Photina

Photina
n., An issue of water from the earth; a spring; a fountain. v.intr., To rise to the surface, ready to flow; to rise or surge from an inner source. v.tr., To pour forth. adj., In a satisfactory condition; right or proper. interj., Used to introduce a remark, resume a narrative, or fill a pause during conversation; used to express surprise.dictionary.com

Friday, February 21, 2003

(7:00pm) Hallelujah! Some good news! Mrs. Kresta is out of surgery & the infection in her leg was only cellulitis! She is remaining in the hospital for the present for observation.

posted by Heidi | 21.2.03

(4:20pm) I talked to my sister. Al's daughter did an interview this afternoon for Channel 4 news (Detroit). Not sure when it will air. Mrs. Kresta was admitted to the hospital this morning. She was diagnosed with strep throat (she had previously tested negative), but she was also experiencing some pain in her leg & it was becoming blotchy. They immediately put her on antibiotics with the decision that if the antibiotics did not sufficiently address the infection, she would be admitted to surgery. She is currently undergoing surgery to remove the source of infection in her leg (not an amputation). The doctors are not sure whether this is the same thing that Mr. Kresta is fighting. Regardless, they were able to catch and address this quickly, and the prognosis is positive. The rest of the Kresta family is on a course of prophylactic antibiotics as a preventative measure.

posted by Heidi | 21.2.03

It's just about 4:00pm... Please pray for the Kresta family--if the information I just heard is accurate, they need it even more. I don't want to contribute to rumors without double-checking the info, first, though, so hang on. My sister is at the hospital with their family (she's a close friend of their daughter), so I'm trying to reach her to find out specifics.

posted by Heidi | 21.2.03

Update on Al Kresta as of 11am today:

From: Michael Jones
Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 11:50 AM
To: Michael Jones (E-mail)
Subject: Al Update for 2-21-03

11:00 AM. I just spoke to Al's Family.

Al's condition remains "Critical"

This afternoon Al will undergo Kidney Dialysis. This is not unexpected. It was hoped that the procedure would not be necessary, but the Doctors fully expected that it would be part of Al's Treatment.

Sally and the children are thankful for the continued payers, masses and time before the blessed sacrament. The untold thousands of supplications are a mighty force which will contribute greatly to Al's recovery.

Thank you again. We will continue to update you as information becomes available.

May God bless you for your efforts on Al's behalf,

Michael P. Jones
Vice President, General Manager
Ave Maria Communications
734-930-3167 Phone
734-930-3101 Fax
mjones@WDEO.net
To support Catholic Radio - Join The Guild - Call 1-877-288-1077

posted by Heidi | 21.2.03

Today is the feast day of St. Peter Damian, professor, Benedictine monk, Bishop, poet, and Doctor of the Church.

posted by Heidi | 21.2.03

Update on Al Kresta:

From: Michael Jones
Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2003 10:17 AM
Subject: Today's update on Al Kresta

I spoke to Sally Kresta this morning.

Al suffered from Necrotizing Fasciitis. This is a strep Group A Bacteria.
It is very aggressive. It attacks the soft tissue. It can infect as much as an inch an hour.

Amputation is the common reaction to this bacteria.

We do not know specifically the source of the bacteria, however a run down immune system makes one more susceptible.

Al continues to respond to treatment. He remains sedated.

The doctors report that the next 72 hours are crucial. Al is still "Critical" and it can go either way at anytime. Each hour that passes is good. His blood pressure and other vital signs are being managed at this point.

Please continue to pray. I know that this is not much of a change since yesterday. But in this case no news is good news. Time is on our side.
Each minute, each hour brings Al closer to recovery.

Thank you again, on behalf Al and his family and from Ave Maria Communications, for your prayers and support.

Michael P. Jones
Vice President, General Manager
Ave Maria Communications
734-930-3167 Phone
734-930-3101 Fax
mjones@WDEO.net
To support Catholic Radio - Join The Guild - Call 1-877-288-1077

posted by Heidi | 21.2.03

Thursday, February 20, 2003

It has been amazing to watch the outpouring of prayers and support for Al Kresta and his family. I found out that he was in the hospital on Tuesday evening when someone came into the Adoration chapel where I was and let us know and asked for our prayers--simply for someone to make an announcement in the chapel communicated the gravity of the situation.

The official press release from Wednesday morning:

ANN ARBOR, MI, WED., 2/19/03 — Al Kresta, host of the syndicated Catholic radio talk show, “Kresta in the Afternoon,” was listed in critical condition, after emergency surgery to remove the lower portion of his left leg. He had been in intensive care since about 2:00 a.m. Tuesday, suffering severe leg and back pain along with swelling in the limbs and fluctuating blood pressure.
After close observation, doctors became alarmed when blotches appeared on Kresta’s leg, due to sepsis (blood poisoning) from an infection of unknown origin. Exploratory surgery was undertaken at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, and it was determined that amputation was necessary to save his life. As of 6:00 a.m. today, Kresta was responding to treatment. He remains in critical condition under heavy sedation.
The three-hour “Kresta in the Afternoon” is produced by the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Ave Maria Radio and distributed live, Monday through Friday, to Catholic radio stations around the country. Al Kresta is well known in Catholic circles as a speaker and lay evangelist. He is the author of the popular catechetical work, “Why Do Catholics Genuflect?” published last year by Servant Books of Ann Arbor.
In addition to his writing and on-air work, Kresta is CEO of Ave Maria Radio, which operates two Michigan stations — WDEO (990 AM) in Detroit-Ann Arbor, and WMAX (1440 AM) serving the Tri-Cities area (Saginaw, Bay City and Midland) — and maintains a satellite program distribution service for Catholic broadcasters around the country. Before joining Ave Maria in 1996, Kresta hosted a daily talk show on Detroit Christian station, WMUZ.
Kresta and his wife, Sally, have five children and reside in Ann Arbor.

The amputation was done below the knee on his left leg. He was diagnosed with Necrotizing Fasciitis, but we're hoping that the source of the infection was removed in the amputation, in which case what remains is a lingering toxicity that his system has to battle. He is responding to antibiotics, but he is most definitely not out of the woods, and as Greg Popcak has stressed, the next 72 hours are the most critical.

posted by Heidi | 20.2.03

The first lesson today was about God establishing a covenant with Noah and his descendants that never again would He destroy all living things with a flood. A rainbow was the sign of this covenant. The image I chose is a painting by Jimi Claybrooks, a contemporary African-American artist, titled Noah's Ark: After the Flood.

posted by Heidi | 20.2.03

Wednesday, February 19, 2003

In today's first lesson, the flood waters were receding and Noah sent out birds--a raven, a dove, and another dove--hoping for signs of dry land. The first dove returned with an olive branch. The image that I chose to illustrate it is Blue Dove by Pablo Picasso.

(How many current artists dream of a signed lithograph of a seven-line crayon drawing of theirs selling for $3,000?)

posted by Heidi | 19.2.03

Tuesday, February 18, 2003

The first lesson today was on God instructing Noah to build an ark and fill it with animals. The image I chose to go with it is Noah's Ark by Edward Hicks, an American Quaker preacher of the early nineteenth century.

posted by Heidi | 18.2.03

Monday, February 17, 2003

Today is the feast of the Seven Founders of the Order of Servites, the Servants of Mary. The image for today is of the Seven Sorrows of Mary because the Servites were founded to meditate on her sorrows and developed the Servite Chaplet.

posted by Heidi | 17.2.03