Well friends,
After almost 45 days at Stanford Hospital, David has finally been released! It is almost surreal that he came home less than one week after his surgery. David has touched many lives (including the nursing staff in ways that will leave a mark for years to come. I think that can be attributed to his spirit which is part DNA and also a testimony to the love that has flown through him from many of you. It has been a treat to watch you BE THE Love! But, don’t stop now. There are opportunities to love all around you. You just need to look.
Peace, Tom

Welcome home to all of he Schrey Family! Here’s another update from Molly:

David is home!!
Hello Friends,
Yes, hard to believe – but it’s true. Walking out of the hospital after 6 weeks of seeing only Stanford property was definitely a surreal experience for David. He said it was an odd feeling to be monitored, checked, measured, and fussed over 24 hrs a day for almost 45 days to all of a sudden being “free”.
David progressed very quickly once he got out of the ICU. Various tubes and wires were removed daily and his incisions are healing well. He went home on many medications and precautions not to drive or be in big crowds for a while. Tonight, three big boxes arrived with the I.V. antibiotics and all the paraphernalia that goes with it (enough for only one week’s treatment!) We’ll be administering those medications over the next 6 weeks since they found definite signs of prior infection during his surgery.
All the various medical teams checked in for one last time before we left: his new pulmonary valve (bovine – moooo) is working well, the repaired tri-cuspid is not 100%, but better than right before surgery (and has about the same function as before the infection), and his new pacemaker is working great.
Over the next few days David will be trying to figure out his own limitations. Right now laughing, and coughing still hurt and getting up from a prone position or tying his own shoes presents a problem! But each day that passes – he will be getting stronger and will be able to do more. Slowly, life will be returning to normal and by the first week of March he should be done with his antibiotics and can have his central “picc” line removed.
We can’t thank all of you enough for all you’ve done for David (and family!). Everyone’s love, support, and prayers made a huge difference in our long stay. We were reminded how blessed we are as we got to know some of the other families in the hospital – some who have been there for more than 6 months and facing many other issues in addition to a sick child. As you continue to pray for David’s recovery, please keep those families also in your prayers.
With love and thanks,
Molly
(p.s. If you would like to see David, give him a call or text first to see if he’s up for a visit)

LLLLAAAASSSSEEEEERRRR QQQQQQQUUUUUUEEEESSSSSSSTTTTTTTTT (laser quest),

Thats right ladies and gentlemen, the most anticipated event of January is finally here. We will be meeting at church at 5:30 and departing shortly after. Bring 16 dollars for two games and extra money if you plan to dine with us.

For those of you who don’t know, LASER QUEST is one of the more epic events that we do here at Bethel. It is one of the greatest legal adrenaline rushes that the church can offer. And keep in mind that every one of who has a shot at second place. (Notice that first place is not an option as I cannot be beaten). For those of who who just said “challenge accepted” either out loud or silently, well done worthy adversary.

As many of us known, the super bowl is rapidly heading our way. With the similar rush of laser tag, what better way to watch the Packers win than by eating at pizza from your very own Bethel Lutheran Church. Sign ups will be this Sunday before and after church. You cant miss it, I will be sitting right outside, eagerly waiting to write your names down.

Hope to see yall soon,

Love,

Jeff and Mackenzie

Hi Friends,
Just one week from confirmation Sunday where a stellar group of young people will profess their faith in God as an adult. Pretty cool and sometimes overwhelming stuff! For all of us, this is a chance to be challenged once again to put our trust in God and our feet in front of us to get up and move. This day, our brother, David, is working hard to put his feet in front of him (literally) as he continues to rest into the love that God has for each of us.

Here’s the latest info from David’s mom, Molly. Texts and FB messages are great but the Schrey’s ask that you give them a call first before visiting while he is in the ICU (which will hopefully be for just a little longer). Your prayers are palpable and have brought great strength and clarity. Keep it up!

Peace, Tom

Here’s Molly:

Hi All,
Just a quick update post-surgery: David is still in the ICU – he’s feeling very tired and sore as you’d expect but is making steps toward recovery. They have been slowly “detaching” him from various tubes and wires as he progresses but is still fairly tethered to various medical devices. Even so, he took his first walk around the unit today. It was quite an ordeal and took no less than two nurses and myself to make this happen. One lap was enough to tire him out though and earned him a well-deserved nap.
Yesterday, he had a few short episodes of tachycardia – which may be a residual effect from the surgery. The doctors have put him on medication to help control this as a precaution and want to keep him in the ICU for another 24 hours and watch him closely. On a less serious, but still painful, note – David has had the hiccups on and off since yesterday morning – not so fun following open-heart surgery. It could be a side effect of one of the medications or the placement of the chest tubes. Let’s hope that will subside soon!
Overall, David is progressing well – hopefully he’ll be ready for visitors after he goes back on the floor early this week. Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers. I’ll have another update when we are back on 3 West.

With love,
Molly

Greetings this Friday from Kansas City!

