Necrotizing fasciitis, The Flesh Eating Disease

Yesterday, MPW received a prayer request for 2 year old Grace who has Necrotizing Fasciitis, The Flesh Eating Disease. Please be in Pray for her and her family. Although this disease is still consider rare, ever since my Mother-in-law went through this a few years back, I hearing about more and more cases of it.

Necrotizing fasciitis or fasciitis necroticans, commonly known as “flesh-eating bacteria,” is a rare infection of the deeper layers of skin and subcutaneous tissues, easily spreading across the fascial plane within the subcutaneous tissue. Many types of bacteria can cause necrotizing fasciitis.

The infection begins locally, at a site of trauma, which may be severe (such as the result of surgery), minor, or even non-apparent. The affected skin is classically, at first, very painful without any grossly visible change. With progression of the disease, tissue becomes swollen, often within hours. Diarrhea and vomiting are common symptoms as well. Inflammation does not show signs right away if the bacteria is deep within the tissue. If it is not deep, signs of inflammation such as redness and swollen or hot skin show very quickly. Skin color may progress to violet and blisters may form, with subsequent necrosis (death) of the subcutaneous tissues. Patients with necrotizing fasciitis typically have a fever and appear very ill. More severe cases progress within hours, and the mortality rate is high, about 30%. Even with medical assistance, antibiotics take a great deal of time to react to the bacteria, allowing the infection to progress to a more serious state.

The diagnosis is confirmed by either blood cultures or aspiration of pus from tissue, but early medical treatment is crucial and often presumptive; thus, antibiotics should be started as soon as this condition is suspected. Initial treatment often includes a combination of intravenous antibiotics including penicillin, vancomycin and clindamycin. If necrotizing fasciitis is suspected, surgical exploration is always necessary, often resulting in aggressive debridement (removal of infected tissue). As in other maladies characterized by massive wounds or tissue destruction, hyperbaric oxygen treatment can be a valuable adjunctive therapy, but is not widely available. Amputation of the affected organ(s) may be necessary. Repeat explorations usually need to be done to remove additional necrotic tissue. Typically, this leaves a large open wound which often requires skin grafting. The associated systemic inflammatory response is usually profound, and most patients will require monitoring in an intensive care unit.

Matthew 5

I love Matthew chapter 5

3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Barbour and Eaves on Prayer

In a press release on Sept 25th, Governor Haley Barbour officially proclaimed “See You at the Pole” Day as the fourth Wednesday in September, which falls on September 26 this year. I want to commend the Governor for this action.

The Governor is quoted as saying: “This proclamation recognizes the importance of allowing our students to come together in celebration of their faith and religious convictions,” Governor Barbour said. “As a Christian, I’m proud to set aside this special day of prayer and I look forward to standing with Mississippi students as they embrace their rights to engage in appropriate, religious activity on school grounds.”

At first I thought this was a great statement then it hit me "their rights to engage in "appropriate" , religious activity on school grounds." It's appropriate for students to meet once a year and pray outside (like a bunch of smokers at work) around the flag pole but not in the classroom 10 minutes daily.

I'm sure this stems from the Governors' Debate in which John Eaves explained his plan for voluntary, student-led school prayer. The Governor proclaimed voluntary, student-led school prayer as unconstitutional and he didn't want to fight for it for fear we would lose the rights we do have.

Governor Barbour, I want to let you in on a secret, we have already lost our Christian rights! Thanks to men too afraid to fight. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing". I've read both the United States' constitution and the Mississippi state constitution and have found nothing that says we can't not set aside 10 minutes per day in our public schools for students to pray if they choose. In fact Sec 18 of the Mississippi constitution reads "The rights hereby secured shall not be construed...to exclude the Holy Bible from use in any public school of this state."

John Eaves is calling for voluntary, student-led school prayer every day, not just once a year during "See You at the Pole" day.

John Eaves is quoted as saying, "For nearly 200 years, our country had prayer in its schools," said Eaves. "Today, Mississippi has the highest high school dropout rate in the nation, and our children face a learning environment that fails to instill in them a respect for themselves, their peers, and their teachers. I believe we should have voluntary prayer in our schools for children of all faiths every day, and as Governor I know I can bring it back in way that is both constitutional and right for all of our children."

Eaves says he would work with the state board of education and local school boards to create a policy that sets aside 10 minutes every day before school for students to voluntarily discuss ethics, morality, faith, and prayer. The plan does not require prayer, but rather designates time every day for students to exercise their constitutional rights.

If we can set aside 30 minutes for lunch for a physical need there is no reason why we can't set aside 10 minutes for our children's spiritual needs.

THANKSGIVING PRAYER REVIVAL

Paul Ott sent me the following announcement. He and I agree that Gods want to do something big in our nation and it can start in Mississippi. For information about Paul Ott visit Our Friends

THANKSGIVING PRAYER REVIVAL

Event: THANKSGIVING PRAYER MEETING
When: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH
Time: 3:30PM - 5:00 PM CANDLELIGHT PRAYER AT 5:00 PM

Location: OLD CHURCH GROUNDS SMALLTOWN, MISSISSIPPI
Where: MISSISSIPPI AG AND FORESTRY MUSEUM
LAKELAND DRIVE -- JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI
Invitation: OPEN TO EVERYONE
Admission: NO CHARGE -- EVERYONE IS WELCOME


PLEASE COME AND ENJOY THE EARLY 1900’S SMALLTOWN, MISSISSIPPI. JOIN IN THE PRAYERS AND MUSIC TO THANK GOD FOR OUR STATE AND COUNTRY AND PRAY FOR A NATIONWIDE REVIVAL. HEAR PROCLAIMED MIRACLES AND REQUESTS FOR MIRACLES. PLEASE COME AND SHOW SUPPORT FOR OUR LORD AND THE BLESSINGS HE HAS BESTOWED UPON OUR PEOPLE AND FEEL THE PRESENCE OF GOD AS THIS PLACE BECOMES HOLY GROUND.

THANKS.

PAUL OTT

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 1-800-684-9486 OR 1-601-248-7000.

We must never Forget!

Let us remember to pray for our country and her leaders, today. And to thank God for His blessings and for being in control even in our darkest hours.

The Mississippi Band of Choctaws wants to build another casino

The Jackson County Baptist Association announced its opposition to a $375 million casino proposed on Choctaw land off Miss. 57. Haley Barbour has said he is opposed to the project but can we really trust him after Barbour and a majority of legislators brushed aside Christians' concerns and swiftly approved gambling expansion to include land-based casinos. State law was also changed to allow new casinos to expand inland into areas not previously permitted. I also noticed that the Band of Choctaws have given $20,000 to Barbour's campaign fund. (a small price to pay to insure your $375 million casino gets built)

Baptist Association opposed to Choctaw casino