Joel didn't come home - again. On Monday, his 21st birthday, the doctors voiced their concern over two low-grade fever and an elevated white blood cell count and ordered two tests, one for an intestinal tract infection and a swallow study. Since the swallow study was delayed until Tuesday afternoon, his discharge didn't happen. The first test was negative - good news! - but the only good news about the swallow study was that it wasn't in vain. It involves swallowing barium, which Joel regurgitates every time. We were all sure that it would show nothing, but unfortunately, it did show some kind of connection between the esophagus and this abscess area. That began a flurry of activity, leading to a CT-scan-guided mini-operation to place a drain tube through Joel's neck into the abscess, in the hope of avoiding further surgery. We stayed another night to support him through the ordeal, which involved him holding his head back for the hour of the procedure, and the MRI Wednesday morning to look for bone infection. Thankfully there was no sign of that, though they will continue to treat Joel with strong antibiotics just in case.
On Tuesday night after the procedure, Pete asked Joel, "Do you feel anxious?"
"Yes," he replied.
"What are you anxious about?" Pete probed. Joel hesitated, unable to articulate exactly what concerned him. So I rushed in, "He's worried about having another surgery. It hurt SO bad, and took SO long to recover and then he was SO weakened and set back by it, and...he can't BEAR another surgery!" I was bawling and Joel was crying and Pete cried too.
My head and neck and shoulders were sore, my stomach was tense, and I had a very slight headache (I never have headaches). This continued all day Wednesday; Pete gave me a massage and I took a bath that evening, which helped. I was fretting and worrying about the possibility of surgery. "Lord, PLEASE no surgery." "Lord, he can't handle another surgery." Etc.
On Thursday morning, the Lord graciously brought to mind the thoughts, "What good does worrying over this chance do? He hasn't had another surgery; he is coping with the nausea and feeling rotten. You have already let your requests be made known to Me - constantly. Can you trust Me to be good?" Pete confirmed the message on Friday when he called from the hospital and reported that Joel was feeling much better. "Let's agree not to worry, OK?" OK.
We are not immune to the temptations of this trial. We continue to face situations that arouse anxiety, and can choose to listen to the demons of doubt or to the Holy Spirit. We appreciate those who pray for us, and trust that we will grow in faith, love and obedience to the will of God.
Showing posts with label surgery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label surgery. Show all posts
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Saturday, October 26, 2013
You Never Know
When we returned Joel to Sister Kenny on Tuesday after a fairly successful, though overwhelming, trial run at home, his neck and throat hurt badly and they decided to keep him another day to give those muscles a chance to rest before another car trip. Dr. O, the internal medicine doctor, informed us they would perform a "swallow evaluation" to figure out why he kept having trouble. We visited friends to examine their accessible van and appreciated the chance to ready a few more things for Thursday's homecoming. We continued to pray that if Joel wasn't ready to come home, the Lord would make that clear to the doctors and prevent it from happening.
On Wednesday, Joel called to tell us that they discovered a leak in his esophagus with a sac of infected fluid between it and the spine. At about 9:30pm, he said he was scheduled to have surgery to take out the abscess - that night! And he wouldn't be able to eat or drink for seven days while the esophagus healed itself. I pressed the nurse to give my number to the surgeon so he could call me as soon as he was finished, and Joel and I agreed that I would come to be with him on Thursday.
At 4:30 am, Dr. D called and in a hearty voice informed me that the surgery was successful and that Dr G, the original neurosurgeon from HCMC, had come over and taken the plates and screws out of Joel's neck also. "It's hard for infection to heal in the presence of hardware so we removed it." Wow.
Thursday morning I called the nurse's station as I drove, and the Sister Kenny nurse explained, "Oh, he's not on our floor any more. Just a minute, I'll get you his new room number." What?? I called the ICU at Abbott Northwestern Heart Hospital, and his nurse, Molly reported that Joel was experiencing almost uncontrollable pain, probably from the hardware removal. I asked how long he would be in the ICU, and whether he would return to Sister Kenny after that. "Probably overnight, and no, up to the spine or neuro unit." I started fretting about this and that, but had the presence of mind to turn on the Christian radio station. As I sang praise songs, they helped soothe me and remind me of God's power and love. Then a d.j. came on and told how he was praying for a motorcyclist in a coma at the hospital and received the inspiration to tell him who God was. "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come." And the biker started jerking and the machines started beeping and the nurses came running and - he woke up! I determined to remind Joel of who God is when I arrived.
