https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/danemigsheartsurgery/journal/view/id/60e8e89ac29a3c6f04bd0dc8

Dan here again …
I keep trying to tell myself that I will have fewer down days.  Not reality.  Yes, they do seem some measure less frequent, yet still very much there.  

Had a good visit with the ENT in Denver today.  Explained to them that I had been trying to “hum” more over the past two weeks, as the ENT in recovery had said the same vocal cords are used.  Sure enough, over the past four days, I am getting some voice back.  No where near my opera norm (LOL), yet an encouraging start.  ENT Denver was so encouraged, that they said I would not have to come back, as long as things continued to improve.  Yeah !!!

Please do continue praying for a full recovery, and especially that my kidneys would kick into a healthy high gear, so as to lose this post-surgery stubborn body fluid.  

Grateful for you and your gracious concern for me and Nora, in these difficult days … !

Dan

24 May, I managed to barely drive myself home with severe chest pains.  I stumbled into the house and told Nora and Jonathan that I thought I was having a heart attack. They called the ambulance, and the next thing I knew, I was undergoing a 12-hour surgery for an aortic dissection.  7 days in ICU, 7 days in regular recovery, then finally home.  I am home so far and continue this excruciating slow process of gaining strength and stability.  With home-care, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and voice therapy, it’s a lot.  Because I was intubated, and the voice cords nerve is so close to the aorta, I have totally lost my voice.  

This is all so hard to communicate.  It’s been a hard 12 months, with my Covid-19 quarantine in Beirut, the CML diagnosis, and now this.  I am sustained by God alone!  

I have just now even gained the strength to type and send this. 
Yet amidst it all, the Lord has been my strength and source of life.  Even in the early stage of all this, when being transported to “somewhere”, I told the nurse, “just let me die” … God was there, in my darkest hour.  I even had nurses praying for me, and one even inked in her daily praying on the chest pillow they require I use.  The reality is, I should be dead, with only a 25% chance of making it to ER, from that, only a 25% chance of making it through surgery, and was told by the medical staff that many die post-surgery.   Truly, I am a miracle to be alive.  And I am so grateful to be here to tell you about this.  

The road is long and sustained ahead, with an 8-12 week basic recovery, then a 6-12 months plus to see how it all goes.  

Nora began a CaringBridge site at: 
https://www.caringbridge.org/public/danemigsheartsurgery

and our friend, Char Sellers, has set up a GoFundMe site at: 
https://www.gofundme.com/f/dan-emigs-big-heart-surgery?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=sms&utm_source=customer

as well as the regular giving sites below.  

If you knew of all this already, thanks for praying!  If you’ve just heard, thanks for praying!  God is faithful, and for all reasons not yet fully understood, He wants me to remain with you, for some time ahead.  Grateful for life.  Grateful to have all three kids here with Nora and me.  And we are always so thankful for you !!!  

Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  

Affectionately peace always   …  
Daniel and Nora     
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If your heart so moves, we would love you to join us in these movements of helping others and advancing every area of their lives.  Relationships, prayer, finances, participation in trips, and more, are all intricate in this journey of faith and love each of us lives out in 2021.   Freely contact us for details of questions, input, and needs.  Join us on a trip.  Relate to all this in prayer. 

Daniel and Nora    

Global Hope Network International
934 N. Magnolia Ave.   Suite # 310
Orlando,   FL   32803-3840
407.207.3256  
https://www.globalhopenetwork.org/about/staff/daniel-emig

Nora and I extend grateful hearts to you, as you so love on us, and into our lives!  

     
As you may discern, Eliana’s time in the U.S. Navy drew to a close, and she is now back with us.  Many details entailed.  It funnels down to her being forced into 3 separate 2-week Covid-19 quarantines, two of which happened even before she started Basics.  Three weeks into BasicsTraining, yet again, she was forced into quarantine.  All accounts were due to someone else having Covid.  These incidents, combined with her extrovertedness and dyslexia, broke the camel’s back.  Brutal was the experience, and she is now home, receiving counseling, re-integrating, restoring, and recovering well.  Nora and I love how she is adjusting and being honest in all of life!  Received and processed well, these types of experiences can be a truly good back-door to an even fuller life ahead!  Clearly, there is a different “ship”, destiny and journey of exquisite good lined up for her.  

     
Thank you so much for caring for our staff and leaders in various countries in these Covid-19 times.  Sushil Marandi (our India and S. Asia Director), his wife, and a child were deathly sick from Covid-19 last week.  All are recovering well now.  India (in the news) is suffering greatly from its worst wave of Covid ever, and acute lack of oxygen.  Otherwise, our staff in S. Asia are doing well and persevering through all kinds of Covid conditions.  