I’ve got some good news to share with you about David: After a several hour delay in getting started due to a lack of beds in the recovery ICU, the doctors began the journey into David’s chest. He was stable throughout the entire process and the doctors were able to complete some great work.

Here’s the rundown:
1. They removed the old pacemaker lead which still had bacteria on it.
2. They worked to repair one heart valve which also was a home to bacteria.
3. They gave David a new Cow Valve to replace the damaged tricuspid valve. Should promise to add some interesting bovine features for David (more to follow at a later date)
4. They installed two leads and a new pacemaker as well as a third lead for a defibrillator if needed in the future.
5. They closed him up and are starting to wake him slowly in the ICU
6. He still has a breathing tube as well as several other creative tubes coming from his body, but he is communicating via the universal language of “thumbs up”

While he still has a sizable journey of recovery ahead of him, today was a successful day for this brave inspirational young man. Keep up the prayers my friends. January 21st was a long awaited, good day for David Schrey!

Peace, Tom
P.S. How did you do with the challenge of showing love to the ones around you. It still is not too late, don’t waste a minute

Greetings from Kansas City, MO!
I’m here in sometimes snowy, sometimes sunny Kansas City, MO getting ready to kick off our opening night session of the ELCA Youthworker Extravaganza. Over 500 Lutheran youthworkers will gather the next four days for inspiration, learning, sharing, and fun. As we kickoff our time, we will be praying for David Schrey who will be facing open heart surgery this coming day, January 21st. Please join us in lifting up all associated with David including especially his family and the medical peeps that will be attending to him.

I’ve attached an update from Molly and I encourage you to think about and pray for David tomorrow as well as make January 21st a day where you make sure to appreciate and acknowledge the loved ones in your life. David has been a great example of that and we look forward to a speedy recovery.

Here’s Molly:

Hello Friends,
A few weeks have past since our last update; during that time David marked one month in the hospital on January 16 He has been up and around, getting physical therapy, (massage therapy too – yeah, nice! and, got his first breath of fresh air in weeks. He’s spent a lot of time with friends watching movies, inventing activities involving Nerf guns and wheel chairs, catching up on life outside of the hospital walls and, although he missed the one hockey game he looks forward to every year (Sharks vs his hometown favorite, the Buffalo Sabres) he did get his Sabres jersey signed by 18 of the Buffalo players with a little help from the Breukman family and Doug Wilson, the Sharks General Manager.
It has been an interesting adventure these last 5 weeks with many ups and downs and in some ways not quite what we expected from this long journey. I was once again struck by the overwhelming amount of support we’ve had here during a recent conversation with a fellow Bethel member who confided that he wished he could “do more” for David and the rest of us. I realized that much of the relative ease we’ve had with our stay here during David’s hospitalization is that it’s not just one or two people helping us but SO MANY who have been a part of this caring community surrounding David. Our community of friends and family extends throughout the Bay Area, across the country, and even across the ocean. You all have made our stay not just bearable, but at times, even positive.
In addition to the amazing friends who have been with us all along, David (and the rest of us) have developed new relationships with many teams of doctors, nurses, surgeons, therapists and other staff who have been part of his medical odyssey. While David has benefited from the expert care he’s received from hospital staff, they have been able to see and experience a wonderful, vibrant person in David who has faced this ordeal with such acceptance, trust, humor and, good-nature; a role-model for all of us.
As scheduled many weeks ago, David’s open-heart surgery is this Friday, January 21. We are approaching this date with both anxious anticipation as well as relief – knowing that this means finally getting David’s heart fixed but also another stay in the ICU then back on 3 West as he recovers (this does, however, bring us another step closer to getting out of the hospital!). I will have an update post-surgery as soon as possible.
Thanks for your continued prayers!
With love,
Molly

Good evening and thank you for welcoming me on to your screens,

By popular demand, as you will notice, I have stopped typing in binary. You’re welcome.

On a more relevant note, Wednesday 1/19, we will be making another journey to the one and only SECOND HARVEST. Please hold your applause until the end of the post. Please be here by 5:15 as we don’t want to make the other groups wait. Or do we? No, we are model Christians.

OH HAIII dis is mACkEnzIe yo most fwavawist youuuuuth asSistAnT. BOOOP BOOOP BI DOOOOP!! :]

Sunday the 1/23 we will be attending Pastor Lori’s finally discussion of the feminine images of God in the bible. We hope to see your shining faces. Please arrive around 9:15. See which of your youth assistants will be there.

Finally, on the following Wednesday, we will be heading to Laser Quest. I feel nothing more needs to be said about this highly anticipated event. We will see you all at church at 5:15. Have sixteen dollars for two games and extra money for food. We will be getting togos. WOO HOO

Hope to see everybody there,

Love Jeff MacKenzie and Jackie(who did not grammatically edit this post)

Greetings my friends!

I’m getting ready to take off across country to tech the ELCA Youth Ministry Extravaganza in Kansas City, MO. While I’m gone we won’t miss a step with great activities planned by Jeff, Mac, and Jackie. They’ll have a great supporting crew and you should all have a productive and fun time.

