Prayer Request!

Dad with my son Josh.

Well, it's true. You never know what a day will bring. I would appreciate prayers for my dear daddy, Pastor Jack Riffe, who was hospitalized last night.

It has actually been a difficult week already for my parents. Their church pays their way each year for them to attend the Crown College Bible Conference in Powell, Tennesse. They had to spend almost $500.00 on their car yesterday for 2 new tires, balance, oil change, and also a major hose that was leaking water into the front passenger floorboard had to be repaired. It appears they won't be attending this year. I am thankful, however, that the Lord allowed Dad's illness to happen before they left town and were away from all his physicians.

My nephew called Wednesday afternoon around 5 p.m. to tell me while having just spoken to my mom on the phone, she broke down and started crying. She proceeded to tell him she was just on the way to the emergency room with his grandpa, my father. He had been experiencing chest pains all day and burping of all things. About two years ago we had a similar scare which turned out to be a gall bladder attack. Also, bear in mind that about seven years ago my dad had five bypasses! But today, he said the burps were not coming from the stomach, but more from the chest! Once in the emergency room, he was given a nitro glycerin tablet. This reduced the pain and the burping. However, he was not totally out of pain, so morphine was then administered. He was quite happy that he was getting reprieve from his arthritis pain through all this! He will probably have the best night's sleep that he has had in awhile! Imagine, not feeling all that arthritis pain! I think when I visit him later today, I may have to ask him if he is willing to share with me! *giggles* OOPS! Anyway, back to the serious stuff - a CAT scan revealed a tear in his aorta and he has also developed a heart murmur which he never had before. His Primary care physician was called and paid him a visit. A heart specialist at Tampa General also checked him out. His own heart doctor was called and told the hospital to put dad into the Critical Care Unit for the night.

My friend, Kim, googled 'a tear in the aorta' and found that it is corrected with sutures, so I think dad may have a little surgery going on later today. Please pray as often as you can. We know he is totally in God's hands. He is a dear man of God, spoken of by many as being the most humble person they have ever met, yet so full of wisdom! He will be 71 years old in June.

Christmas Eve a few years ago, with my two sons.

Shane L*O*V*E*S giving his grandpa his diabetic shots! He says, "Gramps, is it time for me to make you cry like a baby?"

Dad holding Josh some 19 years ago!