Tuesday - Thursday (2/26-2/28)

Jason and I are commuting every day to Union and then doing his physical therapy near the school.

Yesterday Jason starting developing new pain in his left leg and foot. The therapist explained to us that his nerves are attempting to make new routes down Jason's legs. During the night and today he's had pain on and off in his leg, ankle and foot. That's all good news as the nerves are in the process of getting better -- just hard on Jason as it's happening.

Union continues to amaze us as they reach out to us and try help us through this time.

Since I've only raised three boys, Jason's emotional ups and downs are certainly something new!

We cut off two inches from the Velcro on his brace today, which means the swelling in his upper calf has gone down an inch! Jason has also noticeably gotten smaller in his torso. He's been up several times during the night and disrupting his sleep to make this happen, but his kidneys are definitely working!

Thank you for praying! Please continue to pray for the nerves to completely heal, his muscles to get stronger, the swelling to subside and for his joyful self to return.

Weekend and Monday (2/25)

We ventured to Nashville on Saturday and Kevin joined us from Knoxville. We met there to watch Steven's team. Eagles win and advance to the state tournament this coming weekend! So good to have both Kevin and Jason there to support Steven.

By the end of the day Jason was exhausted. He wasn't using his crutches and it was a bit too much. Sunday he napped on his stomach for an hour. That's a first!

Today Jason and I went to college! Just what every college boy wants -- Mom tagging along! Jason did use his crutches and we were given a temporary handicap parking pass to assist us in keeping down the effort required to get to classes. Union University has been so kind in working out the perfect schedule for Jason! We'll continue to make the pilgrimage together until Jason is a bit more self-sufficient, can drive and replaces his four wheels that were totalled in the tornado.

Thank you all for your many prayers. Please continue to pray that Jason will be patient with this healing process, that his swelling will go down, that his muscles will get strengthened, that his left ankle and foot will begin to "wake up" and that his nerves will make a full recovery.

Please pray that the doctors can pinpoint the source of Kevin's back pain. He has been watching out for Jason and helping him is so many ways. We are so thankful for him!

Friday 2/22

Today Jason showered and shaved on his own. He just needed help putting on his shoes and socks.

Jason also laid aside the crutches and is getting much more stable walking.

Mike's sister, Lorna, and her family stopped by on their way from Chicago to N. Little Rock for a wedding. It was so good to see them.

Jason's appetite is definately picking up. He asked to go to Outback tonight. It's good to celebrate the progress he's made!

Tomorrow we're heading to Nashville for Steven's team's substate game. Kevin will join us there. It's been two weeks since Kevin has seen Jason, so this will be good for him to see how far he's come along.

Monday Jason and Mom will begin their commuting to Jackson for classes. Returning to normal activities seems to be the best thing for Jason at this time.

We continue to be blessed by the cards, phone calls, gifts and acts of kindness. Wow! To be so loved! Thank you all for your prayers!

Thursday 2/21

Wednesday's therapy was mainly for evaluating the many areas that need to be addressed. This morning they worked with Jason for 1 1/2 hours, stretching his muscles. He'll go to therapy three days a week. The therapist told Jason that the swelling in his torso would be the first area to improve and that would take a couple of months. The swelling in his legs will take longer to go away.

Last night Jason climbed the stairs by himself with the brace on, crutches in hand and using the bannister! He also worked hard this morning to put the brace on by himself and then come downstairs alone. These accomplishments are huge!!!

Thank you for all your prayers. Please continue to pray for his left foot to regain movement, his muscles to relax so he can begin to strengthen them and to know what he can and can not do without getting frustrated (patience!).

Wednesday 2/20

So good to be home last night! We enjoyed a home-cooked, family dinner. (Steven appreciated eating something other than pancakes and cereal!)

Jason had his first bath in a couple of weeks. It wasn't easy, but it did happen!

We'll head to Jackson this afternoon for physical therapy. Since Jason plans on being in Jackson shortly, we didn't think there would be much sense in starting his therapy here and then having the hassle of transferring out there.

