Apparently Santa drives a furniture delivery truck...

Just a quick update on New Year's Eve. We were delighted this morning to receive delivery of a very special chair for Mom. The chair was paid for months ago by from some anonymous donors (I have no idea who they are). Mom selected the style and the fabric of the chair before the surgery.

The chair gives Mom a very supportive piece of furniture to use while she is recovering. It even reclines! We who have fully functional spines don't realize how much work our healthy backs do to help us get in and out of seated positions. Mom has a strict set of postures she is sticking with while she adapts to her new spine. Many former behaviors don't work anymore. For example, sitting in a simple folding chair is not good. Laying around on a couch is out of the question for several months yet.

Mom needed a chair that provided good back support, with high arms that would help her use her arms to push herself up to a standing position. Today that exact chair was delivered to her.

We've got it set up in the main living area. I think I even heard Mom make a bargain with Dad that she would hang out in the living room in her new chair, as long as no football games were on the TV. She tried it out and was able to seat herself in it and get out of it with no assistance and no pain. She said that it is really comfortable. Given how tiring it's been for her to sit upright for any length of time since the surgery, this chair is a real blessing and another big helper along the road to full recovery.

Here are some prayer requests for this last day of 2008:
(1) Pray for Mom to have the strength to stay upright for more of the day. (This new chair will help assist greatly with this.)
(2) Pray for Dad's strength, physically and spiritually. He remains Mom's most devoted caregiver (i.e., "love slave") and her biggest cheerleader. He is doing an amazing job. At the same time, I know he gets tired with all of the work he has to do.

Praises:
(1) The new chair! What a wonderful gift! If you are one of the secret donors who gave money to the chair fund, we thank you very, very much.
(2) Mom's overnight nurses. (You know who you are.) A special group of women from the church has been coming over each night to watch over Mom and assist her with any needs. This has allowed Dad to have a break from caregiving and to keep up with his sleep. These night nurses have been a huge blessing during these first two weeks of recovery.
(3) All of Mom's bodily systems are doing great. Her appetite is marvelous.

Dad's sister Debbie is coming over tonight to ring in the new year. She is Mom's nutritional guru and is helping Mom get lots of protein. Mom always feels good on days when Debbie is guiding the way with eating. More protein = more energy.

Happy New Year to all of you! We'll see you in 2009.

Remote Blogging from an Undisclosed Location!

Here's an update on Sunday night. I am in N. Carolina at a women's retreat until tomorrow. The photo above doesn't have anything to do with Mom — I just was struck by how pretty my vanilla and strawberry yogurt looked in its blue bowl this morning!

Here's an update from Dad, 12/27/08:
Cheryl continues to make progress. She's getting in and out of bed by herself now for the first time, though I am staying close by just in case. Her walk is hesitating but strong, and she is learning to re-balance herself with her new higher center of gravity. She is spending 15 minutes of every hour out of bed, and her pain level is manageable. Stamina continues to be the major problem, but that should improve as she pushes herself. One indication of her healing: she's starting to get bored.

Thanks so much for your faithful prayers. She doing quite well, though many hurdles remain. It's all encouraging, especially when you remember that she was originally scheduled to be in the hospital until December 30th.

Marks on the wall

A strange image for today. I went into Mom and Dad's bathroom this afternoon and took a (very amateurish) photo of the wall. The reason? Mom had marked her height on the wall twice in the months leading up to the surgery.

I added red arrows in PhotoShop to highlight the marks. Working from the bottom up, here's what the arrows indicate:
(lowest) Mom's height at the time of surgery
(middle) Mom's height about six months before surgery (we note that she lost about half an inch of height in just that short period of time)
(highest) Mom's present height with her new and improved back.

Dad measured the distance today from the lowest mark to the tallest mark. The difference? 3 1/8" inches. Wow. That's 79 millimeters for my European friends out there. It's amazing to see what happens when you straighten out a twisted, collapsing spine. Mom is now 5'9".

She's had another good day. Praise the Lord. It had been a few days since we checked in with "fan emails," so today I spent some time at Mom's bedside, reading your emails to her. She was so touched by your words that she cried. Thanks to each of you who have written to express your affection for Mom in such a heartfelt way.

I'm preparing to leave town until Monday night, so updates to the blog will be a bit sporadic until I'm back. To be honest, I can hardly wait to see all that Mom is doing when I'm back. I predict she'll be showing off her favorite yoga poses.

