Surgery

I recently underwent emergency surgery (April 8, 2009) due to an intestinal blockage which resulted in a bowel resection after removal of 5 feet of my small intestines. This is no small or easy thing. I always thought I was pretty tough but let me tell you I am a weenie. This was a very painful episode and one I pray I will never have to experience again.

I am thankful that the surgeon I was referred to is one of the best in our area. God really has provided for us in the many challenging health issues we have faced over the last three years.

First with the surgeon for Dave and the removal of his spleen, then the urologist that performed his prostate cancer surgery, next with the care Marcus received for treatment of his testicular cancer, and then with my surgeon for this totally unexpected health issue.

It is three weeks from the day of surgery and I am recovering well. We met with the surgeon today and confirmed that this was just a physical blockage caused by an adhesion, scar tissue and twisting of the intestine. No sign of cancer. Another blessing!

I am taking my time to recover to ensure no setbacks. I will not be back at work until May 18, 2009. And Dave is taking great care of me. There is the physical side of recovery that is going well but slow and steady and the psychological side of recovery that has its ups and downs.

I have finally turned the corner in being more comfortable with eating and am almost back to a normal diet. This was more difficult to achieve then you might expect as memories of food not digesting and the resulting pain played mind games with me for quite a while. It is only in the last 4-5 days I have turned the corner.

I lost about 15 pounds while in the hospital and hope to keep it off but also realize it was muscle loss and I will have a lot of work ahead of me to regain my physical strength. And still no lifting of more than 5 pounds for another 3 weeks.

I drove my car for the first time yesterday to take it in for its 30,000 mile service. We left it overnight and then I drove it home today. Not to bad but weird to drive after 22 days.

So, we are going back to the gym tomorrow just to do some cardio—walking on a flat treadmill for me. We have to start somewhere and it will help to build my endurance, I hope.

I spent Easter in the hospital and missed out on the Easter egg hunt held at my house. But next year I hope to be part of the celebration. Maybe we can even attend Easter Services all together!

Above everything I thank God for his grace and provision. He really does care about all our trials, big and small and I know I can trust Him in all circumstances. I remember some dark days in ICU where all I could do was lift my heart to Him to give me the strength for the next minute. And He was always there!

Remembering Montgomery!

Yes?

Fish on?

Cat on the prowl!

Where does the time go? I started this thinking I would post something every few weeks. But I am back. So, many milestones have gone by. It is a New Year. My little man, Beau, my grandson is 1 year old. He took his first three steps for me.

And a very sad milestone, Montgomery, my daughter’s cat had to be put to sleep. So, here are some memories from Mr. Montgomery, during the 11 years he kept Caren company. He was a cat of great personality. We miss him!

Advent Season

During this advent season, my daily devotions are taking me into Isaiah.  So, taking time away from the shopping and nativity scenes, I am learning to focus on Jesus and his whole ministry.  He came as a child but did not lose any of his divinity when he took on human form.  And he did it for me and others so they could be restored in relationship with our Father God.  So, as my granddaughter, Bradie said last year, Christmas is Jesus.  It is that and so much more.  It is redemption through Jesus for eternity.  I want to focus on that and not just the baby in the manger.  Check out Isaiah for a look at what Jesus willingly took on for us.   He knew he would suffer rejection and painful death.  But he chose to do it for us.  Thank you, Lord

Here I go!

Sunrise

This is my first time blogging but I have been inspired by my son and daughter-in-law.  Don’t look for me to be as eloquent as they are but I will do my best.    So, a couple of quotes from my daily calendar by Thomas Kinkade that really struck me:

“Faith is the willingness to act upon your sense of what you think lies behind the external circumstances.   Its the choice to sail forward before you are completely sure why you are going through what you are going through, before you are completely confident you can trust the final outcome.”

And

“Trusting in the principle of unfolding miracles sets you free from the need to have all the answers, to provide for every possibility.  You’re freed from exhausting responsibility of having to be in complete control of what happens to you.”