Molly had the pain mostly under control with a morphine drip plus pump by the time I got there at 12:30pm; it was at a level 6 or 7 instead of 9 or 10 (on a scale of 1-10). I held Joel's hands for an hour, then one hand for another hour while we listened to praise music on his iPod. The pain had been "as bad as I've had ever in my life," but by the time I left at 7 pm, he felt fairly comfortable and much more at peace. Remembering who the Lord is and how much He loves us solves some of our problems at the deepest level.
Dr. O stopped in and expressed his gratitude that the swallow evaluation caught the infection, and reiterated that this may have been the cause of numerous problems for Joel. Dr. A agreed, and further explained how much easier it is to treat infections without metal nearby. Apparently bacteria love to hide in the pits and grooves of titanium hardware. Dr. O seemed to think that Joel could possibly return to Sister Kenny when he's a little stronger, to make sure he's still up to speed for coming home.
As I drove back home (thankful that I was on 35W South because 35W North was backed up for at least 3 miles), I reflected once more on the futility of worry. I lacked something to give Joel when I started the day, but the Lord provided it through the radio station. Wherever Joel goes after this, Jesus will walk with him, and with us.
On Wednesday, Joel called to tell us that they discovered a leak in his esophagus with a sac of infected fluid between it and the spine. At about 9:30pm, he said he was scheduled to have surgery to take out the abscess - that night! And he wouldn't be able to eat or drink for seven days while the esophagus healed itself. I pressed the nurse to give my number to the surgeon so he could call me as soon as he was finished, and Joel and I agreed that I would come to be with him on Thursday.
At 4:30 am, Dr. D called and in a hearty voice informed me that the surgery was successful and that Dr G, the original neurosurgeon from HCMC, had come over and taken the plates and screws out of Joel's neck also. "It's hard for infection to heal in the presence of hardware so we removed it." Wow.
Thursday morning I called the nurse's station as I drove, and the Sister Kenny nurse explained, "Oh, he's not on our floor any more. Just a minute, I'll get you his new room number." What?? I called the ICU at Abbott Northwestern Heart Hospital, and his nurse, Molly reported that Joel was experiencing almost uncontrollable pain, probably from the hardware removal. I asked how long he would be in the ICU, and whether he would return to Sister Kenny after that. "Probably overnight, and no, up to the spine or neuro unit." I started fretting about this and that, but had the presence of mind to turn on the Christian radio station. As I sang praise songs, they helped soothe me and remind me of God's power and love. Then a d.j. came on and told how he was praying for a motorcyclist in a coma at the hospital and received the inspiration to tell him who God was. "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come." And the biker started jerking and the machines started beeping and the nurses came running and - he woke up! I determined to remind Joel of who God is when I arrived.
Molly had the pain mostly under control with a morphine drip plus pump by the time I got there at 12:30pm; it was at a level 6 or 7 instead of 9 or 10 (on a scale of 1-10). I held Joel's hands for an hour, then one hand for another hour while we listened to praise music on his iPod. The pain had been "as bad as I've had ever in my life," but by the time I left at 7 pm, he felt fairly comfortable and much more at peace. Remembering who the Lord is and how much He loves us solves some of our problems at the deepest level.
Dr. O stopped in and expressed his gratitude that the swallow evaluation caught the infection, and reiterated that this may have been the cause of numerous problems for Joel. Dr. A agreed, and further explained how much easier it is to treat infections without metal nearby. Apparently bacteria love to hide in the pits and grooves of titanium hardware. Dr. O seemed to think that Joel could possibly return to Sister Kenny when he's a little stronger, to make sure he's still up to speed for coming home.
As I drove back home (thankful that I was on 35W South because 35W North was backed up for at least 3 miles), I reflected once more on the futility of worry. I lacked something to give Joel when I started the day, but the Lord provided it through the radio station. Wherever Joel goes after this, Jesus will walk with him, and with us.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Pete Writes about his Surgery
I am so so thankful for good medicine and all that goes with that – nurses, doctors, facilities, knowledge – I am so thankful. Several times I have been shaken with the thought of having this accident happen in another place in the world or another time in history. I most certainly would be an invalid.
