Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Valerie

Hi gang.

My dear wife Valerie had a dull pain bother her for several days. It takes a lot to get her in to a doctor, so when she was ready to go to Urgent Care Saturday morning, it was obviously serious.

God was good: good parking, got right in, got a great doctor who sent her right to the emergency room. Again, God was good: got right in, got a good doctor, got a cat scan scheduled; long wait there, but at 5pm the doctor told us she had appendicitis and they were working on contacting the surgeon.

Again, God was good. Surgery was scheduled for 6pm, a simple laparoscopic surgery, do it all the time, wouldn't take long, she might be out of the hospital Monday or Tuesday. I followed her to the recovery room, kissed her, and went to wait.

After a half-hour or so the doctor summoned me in, during the surgery. My heart sank. He was supposed to be coming to me in the waiting room, telling me everything had gone fine and I could come see her. This wasn't that. Prayed, steeled myself, walked in to the recovery room.

No Valerie, just the surgeon. It was complicated, I learned. The appendix was misshapen and large, and the colon was involved. The surgeon would have to use a standard incision and remove a small section of her colon to get the appendix and all. I asked the best questions I could think of, and OKed the procedure.

Miserable years later, after much praying and worrying and clinging to God, I got the waiting-room visit from the surgeon. Now he could tell me, though in a new context, that it had gone well. I was relieved and grateful to God; but I knew Valerie would not love to find she would have a longer hospital stay and longer recovery.

That was Saturday, it's now... what is it? Oh, Tuesday. Been mostly with my dear wife, spent a couple of nights in her room with her, have been with her basically all day each day. Valerie is doing terrifically well, considering, praise God. She's working through her painful recovery, in which progress seems glacially slow, but I know (and the nurses confirm) that she's really doing well, given the major surgery she had.

We've been blessed with terrific nurses, our dear family has been loving and caring and helpful as they could, or great pastor and church have been supportive and caring. Now we just need to get the heck out of Dodge and back home.

So, not much blogging, or much more from me.

I trust you'll understand.

UPDATE here.

50 comments:

Unknown said...

Having worked in a hospital for 12 years, and now working volunteer at a hospital in Honduras - I like being on the giving end of the hospital environment - NOT the other side - I'm so sorry my friend, but so glad that Valerie is doing well. Pray for quick recovery and back home!

Unknown said...

Praising God that the docs discovered it and repaired it. Will be praying for a swift and complete recovery.

Barbara said...

And many praises to our great God for seeing her safely through and giving her a husband who loves her and who stays by her side. Speaking as a nurse, we see all-too-little of that. Rest assured (and I speak from much experience) that in that tender loving care to your wife, you are yourself a blessing to the ones that you find to be a blessing to you.

Many prayers.

Robert said...

I was concerned when I saw nothing here or at Pyros...I am glad that the surgery went well and will be praying for her recovery. I hope that you will both find some rest and comfort as you wait for release from the hospital.

Steve said...

Sorry to hear about this, Dan, but equally grateful with you for the faithful mercies of the Lord.

Praying that His comfort toward you and Valerie returns to hope and thanks within you and from others (2 Cor 1:4-11).

LeeC said...

Praise God.
I will be praying for you and your family.
My appendics almost burst at my wifes birthday dinner a couple years back. it was quite a story, but that was me so it's no big deal...if it was my wife I would consider it earthsattering.

You go baby her for a long time now ya hear?

GrammaMack said...

Praying also for a full recovery, with thanks for His providential care throughout.

Caleb Kolstad said...

Praying for you guys!

Gilbert said...

Praise God that she made it through, Dan. A friend of mine had his wife get appendicitis over this past weekend as well. They got it just in time. That stuff is nothing to fool with.

My prayer is for a complete and swift recoevry for val, and for both of you to be drawn even closer to the Lord in this trial.

Gilbert

Jack Gandy said...

Back in 2007, my wife was in the hospital for 23 days with a cerebral aneurysm. Everything went miraculously well, but a day in the hospital is like a month in real life. My prayers are with you both. God bless.

Colloquist said...

Dan, it is so good of the Lord to have provided swift care for your dear Valerie. Our hearts and prayers are with both of you.

Rachael Starke said...

Oh my goodness. So sorry, and so grateful to God all at the same time. For Moms, hospital stays for anything other than giving birth are just brutal, especially that kind of stay where every last bit of your dignity involving ones' customary input and output is calculatingly torn to shreds at regular intervals. God speed her recovery and your collective patience while you wait.

And I hate that you guys are in the same state but not close enough to get meals and help to, at least quickly. I wonder how much dry ice I would need to put a barbecued grass fed trip in a FedEx box.... :)

TAR said...

God is so good to us Phil ...will be praying for a full speedy recovery ..

Rnmom

Merrilee Stevenson said...

I feel like I fell off the band wagon with my own minor distractions, and coming back to read what's been going on with the Phillips' household pales in comparison. Waiting for hours to be helped in the ER is a breeze compared to waiting even half as long while your spouse is having emergency surgery! Thankful that your waiting is over, glad that Valerie is on the recovering side of the ordeal, and I pray for speedy healing!

Anonymous said...

Praying for healing for your dear Valerie and endurance for you.

And, some casseroles from folks at church wouldn't hurt either ;)

Solameanie said...

Adding my prayers to everyone else's. And thankful that the appendicitis was caught in time. My grandmother died due to peritonitis spread by a burst appendix. As Gilbert said, it's nothing to mess with.