Jason is frustrated at how much he can not do. We all take so much for granted!

Please pray for his patience, as this next phase of recovery might be very slow and long.

Tuesday 2/19

Going home! Praise the Lord!

Monday 2/18

After coming to grips with the disappointing news of not getting out of the hospital, we ended up with a very interesting day.

In the afternoon, Jason learned to traverse stairs with crutches. The physical therapist doctor came by and let us know that Jason would need a specific kind of brace for his left leg/foot. The gentleman that will make the brace came to the hospital within minutes and took measurements of Jason and described to us the proper type of shoe he would need. Then much to my surprise, they let us go on a field trip to purchase shoes! It was sooooooooo good for Jason to get away! We dropped the left shoe off on our way back to the hospital. The man is being so kind to get right at making the brace in hopes of having it done Tuesday and Jason being able to head back to Memphis on Tuesday.

Jason's chemistry professor stopped by to give us what he would need to get rolling in that class. Wow! Way beyond the call of duty! Just after she left, a former high school classmate stopped by to encourage Jason. She happens to be in his chemistry class and has offered to take notes for Jason until he can get to class.

Thank you for all of your prayers. Please pray that we'll get out on Tuesday or else they'll need to transfer us to the looney department!

Sunday 2/17 - Monday morning 2/18

Sunday Jason exercised his legs and arms on his own and walked one loop with Mike late in the day. He was given another IV around noon to get the blood. That took until 7pm. Mike and Steven were here for about five hours and it was so good to see them. (We hadn't seen Steven since last Sunday.)

We got decent sleep again last night. Then first thing this morning Jason's dialysis nurse came in to see him. She braced him for the disappointing news that he would get from the doctor.

The kidney doctor told Jason that he'll have to be here at least one more night. His creatine is 3 and "normal" is below 2. He doesn't have to stay in the hospital until it's under 2, but the doctor wants to make sure it doesn't go back up. He will probably have to go to his pediatician's office for follow-up blood tests once he escapes from this prison! (Guess you can tell we've had enough!)

The physical therapy doctor should be coming by today to assess Jason to see if he needs to go to the rehab floor or if out-patient PT would be right for him. He's also supposed to be getting fitted for a foot brace to help the drop-foot deal.

Thank you for your continued prayers. Please keep on praying for Jason. It will be quite some time before his strength, stamina and flexability return to where he was two weeks ago.

Sunday morning 2/17

We got SIX hours of sleep last night and Jason slept fom 8-10am, as well.

The kidney doctor just came in and said that tomorrow they would determine if he needs dialysis or can go home. He has put out 800ml of urine since 3pm yesterday, which is good production.

The doctor stepped out to write in his chart and noticed that Jason's blood counts were very low. He is ordering a scan of his abdomine to make sure there is no internal bleeding and he will get 2 units of blood.

You never know what a day may bring!

Saturday 2/16

Jason had gained almost 10 pounds since his last dialysis. Not a good thing. His dialysis nurse suggest we take Jason outside in a wheelchair. We were outside for about an hour. Then we took Jason to the lower level of the hospital to the Subway shop.

Jason walked with crutches around the half loop with the physical therapy ladies in the afternoon. Then tonight he just finished walking the entire loop with crutches.

George Guthrie, a man from Union, came this afternoon and told Jason not to worry about being able to attend classes this Wed. when they start. Jason told him of some students he knew in all but one of his classes. This man is going to arrange for students to take notes for him and hopefully the next week he'll be able to go to class. This was such good news to Jason and really took the pressure off of him -- looking at the Wednesday start date.

Kevin Furniss and his folks were here last night and the boys were talking about Jason joining Kevin and Scott in their apartment. George also offered to let Jason and I stay with his family, if Jason needs the help when he initially returns to school. So kind!

Mike stayed up here all day. It was so nice to get to be together! Unfortunately, not the best for his work load.

Please pray for Jason's left foot, the swelling to go down in his torso and thighs, and for his strength and flexability to increase. He'd probably like everyone to pray that he can get out of here!