I really want you all to keep David and all the Schrey’s in your prayers as David is scheduled for open heart surgery one week from today (Jan 21st) as they remove the old pacemaker lead, repair one heart valve, replace one with a cow valve (moooooooooo), and install a new pacemaker. Lot’s of skill, courage, and peace will be needed that day and determination and optimism in the days to come. Remember to throw David a note or text of encouragement too.

Here’s the scoop for the next 16 days:
Sunday 16th @ 8:30am: Meet in the kitchen to make breakfast for the 9th grade confirmation class.
Wednesday 19th @ 5:15pm: Leave for 2nd Harvest Food Bank to lend a hand. Make sure to wear long pants, closed toe shoes, and a shirt with sleeves. Here are the two release forms as well: 2nd Harvest Volunteer Agreement (98.6 KiB) 2nd Harvest Youth Permission Slip (45.0 KiB)
Sunday 23rd @ 9:15am: Meet in the Fireside Room for the final installment of “Feminine Images of God” – How it applies to the church today.
Wednesday 26th @ 5:30pm: Leave for Togo’s and two rounds of shoot ‘em up at Laserquest
Sunday 30th @ 10:30am: Confirmation Sunday

Have a great couple of weeks and feel free to send a message or call me if you’d like.
Peace, Tom

I would like to bid my readers a fond hello,

It has been a while since my last post, so I will do my best to make up for it in this one.

Tomorrow, 1/12, we will be heading to the International House of Pancakes. My recommended for meals include the steak (medium-rare), sushi, and if you are daring, the hot wings.

(Disclaimer: none of the entrees I have mentioned are on the real menu, however you will receive bonus points for ordering them)

After we have finished dining, we will be heading over to church to hear a lecture regarding the feminine images of God in the bible, done by Pastor Lori.

As many of us, myself included, commonly think of God in the masculine sense, Pastor Lori is ready to blow your mind.

If you are interested, be at Bethel at 5:30 in the pm.

The following Sunday, we will be starting a new tradition of making breakfast for the incoming freshmen, (but sssshhh don’t tell them)

I am definitely kidding, they are well aware we will be feeding them. Be sure to be there at 8:30 am.

Hope to see yall there,

Jeff

Good morning friends,
I want to share a letter from David Schrey who continues to inspire with his playfulness, wisdom, and grace. In the midst of a huge challenge of battling a long list of issues around his heart, infections, the boredom of waiting, 5 pound weights , and long nights with snoring roommates, David continues to lift up those who are around him. Rumor has it that he is quite popular among the nurses and it is a fact that he is the only bearded patient in the whole hospital.

In two weeks from yesterday, David will have open heart surgery to repair/replace two of his heart valves. For possible choices for replacement would be artificial valves, pig valves, cow valves, or cadaver valves (made popular by the Twilight Movies and other vampire shows . The doctors will also remove the old lead still in his heart and install a new pacemaker. Then it is time for another couple of weeks of recovery.

So, our jobs in the coming month is to keep David and the whole Schrey family in our prayers as well as call him, text him, FB him, visit him, and keep him in your thoughts. Well, enough of me, here’s what David has to say:

During the planning meeting for the college led worship service the idea came up to interview me to add to the service. Unfortunately the details for the interview fell through the cracks and the interview never actually happened. But fear not! The questions made their way to me and they will be answered here and now!
1) What is your favorite bible verse? One of the greatest fears I have had going through this most of my life has been am I strong enough to get through it? One Bible verse has really helped qualm my fears. Psalm 27: Of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? 
The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besieges me, my heart will not fear; 
though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. That verse really just dissipates any fears that I could have about all the things I am facing. With god beside me I have nothing to be scared or afraid of.
2) Where do you see God? For me the easiest place to see god and his love is through my friends and family. I have been here at Stanford for 23 days and excluding the day that the youth group came to sing carols for me 56 different people have been here to visit me for a total of 126 visits that is just insane. The amount of love everyone has shown me has been on a level that is definitely divine. My family has been here every day for support and there is no way I would have lasted this long with out their love and the love from everyone else that has been here to support me.
3) In the dark times how do you find light? The past few weeks have brought more than their fair share of bad news and it was very easy to get really upset and very depressed at first. Nothing has cheered me up more than having my friends come visit. Whether its watching movies or just talking or setting up a mini golf course in an abandoned hallway. Seeing everyone has taken my mind off my problems and brought me so much joy.
I have a few people that I would like to thank for everything they have done in making my stay here as comfortable and bearable as possible. First of all my Mom Dad and Brother have been amazing in supporting me and being here for me. Tom Hoegel has been up to visit me every other day and has been sending out updates like this one every few days. Jeff Brouillette, Lindsay Bryson, Katie Hoegel, Chris Larsen, and Mike Christensen have been up to visit me every few days and they all are just amazing people. Lastly I would like to thank all of you who have been reading these updates and supporting me through prayer it has been a rough few weeks and so far I seem to have made it out ok. I have a tough couple weeks ahead of me still but I feel that with everyone’s support I’ll be out of here in no time.

Love,
David Schrey