Susan said...

My stomach was tied up into a knot because I am reading this on my smart phone and the screen wouldn't stay still...prayed immediately...and then finally read that Valerie's ok. :) Praise and thank the Lord for his provision for all of you....

Word verification: singshe (May Valerie praise the Lord with songs in her heart.)

Bill Honsberger said...

We are praying!

beachbirdie said...

So sorry you've had to endure this. Not many people get their colons sectioned when they get appendectomies...what a (dubious) bonus.

Though it won't likely be speedy, I pray Valerie's recovery will be uneventful.

Kitch said...

Sorry to hear this! Praying for you!

Tim Graham said...

Praying for you!

Bobby Grow said...

I'm praying for a quick and speedy recovery. That you guys will know Jesus' presence in a real special and tangible way right now. Amen!

Rob said...

I will pray for her recovery. Praise the Lord.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing this with us so we can lift up Valerie & you appropriately. His blessings on Valerie thru the recovery, and thanks to Him for His provision of good care.

JackW said...

Wow, so sorry for all the pain and stress this must be putting you both through. Thankful for a good God and praying He will keep and bless you.

Herding Grasshoppers said...

Oh dear! She'll be in our prayers, with special sympathy from Tate (whose appendix ruptured and had a nine-day stay.)

No fun!

But THANK THE LORD for modern medicine, yah?

Julie

PS Praying for you and the young men, keeping up the homefront.

Anonymous said...

Plus: You and your dear missus are alright.

Minus: No surgeon can extract the 80's-era Steve Winwood song that lodged instantly in my brain upon reading the title of this post. Gonna have to dig through boxes of ancient tapes for the only antidote. Thanks, pal.

WV: kinasant - the Israeli house of representatives; or, Sam, a deceased stand-up comedian of the 1980's and early 1990's, famous for his ear-splitting, profanity-laced onstage rants

Jeri Tanner said...

Sympathy, and prayers to the God who heals! Glad for so many kind providences he sent your way.

Persis said...

Praying for a swift and uneventful recovery. Praise God for His providential care.

VcdeChagn said...

Praise God she's ok. We will pray!

Unknown said...

Praying for y'all Dan. Spoil your wife rotten and love on her. The internet can wait. :-)

Carla Rolfe said...

Dan,

we went through almost the exact same thing a couple of years ago with hubby. Getting him to go in was difficult but once he was in, they did the tests, determined it was immediately time for surgery, scheduled it that evening and as in your case God was very good all the way around.

Recovery is the hardest since even blinking it seems, you use those tummy muscles and it's really painful. Whatever you do, don't make her laugh. We'll keep you both in prayer for a speedy recovery for her and comfort for you both.

Carla

DJP said...

Thankfully, Valerie doesn't think my jokes are very funny.

(c:

Marla said...

Praise God for His care for your dear wife! Will be praying for her recovery, and you as well.

Dave Miller said...

Praying for Valerie, you, and her care team. Prayers for her full recovery and for God's peace to be on all of you as well.

Chris Brauns said...

Praying for you!

100 Mile Pants said...

Only just seen this, dan! We are praying for you all at this time.

candy said...

Sorry to hear about the difficulties. Thankful to hear the health issue was taken care of in time. Emergencies with family members are stressful to say the least. Too bad we can't make you all a pizza or something to tide you over during recovery. God bless.

Stefan Ewing said...

Thanks to God in His grace and providence that her surgery went well (all things considered), may He restore her to full health quickly, just as we look forward to great restoration yet to come when Jesus Christ returns in glory.

Ron (aka RealityCheck) said...

When I checked your site this morning and saw it still had Mondays post I thought you were just slacking (big time author and all) ;-)… I now wish that was the case. So sorry to hear about Valerie but I’m glad to hear they found what they did, when they did, and took care of it so fast. I have spent enough time in the hospital with family to know just what a bummer it is, so hang in there brother. I’ll be praying for you and your family.

P.S. Be sure and let those hospital folk know that if they don’t do a great job we’ve got people around here that really know how to write letters. ;-)

Annemarie said...

Praying for you both and for the wisdom of those helping her in the hospital.

Pam said...

You are blessed to have so many praying friends and a loving family. May you all be knit together with His peace. (and may your friends with the gift of helps be there for you)Praying for you all.

Pam said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Moon said...

Praise the Lord that everything is well!! and she's being taken care of well :) I will be praying for the both of you!! I was just thinking of Valerie today wondering when we would see another post from her here and I find this blog post instead!
Send her our love and tell her she's got all of your blogfriends praying for her :)

Kay said...

ouchy sympathy to Valerie, and heartfelt good wishes - we'll be praying!

DJP said...

For Valerie and myself, thank you, all of you who have expressed your support and prayerful care for my dear wife here and by email. I have been reading all of these to her, and it's like getting a bunch of sweet "Get Well" cards. We appreciate it, I appreciate it.

DJP said...

... and (though I can't imagine this being a powerful motivator to anyone), there isn't a much better way to endear yourself to me than to do well by my dear wife.

Burrito34 said...

As someone who has had an appendectomy myself (although nowhere near as severe as this one)I can relate somewhat. Bro. Dan and Valerie, I'll be praying for you and praising God that things went well.

Anonymous said...

Praying for her recovery.

Blessings!

threegirldad said...

I'm sorry that I didn't see this sooner. Praying fervently for all of your family -- and especially for your wife.