On May 15 I was brought from the rehab hospital to Massachusetts General Hospital for my colon cancer surgery. A great many people who care about me and DebbieLynne were praying things would go well.
With my permission the anethesiologist performed an epidural since that would allow them to reduce the amount of sedation I would need.
A breathing tube to my lungs was put in place after I was put to sleep, and later that same day was removed and I was back using my positive pressure ventilator with my mouthpiece strapped on. That was a wonderful answer to prayer because it was thought I might need to use the breathing tube for an extended period.
I was kept in the recovery room for a few days before it was deemed safe to move me to the respiratory intensive care unit. After a few days I was allowed to begin having clear liquids. Then, just 8 days after the operation, I was transported back to the rehab hospital to continue recovery.
Thank you so much for your prayers and help. I'll let you know how rehab goes. My re-sectioned colon is healing. I'll have to restrict my diet to low fiber foods until it can tolerate them. The abdominal swelling will need to reduce more before I can use my newer (tight fitting) back brace, but today I was able to use my old (loose fitting) back brace on so I could sit more upright in the bed to eat lunch.
Such amazing progress so soon after the surgery is a wonderful answer to prayer.
Thank you also so much for all those of you who have helped DebbieLynne with meals and more while I've been away and couldn't be there myself to help her.
And I thank you for helping us financially. Your generosity has provided enough to finish paying off the debt incurred when we had to meet a large deductible to qualify DebbieLynne to be on MassHealth.
DebbieLynne and I are greatly blessed. God has blessed us with so much, including friends like you.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Things Often Don't Go As We Expect
When I went for my analoscopy we expected that an internal hemorrhoid was the cause of my bleeding. But it turned out to be colon cancer.
When I went in for the colonoscopy to examine the rest of my colon, we expected I'd be home by the end of the day, and prayed that things would go well. But right after the colonoscopy I had a heart attack and had to be admitted to the hospital.
Following the heart procedures to clear the blockage and put in a stint, we hoped and prayed that I would be able to spend at least a few days at home prior to my colon surgery 6 weeks after the heart was repaired. But I'm still here in the rehab hospital, with just five more days until the operation.
Arrangements had been made for DebbieLynne to come here tomorrow afternoon for a nice visit of a couple of hours. But this morning I learned that the pre-op tests and evaluations can't be done here at the rehab hospital so I'll have to be brought to Mass. General tomorrow which will tie up all afternoon. So there will be no visit with Deb tomorrow!
Once again things have not gone as we hoped and expected. Thankfully the person who was going to bring her here tomorrow for a longer visit will be able to get DebbieLynne here for a shorter visit later this afternoon. So we'll have some time together before Tuesday.
But we have to wonder. Will the operation on Tuesday go as we hope and pray and expect? Please continue to keep us in prayer. Has this time of my being hospitalized since my colonoscopy and heart attack been to help me be physically ready to survive the surgery and recover, or has it been to prepare DebbieLynne to handle life without me by her side?
We hope the surgery will go well and that after some weeks of recovery I'll be able to return home to be with my beloved DebbieLynne. She plans to arrive at the hospital during the latter part of the operation and a Christian friend will stay with her to help support her during that difficult time. Hopefully they'll get to rejoice together by the end of the afternoon if I'm awake and can let them know I'm OK.
Please do keep DebbieLynne in prayer. If I don't survive the surgery, I'll be with Jesus with no more problems of any kind. But DebbieLynne will be hurting badly. I don't want that to happen. I pray that it doesn't happen. I don't expect that it will happen. But things do not always go as we expect. So please continue to pray...and if God doesn't answer our prayers in the way we want and hope and expect He will, please help DebbieLynne however you can whenever you can.
I thank all of you for what you have done and will do for my beloved DebbieLynne. Hopefully I'll be around for a long time to do whatever I can for my sweetheart.
When I went in for the colonoscopy to examine the rest of my colon, we expected I'd be home by the end of the day, and prayed that things would go well. But right after the colonoscopy I had a heart attack and had to be admitted to the hospital.