Prayer for today:
(1) Pray that Mom would be diligent in getting up to do her walking exercises. She can walk short distances, but it wears her out quite a lot. So, please pray that she will "get tough" in this area.
(2) We covet your continued prayers for success in the bone graft. We won't know until Mom's first post-operative check-up in early February whether the graft has worked completely. We'd like to just blanket this area in continued prayer.
(3) Mom is in an interesting space in her recovery. She's not really ready to be social. She's not interested in sleeping all day and all night. She's not interested in watching TV or in surfing the computer — the stimulation feels a little overwhelming. So she's spending a lot of time with her thoughts. She mentioned last night that she'd like to take her experience with the surgery and do something useful with it. She is reflecting on ways to give creative expression to her experience. Maybe this means writing about what she's learned. Maybe it means connecting with families facing the same surgery and advising them on what to expect. We don't know. But, we'd appreciate your prayers for Mom's thoughts during this recuperation time.

Praise:
(1) Mom's pain is less pronounced today. Hallelujah!
(2) We continue to have so much support from Mom's community. Church friends, Bible study friends, gym friends, friends of friends of friends... People around the world are praying for Mom and rooting for her. I can honestly say that feeling all your support is really helping us here on the "front lines" of Mom's caregiving. I guess it's a little weird for you out there in Blog-land to thank God for you, but I certainly thank God for you!

Christmas Day

Christmas Day at home. I know Mom felt good to wake up in her own bed. Her "support staff" here at home was happy to wake up to the blessing of her presence.

(We were also cheered enormously by some delicious homemade food from the kitchens of Kay Himmel and Patty Taylor. Yum.)

It's been a great day so far. A Christmas unlike any other. Mom is adapting well to her new circumstances. We're figuring out new routines — how to move around with success in a non-hospital bed, how to navigate carpeted and tiled floors, how to bathe.

Here are some prayer requests for Mom on this very special day:
(1) Pray for continuing relief from pain. Her pain is not unbearable, but I know it still gives her trouble and wakes her up at night. (Mom's euphemism for being in pain is saying she's "uncomfortable." An understatement, I'm sure!)
(2) Pray that Mom's spirit would be encouraged. She has a hard time noticing all of her progress along the way. Her family is enthralled by her progress — indeed, we see indications every day that she is getting stronger and more mobile — but Mom does not have the same perspective. Pray that she would be have a better sense of all she's accomplished so far.

Praises:
(1) Mom had had some swelling in her hands and feet for several days following surgery. The swelling is now gone.
(2) We continue to note with some delight that Mom's incision site looks perfect. No signs of infection. This is terrific!

She's home!

Great news — Mom checked out of the hospital successfully this afternoon and is now resting comfortably at home!

We're thrilled to have her home and are getting set up to offer care there. Mom doesn't have as many terrific amenities at home as she did in the hospital. But I think waking up in her own bed in the mornings will be really comforting.

While she was in the hospital, some secret Christmas elves snuck over to the house and left some special presents for her. Lauri and Jonathan Petty came over and planted pansies in pots on the front steps. It was a real joy to see those bursts of color by the front door. Hal Posner also left a beautiful bouquet of roses. Mom was really touched by these thoughtful gestures.

Now comes sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep and more sleep. We are tiptoeing through the house, just trying to create as much quiet as possible. The doctor said yesterday that it's pretty normal for Mom to feel like she's been hit by a bus. She's had a huge part of her body taken apart and put back together. She's beginning a long process of recalibrating. So Mom could sleep straight through Christmas at this point. I wouldn't mind a bit.

Hospital recovery, day 6 - morning

10:19 am EST - Update from Dad
Cheryl has turned a corner. Thanks for the prayer! She is feeling much better. Pain is way down. She's taking the initiative to get up and walk around. The doctor came in this morning and gave us the okay to go home today! Don't know exactly when it will be, but probably around lunchtime. Stamina still isn't great, but all her numbers look good and she is eating more. I think one good night's rest without being awakened and poked ought to do wonders. What a nice Christmas gift I get this year!

Thanks for standing with us in prayer. There have been wonderful parts to this whole process. The only negative has been seeing her hurt, and the worst of that now seems like a distant memory. She told the doctor this morning that her pain level is 2/10 lying down and 4/10 sitting or standing. That's down from 8/10 and 9/10 right after surgery. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

Hospital recovery, day 5 - evening update

12/23/08 11:21 am EST - I think that Mom is finding herself in a strange place in her hospital recovery. On the one hand, she's got cabin fever. She's tired of being confined to a tiny hospital bed in a tiny hospital room, tired of all the work that comes with being in the hospital all the time (constant interruptions, x-rays, blood tests, etc).

At the same time, she's a little anxious at the thought of heading for home, where there's no fancy electronic hospital bed, and a rather limited staff of "nurses."

We're not sure if today will be homecoming day for Mom or not. We're playing it by ear. Her lethargy was a lot more pronounced this morning, so she's receiving another unit of blood this morning at the hospital. Please pray that this would help give her more energy.

