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Dear Brethren
Wednesday, March 14, Update on my husband. I may do it in parts because there are so many wonderful miraculous things that have happened and I want to give glory to our Lord. Court is doing extremely well!!!! First, when we got to the hospital, I was told that the surgery would probably take 6-8 hours, longer than they had first anticipated. It took 4 1/2 to 5 hours. I couldn't see him until 8pm. They took him to surgery about 12:15. When I saw him again around 8:15 pm that night, he was sitting up in bed answering the nurses' questions about his medication. He gave the right answers! (4 hours after major surgery!) He was even joking a little. The pain control team was already getting the pain under control with 3 different pain meds.
| | Sandy with Court 2 days after surgery |
The nurse told me yesterday that this type of surgery is even worse than open heart surgery because so many things were involved. Secondly, the next day after surgery, he got out of bed with help and went for a walk in the hallway, about 200 feet! Now understand, he has about a 10 inch incision from his chest, under his arm area around to his back, and another 6 inch incision up the center of his stomach. Two drainage tube down his nose into his stomach (which were removed yesterday) and a larger drainage tube coming out each of his side rib areas. Other tubes and IV's, and I don't know how many bags of fluids hanging on a pole. And, he is doing better than expected with his breathing treatments. (Now that hurts me to even think about taking deep breaths and coughing with your stomach just being pulled up into your chest area to make a new esophagus and tubes coming out of your ribs)
While you chew on all this and God's indescribable grace, I need to get to the hospital to see how he is doing today. Please continue to pray. 2 nights ago, his heart started beating rapidly for several hours so they have him on medication for that and he is doing well. That is pretty normal to happen after major surgery. He just called and is wanting me to come see him, so I will write more details when I have more time. Thank you so much for your prayers.
Sunday morning, March 18. Further update on my husband Court: After everything checking out as well as can be expected by the doctors, but with still a very long way to go before recovery, Court was released from the hospital Friday. All the IV's and tubes are finally out except for the port in his chest, and the new feeding tube which will remain in until he is again able to eat by mouth. Five days after surgery, he was tested for any possible "leaks" in his newly reconstructed esophagus and stomach. No leaks were found, praise God!
I don't have time to write a lot of details, but do want all those interested to know that Court is up walking around some "slowly," doing some of the exercises, stretching and breathing. Soon he will be able to drink clear liquids and then slowly graduate to more soft liquids like yogurt and then soft foods like oatmeal. We are staying at the Hampton Inn in Charlottesville, near the hospital, where I continue to give Court his pain medication, etc.
We will talk to the surgeon tomorrow to see when he thinks Court will be able to make the 5 hour journey back home to Bristol. I am so proud of the way he has dealt with this very difficult "trial of his faith." His attitude has been to thank God for the knowledge and wisdom He has given man to save lives through this process, even though it is extremely painful and difficult to go through. It was a time where we both learned there are times when the valley seems so deep we are unable to see past the moment because of the "fog" of what's going on around us, but at the same time feeling reassurance from the Lord that He understands, and at those times He is carrying us.
We cannot begin to tell you how much we were encouraged by the many phone calls, visits, emails, cards and prayers of so many of God's people. All those things gave us our daily strength and we thank you so very much. There was more cancer found in one lymph node somewhere in the stomach area, but it was removed along with much of the surrounding tissue.
We are thankful that the worst is now behind us and we are looking forward to getting back home, finishing the healing process and then returning full time to the work God has called us to, and that is bringing relief to our persecuted brethren. We will be looking at pain and trials through different eyes and because God's word is true, we know He will use this trial of our faith for our good and His glory. Amen! Thank you all for the encouragement and prayers that have been sustaining us through this very difficult time. Sandy Wood
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