7 days post surgery and we have already been able to witness the faithfulness of my God, the one who has brought us through the pain, worry and suffering. There is no other explanation....He deserves the praise! We are finally on the other side of this....
This time last week, I was sitting in the hospital room quiet and still, worried and relieved, thankful but still trusting.....I had an overwhelming peace and I honestly feel like Joey did also. I feel like God is real and faithful in our lives and I feel like this is just a time in our lives that He is molding us and using us in a great way.
Some incredible men gathered in my living room the night before surgery and poured their hearts out to our heavenly father, the healer, just for Joey. It was so amazing to witness (I would have really liked to be in there holding their hands and praying, too but this was man time!) I'm so thankful for all of the godly friends that we have.
This isn't where the evidence of Jesus' hand in this began. As soon as we found out that Joey was having surgery again - Mom and Dad went to their Bible Fellowship class and told them about us during their prayer time and they immediately responded, I know that they have all been on their knees about us. The prayer and support, at times was overwhelming. Knowing that Jesus is in control of your life is one thing, but seeing it is a completely different story. We received gifts, meals, cards and calls -- I'm forever thankful for their class embracing this with us and bring it to God daily asking Him to provide healing and health for Joey.
There have been so many people behind us, our family, our best friends....we couldn't have made it through the waiting period (6 weeks) without so much love from God's people...
We pray that the past few years have just paved a way for us to be able to give glory to God and know that He has a greater purpose for us if we'll just keep holding His hand, we know that He molds us while we are weak and are encouraged to see what the future holds for our family. It hard to look back and evaluate what life has been like, but we are thankful that God values our lives so much that He would take care of us the way He has.
So, a little about Joeys surgery:
He had a herniated disc, L5 S1 - third time, reoccurring
Severe Nerve pain
Surgery performed: anterior/posterior lower lumbar spinal fusion
5 hours
2 surgeons
8 inch incision in his back
4 inch incision in the front
Bone graft from his iliac crest (hip)
Surgery Day:
This is a picture of the disc that was removed during surgery. They completed removed the disc, put in 2 rods, 4 screws a cage and bone graft. Going into surgery it was our understanding that they would use bone from the "bone bank" - The Dr. changed his mind during surgery and decided to do a bone graft. It has the probability of fusing better when it is your own, downside is the onset of pain once this is done.
Arrived at the hospital 5:30 am. Sent into surgery @ 7:30am. Surgery was over 5.5 hours later, 1:00pm. By about 3:30 he was finally released to his room a few floors up, I waited for him there and was ever so excited to lay my eyes on him :) When Joey came out of surgery he had a fever, they were concerned about his hemoglobin, tested him for that immediately. His color was horrible. I was very worried. Luckily, I have a best friend who is a nurse and another best friends husband who is admin in the hospital. They quickly reassured me that this type of thing is normal. A few hours past and it was reassured that everything was ok with his levels. I stayed with him that evening. He did a lot of sleeping and I did a lot of staring ;)
Post Surgery Day 1:
Today was a lot of sleeping. Pretty highly medicated on day 2. The kids came to visit on this day though, he was very excited to see them and they were excited to see him too! They brought him some goodies and lots of balloons! There was a lot of pain on this day. I didn't stay the night because I needed to go home and be with the kids. I met all of his night time nurses and he seemed to be in great hands. The night turned terrible for him, Joey had a headache develop during the night that was unbearable. No medication was touching it even though he was on very strong pain medication. We were visited by one of the pastors at church today, also. Edwin was great, he was so cheery and light hearted - we made jokes and laughed and ended the visit with prayer. He got to visit when it looked like Joey had a miracle surgery, he was doing so well....
The kids came to visit Daddy and were so incredibly sweet. Even Kinston, he was so sensitive and wanted to rub Daddy :) They all took turns sitting beside him, they were so brave!