We continue to ask for no unannounced visitors to the hospital. This morning Mom requested (in her fantastically diplomatic way, naturally) that Tim and I not come to the hospital.

This is certainly a good thing. Two fewer bodies in her little hospital room will mean a more restful environment. Mom is recognizing that having two more guests hovering and camping out in her little hospital room isn't necessarily contributing to her healing. It's great that she is discerning what is and isn't helpful to her right now and asking for it. This seems just as important as any other part of her healing. We are happy to give her that space.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

7:49 pm EST - It's been a day of mixed results. I did not see Mom today. She really needs privacy and lots of quiet. I did just get some details from Dad about her day, though.

Here are some prayer requests based on what Dad mentioned:
(1) It appears that the blood transfusions Mom has received in the past 48 hours have helped some. However, she still does not have much energy at all. (Personally, I'm sure this is tied to the sleep deficit!) Please pray that her strength will increase.
(2) We do believe that Mom will be coming home soon — either tomorrow afternoon or Christmas morning. Again, please join us in praying for wisdom for her doctors about when to release her.

Praise:
(1) Mom is eating well and is even experiencing an increase in appetite — that's a great sign.
(2) Her digestive and elimination systems seem to be coming back to life.
(3) She took a shower today for the first time since surgery. I know she must be feeling better after that.
(4) After a day or two of feeling pretty down-hearted, Mom started to just feel a little more like herself today.

Sarah Tate did a great job as Mom's night nurse last night. Debbie Bryant is holding the fort down tonight. I plan to stay with her tomorrow, either at the hospital or at home.

Hospital recovery, day 4 - evening update

12:15 pm EST - Just a very brief update. I'm writing from home and am about to head out to the hospital for a few hours. I slept in extra-extra-late this morning. I'm feeling so relaxed and calm after that deep sleep that it makes me feel like lying down for a little nap. Funny how that works...

Dad said that Mom had another good night. Jo Ann Jones was the overnight guest and she took terrific care of Mom. Mom is gaining strength every day. Dad said that she has been feeling a little woozy this morning during her morning exercises. She is borderline anemic, so it makes sense. Mom was given a pint of blood this morning and that will probably make her feel better (it helps that she gave blood twice before the surgery with this purpose in mind).

We're told that Mom will be probably be discharged from the hospital some time tomorrow. Home in time for Christmas. That in itself feels like a little miracle.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

4:55 pm EST - Barbie Schoeman left a thoughtful comment asking me to focus on providing some specific prayer requests with each day's updates. Thanks for that terrific suggestion!

Here are some current prayer requests for those of you looking out for Mom.

(1) Please pray that the blood transfusion Mom is receiving today would bring her new strength. She's receiving blood at this very moment. This process has been going on for quite a while. I'm amazed by how long it takes. This blood is actually not Mom's, but was donated by a volunteer. If you've ever rolled up a sleeve to give blood at a blood drive, please accept my thanks for helping in the recovery of surgical patients like Mom!
(2) After attempting to shut down all but Mom's most critical systems for the surgery, we're now trying to ramp them back up. Please pray that Mom's digestive and elimination processes would get back in gear with a minimum of discomfort. (I guess the shortcut version of this request is, "Pray for poop.")
(3) All indications so far point to perfect results with Mom's bone graft. (Remember, the surgeon harvested part of her pelvic bone and mixed it in with other material to help form new bone content for her spine.) Please pray for continued success as the bone graft forms. Good results in this area are critical to Mom's full recovery.
(4) Mom has had a variety of fevers and chills today. This is pretty normal for a body that's doing as much work as hers is, but it has led to a little discomfort. Please pray that her temperature will continue to stay within healthy range.
(5) Pray for Mom's nurses as they find good juicy veins to stick! Mom has been poked with dozens of needles during the past five days, and her veins are getting tired of all the abuse.
(6) Pray for wisdom for Mom's caregivers as we think about discharging her and heading for home. Mom is a little nervous about going home at this point. We want this to be a decision that she feels very positive about.
(7) Please continue to pray for sleep. We figure that Mom not has slept for more than 3 consecutive hours since her ordeal began on Thursday morning. She is exhausted.

Praises:
(1) We've had no infection at Mom's incision site so far! That is big news and very good news. She has an impressive scar that stretches the length of her back. It is perfectly healthy with nice pink tissue all around it. Please pray that this perfect healing will continue. Unrelated: I'm really hoping Mom will be able to work this scar into some future Halloween costume.
(2) Mom's balance seems to be very good so far. Considering that her whole center of gravity has shifted, this is wonderful news. We think Mom is a good 2.5" - 3" taller now than she was a week ago. Wow! If she wears really high heels, she'll probably be able to stare Dad down.

