Prayer for Jackie

I've mentioned Jackie before because of her health problems. When we were in the States 4 years ago, she was very ill and at the point of death. She's been to doctors here on the island, in mainland Portugal, Australia and now, England. She has so many problems that the doctors don't know where to begin, and comments from doctors range from "you're a very sick woman" to "I don't understand why you're still alive."

Jackie and Jaime left Madeira about a year ago, and after spending time with family in mainland Portugal and Australia, they are with their son, Sergio, and his family near Oxford, England. This picture with Lara, their granddaughter, was taken at the end of May, when we visited them there.


Jackie sent a brief message Tuesday to say that, based on her latest blood tests, the doctors ordered her to be hospitalized immediately. Her sugar count was so high that they feared she would go into a diabetic coma. We spoke by phone with her tonight. She's in a hospital near Oxford, where she's being given medication to prevent cardiac arrest. The doctors are unable to keep the sugar level down, and it is so high that it is beyond "coma stage". On the UK scale, a reading of 7 is normal, 17 causes cardiac arrest, and her readings are as high as 22. We appreciate your prayers for her and the rest of the family.