Chan surgery update

Our family is so thankful for all the prayers, texts, and concern for Chan. As many of you know, he had major back surgery November 19. It was a successful surgery which involved his fabulous orthopedic surgeon plus a neurosurgeon to make the needed dream team. In fact, it went better than expected. A disc was removed easier than anticipated and corrected a 90 degree curve to a 29 degree curve- incredible. He was up and walking 15 hours after surgery (a 7 hour surgery!) and home 48 hours later! 

Fast forward a bit through A LOT of heavy pain meds, follow ups, almost daily calls to nurses, tears, screams, and even physical therapy. Unfortunately, driving Chan anywhere is quite an unwanted task for our brave boy. Let’s just say I can pretty much tell you which highways and neighborhoods are fairly pothole free and not! Wednesday was his follow up with ortho. About 20 minutes prior to arrival his pain sky rocketed, and we entered the doc’s office in full tilt explosive pain. Fortunately, his doc saw for himself the dire need of pain relief (and I got to finally meet the nurse who has become my phone BFF ). He sent us straight to the hospital after taking an xray and seeing that all hardware is in tact but unsure of the source of pain. 

Looonger story short, Chan had a contrast MRI yesterday while he was fully sedated. Upon waking up, the sedation team couldn't get him comfortable. To put this in perspective, at the height of his pain, the doc (not even the nurse!) grabbed iv morphine to give him, and it did nothing. NOTHING. We kept thinking as she administered the morphine, that any moment it would kick in. Unbelievable. Getting him to his room was horrible- absolutely horrible. Transferring him from the gurney to his bed... oh my. No words! During all this and my tears (all of our tears!) I pulled out my phone and blast texted about 4 prayers groups in a panic plea for prayers. Now, for ME this is the greatest part! Within just a few minutes of that call for prayer, Chan’s pain began to lessen tremendously. God was and is with him (us) in it all. Morphine didn’t help but Jesus, the Great Physician did!

David had nite duty. Chan did good thru the nite. He had pain first thing this am.  Big decisions need to be made, but within 1 hour of my arrival back at hospital this am I think we may have the answer. Neuro and ortho still haven’t seen final report of MRI but both have been in to speak with us. Option 1- Surgery. Dr said “ I am not convinced surgery will help”.  It would involve clearing bone from the spinal column. Yes, clear bone to relieve stenosis and open up spinal column more. Option 2.  Treat pain, use heat, and issue new meds to relieve muscles/pain in back and legs. 

Both doctors plus the pain team (and ummm... EVERYONE) prefer to treat pain and hope for improvement of his symptoms. Pain team has a plan for the day which he’s started. If you think about it, correcting that significant kyphosis has got his brain, muscles, and nerves finding a new normal. Lots of spasms. Ugh. 

Friday 5:15pm: neurosurgeon just left, and he, of course, has been talking with ortho. If chan doesn’t have steady improvement they’ll do a myelogram on Monday which gives a better picture than MRI but also requires a lumbar puncture. Praying we won’t be here that long and we won’t need that. 

Sooooo, there ya have it. 

Now I’m including posts from surgery day below just so Chan can read what that was like and remember how God has been working!

November 18, 2019

We would appreciate prayers tomorrow. Chan will be having a very extensive and tedious back surgery beginning bright and early. We are so thankful for a great team of doctors and trusting in THE GREAT PHYSICIAN to guide skilled hands and wisdom for brilliant minds to adjust to anything unexpected with no complications & no infection!

Update-(11.19) rolled him back at 7:40...1.5 hours of prep (got FIFTY-ish electrodes hooked up to monitor his nerves (ah. Mazing!). Nurse said actual surgery started at 8:53 and doing well with anesthesia.

10:40 &11:40 spine exposed and doc doing the instrumentation. Going well!

12:55 neurosurgeon been working on him about an hour (removing the disc portion and VERY tedious part due to location and nerves). His portion is probably another 30-60 minutes. So I guess all the hardware is in place. Orthopedic will bookend surgery. Going well praise Jesus! Please pray no infection- high risk due to being opened up so long.

1:45 Met with neurosurgeon. His portion is complete, and he was very pleased. Disc portion is out, no problems with neuro monitoring, and now ortho is placing rods in.

3:00 PRAISE JESUS FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!! Dr. Orthopedic was sooo pleased with how surgery went! Better than expected! He says he looks amazing. Scoliosis is gone. Kyphosis significantly better. Disc is removed. Rods in place. He thinks this will pop him up at least 1.5- 2”! He had NO issues with nerve endings so doesn’t anticipate an issue but wont know until he wakes up. REJOICING in God answering this prayer today! Can’t wait to see my boy! We give God all the glory!! God’s creation of man is simply amazing. The physical body is amazing. The church body is amazing. So grateful for prayer warriors. For God to give man the mind, skill and training to do surgery like this... just. Cant. Even. Begin. To. Tell. You. How. Grateful. I. Am!! Go God! Go Chan, my brave and courageous son! Go Dr. Neurosurgeon, Dr. Neurosurgeon, neuro monitoring specialist and all the nurses!

November 21-

Praying for those DIVINE SHOCK ABSORBERS for car ride!! Headed home today...completely amazing! 12:30ishET is the magical hour if you’re into specifics like I am... one last dose of pain meds then we’re clear to go.

Update 2:00pm

HOME! He did amazing and was a smooth ride for most part!! As we were praying David remembered he could change a setting in car to make it smoother. God answering! He turned to his daddio in the car and said “thanks” (daddio not known for driving slowly and gingerly-ha). He’s so grateful. Went straight to bed but have already gone for a walk loop around inside the house. Learners permit came in mail. He downed a milkshake. Now he’s watching some show about aircraft carriers. Praise Jesus! Doc said next 7-8 days could be pretty rough at times (may go in phases), but he’s on a road to recovery! CANNOT believe he was on the operating table 48 hours ago having such MAJOR surgery. 😳Thank you ALL who have prayed and checked in. Looks like someone from the Operation Divine Shock Absorber team  brought welcome home/get well balloons in our front yard!! Thank you!