father in serious condition. And now I go to New Zealand, also a place that wasn't on my schedule- but I guess it was on God's. Good thing I came prepared!

William Pratney

What 21CR is...

A selected collection of key truths culled from the great eras of Church history when Christians saw the greatest change for good and lived most like their Lord.

A focus on some fundamental principles that lay the groundwork for genuine evangelism of the lost, revival in the Church and reformation of society.

A re-visitation of long-held basic understandings of God and His ways with men in the light of missing or forgotten areas of ministry in the Third Millennium.

A broad-based non-denominational set of basic Biblical values and perspectives that are common to all evangelical missionary-hearted Christian churches.

An essential platform for all effective worship, study and ministry in our time.

A common core from which missionary, evangelistic and charitable work can find Biblical, historical and passionately spiritual roots in its ministry efforts.

God-honoring understandings that have not only brought about powerful and lasting change in places and ministries in the past, but were also honored of God in helping launch some of the most effective far-reaching missions of our time.

Evangelical. Biblical. True Classically Historical. Devotional. Powerful.


What 21CR is not...

A systematic set of doctrines only held in common by one part of the Church over her past two-thousand year history. All those with a passion for God, His works and His ways will find benefit from these targeted truths that are core for all time.

A comprehensive survey of all the great truths and teachings of Christianity already elsewhere explored and studied by the many branches of His Body. Wide apologetics on God's existence, attributes and works, Scripture itself, the nature of the Church in its function, government and order, prophetic and sacramental issues and areas are properly the province of the Body of Christ world-wide.

A new church, Christian organization or ministry. Any Christian will find renewal and refreshing from this re-examination. All ministries will benefit from these.

Exhaustive. An attempt to distill all the great realities about God into one small summary. In the nature of Who He is, such an attempt it plainly impossible.

A particular amplification of things held dear by only a few in evangelical and missionary church history. Whenever possible, witnesses come from all walks of life and all times in which the Church lived in such a way as to not shame Him.

ccchhhrrriiisss wrote:
In the meantime, I have begun reading his notes about a "[b][url=http://www.winkiepratney.com/video/21cr/index.html]21st Century Manifesto[/url][/b]." It is interesting. Here is a brief summary about what it is and isn't
...
Anyone else have some comments on it?

Thanks -- and please continue to pray for our brother!

:-)