Following the heart procedures to clear the blockage and put in a stint, we hoped and prayed that I would be able to spend at least a few days at home prior to my colon surgery 6 weeks after the heart was repaired. But I'm still here in the rehab hospital, with just five more days until the operation.
Arrangements had been made for DebbieLynne to come here tomorrow afternoon for a nice visit of a couple of hours. But this morning I learned that the pre-op tests and evaluations can't be done here at the rehab hospital so I'll have to be brought to Mass. General tomorrow which will tie up all afternoon. So there will be no visit with Deb tomorrow!
Once again things have not gone as we hoped and expected. Thankfully the person who was going to bring her here tomorrow for a longer visit will be able to get DebbieLynne here for a shorter visit later this afternoon. So we'll have some time together before Tuesday.
But we have to wonder. Will the operation on Tuesday go as we hope and pray and expect? Please continue to keep us in prayer. Has this time of my being hospitalized since my colonoscopy and heart attack been to help me be physically ready to survive the surgery and recover, or has it been to prepare DebbieLynne to handle life without me by her side?
We hope the surgery will go well and that after some weeks of recovery I'll be able to return home to be with my beloved DebbieLynne. She plans to arrive at the hospital during the latter part of the operation and a Christian friend will stay with her to help support her during that difficult time. Hopefully they'll get to rejoice together by the end of the afternoon if I'm awake and can let them know I'm OK.
Please do keep DebbieLynne in prayer. If I don't survive the surgery, I'll be with Jesus with no more problems of any kind. But DebbieLynne will be hurting badly. I don't want that to happen. I pray that it doesn't happen. I don't expect that it will happen. But things do not always go as we expect. So please continue to pray...and if God doesn't answer our prayers in the way we want and hope and expect He will, please help DebbieLynne however you can whenever you can.
I thank all of you for what you have done and will do for my beloved DebbieLynne. Hopefully I'll be around for a long time to do whatever I can for my sweetheart.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Visit to My Cardiologist and a Gift From Old Friends
Yesterday (Tuesday) I was transported from the rehab hospital to Mass. General Hospital to see my cardiologist. He had another EKG done and looked at the results of recent blood tests, and gave the OK for me to have the colon surgery next Tuesday.
He said he was comfortable with my blood count being 25, but recommended a blood transfusion before the surgery if it goes any lower than that, Normally he'd like the count to around 30, but some studies have indicated that colon cancer may spread more when blood counts are higher.
After the surgery removes the colon cancer the daily bleeding should end and the blood counts should gradually rise back to normal levels. That should help me regain strength and stamina.
My cardiologist also thinks I'll do OK during the day of fasting and "cleaning out" the day before the operation. My heart is in much better condition than it was when I had the colonoscopy, thanks to the surgery to open the blocked artery and put in a stint.
I'll be intubated during the operation to take care of my breathing while under the affects of the annethesia. Hopefully I'll be able to get back to using my ventilator by the end of the day.
Please pray that things will go well during preparation for the operation, the surgery itself, and the recovery from it.
I also want to acknowledge and give thanks for a generous gift from some old friends of my wife. That gift will bring our debt down to $800.
I wrote about that debt in an earlier post. DebbieLynne and I are greatly moved that people have come to our aid at this difficult time and have done so much to lift that burden from us.
Thank you for your prayers and all everyone has done and is doing during this time of our dealing with colon cancer and being apart for so long.
He said he was comfortable with my blood count being 25, but recommended a blood transfusion before the surgery if it goes any lower than that, Normally he'd like the count to around 30, but some studies have indicated that colon cancer may spread more when blood counts are higher.
After the surgery removes the colon cancer the daily bleeding should end and the blood counts should gradually rise back to normal levels. That should help me regain strength and stamina.
My cardiologist also thinks I'll do OK during the day of fasting and "cleaning out" the day before the operation. My heart is in much better condition than it was when I had the colonoscopy, thanks to the surgery to open the blocked artery and put in a stint.
