Hello from Minneapolis, MN. We want to give you a quick update about Larry.
Larry and I traveled from Sisseton to Minneapolis on Wednesday afternoon arriving about 4 PM. At the same time, our daughter, LaDawn, was getting off of work to go to the airport to pick up our son, Donovan, who flew in from Nashville to be with us. What a joy and support it has been to have them with us. LaShawn wanted to be here but was unable to get time off of her job. With the weight and concern of the upcoming surgery, Donovan and LaDawn suggested we go out for a nice evening dinner...so we did. Fun and laughter erased the immediate anxiety. It was great. They then took us back to our nearby hotel.
Thursday morning the alarm clock arrested Larry and I's long sought after sleep. Even though we felt the prayers of hundreds of family and friends, we both struggled with the unknown of the outcome of the surgery. Larry tossed and turned as did I. His body was bolting and jolting from muscle spasms. I snuggled up close to him, held him and kept praying and praising God. Every time his body lurched with spasms, I declared, "Thank you, Lord...we can call on you the Great Physician, and we ask you for wisdom for Dr. Negib as we anticipate a successful surgery, believing You will guide the surgeon's hands as he removes the part of the vertebrae that is pinching and compressing 90% of his spinal cord causing the impairment of his motor skills." It seemed we both just dropped off to sleep and the alarm clock went off.
Groggy but excited to get this all over with, we quickly dressed and met Donovan and LaDawn down in the hotel lobby. We ventured over to Abbot Northwest Hospital arriving at 6 AM and the procedure of admittance, paperwork, etc. began. At 6:30AM, they whisked him away to the pre-op area for the various procedures preparing him for surgery. At 7:10 AM, they called us in to be with Larry while several of the surgical team came in to explain the procedures and plans of this very delicate operation.
A time or two, I began to panic but Donovan and LaDawn assured me through holding hands and praying that God would see us through. It was wonderful to have the assurance that we knew we had one of the top 15 spinal specialist surgeons doing the work. We knew as God has brought us this far, He would see us through this one too. As usual, Larry was upbeat, telling jokes, with all surrounding him laughing which in turn helped calm me as well.
The anesthesiologist administered a relaxer through an IV to Larry just as Dr. Negib came in for last minute instructions, information and encouragement. Very confidently, he looked at us and said, "It will go good!" He got an intense look on his face and announced, "Now...focus...I must focus, " and out the door he walked. Seeing Dr. Negib was ready and focused, I didn't want to interrupt him, but I scurried following his footsteps as he was leaving ..."Dr. Negib," I whispered. He looked up from his papers and I quietly asked, "Please, may I have 20 seconds of your time to pray for you that God will guide you and your hands in this surgery." Completely surprised, he gently smiled and said, "Yes." I prayed with him and he responded politely, "Thank you."
I turned around just in time to see them pushing Larry's bed down the hall. I rushed to catch up with Larry, leaned over, kissed him and assured him that we would be praying for him. The anesthetic, now taking hold, he whispered, "I love you too...and I love all my family."
Then the waiting game began!
The surgery was four hourslong....two hours on the back of his neck and two hours on the front of his neck. We so appreciated them keeping us informed hourly as to how it was going. It was very comforting.
About 11:20 AM, Dr. Negib greeted us in the family room and smiled, "Larry did good. Surgery went well. We were able to repair vertebrae C4-5 and take the compression off of his spinal cord." We were so relieved and needless to say, overjoyed! The recovery period followed. About 2:15 PM, Larry opened his eyes, gargled through the pain and cracked a joke. The nurse said, "After all this he's still full of it, isn't he!"
I would like to say, "Yay..it's all done. All is well." But, as of now, he is in extreme pain and they are concerned about the swelling in his neck and throat as a result of the surgery. Dr. Negib informed us, "It will be a long, slow painful recovery, possibly for several months." We are uncertain of the future but we know that with God he will get better and be up and going again. It may just take some time, patience and therapy to regain strength and rebuild the muscle wall.
We had to cancel services for the next two months for sure and will go from there. As I write this update, I can assure and reassure you that God is in control. He's promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Like the old Gospel song says, "I don't know about tomorrow, some things I don't understand but I know who holds the future and I know who holds my hands."
I will send you another update in a few short days. Keep praying. We need it and appreciate it.
Gloria
JUST A LITTLE CHUCKLE...When the Dr. told Larry it was going to be a long, slow recovery (Larry thought he would be up and running in two weeks), I was trying to encourage him and said, "Honey, you will get better. It will just take time, patience and therapy." He fought to get the words out and smiled, "And...ice cream!" That is the sign I know he will get better.
Oh and in case you are wondering why he was wearing his hat....it was cool in the room.