Appointment 2/7/11

Yesterday Dad returned to see Dr. Duke. The wait was long (Duke's a busy man), but thankfully he was ready to discuss the questions mom had compiled. Questions about the dreaded central line in his neck,  line infections and difficulty inserting new lines, alternative bandages, and most importantly - WHAT'S NEXT?  
Duke is concerned that there is not enough small intestine left (with removal of the fistulas), because so much was removed in the first few weeks following the accident.  We do know however that the amount of large bowel remaining is adequate.  Therefore Dr. Duke is referring Dad to a fellow surgeon, Dr. Bob Saggi. He's already spoken to this surgeon, and he will make an appointment for Dad to see him. Dr. Saggi will then determine if dad is a candidate for a small bowel transplant.

We having been looking for a door to open; to know what to do next? We pray that this is it. If he is not a candidate, then maybe there is something else for him. He desperately wants to one day be able to eat something again, and regain enough strength to hold his grandkids.

STORM HEAVEN'S GATES ONCE MORE

Dad will go back to see Dr. Duke on Monday, and we are asking for additional prayers.  Unfortunately the central line did end up in his neck last week; so he's trying to get used to that. 

The following was written by Marilyn Goerig for my mom and dad. 

STORM HEAVEN'S GATES ONCE MORE

I’ve never been a patient person;

My husband would be first to agree.
But over the years I’ve improved;
When I let go, let God, not me.
Louie, on the other hand,
Is the most patient person I know.
Even before this terrible event,
He seemed to go with the flow.

The last two years have been traumatic;
A hardship to say the least.
The pain, the weakness, the bandages;
And missing each family feast.

He has been an inspiration,
Strengthening everyone’s Faith.
The Bible tells us be patient;
For all good things we wait.

We’ve been less persistent in our prayers;
As we beg for Louie’s recovery.
It’s time for a renewed fervor;
With each petition and plea.

In a renewed cry for healing,
We’ll join together as before;
To lift our hearts and voices,
And storm heaven’s gates once more.

Another Test of Patience - Waiting

As usual things don't follow our plan, and again we are waiting (trying to be patient).  Friday marked two years, but Friday evening Dad developed a fever (reaching 103), and he wound up back in the hospital.  It's been determined that he has a line infection, but we are also "patiently waiting" to see what else the culture might grow.  His appointment with Dr. Duke will have to be rescheduled for a later date while the issue at hand is taken care of.  We know that Tuesday he will have to get a new line.  With Dr. Duke's appointment postponed, we have a new prayer request.  These lines have proven to be very difficult to insert.  It seems that he has run out of veins to use.  We pray that they are able to find a vein on his upper shoulder to insert the line; so he can be as comfortable as possible.  He once had to have one of these lines in his neck and it was terrible!

2

2 years, my gosh was it really 2 years ago that so much changed?  2 years ago, we all went off to work as usual, and that evening things quickly spiraled beyond our control.  Whoever would have thought that that cold night in January would be able to be replayed so vividly 2 years later. 

The message below was written by Mom and Dad's friend Donna, and it truly touch both their hearts.  Sometimes living in the here and now and taking each day as it comes can be difficult; but for that we pray!


Hi all, well it has been nice to not have any crisis involving Louie lately isn't it? He has been doing well but is not done yet. It will be 2 years on Friday since the accident. He is mobile and drives himself to exercise and various places. He has had several episodes of pancreatitis but has dealt with them admirably here locally without a trip to Houston. But Monday he will be going in for a check up with Dr. Red.
I guess the purpose of this email is to ask that we all continue to pray for Louie. While he is maintaining his lifestyle and health, he is not done. He still deals with the fistulas, leaking and bandaging and not eating. He still hasn't regained his stamina and endurance which has hopes will return with the final surgery. He wants to be done with the drainage and get on with his life. Even if things do not go as planned with surgery, if he could just get closed up to be able to function without that bandage. Ruthie and I often talk about how much the prayers did for him in the beginning. How prayer truly saved his life.
We both believe the power of prayer is what guided each of the steps between Jan. 28 2009 and today.
I guess what I am saying is that I am as guilty as the rest of not perhaps praying with the intensity I should for Louie, though pray I do. He truly needs our prayers to complete this journey - to pass the finish line and resume his life as normally as possible. So please pray, pray for a good appointment, for some closure possibly and for the strenghth and patience to do it all in God's time. thank you for always being there.

Grandparent’s Day

Today students at Creek View Elementary (Cayla’s school) honored their grandparents.  Last  year at this time Dad had just been released from the hospital, and he was unable to make a trip to College Station.  Mom came to represent the grandparents, but Dad vowed that this year he’d be there too.  He definitely held up his end of the bargain and today they both joined her for lunch.  I picked up Chinese food for the group, which included some “Wonton-less” Wonton Soup for Pawpaw. 

Cayla thanks you so much for coming today, Mimi and Pawpaw! 

Home Again, Home Again

Dad made it home yesterday afternoon.  Tuesday Dr. Young surgically inserted a new line, but that proved to be quite difficult. I guess Dad has had so many lines, that it is becoming increasingly difficult to get them in.  Thankfully they were able get it done, and now we're just hoping it lasts... a long time. Dad's sore, but very happy to be back home!

Comings and Goings

To say nothing has been going on is not exactly true.  Up until a week ago, there really was not much going on.  With us - no news is good news!  Dad managed to stay pretty healthy and he'd been able to get out of the house quite a bit driving around and visiting some friends. 

Last weekend he was admitted to the hospital in El Campo with pancreatitis.  Hospital stays aren't exactly fun, but the stay in EC wasn't bad at all.  It was practically like being at home.  To say Mom and Dad were "happy" to not be sent back to Houston is a huge understatement.  We've had two hospital stays in Houston this year (one in March and one in August), and each short stay stretched on much longer than ever anticipated.  It really is impossible to get discharged from that place!  This time (in El Campo) Dad stayed for a few days then was released (just in time to watch Game 1 of the World Series).  The Ranger's poor performance was quite possibily more disappointing than the hospital stay itself.

As of today they are back at ECMH with a line infection.  Antibiotics were started, the line was removed and a temporary one was inserted.  Monday or Tuesday they will surgically insert another.  It looks like he will be there for at least the next few days. 

Luckily because things had been going so well, Mom and Dad both were able to make it to College Station for Cayla's birthday a few weeks ago.

 Last year Dad really wanted to make it to Cayla's birthday party, but he wasn't discharged yet.  Last year at
that time we were on the count down.  However, one year ago today, he was loaded up and taken home.  

Blast from the past - 10/29/09

 

Sometimes it seems like ages ago, sometimes it seems like not so long at all, but it's amazing how far he's come.  We have so very much to be thankful for!