I'll be intubated during the operation to take care of my breathing while under the affects of the annethesia. Hopefully I'll be able to get back to using my ventilator by the end of the day.
Please pray that things will go well during preparation for the operation, the surgery itself, and the recovery from it.
I also want to acknowledge and give thanks for a generous gift from some old friends of my wife. That gift will bring our debt down to $800.
I wrote about that debt in an earlier post. DebbieLynne and I are greatly moved that people have come to our aid at this difficult time and have done so much to lift that burden from us.
Thank you for your prayers and all everyone has done and is doing during this time of our dealing with colon cancer and being apart for so long.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Updates On Two Fronts
First, as we near the date (May 15) of my surgery to remove the section of my colon with the cancer, Deb and I met with the surgeon yesterday.
Unfortunately he said it wouldn't be possible to do the surgery with two small incisions because my polio affected insides down there aren't lined up properly. So he'll have to make a larger incision in the abdomen to remove part of the large colon and sew back together the remaining colon.
There will be the possibility of infection afterwards until things fully heal, but measures will be taken to lessen the likelihood of that happening. But once the cancer is removed the daily bleeding should end. That should eliminate the need for blood transfusions I now get about once a week.
Unfortunately he said it wouldn't be possible to do the surgery with two small incisions because my polio affected insides down there aren't lined up properly. So he'll have to make a larger incision in the abdomen to remove part of the large colon and sew back together the remaining colon.
There will be the possibility of infection afterwards until things fully heal, but measures will be taken to lessen the likelihood of that happening. But once the cancer is removed the daily bleeding should end. That should eliminate the need for blood transfusions I now get about once a week.
He said that it is more likely that I'll have a prolonged period of limited pulmonary function. Since my heart attack the day of my colonoscopy I've only been able to be off the ventilator for very short periods. Lately the best I've been able to be without the respirator is about 20 minutes.
During the estimated 3 hours of the colon surgery I'll be under anesthesia and have a tube down to my lungs to breathe for me. The surgeon thinks it may take many weeks for my breathing to recover.
But Deb and I are thinking that with no more bleeding after the cancer is removed I may regain strength more quickly that what the surgeon thinks. And as soon as I'm able to be up in my wheelchair again, I'll be able to have my new vent on the back of my chair and use it on battery power for about 4 hours, or plug it into an electrical outlet when one is available.
Please do keep us in prayer regarding the surgery. Things haven't been going as we've hoped. The "out-patient" colonoscopy session led to the heart attack and heart procedures and this prolonged hospitalization with no time off to be home together. We don't know when I'll be able to return home after the surgery. So, please, keep us in prayer, including that I do get through the operation and recovery.
The other update I want to share with you is in regards to my earlier posting about the debt we'd incurred while paying for disability related needs to qualify DebbieLynne to be on MassHealth when she moved here to Massachusetts to marry me.
Thanks mostly to the help of caring friends, the $3,000 in credit card debt is now down to about $1,200. Thank you for all those who have helped with that. You have blessed us with your prayers and your giving.
I also want to thank all of those who have helped and will help DebbieLynne during this time of my being in the hospital. I wish I was there to do as much as I can for her myself. But until I get back there, I greatly appreciate whatever anybody does to help Deb.
Thank you for your prayers, your gifts, and your helping out in whatever ways you can. May God abundantly bless each of you.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
The Date For My Colon Surgery Has Been Set
Today I learned that the surgery to remove the portion of the colon with the cancer is scheduled for May 15, which is three weeks from today.
Between now and then I will continue to get chest physical therapy (a sort of pounding) to keep my lungs clear. The more clear my lungs are before the operation, the better it should be for my breathing during and following the time under anesthesia.
Breathing is rather important. Prior to the heart attack I was able to breathe on my own when sitting up in my wheelchair. For now I'm needing to use a ventilator all the time, whether in bed or in the wheelchair. I'm hoping to once again build up the ability to breathe on my own in the coming months.
It's clear now that I won't get to spend time at home with DebbieLynne before the operation. I have an appointment with the surgeon a week from Thursday. To get to it I'll need medical transportion to and from the doctor's office. Then the following Tuesday I'll be brought in to see my cardiologist.