Friday (2/15) - Saturday early afternoon (2/16)

Jason worked hard with his occupational and physical therapists Friday. For the first time he walked with crutches on a loop covering half of this floor. He also got to take a sitting-down shower for the first time and put on shorts and a t-shirt! His kidney appears to be more functional which is a real praise though he continues to require dialysis treatments.

Mike spent last night with Jason and Debbie went home to enjoy a night's sleep in her own bed.

They took Jason to dialysis late this morning. He's so tired of being uncomfortable and being in the hospital he wants to be in his own home for a few days.

Continue to pray for his kidney recovery, nerve recovery in his left foot and for patience as Jason feels he is getting better and just wants to go home.

I (Mike) enjoyed so much spending the night with Jason. We stayed up until 3;30am Saturday morning and had a really enjoyable time talking.

Thanks once again for all your prayers, encouragement and love for Jason and our family. Your love has been overwhelming.

Friday morning 2/15

Now it's confession time, last night after Jason did his business -- I went to Sonic and got him a Route 44 strawberry slushy. He drank it so fast, he thought he was going to have a heart attack!

We were once again awakened at 3:30am for blood work. Since we couldn't get back to sleep, we decided to get a wheel chair and go for a spin around the hospital. Then when we got back to the room, we swapped beds! Jason is sleeping now to make up for the sleep he missed last night.

The kidney doctor came in this morning and said that Jason would need one, maybe two more dialysis sessions. (So he will do the next one Saturday.)

Jason got to get the heart monitor off this morning and he's really thankful for that.

The folks from Union University continue to be so sweet, walking through this with us. Jason couldn't be in a better place for such a time as this!

Jason will have a lot of work to do to regain his strength and mobility, but that's such a small task considering what he's been through!

Thank you all so much for your prayers and please keep praying!

Valentine's Day 2008!

Today was a much better day. Jason had a 4-hr dialysis session. This afternoon he worked hard with the occupational and physical therapists. He walked twice as far as yesterday, stood on two feet for as long as 2 1/2 minutes and did squats.

During the day I talked with Dr. Snider, his doctor. He said that the info yesterday from the doctor was the worse case scenario.

Mrs. Dockery (the president's wife from Union University) stopped by and assured me that they would do everything possible to work with him to make his schooling happen this semester.

Jason and I enjoyed Subway for lunch, the biggest meal he's had in the past nine days--topped off with fresh raspberries.

Now for the news we've all been waiting for: Jason urinated 17 ounces at 7:30PM!

Thank you all for your prayers! Please keep praying for his left foot and to regain his strength.

P.S. Cheryl was able to leave the hospital today!

Wednesday 2/13-Thu*sday 2/14

Json's kidney doc cme (NOW THE "A" IS ST*UGGLING!) in & told him tht it could be 2-3 wks B4 the kidneys kick in. He also told him that he p*obably won't be able to do school wo*k as he could in the past. He choose to sleep most of that day afte* all that 'good' news. (the left shift key is also expe*iencing technical difficulties)

Jason continues to be ext*emely th*isty. The doc has limited him to 32 oz pe* day.

Jason told the counselo* that when he is thi*sty it takes him back to being bu*ied in the *ubble. Also, when I leave the *oom puts him back in that te**ifying spot. su*e makes me mo*e sympathic with his conce*ns!

The good news yeste*day was that he walked with the walke* down the hall to whe*e you tu*n to get on the elevato*. he sat the*e fo* a bit and walked back to the *oom.

At 3:30am he was so f*ustated f*om being ve*y hot. We put fou* *ubbe* Glove ice bags on his lowe* abdominal a*ea. He also wanted the light left on. i'm thinking the da*kness may also have t*igge*ed sca*y memo*ies. I *ead seve*al ve*ses in Psalms to him that all *elate to his situation. That *eally seemed to calm him down and we did get back to sleep afte* a bit, eventhough it was b*ight in he*e.

Mike came home last night to a clean house cou*tesy of my BSF class. Thank you all so ve*y much! Thank you also fo* giving him a Valentine box of candy!