Hospital recovery, day 3 - afternoon update

6:29 am EST - It doesn't seem overly optimistic to suggest that the most difficult part of Mom's recovery may be behind her.

Mom had a good night in the hospital. Praise God! She continues to respond very well to her current pain medication. And we have developed a food/medication timetable that really seems to work nicely.

She still didn't sleep as much last night as I would've liked. But that was not because she was uncomfortable. Instead, her slumber was interrupted by the constant merry-go-round of the nursing staff: Every 30 or 40 minutes it seems there was a new need to run a test, draw blood, check a vital sign, offer therapy....

OK, I'm obviously speaking this morning as someone who didn't get a lot of sleep last night and is feeling the tiniest bit grouchy. I just find it remarkable that despite the five billion medical advances we have made over the years, hospitals still can't orchestrate care so that patients can sleep for more than 20 minutes at a time.

So I'm hoping Mom can spend a lot of time sleeping today. I know that's probably wishful thinking, because she will be enduring a brand-new cycle of bloodwork, physical therapy, vital signs, etc. as soon as the day nurses clock in. But I'm just putting it out there.

Dad is caring for Mom during the day again today. He has been a faithful presence for her healing so far. He is doing a terrific job of looking after his bride. I love seeing them together, even in this less-than-storybook context.

I'll report back toward the end of the day with another progress report. In the meantime, I think I'll take a nap...

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

3:33 pm EST - Oh, no big deal. Just your average Sunday afternoon, hanging out here at the hospital with Mom, WHO IS WALKING DOWN THE HALLWAY. Yes, folks, you read that right.

It's thrilling to witness this stage in her progression. In so many ways, her body has been reduced to that of a child's. Activities like walking, climbing stairs, dressing, and bathing are brand-new.

I was so proud to watch her fearlessly walk out into the hallway today. She is being so courageous. After she took a stroll with Tim and Dad down the hall and back this afternoon, I told her I was proud of her. She smiled. "Yeah, that was a pretty big deal, wasn't it?..."

She had her first serving of scrambled eggs for breakfast this morning. All of her tubes and ports have been completely removed. She is standing on her own now, in so many ways.

Angi plays the harp

Here's that photo I promised from Mom's special concert this evening. (You can't see Mom in this photo, but I promise she's there.) Thank you, Angi, for bringing such beauty and comfort to all of us.

Hospital recovery, day 2 - evening update

Update from Dad, 8:10 am EST - Cheryl had a very rough night of it. She began to have nausea about 8:00 pm, apparently caused by the pain medicine. She reduced the pain medicine and of course the pain level increased. The cycle continued through the night with brief interruptions. Thankfully, Sandra Clements was here and knew what was going on and helped tremendously. The night was complicated by a patient having a psychotic episode roaming the hallway and shouting. That was finally subdued before I arrived at 6:00 AM. Sandra briefed the resident and got the pain medicine changed. Cheryl got some solid food (crackers and jello) down, received some anti-nausea medicine, and thanks to your prayers is doing some better.

The physical therapist was here about 8:30 and got her on her feet for the first time. She took a few shaky steps near the bed and the therapist was very happy at how well she did. She'll be up again later today and will take a slightly longer journey. She hasn't had any pain medication for several hours but is doing well nonetheless. He nausea has also subsided. Thanks so much for your prayers!

- - - - - - - - - - - -

12:57 pm EST - Overheard in Mom's hospital room as Tim dialed Mom's physical therapist here at the hospital:

"Hello, yes, I'd like to make an appointment to... um... help my mom walk."

We're scheduling another appointment to get Mom on her feet.

I see Mom's strength shining through. I see her taking initiative to try to turn in bed. This sounds like no big deal, but even small movements that involve using her new back are really challenging. Mom is very aware that she needs to go through those paces in order to re-build her strength.

Her pain is still a presence, but it seems much improved since last night.

We are being given a special treat this afternoon. One of Mom's friends, Angi, plays the harp in her free time for patients in intensive care. Mom loves Angi's music and plays her CDs at home. Today Angi is coming to play her harp for Mom right here in her hospital room. I'll take try to some photos of "the concert" to share here.

Stay tuned this evening for more updates.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

7:52 pm EST - It has been a long and intense day for us here.

We're all learning a lot about how to be good nurses to Mom. Today's main challenge was finding a happy balance between pain relief and nausea. Mom's pain pump gave her brief intervals of relief today, but also introduced some very intense nauseous sensations. We learned quickly that having "real food" in her digestive system gave Mom some relief from the nausea. So we have been making concerted efforts to make sure she eats every couple of hours.

Dad, Tim and I have also been learning how to "wedge" Mom's body in bed. We strategically place a large triangle of orthopedic foam against her back to help relieve pressure on her new spine.

