Post Surgery Update

Hi all,

Just wanted to send a quick update on Stephanie. The surgery went extremely well and took just over 5 hours. Dr. Cameron was able to remove the mass on her pancreas and only had to remove 5% of her stomach (vice the 15% we were expecting). He also found and removed another smaller mass near her pyloric valve, and believes that this mass may have been blocking the valve at times and causing her the burning discomfort that she has grown used to over the past 6 years! (YIPES). He does not believe this second mass to be cancerous, but Pathology will check it out and make sure.

She is currently in ICU and will remain there for the evening. She is quite responsive despite being heavily sedated. She is in some pain and is currently experiencing some nausea, but unfortunately this comes with the territory of the surgery that she had as well as her history of nausea post surgery. Overall, she looks great, and I can't wait to walk the halls with her tomorrow morning at 0500. (That's the doctor's orders--not mine!).

Steph is a true warrior, and she will weather this latest event with ease. I stand in awe of her willingness and ability to endure every medical procedure with a calm and accepting patience, always focused on the bigger picture of being a witness for the Lord in all her circumstances.

Thanks to all for the continued prayers. God is awesome and so are each and every one of you for your support.

Lastly, I am doing fine as I get the privilege of being supported in times like these by solid family members, Marines warriors and their families and the family of believers at NLCC. I don't think I can thank you enough for this support.

I will try and send another update in a day or two once we get her out of ICU and settled into her hospital room.

Still learning the Lord's way....

Matthew

2 days before surgery

I just wanted to send out a final note before the "big day". I am scheduled to have surgery at Johns Hopkins on Thursday. I need to check in for pre-op stuff at 10:15 on Wednesday morning. Then, we'll need to spend the night in the area so I can be back at the hospital for 6am on Thursday. Surgery is scheduled for 8:45am.

I've been quite busy; however, all my ducks are in a row (at least as much as they're going to be at this point). It is just amazing how the Lord works things like this out. We've had so many offers for help with meals, childcare, etc. Matt's mom is coming in later today to stay with the kids for a week. After that, they're going to a friend from church's house (The Nagy Family) until Matt gets them to come stay with us in the hotel after I'm discharged.

Matt will try to send out an email after surgery is over, but that will depend on how I'm doing & if he can get internet access. I'll be in ICU for at least 1 night & then should go to a regular room after that. If you want to call to see if I have a regular room, the # for patient information is 410/502-4000. You can also try to calling our house to get info from Matt's mom. Or you can call my mom. (I hope this is ok, Mom!!)

Thank you so much for your continued prayers, encouragement & support.

Confession

I just wanted to send out a quick note to ask some of you for prayer. Things have been hectic lately trying to get things together before surgery (in addition to normal daily stuff). I feel like my house & my kids are a wreck & that I have no control over anything right now.

Lots of people are asking how I’m dealing with all of this…quite honestly, I’m not. I just don’t think about it. It’s inevitable. I can’t do anything about it. It has to happen. I have no choice. Every now and then, I start to think about the specifics & going through things I’ve done many times before in the future that I never had any intention of ever repeating again…pain, NG tube (including removal), catheter, drainage tubes, staple removal, and effects of pain medication. I also think about other things like being away from the kids, no homeschooling, etc. I want to panic, but I have to stop the flow of thoughts, push them aside & focus on what’s important which is Christ as well as the present. I don’t know if I’m being naïve or not, but thinking about it won’t change anything. It won’t make the need go away. Nothing will be altered. I won’t feel any better or recover any quicker.

I don’t know why I’ve been placed in this situation (other than the fact that we live in a sinful, fallen world). I don’t know exactly what I’m supposed to be feeling or what I’m supposed to be doing. I do know that sometimes I feel quite numb…like I’m just going through the motions. I think that might be one reason why I’ve kept up with my service…I enjoy my youth (at both NLCC & MABC) & my time with them. It keeps my mind off the situation. I was very sad tonight. Early today was my last SHEEP (homeschool support group at New Life) before surgery. Tonight was my last Journey study (high school) at Mt Ararat before my surgery. I won’t be at either until sometime next year. I know it’s coming up with the other 2 groups this Sunday night (Trek at Mt Ararat & then youth group at New Life) as well as with cell/home group on Friday night.

Each day is just a step closer to the inevitable…a step closer to not being able to ignore my future. Sometimes, I feel like I’m on the verge of a pity party, but then I remember God’s grace & love for me. Anyway, there’s definitely an attack trying to get underway. The potential for stress is definitely available. I have a lot to do & limited time to get it done. I definitely covet your prayers and am thankful that the Lord has placed you in my life.

Surgery date

I just wanted to let you know that I’ll be having surgery at Johns Hopkins exactly 1 week after Thanksgiving. I’ll need to go into Baltimore the day before to do all my “check-in” stuff. Then, it’s recommended that I stay in the area until I report for surgery at 6am the next morning…I guess it kind of makes sense instead of driving 3 hours there & then 3 hours back on Wednesday & then returning really early Thursday morning to arrive at 6am. I’m glad that it’s on a Thursday b/c (once we have the kids taken care of for the weekend), Matt will be able to stay with me for the 1st few days after surgery until I can cut back on the pain meds & get all the tubes disconnected. Hopefully, I’ll feel like staying solo by Sunday or Monday night & that after that, it’ll be smooth sailing.

I‘ve been very excited & giving the Lord lots of praises b/c the combination of medicine (Aciphex & Xantac) that I’ve been taking has basically eliminated the pain I’ve been feeling. I’ve had 2 nights of sleep w/o any incidents! Both docs (Brown & Cameron) say that the meds shouldn’t be taking care of the pain I’m describing, but it is so I don’t care…docs don’t know everything, but the Lord does. I am so very thankful to be able to wear my regular clothes with a belt again!

Matt & I are looking forward to going up to Falls Church for the EWS Marine Corps Birthday Ball tomorrow. I think after all the hectic-ness of the past couple of weeks, it’ll be nice to just relax & hang out with Matt.

Thanks again for your prayers, encouragement & support.

Result of all that stress

Since you were specifically praying for my EXTREME FRUSTRATION the other day, I thought I’d share with y’all the results of all that stress on Wednesday…I have not one but TWO fever blisters/cold sores (whatever you want to call them) front & center on my top lip…it’ll look very nice for the ball on Saturday night. (Big sigh) Last night, when I was putting the kids to bed, it felt like something was starting so I put Carmex on it, & this morning, it’s worse. I might try the Abreva shown on TV. Oh well, not much else I can do about it…it’s just part of the cause-effect relationship. Because I stressed & worried, lost focus & didn’t fully rely on the Lord, I am experiencing a natural consequence of my choices/actions. Lesson learned? Unfortunately, probably not on this side of eternity.

Thanks again for your prayers…it was evident that they worked. I had a lot of peace driving up there, & the Lord moved a bureaucratic mountain in about 2 hours. Just amazing. Praise the Lord!

I recently read in a book (From Creation to the Cross) that based on the OT example, when prayer is answered, Yahweh needs to publicly receive the glory…private or internal thanks isn’t enough…we must share with others what he has done…just read Psalms to see the evidence of public praise for Yahweh. I remember our church in NC used to have a time during service to share what the Lord was doing in our lives. I took advantage of the opportunity a few times. Unfortunately, most people didn’t take advantage of the opportunity, & the practice stopped. We should always have a reason to praise the Lord for what He is doing in our lives. I promise to be more faithful to trying to focus on what Yahweh is doing & not on what I’d like Him to do.

I hope you have a blessed day.