Thank you fo* you* many p*aye*s and please keep on p*aying!

Jason is gone fo a 4 hou* dialysis session.

I'm taking kevin fu*nisses place and doing a TV inte*view this mo*ning. I see this as a g*eat way to p*aise the Lo*d openly to the enti*e jackson a*ea. The*e should be an a*ticle in the Jackson Sun newspape* today about jason. Maybe one of my tech sma*t f*iends can put up a link to it so you can *ead it.

Wednesday mo*ning 2/13

Jason got about 4 hou*s of sleep last night. He's been ve*y hot, eventhough we've had ou* window open, the doo* open and it was snowing this mo*ning.

He got up and p*omptly wanted to sit on the couch. Then he asked to b*ush his teeth. So good to have him wanting to do no*mal stuff.

This mo*ning a counselo* is coming to talk alone with Jason and wo*k to deb*ief him. She has been ve*y suppo*tive this whole week and now it's time to get Jason to sta*t talking.

We have been ove*whelmed with the kindnesses shown to us. Soooooooo many people have allied a*ound us and suppo*ted us th*ough this ve*y difficult. Thank you all fo* what you've done fo* us!

I continue to *ead the comments on this blog to Jason. It's a g*eat way fo* him to hea* f*om othe*s just when he feels like it each day.

Time to walk!

Tuesday evening (2/12)

Jason hasn't th*own up today and has been eating a little bit of food. He had a 5 hou* dialysis session. The docto* has limited the amount of fluids Jason's is to have because he's not getting *id of it expect th*ough dialysis and they'd *athe* focus on *emoving toxins than wate*. He's ext*emely f*ust*ated with the little he's supposed to be d*inking.

The t*auma docto* came in late this afte*noon and Jason told him that he was going to pee and get out of he*e. The docto* told him it wasn't going to wo*k out that way. We told him tonight that the doc told us a couple of weeks in the hospital. Jason has made g*eat p*og*ess, but he has a lot of healing to do. His back, abdomen, gultismaximus and thighs a*e still swollen. His left foot is sta*ting to be able to sense some touch, but he's still not able to move his foot o* toes. The t*auma docto* told me yeste*day that a st*ess homone would kick in and this would be a difficult week.

Jason had me put out a no visito*s sign today. He doesn't want me to talk on the phone o* leave the *oom. He had me tu*n off his phone the othe* day. Hopefully this phase will quickly pass!

Please continue to p*ay fo* Jason's physical healing and especially at this time fo* his mental and emotional state.

Monday (2/11) & Tuesday morning (2/12)

Wow! What great progress Jason is making! Today he walked with a walker from the couch to the door and back again. He got up two other times during the day. One time was to express minimual movement of his bowels and the other time was to sit on the couch with his dad for an evening visit. Jason is exercising his right hand with a ball and doing arm and finger exercises. He's making very good progess. (If I occasionally miss an "R" it's because I'm using Jason's laptop and that seems to be eally difficult to get a eaction fom!)

The trauma doc explained that a stress hormone would kick in and I should expect to have a difficult week.

We are (that took 26 hits to get that lette) continually blessed by so many people. Thank you all 4 love. Just too fustated with this keyboad.

Kevin got out yesteday and is coming back to visit today. We'e just having so much fun aound hee! Seiously, Kevin does make the atmosphee moe light-heated! (Just fill in the lettes!)

Please keep lifting up Jason's kidneys, left foot and basic human functions.

Later Sunday 2/10 - Monday morning 2/11

Sunday Jason sat up for an hour on the couch for the first time. He had an in-and-out cathedar so make sure nothing was blocking the passageway for urinating. No progress yet there. He had a four-hour dialysis session. He didn't throw up again after the two times early in the morning.

The weekend was really good for Jason, especially spending time with his brothers and close buddies from school.