When I found out I could have a spinal block instead of general anesthesia, I took it in hopes that it would not have the same side effects of my past surgeries, when I could not wake up, had urinary issues, etc., etc. So when I got done with surgery and woke up, I was totally alert and very thankful. But when hours later I still had not gone to the bathroom and I started to feel nauseous and throwing up and the nurse could not get the IV started and the pain blocker started to wear off the knee and the catheter was too big so the nurse had to pull it out and start over and my body itched all over (the anesthesiologist warned me that a side effect of the anesthesia would be itching in the chest. He was wrong about the chest - it itched like crazy in another place which I could not access because of the catheter). . . And they made me stay overnight in the hospital; I was flirting with discouragement.
In a matter of minutes, several things happened. My wife delivered a signed softball from the Svea teams; my children were along for the visit; the nurse gave me anti-nausea medicine and adjusted my knee. It is so ironic and telling and kingdom-revealing that out of the worst of circumstances comes the deepest of praises.
When I found out I could have a spinal block instead of general anesthesia, I took it in hopes that it would not have the same side effects of my past surgeries, when I could not wake up, had urinary issues, etc., etc. So when I got done with surgery and woke up, I was totally alert and very thankful. But when hours later I still had not gone to the bathroom and I started to feel nauseous and throwing up and the nurse could not get the IV started and the pain blocker started to wear off the knee and the catheter was too big so the nurse had to pull it out and start over and my body itched all over (the anesthesiologist warned me that a side effect of the anesthesia would be itching in the chest. He was wrong about the chest - it itched like crazy in another place which I could not access because of the catheter). . . And they made me stay overnight in the hospital; I was flirting with discouragement.
In a matter of minutes, several things happened. My wife delivered a signed softball from the Svea teams; my children were along for the visit; the nurse gave me anti-nausea medicine and adjusted my knee. It is so ironic and telling and kingdom-revealing that out of the worst of circumstances comes the deepest of praises.
Mini-quiz: Which foot belongs to the leg which received the surgery??
Monday, May 27, 2013
Giving Thanks part 2
Good thing I've been reading the book "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp! On Thursday I drove down to Mankato to watch Sarah's fastpitch softball team lose their playoff game to Chanhassen, 6-0. That wasn't so bad, as that team had been winning many games by scores of 17-0 or more. On my way home, I called Philip (on Pete's phone) to see if the church slowpitch game had ended, or if I should come in to Willmar to see the rest of it. I decided to attend, and halfway to Willmar Philip called to ask me to bring ice - "Dad hurt his leg. He heard his knee pop - he hyper-extended it." Rats. Pete called before I got the ice to say that a member of the opposing team had brought some from his neighboring house. We enjoyed cheering the team on to victory, 20-13, while Pete sat on the bench and Jason K. substituted on the pitcher's mound.
After the game, Lois Nelson declared, "Peter whatever-your-middle-name-is Stadem, you are going in!" We hemmed and hawed as we drove to DQ, where Andrew and Philip purchased their usual post-game Blizzards, but finally decided we'd better get it checked out. Daniel came to get the boys and I drove Pete to the emergency room at Rice Hospital. After an hour or two, the X-ray revealed a compound fracture of the tibia and an insignificant fracture of the fibula. The doctor insisted on speaking with an orthopedic surgeon and phoned Alexandria, where a Dr. Nelson recommended sending Pete home with a splinted legs and orders to call Willmar the next day to schedule surgery. We crawled into bed at 1:30am - well, I crawled; Pete and I gingerly raised his leg to the bed and he slept on his back. Ibuprofen controlled the pain fairly well, though.
On Friday, after numerous phone calls to Willmar, Alexandria and Olivia, we journeyed to Heartland Orthopedics in Alexandria because no orthopedic surgeon in Willmar could help us. As it turned out, no orthopedic surgeon in Alex could help us either. Surgery has to wait until this week because the swelling must go down or they wouldn't be able to close the incision. We waited almost two hours for Pete's CT scan, because a sudden influx of emergency patients kept the scanner busy. When we finally arrived home at supper time, I took a bath while Pete napped on the couch, and then I did go to the Gatewood's barn dance for about an hour. Biggest crowd yet and so fun!
