Back Surgery

First, I need to say that God is good, oh so good!

Ok, so when we returned from our wonderful Hawaiian vacation, I continued having back and sciatic nerve problems. I went for a chiropractic appointment the following Monday and was told that it was probably time to go for an MRI. That Thursday, I got a lower lumbar MRI and was told the next Monday that I had a major bulging disc. This was not at all what I wanted to hear, but I knew that God had a plan, and I was so thankful that it was something that was fixable! I always try to look at the good side of things. I have always been that way. Things could always be worse, and God has blessed me with so very many things.

A few weeks later, I had a consultation with a neurosurgeon, and was told that my condition of having too much disk between my lower lumbar was pushing up against my nerve sac and causing all of my discomfort. He estimated that it should be a relatively simple procedure, lasting only 30-45 minutes, and he should only have to make an incision of about 1/2 an inch- 1 inch tops. I decided to go ahead with the procedure. I was very nervous, having never had anesthesia before and with my ongoing fear of needles, but I was told my my little sister to think of happy things like ice cream and teddy bears, and everything would be ok:)!

So on August 11th, I went to Washington Regional and checked in about 8:30AM for my procedure. Brandon, mom, dad, grams, gramps, and other visitors from Heritage (Don and Jackie Brooks and Jerrell and Ruth Ann Suttles) were all there with love and prayers. I have to honestly say that my two biggest fears were the IV and getting sick from the anesthesia. After sitting in the "holding room" for over 3 hours and getting my IV, which was really amazingly painless by the way, they finally told Mom, Dad, and Brandon that they would need to go back out to the waiting room, and they were taking me back to the next "holding" area or the "recovery" area. Dad had been cracking jokes, and having them all there meant so much to me keeping normal. I was trying not to worry. I know that I am God's baby, my mommy and daddy's baby, and Brandon's baby, but sometimes it is easier said than done.

I answered more questions and started to cry with anxiety a bit. At first, I was embarrassed, but I am now thankful that God gives us emotions and allows us to feel comfortable releasing those emotions. Everyone at the hospital was so nice and comforting to me. My doctor came in and talked to me and even gave me a hug. I cannot say enough great things about Dr. Larry Armstrong and his nurse Paula. They have been AMAZING, and I would refer anyone to them and go back to have other procedures done time and time again. Before I knew it, the nurse gave me something in my IV that was supposed to make me feel like I just didn't care about anything. Boy was she right! I was in and out as they wheeled me away to the Operating Room, and the weird thing is I remember seeing my doctor in the OR and the anesthesiologist saying enjoy your little nap. The next thing that I can remember is waking up in a fog with an oxygen mask over my nose and mouth asking the nurse what time it was and if I could have my glasses because I couldn't see. I also really wanted to take my mask off. I felt like I couldn't breath! The one major thing that I noticed was that almost all of my nerve pain in my right leg was GONE! Praise God! He is the ultimate HEALER. Somehow, I fell back asleep and by that time, she let me take off the oxygen and said that my levels were high enough. I also soon got my glasses and got to see my loving husband. I was laying on my back in bed and could feel a little pain, but I was really just still in a daze. I found out that my surgery had lasted right at 2 hours, due to the doctor having to be super careful with the area that he was working with. Additionally, my incision, which was supposed to be really small turned out being about 5 inches long. He had told mom, dad, and Brandon that he did all he could to clean up the extra vertebrae, but I just had a crummy back, and that I hadn't asked for a bad back anymore than he had asked for a bald head:)! I just love my doctor. He told them that he wanted to see how I healed and if this took care of my problems but he would likely be seeing me again sometime in the future and possibly have to do some fusion of my vertebrae.

I got to leave the hospital about 6:30:)! I felt wonderful at the time, other than being tired. Brandon took me to our house, while Mom and Dad went to get my pain meds. I made the decision to come back to my parents' house to stay for a while, since Brandon and my bed is super high and due to needing to stay away from the dogs for a while. I felt horrible leaving my sweet husband, but he understood that I was going to need a lower bed and that sometimes a girl just needs her mom.

The first few nights and days were not pleasant. During the procedure, the doctor had to do more than he originally had thought, and I was sore! It was difficult to get comfrotable in bed, needless to say, it took forever to stand up. It hurt to stand up, and then the muscles in my legs that were compensating for my back became horribly sore. I remember asking my dad "Will this ever get better?" I can't say enough about the care that I got from my parents during all of this time. The support that I got from them and Brandon, the notes of encouragement, visits from people at Heritage, phone calls, beautiful flowers, and above all prayers meant so very much more than any material possession.

You know, many people have asked me if I would do this all again if I had to, and I have responded everytime "ABSOLUTELY!" God has provided time and time again and has blessed me with so many things. He never said that the road would be smooth and without bumps along the way. I know that this time brought me closer to Him. It's funny how He uses situations to allow us the free will to draw nearer to Him, but it is our choice whether or not we choose to let him work in our lives. I am so grateful for this time, and I am thankful for all of the one on one time that I got to spend with my mom. Had this situation not presented itself, I may have not had the chance to have that special bonding time.

Thanks Mom, Dad, Brandon, and everyone else for your love, support and prayers. Prayer truly changes things, and I recently read in My Utmost For His Highest that Prayer isn't trying to change what is on the outside but allowing God to work miracles in us. God definitely worked a miracle in me, and I am blessed beyond words. I have taken this time to look at life in a more positive light. God has given me the ability to look at life in a new light. He blesses me with each day. What I choose to do with that day is my decision. I have so much to be thankful for and hope to not take one single thing for granted again. Thank you Lord for your healing power. Thank you God for your love and mercy, your grace and giving me determination, the patience of my parents, especially mom, who got up in the middle of the night many times whenever I needed to get up, the love that only a husband can give, for being with the hands of the doctors and others in the room and the miracles that You allowed them to work in me.

I am definitely not back to 100%, now 3 days short of 3 weeks after surgery, but I am blessed and getting stronger everyday by the grace that only God gives.