Small improvements are evident everywhere. Mom's pain pump was removed today, so she is just taking painkiller capsules every few hours. This is a wonderful development. Today she also sat up in bed, took a few first steps, and practiced moving around in bed several times.

Our friend Angi arrived to serenade Mom around 4 pm. She brought a beautiful harp and played some gorgeous Christmas carols and hymns. (I took lots of photos of the concert, but forgot to pack my camera's digital card reader in my hospital bag today. So you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see them!)

Before she began playing, Angi encouraged Mom to close her eyes and just float on the music. The moment that Angi's fingers first touched the strings of the harp, I started sobbing. I sure wasn't expecting that, but I felt really thankful for that moment. I know I will never forget it. I think Dad also shed a few tears. Although I am really thankful to be present for Mom in this new way, the past few days have certainly brought plenty of anxiety and stress with them. It has been very hard to see Mom in so much pain. Angi's music created a safe space where tears felt perfectly appropriate. Her music wordlessly expressed everything that all of us have been wanting to say to Mom over the past few days: We love you, we're praying for you, all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well....

One of the songs that Angi played was "All Through the Night."

Sleep, my child,
and peace attend thee
All through the night

Guardian angels
God will send thee
All through the night

I still get choked up thinking about that moment.

So, at this moment, I'm here at the hospital with Mom. Dad and Tim have gone for the night. I'll be sleeping over with her. I've already turned out the lights in Mom's room, and I can hear her breathing deeply a few feet away. This is music to my ears!

Here are some prayer requests and praises for all those out there who are praying for Mom:
(1) Please pray that Mom will get several hours of deep sleep tonight. Really — I can't really figure these hospitals out. They come in every couple of hours to wake you up and make sure you were sleeping. It's kind of nuts.
(2) Pray for courage and strength for Mom as she continues to explore territory that feels brand-new: standing up and walking.
(3) Pray for ongoing relief from nausea.

Praise for this evening:
(1) Mom's new pain medication seems to be working out very well. It is bringing real relief to her right now, with a minimum of side effects. As a matter of fact, I think she is more comfortable at this moment than she has been all day. That is huge.
(2) Angi's gift of music.
(3) Mom's sweet spirit in the face of great difficulty and pain.

We love you all. More updates tomorrow.

the wisdom of good friends

Just writing one last post for the evening. I'll try to write again tomorrow afternoon from the hospital.

Today was a difficult day. But we expected a difficult day, and we expect the same tomorrow. Mom's doctor told her to expect to feel positively horrible for about the first three days after surgery.

So we're right on schedule.

Although it's hard to see Mom in pain, I have to admit that I am enjoying my role in her caregiving. After years of being nurtured and looked after by Mom, I am getting to mother her a little. I have kissed Mom's face many dozens of times over the past two days. Watching what she is going through just melts my heart and makes me want to cheer her on in any way I can.

Here's a wonderful blessing that "fell into place" marvelously tonight. A few weeks ago I was putting together a short list of women to sleep overnight at the hospital beside Mom's bed. One of Mom's dear friends, Sandra, volunteered to stay over on Friday night. It just so happens that Sandra is a skilled nurse and has special experience dealing with orthopedic patients.

When Sandra arrived tonight to take over Cheryl-care, I saw Mom visibly relax. In her quietly nurturing way, Sandra offered a number of small gestures of care to Mom that none of us had the presence of mind to offer her.

These gestures were not terribly academic or technical. Sandra was there to be a friend to Mom, not her professional nurse. But those little touches brought real comfort. Cool compresses to soothe Mom's feverish forehead. Ice chips to calm her irritated throat. Mom said several times, "Oh, Sandra. I'm so glad you're here."

When we put together the schedule, I had no idea how wonderful it would be to have someone like Sandra keeping watch for the first night at the hospital. It just happened that way. Dad also felt relieved to have Sandra staying with Mom tonight. I know Mom is going to sleep well tonight with Sandra by her side. The one person who probably will not sleep well in this equation is, of course, Sandra...

By the way, the photo above was taken in a small chapel in the hospital where Mom is recuperating. There's an altar near the front of the chapel with a blank book in which patients and family members may write their prayers. I found some of the prayers in the book to be very touching.

More tomorrow.

Hospital recovery, day 1, and a freeze on visitors

12/19/08, 1:45 pm EST

Mom's new spine is one day old.

We're here with her in the hospital room. She is still in ICU, though her vital signs are very strong. We're just waiting for a regular recovery room to open up for her.

As expected, Mom is experiencing a lot of pain as she learns how to move her body with all its new hardware. Something as simple as shifting her weight in bed requires a lot of effort. Though her pain medication is helping her manage, of course it's also hampering her ability to communicate clearly (finding the right words is sometimes difficult).