It's Monday morning and the kidney doctor just came in and said that he doesn't have to do dialysis today. Now he'll be on an every other day routine. Physical therapy is just about to come in. Jason felt a toe this morning when I squeezed it firmly. He got a supository to help jump start his bowels. After a sponge bath, Jason is feeling refreshed.

Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray for his kidneys, bowels and left foot.

Saturday (2/9/08) & Sunday morning (2/10/08)

Jason had a good day Saturday. People that had seen him earlier in the week said he looked so much better. He had some good visits with some friends and was encouraged to see his friend Kevin Furniss up and walking. Had a diaylsis session Saturday afternoon. This morning they gave us the results from the blood work they did and his potassium count, which is already at an acceptable level, got better and this cpk count (protein related) came down more than 50%. Good news on both counts.

Praises: The blood work shows continue clearing up of the toxins in his system. We moved him to the couch and he sat up for a little while. Kevin and Steven both were able to spend Saturday evening and Sunday morning with us. Kevin Furniss being able to walk has been an encouragement to Jason and the others. Thanks to all of you who are praying for Jason and the other students and for offering to help out in any way possible.

Prayer requests: Please pray for the two boys in ICU, the girl down the hall and Kevin Furniss. For Jason please pray for continued improvement in the reduction of the toxins in the bloodstream, for the swelling particularily on his left side and abdomen, that his kidneys would begin to function, that he would stop throwing up and for his left foot to regain more feeling and movement. Also, that for every ounce of pain the students have suffered that the Lord would receive pounds of glory and praise.

Friday night (2/8/08) & Saturday morning (2/9/08)

After a Friday evening of talking and smiling Jason had a great nights sleep. He slept all the way through the night except for a visit by a nurse to draw some blood. He got up about 7:30 Saturday morning and had a little to eat and some apple juice. We did some therapy together and about 10:30 am he will have another dialysis session.

Jason received his results from the blood work they did this morning. His potasium count came down to an acceptable level, his cpk (protein related count) came down about 33%, his right hand seems to be gaining strength.
Praise the Lord for all the improvements Jason has made and we thank you for praying for Jason and showing us your love.

How to pray:

Pray that his CPK count will continue to drop and that his kidney would start functioning. The doctors don't believe there is any permanent damage to the kidney but it is not working because it went into shock from all the toxics in his body. Also once the kidney starts working pray that Jason would be able urinate.
He still doesn't have complete feeling in his left foot and is still unable to move his toes on the left foot. His right hand is getting stronger but still has a ways to go.

His body is obviously still in a great deal of pain so pray for comfort.

Since I started this message people from Union have come by to check on Jason and pray with us and just now three of the fireman who pulled Jason out of the rubble came by to check on him. I couldn't thank them enough. It was neat that they mentioned there job was not done as they are still praying for him.

Continue to pray for the other 4 students that are still here at the hospital, all the students at Union who are dealing with this tragedy and for the adminstration that they would have wisdom with all the issues they have to deal with because of this tornado.

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement.

Host of Visitors

Here is an attempt to list all the visitors we've had in the first three days. If I miss someone, please forgive me! David Harlin, Matthew Kent, Denny, Peggy, Tommy, Rachel and Leah Fillinger, Mark Spiller, Trent Harris, Brian Coley, Toni Emison, Randy Phillips, George Guthrie, Susan Vaughn, Jeff Lewis, Whittany Prude, Brenda and Frank Stanley, David, Sherry and Jordan Thompson, Glenn Hawkins, Mrs. Dockery, Mike Golding, Kevin and Bob Furniss, Mr. Hill, Terry, Becki, Nick and Luke Brimhall, Kimberly Hauss, Amy Holden, Sandra Fly, Becky Cummins, Phil Newberry, Ronnie Smith, Terry and Brenda Espy, Josh and Jonathan Gutknecht, Mike Pyron, Harry Smith, Terry Crow, Phyllis and Ricky Hall, Jason Pyron, Steve, Donna, Lindsay, Allie and Bethany Gaines, Ryan Wingo, David Harrington, Travis, Greg Hauss, Kent Mathis, Jeremy Wilbur, Jeff, Susan and young man (sorry!) Mosier, Bev Bruce, Lydia Stoner, Les and Nancy Binkley, Brandon Shepherd, Sarah McDaniel, Audra Smith, Katelyn Meadows, Tim, Sharon and Timothy Harrison, Lauren Steele and those listed on Friday's list. Thank you all for your friendship, gifts and prayers!