   
With Covid conditions still acute in Serbia, Snezana is finding creative safe ways to meet with village Roma/gypsies; starting them in learning ELD-Entrepreneur Leadership Development. She and I just wrapped up our last meeting of ELD weekly training/content, and she is already engaging with small groups to teach what we covered via ZOOM/WhatsApp over the last months.  Please pray she can continue to expand, focus, and help as many as possible, especially in her intrinsic heart into the lives of many Roma.  
  
If things break loose regarding Covid, travel restrictions, finances, I would love to be in Armenia and/or Serbia, early Summer.  Having faith, in all these issues.  

Daniel and Nora      
__________________________________________________________

If your heart so moves, we would love you to join us in these movements of expansion.  Relationships, finances, participation in trips, and more, are all intricate in this journey of faith and love each of us lives out in 2021.   Freely contact us for details of questions, input, and needs.  Join us on a trip. 

Daniel and Nora     

Global Hope Network International
934 N. Magnolia Ave.   Suite # 310
Orlando,   FL   32803-3840
407.207.3256  
https://www.globalhopenetwork.org/about/staff/daniel-emig

Strap on your media belt … HANG ON … and let’s go !

  

We cannot thank you enough for YOU, you again being such an intricate formation and part of our lives, and specifically this recent trip!  We are grateful for your praying, your relationship with us, your financial backing,  holding us up in so many and such good ways.  

Let’s dive in …

Wheelchairs were a huge pivot point on this trip, allowing open doors to all kinds of other NGOs, organizations, military and political leaders, business owners, and the like!  Each of the organizations and people in all these photos received wheelchairs for their overall needs and/or individual needs.  
     

Women-led NGO helping the disabled, in 50+ villages near their home and town/base! 
    
Leaders of the Rescue & Fire Station that lost 10 of its members in the August Beirut explosion, as first-responders.  They would have lost many more if there had not been a multi-second delay in getting out of the station compound.  
        
Retired General E.A.R., responsible for helping us get the wheelchair containers out of the port facility. 
  
Catholic Bishop “John”, instrumental in helping us get wheelchairs to a local hospital!
  
Bekaa Valley public hospital COO, recipient of wheelchairs and equipment later, via us!
   
Bekaa Valley local business, coordinator of USAID helps for local Syrian refugees, and our newest partner!
  
Hapag-Lloyd Beirut representative … who saved us a % demurrage/storage fees on the 4x 4′ containers of 1000 wheelchairs, walkers, and other disability equipment. 
 
Almost broken … then totally broken van; with engine overhaul needed! 
  
Interview with, Nada; once in public media and model venues and now instrumental in sharing her faith to anyone who will listen! 
 

Syrian refugee family in their newest “home”, in Bekaa Valley.  Also storage for wheelchairs. 
   

Back at the warehouse, storage for the wheelchairs, and lots of paperwork, accountability for those organizations involved! 
   

David … our newest friend … and  also grateful for Elie, our media helper who took a lot of pressure off me in this area. 
    
Paul, our dear friend, and local leader … so committed to TCD-Transformational Community Development!
  
NGO – Joe Rahal Foundation … wow, what an inspiration and commitment to helping those with disabilities!
   
Interviewing “most youthful” street protestors in Beirut!  Warm, receptive, non-violent, talkative, youthful … street-blocking tire-burners!  🙂 
  
WOW … we simply could not be and do any of what we are and do in Lebanon, without this wonderful family in Joseph (and son Saeed) Milan !!! 
     
Did someone say “LEBANESE FOOD” !!!
    
Brief Mediterranean Sea venture … 
 
Man … was I ever glad to see this … NEGATIVE COVID-19 TEST, prior to departing Lebanon !!!  21-day Covid-Beirut-quarantine-phobias-be-gone !!!! 
 
Wow … you were so wonderful in how you came through, trust extended, and supported this trip, our lives, and our futures together in the journey, in so many ways! 
We are deeply grateful!

Daniel   

__________________________________________________________


If your heart so moves, we would love you to join us in these expansions and help for so many in greatest need.  Relationships, prayer, finances, participation in trips, and more, are all intricate in this journey of faith and love each of us lives out in 2021.   Freely contact us for details of questions, input, and needs.  Join us on a trip. 

Daniel and Nora  

Global Hope Network International
934 N. Magnolia Ave.   Suite # 310
Orlando,   FL   32803-3840
407.207.3256  
https://www.globalhopenetwork.org/about/staff/daniel-emig