Here are some excerpts from emails I sent over the last year where this was so evident.  We have to choose daily to remember we are not the ones in control.  And we can really let go and let God.  He is the one driving anyway, we just keep putting our hands on His and trying to steer.

March 26, 2008 –Last Friday, March 21, 2008, Dave and I received news that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.  It is never news that you want to hear but we are thankful it was caught early and there are treatment options available.  We are so very appreciative of our church family who prayed with us in preparation for meeting with the doctor and making decisions on a course of action.  While there were four options available to us, only two were viable.  Radiation and surgery.  Due to Dave’s family history of both prostate and colon cancer, and after prayer and discussion with family and friends, we have decided to go with surgery.

Dave is scheduled for surgery on April 4, 2008 at 7:00 a.m. at the Valley Hospital.  Please keep him in your prayers as this is a lot for him to process and I can just see his mind spinning with lots of things.  He is also supposed to be interviewing for a promotion sometime soon but will be out of commission with the surgery for 4-6 weeks.  We know it is all in God’s hands and timing and are at peace with our decision to go forward with the surgery now and not wait.

As always, I can always feel your prayers surrounding me as you lift me before the throne.  Thanks for being such faithful prayer warriors.

April 3, 2008 — As Dave and I were leaving the gym from our “last chance” workout tonight before his surgery tomorrow which will put him out of commission for 6 weeks, we received a phone call from our son, Marcus.  Marcus had just been to see an urologist and had an ultrasound.  A mass was discovered in one of his testicles. He is scheduled for surgery on Monday or Tuesday to remove it and test it for cancer.   Marcus was more concerned with how I was doing and would take the news than he was about himself.

I have to tell you that my world tilted on its axis.  I am clinging to my Savior because this is not a time to try to power through under my own measly strength.  And we find out during these times how much strength is ours and how much He gives us His strength.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understandings, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path” Proverbs 3:5 & 6.  This verse has been one I have clung to so many times in my life and once again it just says it all.

If I could be in two places at once, I sure would be on Monday and/or Tuesday.  But I know that is not possible, and I have to trust.  I know Sara will be with Marcus and our Lord will hold them both in His hand.

So, please pray for both of these surgeries that the doctors will allow God to guide their hands. Pray for peace of mind for all of us as we have our moments of stumbling and not understanding.

April 5, 2008 – It is Saturday, April 5th and as I looked out the window it was snowing!  Another beautiful spring day in Spokane.  No need to worry though, the roads and sidewalks are not cold enough for much, if any, to collect so no shoveling needed.

Dave came through his surgery better than we could have hoped.  They gave him both general and spinal anesthesia.  This gave him a head start on the pain.  I called him and he had a good night. (Posted visiting hours are from 12:00 Noon to 8:00 PM).   I left last night around 7:00 p.m. and he was doing very well.  They were expecting to sit him up and dangle his legs last night in preparation for walking around today.  I will be bringing him a bathrobe in a few minutes to help with that endeavor.  He has no external stitches as they super-glued the incision.  WOW!  Saves a lot on the tugging and itching down the road.  The doctor felt the lymph nodes looked good and we are waiting on biopsy results.  Dave is up to having some visitors as he was pretty alert yesterday and is expected to be released from the hospital (Valley Hospital) Monday or Tuesday.

Marcus is doing he pre-admission lab work today but not expecting to have his surgery scheduled until Wednesday or Thursday now.  We will await the results of his biopsy to know what course of treatment, if any, is needed next.  Please keep them in your prayers.  Marcus has a great attitude and is very positive.  Sara has her hands full with a new one month old and a lively 2 1/2 year old.  Deb is over visiting Meg this weekend and they are bringing dinner to Marcus and Sara tonight.  It amazes me how God goes before us every single time.  He had this trip scheduled for Deb for weeks and it may not be the same as me being able to go but it is family.  Thank you Deb and Meg!