So - no trip to Plain View Farm this weekend; no softball for Pete the rest of the season; no graduation parties for him on Saturday; no going much of anywhere (just a funeral and church) until the surgery. On the positive side - no ligaments or tendons torn (they think); no terrible pain; no work for several days, so time to think and pray about some long-term issues we've been procrastinating. The kids have been very helpful, including taking care of the turkeys. Lots of folks are praying for us. And bone heals well. God is good - all the time!
After the game, Lois Nelson declared, "Peter whatever-your-middle-name-is Stadem, you are going in!" We hemmed and hawed as we drove to DQ, where Andrew and Philip purchased their usual post-game Blizzards, but finally decided we'd better get it checked out. Daniel came to get the boys and I drove Pete to the emergency room at Rice Hospital. After an hour or two, the X-ray revealed a compound fracture of the tibia and an insignificant fracture of the fibula. The doctor insisted on speaking with an orthopedic surgeon and phoned Alexandria, where a Dr. Nelson recommended sending Pete home with a splinted legs and orders to call Willmar the next day to schedule surgery. We crawled into bed at 1:30am - well, I crawled; Pete and I gingerly raised his leg to the bed and he slept on his back. Ibuprofen controlled the pain fairly well, though.
On Friday, after numerous phone calls to Willmar, Alexandria and Olivia, we journeyed to Heartland Orthopedics in Alexandria because no orthopedic surgeon in Willmar could help us. As it turned out, no orthopedic surgeon in Alex could help us either. Surgery has to wait until this week because the swelling must go down or they wouldn't be able to close the incision. We waited almost two hours for Pete's CT scan, because a sudden influx of emergency patients kept the scanner busy. When we finally arrived home at supper time, I took a bath while Pete napped on the couch, and then I did go to the Gatewood's barn dance for about an hour. Biggest crowd yet and so fun!
So - no trip to Plain View Farm this weekend; no softball for Pete the rest of the season; no graduation parties for him on Saturday; no going much of anywhere (just a funeral and church) until the surgery. On the positive side - no ligaments or tendons torn (they think); no terrible pain; no work for several days, so time to think and pray about some long-term issues we've been procrastinating. The kids have been very helpful, including taking care of the turkeys. Lots of folks are praying for us. And bone heals well. God is good - all the time!
Saturday, April 7, 2012
An Unexpected Appendectomy
Last Saturday Sarah had stomach pain all day; when we finally called the insurance nurse help line at 5pm, the nurse advised us to bring her in within three hours. At the emergency room in Olivia, I sat with Sarah (a much more comfortable Sarah with an IV for hydration and pain medication) until 11pm, when they performed a CT scan on her abdomen and discovered that her appendix was, indeed, infected and needed to be removed. In the meantime, I posted on Facebook and emailed the families asking for prayer. Pete had attended the Svea Wild Game Feed where Dad Stadem gave the message, but by midnight (after erroneously going to the Willmar emergency room) he arrived and I went home to get some sleep before the Palm Sunday service.
Dad Norling called just after I woke up, and wondered how everything was. When I called Pete, he said Sarah was walking around and would be home that day. Dr. Maland performed the surgery laparoscopically, so she has only three fingernail-size incisions.
After Sunday School Opening Exercises, I prepared the praise team stage and recruited Julie Gatewood to substitute for Sarah as a singer. While playing the prelude, I looked up and saw Pete enter our pew! He'd brought Sarah home and she felt good, so he came on to worship.
Praise God for great medical care. We shouldn't be surprised if we have to pay a good portion of our incomes, considering the almost endless list of procedures that improve our lives and health.
Dad Norling called just after I woke up, and wondered how everything was. When I called Pete, he said Sarah was walking around and would be home that day. Dr. Maland performed the surgery laparoscopically, so she has only three fingernail-size incisions.
After Sunday School Opening Exercises, I prepared the praise team stage and recruited Julie Gatewood to substitute for Sarah as a singer. While playing the prelude, I looked up and saw Pete enter our pew! He'd brought Sarah home and she felt good, so he came on to worship.
Praise God for great medical care. We shouldn't be surprised if we have to pay a good portion of our incomes, considering the almost endless list of procedures that improve our lives and health.
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