It would have been difficult to get to those appointments if I'd returned home. There is also the matter of my needing units of blood to replace what continues to be lost due to the colon cancer and the blood thinning meds I'm on while recovering from the heart operation.
Since I can't get to DebbieLynne, in order for us to see each other, she will continue to have to come here when she can. Tomorrow the husband of one of my cousins will bring her, using a manual wheelchair.
Our church has offered to help cover the cost of her to make some visits using two paratransit services. The MBTA won't bring her to this town because it is outside their territory, but they will take her to Brockton to transfer to their paratransit service which does serve the town this rehab hospital is in. The trips will be time consuming but it will mean Deb and I can spend some time together.
Thank you for praying for us. We miss being together. In case you hadn't noticed, we very much love one another.
Between now and then I will continue to get chest physical therapy (a sort of pounding) to keep my lungs clear. The more clear my lungs are before the operation, the better it should be for my breathing during and following the time under anesthesia.
Breathing is rather important. Prior to the heart attack I was able to breathe on my own when sitting up in my wheelchair. For now I'm needing to use a ventilator all the time, whether in bed or in the wheelchair. I'm hoping to once again build up the ability to breathe on my own in the coming months.
It's clear now that I won't get to spend time at home with DebbieLynne before the operation. I have an appointment with the surgeon a week from Thursday. To get to it I'll need medical transportion to and from the doctor's office. Then the following Tuesday I'll be brought in to see my cardiologist.
It would have been difficult to get to those appointments if I'd returned home. There is also the matter of my needing units of blood to replace what continues to be lost due to the colon cancer and the blood thinning meds I'm on while recovering from the heart operation.
Since I can't get to DebbieLynne, in order for us to see each other, she will continue to have to come here when she can. Tomorrow the husband of one of my cousins will bring her, using a manual wheelchair.
Our church has offered to help cover the cost of her to make some visits using two paratransit services. The MBTA won't bring her to this town because it is outside their territory, but they will take her to Brockton to transfer to their paratransit service which does serve the town this rehab hospital is in. The trips will be time consuming but it will mean Deb and I can spend some time together.
Thank you for praying for us. We miss being together. In case you hadn't noticed, we very much love one another.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Be Careful About Putting Things Off
I'm sure glad that Deb and I went to the Boston Commons, the Public Garden, and Quincy Market shortly before my colonoscopy. Those are things we love to do, and we didn't know when I'd be up to venturing out and about next. Little did we know what was in store for us.
Right after the colonoscopy came the heart attack and then the heart procedures to clear the blockage and put in a stint. Then this period of recovery while I'm on blood thinners that are good for my heart but tend to increase the loss of blood from the colon cancer. So I've needed to be on the ventilator 24 hours day, rather than just an average of maybe 16 hours a day before these events.
Thankfully, I can still talk on the phone and use the computer to keep in touch with DebbieLynne. Since the MBTA paratransit service doesn't serve the town I'm in, she's not able to use it to come visit me. So she only has been able to come visit when others have transported her.
Prior to the colonoscopy I had taken care of paying bills and other fiscal matters. I hadn't gotten around to showing DebbieLynne how to access our bank accounts and pay various bills
If I hadn't survived the heart attack, DebbieLynne would not only have lost the husband who loves her dearly, she also would be had the added struggle of trying to figure out how take care of the household finances.
So we're now working on her learning how to do those things so she'll be able to do them during whatever times I am unavailable to do them. We're not putting that off any longer. Taking care of it is part of my loving her and taking care of her.
I'm learning to be more careful about putting things off. Please pray for me that I will do whatever I can for her whenever I can. Thank you for your prayers and for taking the time to read this post.
Right after the colonoscopy came the heart attack and then the heart procedures to clear the blockage and put in a stint. Then this period of recovery while I'm on blood thinners that are good for my heart but tend to increase the loss of blood from the colon cancer. So I've needed to be on the ventilator 24 hours day, rather than just an average of maybe 16 hours a day before these events.