Mom's gentle spirit continues to shine through. She is very much the woman that we love, even in this vulnerable state. Last night after Mom emerged from surgery in one of the initial recovery rooms, one of her nurses asked me with a smile, "She seems really wonderful. Is that just the drugs, or is she always this sweet?" I let her know that the drugs had nothing to do with it. Mom somehow managed to be gentle and kind even after a day of incredibly taxing surgery.

I am deeply grateful for the ongoing expressions of love for Mom. At the same time, I'd like to ask for no unscheduled visitors until further notice. I'd also like to ask for no phone calls to Dad until further notice. Mom is very vulnerable right now, and needs to devote 100% of her energy to her healing. In turn, Dad is devoting 100% of his energy to caring for her. What they both need right now is great measures of unbroken peace and quiet.

If you would like to show your support to Mom, here are some options for you:

(1) Write her a note and mail it to CBC. We will be gathering these periodically and sharing them with Mom at the hospital and later at home. She really cherishes handwritten notes of all sorts, and I can guarantee she will enjoy reading and re-reading them during the long road ahead.
Here's the address for your notes:
Cornerstone Bible Church
Attn. Cheryl McIntosh
869 Cole Dr SW
Lilburn, GA 30047

(2) Send an email to me. I am keeping my laptop close by here in the hospital. I'll read your note to her at the hospital.

(3) Leave a comment here on the blog. I am also sharing these with her as she heals. They are a source of ongoing encouragement to her. She absolutely loves hearing from her circle of encouragers.

(4) Pray. This may be the best option of all. Specifically, please pray for the following:
- That Mom's pain would be manageable
- That she would be able to rest deeply and simply relax into her current state
- For continued healing and strength
- For Mom's courage as she makes tiny steps forward

We will be faithful in updating this blog as frequently as we can. Check here as often as you like for regular updates on our very patient patient.

Clean living pays

This will be my last post for the evening! I just wanted to write and say that we got to see Mom tonight after surgery, and it was a joy. Here's the story from tonight. It contains several answers to all of the prayers being offered up today on Mom's behalf.

After Mom was sewed up at the conclusion of her surgery, we were instructed to wait in a new waiting area in the ICU. There we waited. And waited some more. Two hours passed. We fidgeted, checked our watches, sighed theatrically. I even attempted unsuccessfully to extract a bag of pretzels from the hospital vending machine.

Finally we were greeted by a nurse with an update. The nurse told us that Mom was doing well, and that she was being transferred to her ICU room. She said that we would be able to see her soon. She mentioned casually that Mom's ventilation tube had been removed.

This was a huge surprise, and not a pleasant one. We wondered if it was incorrect information, or if it was a medical mistake. "Are you sure?" Dad asked her. The nurse insisted. Yes, yes. "She has been extubated."

We immediately felt concerned about this. The surgeon had been very clear with Dad, mentioning several times: her ventilation tube will be in for at least one night, possibly two nights. Surgical teams are very cautious about extubation. Wisdom says you should never, ever remove a tube prematurely. Removing the tube causes the patient's throat to swell. Once you've taken it out and created that swelling, it's very painful to try to re-insert it.

Dad paged Mom's surgeon. We sat in the waiting room a while longer. We sighed theatrically a few more times.

While we were waiting for a call back from the surgeon, a nurse directed us to the room where Mom was recovering. Oh, my, it was good to see her. It was so good to see her! She could see us and speak to us. Her ventilation tube was gone. Her vital statistics were absolutely perfect. Blood pressure was spot-on.

After a 10-hour surgery in which she picked up the most awesomely Frankensteiny scar this side of Halloween, she had the clarity of mind to give the nurse Dad's cell phone number as soon as the tube was removed and she was able to speak. Wow. Good morning, Miss Lucid.

She was very weary, and she was in a lot of pain. But Dad got to give her some kisses, and we got to hold her hand and tell her how amazing she was.

Dr. Horton called us back shortly after we reunited with Mom. Dad explained that his concern about the ventilation tube was no longer an issue. Mom's initial recovery was all the reassurance Dad needed to support the decision to remove the tube. Dr. Horton explained that in 95% of his patients, the ventilation tube stays in overnight. But Mom was different. She was beating the odds.

So — Mom's initial recovery has been better than that of 95% of her surgical counterparts.

Mom has always been one of the healthiest people I know. All that stuff that Dr. Oz wants us to do? Mom actually does it. Smoothies with fresh fruit, flax seeds on green salads, steamed veggies for dinner, gym appointments never broken.

I remember once she told me about one of her guilty food pleasures. She lowered her voice to a whisper before she told me, "Sometimes I sneak into the cupboard after lunch and steal an almond or two."

That's right, folks. Mom's favorite forbidden snack just happens to be loaded with heart-healthy Omega-3's.

