Saturday morning

I just spoke with Dan and the surgery is on for this afternoon. You may ask, "isn't that what you told us yesterday?" True, but in between yesterday's note and this morning, the CT came back last night looking better than the one done previously. The doctor put him back on clear liquids and said "maybe" about the surgery. Then after taking in clear liquids last night the pain came back and the surgery is on "for sure" sometime this afternoon. We do have our seat belts on for this roller coaster ride and the seat belt is the the grace and strength we have from the LORD God, King of the universe, Melech ha olam. There is nothing too difficult for Him.

Ashley's words:

Good Friday?
As a kid, I never really understood why Good Friday is called Good Friday. I mean, Jesus was beaten, betrayed and killed. What is so good about that? Now, with a little more Biblical and theological understanding, I know that what happened on Good Friday was the best thing to happen to humanity since...ever. Still, meditating on the events of the Crucifixion does not leave one in a joyous mood. Our sins put Christ on the Cross. He was innocent, yet paid the price on our behalf. It wasn't fair, but it saved our souls. Wow.

In a much much much less severe way, Dan's Good Friday wasn't all that good either. His diet was moved up to solids, but that didn't work very well. By noon time, he was in pain and vomiting. McGreeky got finished with his surgery early and told Dan he'd have a CT to make sure there was an obstruction and then be scheduled for surgery tomorrow.

By the time I arrived from LA (a nice, easy drive for once), Dan was headed to CT. Results showed...nothing. The CT was normal except for a very small amount of dilation of the same bowel that has been problematic. McGreeky called and said this was definitely not something to operate on. In fact, he said this CT looks even better than the one done last week. The other surgeon who came in agreed, put Dan on a clear liquid diet again and apologized repeatedly for how frustrating this must be for Dan. After banking on surgery tomorrow, we just had to take this change in stride. McGreeky told us that if Dan's symptoms persisted through the weekend, he'd have surgery on Monday. Sound familiar?

About half an hour later, McGreeky called back (he and Dan are on cell phone basis now). He had spent some time thinking about the situation and wasn't comfortable leaving Dan in pain all weekend. So, he was actually leaning more toward surgery tomorrow after all. He wanted Dan to keep drinking tonight to see how he felt and they would discuss things in the morning. He also put Dan on the surgery schedule for tomorrow just in case. The interesting thing is that McGreeky feels Dan is now a better candidate for a laparoscopic surgery, meaning he would not need to make a large incision to open Dan all the way up. Thanks to the improvement shown on the CT, it is possible for this type of surgery to be successful with less risk of missing something. (Of course, there is always the possibility that they will not find what they need to find and Dan will be opened up a little bit into the surgery.)

We tried to take this turn of events in stride, discussing what to say to McGreeky in the morning to get something done. Dan's pain seemed to go away, he was in good spirits, and he ate most of the clear liquid on the tray. It began to look like Dan wouldn't be in enough pain to convince the doc he needed surgery! Of course, another hour told a different story. Even the clears caused Dan pain and cramping. As he is now drugged and sleepy, we're pretty sure Dan will have a date in the OR tomorrow.

As the disciples must have felt scared and disappointed and doubtful in the day between the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, Dan and I (and family) are having a hard time grasping what God is doing here. Yet, the pain and sorrow for the disciples and believers of Jesus was replaced with rejoicing in that glorious morning when Christ conquered death. Wouldn't it be spectacular for Dan to have a glorious morning of healing and renewal on Resurrection Sunday?

Prayer Requests:
* Wisdom for the doctors in making the 'final' decision
* Safe, effective, simple surgery done laparoscopically
* Swift and uncomplicated recovery time (this has to be possible for Dan)
* Peace and comfort for those in the waiting room
* Resolution of this bowel obstruction once and for all
* Rest and comfort for Dan as he sleeps tonight
* A 'glorious morning' for Dan very soon

God's word:
Psalm 46
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song.
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah
Come and see the works of the Lord,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.