Tuesday Recap

Tuesday night after the storms had passed through Memphis, Jason texted us to make sure we were okay. At 6:59pm, he texted Steven to tell him that they had had a brush of the storm but that the big portion was just about there. At 7:00pm the tornado hit Union University. We tried to text and call Jason to find out how he was doing, but he never returned our calls. We talked with other Union parents and were told that no cell phones were working. Then we heard that eight boys were trapped in a building. When we heard the Kevin Furniss was one of them, we assumed that Jason was with him. We were invisioning debris up against a door and when the debris was removed -- the boys would walk out. A little while later we received a call saying that all the boys had gotten out of the building safely. We were feeling pretty good about the situation. At 10pm we left for Union. On the way, we drove through heavy rain and then passed the section of interstate fairly near Jackson where semis littered the highway. When we got to Jackson, Mike Golding called us and agreed to meet us at the entrance of the university to show us where to go. He took us to the site of the rescue, where we quickly found out the rescue effort was still in progress. They told us that one student was still buried and it was our son. At this point it was 11pm and raining very hard. We watched from about 50 feet away. After a while the rain let up. The men were using a back hoe to lift cement off the pile of rubbish, then a chainsaw followed by a pick ax or sledge hammer. A little after midnight they were able to get Jason out, put him on a board and quickly rushed him to the ambulence and off to the hospital. A two-story building fell on these guys and not one of them had head injuries! Yesterday we found out that Mike Golding heard the man in charge say just after we got there something like this, "Looks like the second storm is about to hit and we're going to have to shut down the rescue mission." Shortly after he said this, the rain intensity greatly decreased. Someone later said that they were watching the radar and when the storm neared Union it split, avoiding the university. Wow! Prayer sure changes things! God is so good and so compassionate.

Friday Events

Last night Jason had a good night, then had a five-hour dialysis session this morning. He had physical therapy in the afternoon and was in a great deal of pain on the right side of his back. The feeling sensation is coming back in his left foot and his right hand is much stronger. Jason has been visited by a great number of friends and adult friends over the past three days. We really appreciate the many people who have come to support us. Last night Steven was able to spend time with Jason for the first time. It really meant a lot to Mike and Debbie when Jason reached out to hold Steven's hand. Kevin Furniss has been cruising around in a wheelchair and spending time with Jason and telling stories as only Kevin can do. This afternoon Kevin came in from UT, Kyle from Auburn, Trey and Harrison from Ole Miss. This has been a huge uplift to Jason's spirits. Yesterday Jason was limited to ice chips because of not being able to keep anything down. This morning he told the doctor he didn't care if he threw up, he just wanted something to drink. He started with a little Sprite during dialysis and then some popsicles. He's graduated to real food tonight. One of the men who helped rescue the boys came tonight and explained to us many of the things that happened that night. He also explained to us what we were looking at in the pictures that Mike went to Union and took yesterday. When he walked up to the site Tuesday, he never thought they would be able to rescue anyone from the debris pile. Thank all of you who have been faithfully praying for Jason and us. At this time, he really needs all of us to pray that his kidneys start functioning, his hand a foot continue to make improvements and that the doctor is able to determine why his back is so painful.

Commercial Appeal article about two of the other boys trapped in Watters Commons

Students recount fear, hope amid rubble : Mid-South : Commercial Appeal

Email update from Bob Furniss, Kevin's dad

The following is from an email sent by Bob Furniss, Kevin's dad. Kevin is a friend of Jason's from high school who is a junior at Union. Kevin and Jason were together when the storm was approaching.