On "face time" with his friends, he had great "virtual visits" :)
He was visited by a "therapy dog" today, super cool. They use dogs as a way to lift patients spirits. :)
Post Surgery Day 2:
I headed to the hospital around 6:30 am to be with Joey, he was pitiful. The day before was bad (with some good moments) but this was so much worse. He couldn't open his eyes, lift his head, take his medicine. It was very hard to watch and I was very worried. Immediately started sending out messages and calls requesting prayer. Angela, she works with our kids at the church came by and prayed with me for him and it was such perfect timing. The headache continued through the day, he had a massive headache for about 14 hours. They never confirmed that it was a spinal fluid leak but I have talked to several people and they said that its exactly what it sounded like. At around 4:00, the headache went away. I have to say that I believe that this headache that could have very well been caused by a spinal leak was relieved because of so much prayer, I feel that Jesus laid His hands on Joey and took the headache away. He wasn't able to do any physical therapy on this day and getting out of the day was very minimal, so that was a set back but we prayed hard and there were so many other people praying for him that the next day would be different!
Post Surgery Day 3:
High hopes began this day. The headache was gone, praise God. He was told if he could meet a few goals in physical therapy today that he could go home. We waited for physical therapy, they came once and he was in too much pain. So they came back about an hour later and Joey was able to get up, walk the hallway and climb a few steps. He was released to go home!
Throughout the whole hospital stay Joey was inundated with lots of visits and phone calls and even "facetime". We definitely felt the love! We are so thankful for the people that we have in our lives. We are convinced that on the other side of this it could have been a lot different if people weren't praying. Our family was praying, our church was praying, our friends were praying, our friends kids were praying...its just an incredible feeling to know that so many people were asking God for healing. I believe that He heard those prayers and I believe that He is causing healing right now even as I type this!
We had a very rough first week, the pain of the incisions healing and the bone graft have been terrible. But, I'm so proud of Joey. He stayed strong and encouraged and continued to put his best food forward. I long for the nights when I dont hear the sounds of pain everytime he moves or tries to roll in the bed, when he can get outside and play with the kids and enjoy life. Right now, walking around the house with a walker and bathing by me seems like the worse end of the deal but God is our partner is circumstance and He is leading us straight to healing. We are clinging to the promises He has made us and are so thankful that He is here with us!
Post Surgery Day 7:
The best day yet. I was able to catch a glimpse of my hubby again. Finally feeling relief - looking like his old self again. He even ate lunch at the table with the family. It seems like we are so close to the perfect ending. The kids have been praying so hard for him at night. Kaylee is so sweet, she brings his walker to him along with anything else he needs. She has been so brave.
Sitting up and hugging Camden, he is excited to be able to sit up some of the day and feel relief. The nerve pain is gone from his knee down, he is still experiencing some upper leg pain but we know that the nerve heals from the toes up and in due time it should be gone as well! We are praising God for what He has done!
Exactly one week later, I was able to give testimony to "how I made it through
waiting" to a complete stranger. She and her husband are waiting an extensive back surgery for him as well. Anyone that knows anything about me
knows that I have a *little* issue with anxiety, always have ever since I
was a kid. Ive always worried more than I ever should. There was an
overwhelming sense of peace on "surgery day" I had two of my best
friends who came to sit with me and represent the "cabbage patch" along
with my Momma and Daddy....a pastor and friend came and prayed at Joey's
bed with us before he went back. I'll admit...I had one melt down,
walked away and regrouped. But 1 out of 5 hours is amazing. God was my
strength and IS my strength. I'm so incredibly grateful to be able to
testify that ONLY the strength of God brought me through the waiting
period of surgery.
These are some verses that we've held onto during the past few years, I pray you'll keep them tucked in your heart too <3
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19
Doubting that nothing is going to work out is our instinct. But God
reminds us repeatedly in His word that he will meet all of our needs,
but in His timing.
So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Hebrews 13:6
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:31
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make
straight your paths”
Proverbs 3:5-6
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”
Ephesians 3:20
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28
“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall."
Psalm 55:22
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."
Psalm 46:1
"Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."
1 Peter 5:7
"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Matthew 6:34
I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth."
Psalm 121:1-2
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you
rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and
humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is
easy and my burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30
"That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life— whether you
have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more
than food, and your body more than clothing?"
Matthew 6:25
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the
nations, I will be exalted in the earth." The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress."
Psalm 46:10-11
"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
Philippians 1:6
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as
the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be
afraid."
John 14:27
“The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.”
Ecclesiastes 7:8
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