The simple fact that Mom has already recovered this beautifully in the wake of an absolutely brutal surgery shows me a couple of things: (1) prayer works; and (2) clean living pays.

Mom is spending the night in ICU. We will be re-joining her at the hospital tomorrow. I'll post another update then. Thanks to everyone for your prayers, phone calls, and visits. We are feeling very blessed tonight.

Live from the waiting room!

Day zero of Mom's new spine.

Mom and Dad arrived around 5:30 a.m. Chuck Taylor was here to see Mom off into surgery, along with my brother Scott and his girlfriend Ana. Mom was prepped for surgery around 7:30 a.m. (she got a dose of what Dad calls "happy medicine"). At 7:45 she went into the OR, and the first incision was 8:25.

So, now it's four of us (Dad, Tim, me, Debbie), hanging out at the hospital for the long haul. I'm utterly thrilled that instead of the typical hospital waiting room with a blaring TV and frantic hospital staff, we have managed to ensconce ourselves in a quiet, semi-private waiting space, complete with wireless signal and super-comfy furniture. Wow! It's the nicest hospital waiting room I've ever come across. It's especially appreciated, since we're going to be spending lots of time here over the next couple of days.

We are all hunkering down with our laptops, working on projects, enjoying the calm day, appreciating the chance to be together.

We have been receiving updates on Mom's condition about once an hour. I'll keep you posted throughout the afternoon. Thanks to the host of you that are out there praying and fasting for Mom at this very moment.

For more updates on Mom's surgery throughout the afternoon, hit the "refresh" button on your browser. I'll try to update whenever we get news from the OR, maybe once an hour.

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10:40 am EST - Another update phone call from the OR. We are loving the helpful communication from the surgical team. Dr. Horton is moving into the fusion part of the surgery. He's moving from one tricky part of the surgery into another. The doctor has surgically separated several vertebrae which had compressed upon each other and grown together over the years. Now he is fusing Mom's vertebrae into one giant "super-vertebra" (that's my term, not the doctor's). More updates soon.

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12:15 pm EST - Mom is doing great. The surgery is going really well so far. We have many fans of Mom gathering here in the waiting space. The doctor is now beginning to put titanium screws into Mom's spine. We're thinking that Mom will be gaining a few pounds during the surgery because of all the metal being added to her back.

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Update from Dad - 1:30 pm EST - Just heard from Monique in the operating room (1:20 PM). Things are proceeding normally with Cheryl's surgery. They continue to work on the spinal fusion, which is going to include all the vertebrae from the sacrum to T5, which includes most of her spine. Progress involves drilling holes and inserting stainless steel screws and rods to support the bone graft. Thanks for your continued prayer. We should be somewhere near the halfway point. More later.

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Update from Dad - 2:40 pm EST - Just heard from the O.R. (2:35 PM). Cheryl's surgery is ahead of schedule. All the hardware bracing is complete and the vertebrae are in place. Dr. Horton is now harvesting bone from her pelvis to place in the inter-vertebral spaces. Once that is done, the surgery is complete. She will then be released to Intensive Care. We who are waiting will be transferring to the family ICU waiting area where we will meet Dr. Horton and hear his report. Everything looks very good at this point. More later.

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Update from Dad - 4:00 pm EST - The bone is in place between Cheryl's vertebrae. Now the difficult work of installing the two unifying stainless steel rods begins. They will bring together all the bracing hardware and finish the operation. They estimate another two hours or so. So, in the end, the surgery will take 11-12 hours, which is pretty close to the original estimates. It has been a long day, but things are still going well. I hope the next update will be the last one of the surgery proper. Thanks for praying.

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6:00 pm EST - The operation is complete! Mom is getting sewed back up right now. We'll get to meet with her doctor and see her briefly in about an hour. She'll spend the night in ICU.

I look forward to meeting the doctor that just helped give so much quality of life back to my Mom. It'd be cool to give him something more than a handshake. Like, say, a giant steak. Or a foot massage. He must be exhausted every time he completes one of these incredible surgeries.

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Update from Dad - 7:00 pm EST - Cheryl's surgery is at last over except for closing the wound and doing the necessary antiseptic preparations. I am waiting for a call from Dr. Horton, which will come as soon as he has finished these final steps. She will be taken to ICU next, where I will be able to see her briefly. Everything went well and now the long healing process begins. She won't wake up until tomorrow sometime. Please pray that post-op difficulties will be minimal and that her bone graft will be successful. About 12 percent of bone grafts don't work, and that really complicates things.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers and your concern for her and us. Today has been long, but the steady succession of people who have been with us in the waiting room has made the time pass much faster. Thanks for all of you for sharing your time with us. Good night!

TRUST & PEACE

I've been thinking a lot about the word "trust". Surgery will require much trust on my part and I've pondered what that looks and feels like.