As you may have heard by now, my son Kevin was one of the seven guys that were
trapped under a building for four hours on Tuesday night. We are very
blessed. He is doing well but still has some medical issues and will be in
the hospital for several days. Three other guys have been released and
three others are dealing with more extreme medical issues. Please pray for
Matt, David both in Intensive Care and Jason who is experiencing the same
injuries as Kevin.

It has been all over the news – in fact they
interviewed Kevin live from his hospital bed last night on Fox News – Greta On
The Record.

I don’t have enough time to write the full details but
here is a short version.

Kevin and his friends were in a student
commons building. Seconds before the tornado hit, three ran into the
girl’s bathroom and four into the boy’s for cover. Kevin said his “ears
popped, the building shook, and then we were covered and in the
black.” The two story building literally imploded around them and
the roof and walls of several dormitories then fell on top of that. The
paramedic said that they were about 30 feet deep and about two to three tons of
rubble on top of them. Yet somehow, God made the decision to spare their
lives.


When the building imploded Kevin was left partial
standing with his legs turned backward and under him. He could move his
neck, his right arm and that was all. All of the guys were blow into
little pockets and were awake. Kevin said “for the first 30 minutes we all
screamed and yelled – we begin to understand that we could hear each other but
we had no idea how deep we were. One of the guys, Jordan, said he was in a
little pocket and not injured. He had been sitting on the commode when it
hit and now was able to wiggle down into a hole below. He became the
leader of the survival. He began to pray out-loud and take an inventory of
who was hurt and how bad.” They guys begin to talk and take turns
praying. Matt was hurt the worse with large concrete on his legs.
Jason had concrete and rubble on his chest. Kevin said his legs and one arm
begin to go numb after 45 minutes. We learned later that for the first 1.5
hours that the fire fighters could not find them. One of the boys called
911 on their cell-phone. Kevin had just pulled his out to text his mom and
lost it in the implosion. Kevin said he begin to quote scripture out-loud
that he has memorized. The other guys joined in. They also sang
hymns and asked each other “what did God have planned for them when this was
over.”

After 45 minutes the guys said they begin to hear the
muffled sound of rescuers. Jordan could yell and give information about
their status.

The first guy was pulled out after 2
hours. Kevin was the fourth guy out at about 3.5 hours. The last kid
was out at 5 hours. The paramedic said it was “a mini version of the World
Trade Center.”

There is a whole other odyssey about me getting from
Las Vegas, where I was training, to Jackson. I arrive yesterday at
9am.

So that is the short version – there is just so much more to
tell. The medic said to me yesterday when I visited the “hole” that “there
is just no way that we were able to pull seven guys alive out of that rubble –
it had to be a ‘God Thing.’ Standing here it is hard to believe that we
could have found them and gotten them out of the pockets of rubble”

Kevin’s version of this is much more powerful and detailed.

Dialysis

Jason endured crush injuries. If compressed for more than one hour muscle tissue begins to release protein and other things into the blood stream. After the release of the crushing pressure the release into the bloodstream of muscle breakdown products - notably myoglobin, potassium, and phosphorus places strain on the kidneys.

Jason's doctors recommended that he begin dialysis Thursday morning. This is to relieve his kidneys of the full responsibility of removing the proteins and potassium in his blood.

Jason began dialysis around 11 am. The doctors will monitor his blood levels and then dialysis as necessary.

This may require a two week hospital stay.

Union University Recovery

UnionUniversity Offical Recovery website.

Photo archive of Union tornado pictures

Flickr link

Jackson Sun storm coverage

Jackson Sun - Local Newspaper, Jackson, TN

UF-4

Photo of the tornado itself.

Rescue Photo

From the Jackson Sun

Photo of rescue efforts: Jason is under the rubble.

Jason was one of the students trapped in the rubble

Jason, friend Kevin Furniss, and 5 other boys were trapped in the Watters Commons restroom when the Watters Commons collapsed.

Newspaper article in which Kevin tells of the ordeal.

Commercial Appeal Newspaper, Memphis, TN coverage of the storm that caused the tornado.

UF-4 Tornado strikes Union University

Letter from Union University President