Thankfully, I can still talk on the phone and use the computer to keep in touch with DebbieLynne. Since the MBTA paratransit service doesn't serve the town I'm in, she's not able to use it to come visit me. So she only has been able to come visit when others have transported her.
Prior to the colonoscopy I had taken care of paying bills and other fiscal matters. I hadn't gotten around to showing DebbieLynne how to access our bank accounts and pay various bills
If I hadn't survived the heart attack, DebbieLynne would not only have lost the husband who loves her dearly, she also would be had the added struggle of trying to figure out how take care of the household finances.
So we're now working on her learning how to do those things so she'll be able to do them during whatever times I am unavailable to do them. We're not putting that off any longer. Taking care of it is part of my loving her and taking care of her.
I'm learning to be more careful about putting things off. Please pray for me that I will do whatever I can for her whenever I can. Thank you for your prayers and for taking the time to read this post.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
One Heart Attack Later
Well, I had my Colonoscopy and it determined that there was just the one area of colon cancer. I was recovering from the procedure and my darling DebbieLynne was beside the hospital bed. I remember that much. But I don't remember what happened next.
I'm told that at first the docs thought it was just a breathing and heart problem brought on by the limited anesthesia used for the procedure. They got me stabilized, but decided to keep me at the hospital, and DebbieLynne returned home.
When we were told the next day that I'd a heart attack we thought it was what took place during recovery. But the actual heart attack, which we learned today was a major one with I think 90% blockage, was actually later that day. I wasn't conscious at the time so I don't remember it.
The next day they cleared the major blockage. The following day they put in stint to keep things open so the blood flowing.
I've had to be on ventilators around the clock. Today is the first day they've been able to transfer me into a wheelchchair beside the hospital bed. I'm able to take short breaks from the ventilator while sitting here. I'm taking care of a few things on the computer before they get me back onto the bed.
Thank you for your prayers. The colon surgery has had to be put off by 4 to 6 weeks due to the blood thinning meds I need to be on following the heart surgical procedures. I may be transferred to a rehab hospital to finish recovering and then hopefully get to return home to be with DebbieLynne for a while before the colon surgery.
Please keep praying. I am making progress. Folks from church and my cousins are helping DebbieLynne. This is a difficult time for both of us, but God is providing in answer to your prayers. We thank all of you who are praying and those who are doing things for us that we cannot do for ourselves at this time.
And please pray for all those who are trying to help me recover from the heart attack and be ready for the colon surgery and follow up treatments.
The Lord bless you and take care of all your needs and those of those you love.
I'm told that at first the docs thought it was just a breathing and heart problem brought on by the limited anesthesia used for the procedure. They got me stabilized, but decided to keep me at the hospital, and DebbieLynne returned home.
When we were told the next day that I'd a heart attack we thought it was what took place during recovery. But the actual heart attack, which we learned today was a major one with I think 90% blockage, was actually later that day. I wasn't conscious at the time so I don't remember it.
The next day they cleared the major blockage. The following day they put in stint to keep things open so the blood flowing.
I've had to be on ventilators around the clock. Today is the first day they've been able to transfer me into a wheelchchair beside the hospital bed. I'm able to take short breaks from the ventilator while sitting here. I'm taking care of a few things on the computer before they get me back onto the bed.
Thank you for your prayers. The colon surgery has had to be put off by 4 to 6 weeks due to the blood thinning meds I need to be on following the heart surgical procedures. I may be transferred to a rehab hospital to finish recovering and then hopefully get to return home to be with DebbieLynne for a while before the colon surgery.
Please keep praying. I am making progress. Folks from church and my cousins are helping DebbieLynne. This is a difficult time for both of us, but God is providing in answer to your prayers. We thank all of you who are praying and those who are doing things for us that we cannot do for ourselves at this time.
And please pray for all those who are trying to help me recover from the heart attack and be ready for the colon surgery and follow up treatments.
The Lord bless you and take care of all your needs and those of those you love.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)