1/17/12 Update - recovery...

Hi all. Mike here. Well, let's start with the good. Melanie's surgeons are still happy with the surgery and results and progress. The reconstructed tissue is still getting healthy blood flow and oxygen supply, which is GREAT. The incision sites are all still looking good. There are no apparent complications with anything "surgical" - praise God!

Melanie has had 2 blood transfusions due to a low hemoglobin count. While I don't think anyone jumps for joy at the prospect of needing a transfusion, her surgeons were not "alarmed" that they were needed because of the fact that Melanie was a chemo patient and there are usually blood count issues with chemo. We have not had any more blood count issues over today or yesterday thankfully.

Now to the difficult parts. Melanie's pain level has been severe most of the time and unbearable many times since coming out of surgery, even with all the pain meds. She came off the "every 10 minute button" on Sunday I believe, moving to a combination of oral medications and IV medications. Several of the physical therapy sessions have been either impossible to complete or impossible to even start on at least 2 occasions. BUT, there have also been some good, strong (as can be expected) sessions, which are encouraging. One complication she had yesterday was that her lower back started hurting even more than the surgery sites because she is hunched over whenever she gets up to walk - the abdominal surgery makes it impossible for her to stand up straight right now. But the back pain has lessened today, again - thank you Lord.

At this point, it looks like they may keep her at the hospital until Thursday or Friday now. Both Melanie and I would love for her to be able to stay in the hospital as long as possible at this point. Neither of us feel that she could manage outside of the hospital right now, even with me or someone else at home all the time to help out. Her need for professional medical help just appears so great right now...

Battling this pain in recovery has taken its toll on her spirit, as she shared with me 2 times today that she is questioning why she chose this surgery to begin with. Hopefully the Lord gave me the right words to encourage her this evening, and helped remind her that we will get her through this, more importantly that the Lord will get her through. It has been such a gift that our great resource, The Bible, provides such practical and helpful scriptures, encouragements and teachings for getting through all challenges.

I know I'm probably leaving some things out, but I'm pretty wiped out also. It's hard watching her go through this. And my normal thick skin is also a little worn thin with the kids back in school (thank GOD we had a 3 day weekend) and my needing to get back to work. I may be good at running businesses, but coordinating these family needs has me...out of my element, for lack of a better description? And please, only take this as an unloading of burden through confession of struggle, which is helpful/healthy for me to do. It definitely helps me to voice my struggles, which in turn lightens the burden and helps me get a handle on it all again. Now that that's off my chest - I can get back to having a good attitude and turning lemons into lemonade again! "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" - Philippians 4:13.

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:2

Please pray for Melanie that the Lord does miraculous healing in her body, and that she be blessed with strength and that her pain be wondrously and quickly reduced, that her body would be whole and healthy again. Please give her the inner strength to be a conqueror in this healing process. I love her with all my heart and would eagerly bear her pain in her place if possible. Please also pray that she would be allowed to stay in the hospital until such a time as that she would be able to survive and thrive recovering at home.

And I also KNOW that You, God, will get me through as well, as You always have. Thank you for the faith you have grown in me, that I can turn to and rely on.

Thank you all again for your love and support and prayers. Melanie and I both love you all soooo much! We could not make it through this journey without our Lord and Savior, nor without our loving friends and family. And thank you for listening. :-)

Love,
Mike