It has always seemed to be something that I actively do but of late I have come to look at it differently. In the past it seemed to be something I needed to drum up within me requiring energy. With the journey I'm on, I have come to see it as something I allow to surround and hold me -- as though I am wrapped in a soft welcoming comforter. The thing that it does require of me is belief in what I am putting my trust in. When I lay myself on the operating table -- my human trust will be in my surgeon but in truth it will be in the One who surrounds him and puts His hands upon Dr. Horton's hands. God ultimately is the one I trust.

Another visual picture that I'm enjoying will be all of you who have and are praying for me. The picture is of all of you with joined hands surrounding my surgery bed with your prayers guiding and supporting. Thank you for being in my picture.

How do I feel on the eve of what has been repeatedly termed "massive surgery". I feel like I am being carried. It is a surreal feeling. I thought about it and concluded that this is what "peace" feels like. I am not frightened or anxious. I have done my part humanly in making my decision to have this done. I have researched doctors, listened to the words of others who have been operated on by Dr. Horton, read books on Scoliosis and the options of treatment, consulted the National Scoliosis Foundation for recommendations. I have asked God to lead Doug and me in this decision and to make it obvious and simple. He has. I have no other options. We are very much at peace with the decision we have made and thus can comfortably submit to something so huge. We know the road ahead will be a long and bumpy one but looking back on our decision process is one way God will remind us that we have walked with Him in making the decision. We trust His taking care of us all along the road ahead. It is an added blessing to know you're on this road walking along side us.

PRAYERS

I thought I'd share some things that I know to pray for. Wanted share them with you all.

Prayer Requests for My Surgery

- That I won’t fall. My balance will be totally different.
- Peace through recovery.
- That God would show His power in Doug’s and my lives
- Strength & perseverance for Doug and Carissa as they care for me
- For my bones to REGROW rapidly and the fusion to be successful.
- Protection from infection
- Hospital staff to be alert and conscious of my needs
- For God to be with Carissa. This is a new role for her.
- For God to use this in my life and teach me things about Himself that I would not learn otherwise.
- That I would not be afraid of the pain & that it would be manageable.
- For good use of this down time & for my mind to be alert. (this may be totally off the chart but I'd like it!)
- Protection of my back bones during surgery. Some places that will be getting the screws are now very narrow. Pray my bones will hold screws in place.
- That we would be a “light” in the hospital and for an opportunity to perhaps minister to others who are going through what we are. The hospital ONLY does orthopedic and spine surgery.
- Patience for me. The recovery will be very slow – months. The progress will not always be noticeable. I will need to be a plodder.

COUNTDOWN

We're finally nearing the day of surgery. It seemed far out there when we made the decision but now it is at our doorstep --4 days off on Dec 18th. My days have been filled with many doctor appointments. Each one had the possibility of knocking the surgery date out. I am so thankful that each one was fine. The one lingering thing is the huge amount of colds and flu going around. I have asked the Lord many times to protect me from this.

Doug and I saw the surgeon on Monday. It was a wonderful appointment. He spelled out what he would do. His final words were-- the surgery will last anywhere from 7-12 hours and we won't stop until it is perfect. This terminology is different from most surgeons who say ... we will do the very best we can. We have heard from no less then 25 people what an incredible surgeon Dr. Horton is with outstanding results. Only 4 doctors in the US do the procedure he does it. People travel from all over to have him do their surgery. We will be traveling 8 miles! Yes -- 8 miles. God is good.

How are we feeling? We are doing well. We are trusting God to take both of us through the unknown with His peace and His strength. Yes it is massive but we cannot change that. Doug and I have often said that the patient has it easier then the family & loved ones. There is a lot of truth in this.

What will I be doing after surgery? Getting my strength back and learning how to move in a new way. I know much of my time will be to walk and walk and walk. At first I will walk around the house only. Walking is the best promoter of bone growth. At first it will take all the energy I have. The nerves and muscles in my back will be cut so the only things I have to use are my my arms and legs. The polymyalgia rhumatica I contracted in February is still lingering -- leaving my arms and legs aching and stiff. This will be a challenge since I will need them. I am asking God for grace upon grace to carry me through and to surprise me with His care through my recovery. Please join me. Other concerns that I know of are infection and necessary bone growth. My spine will have a bone stimulating material put between each vertebrae from T5 to the sacrum as well as one long rod with screws thru my vertebra into this rod. The rod is to stabilize my spine while the spine fuses. This will eventually fuse into one bone. I will need to relearn how to move since I cannot twist or bend my back. It can be done and I will learn.

This is about all I know for now. Carissa and Doug will update the blog often so check in there. Please please leave posts as these will be your communication gifts to me.

Cheryl