New Normal: Seven less organs

I know it’s been a minute, but now that I can type I wanted to share some good news that I hope will inspire and encourage you.

To begin, I’m thankful to have survived surgery. Although I’m not a fan of Deaconess Gateway facility, the staff (admin support, techs, nurses and physicians) took excellent care of me! Deaconess Midtown remains my fav facility, but at both places for different surgeries, the level of care was the same--superb!

So, as of Thursday, June 30th, 2022, I’m three weeks post-op and living with several organs less than I was before surgery--seven less to be exact. The suture pain has been a beast to contend with, otherwise, thanking the good Lord, I’m managing pretty well.​

With the absence of several organs, one thing had to be remedied...

​Before surgery, I knew I was likely to need a colostomy, at least a temporary one, and that my chances for it being reversible were good. So, I wasn’t surprised when I woke up with a bag attached to a hole in my side.

The disappointment, and a fair bit of dread, set in when my surgeon, Dr. Deane Smith, one of the kindest folks and amazingly gifted physicians I’ve ever met, let me know that it hadn’t been possible to keep it reversible and that the stoma would be a perma-fixture from here on out.

Having GID (gastro-intestinal disorder/disease) since I was born, means I’ve been challenged with a variety of life-interfering symptoms from the get-go. The colostomy had been my greatest fear and over the years, I went to great lengths to try and keep my GI system as healthy as possible, but the last few years it became a losing battle, resulting in cancer and ultimately, the thing I woke up from surgery with the thing I’d dreaded the most.

My new hardware...

​One bit of information kept the situation in perspective, helping me change my attitude about it...

​Beyond the scripture, the Lord Yeshua saturated me with folks who checked on me daily via calls, texts and emails, sharing words of encouragement and lifting me in prayer.

This week I met with a wound-care/stoma specialist who spent some time furthering my education on life with a colostomy, got my supplies ordered for the next month and assured me that I’m healing up perfectly.

​The recovery time for this type of surgery can take several months. I pushed too hard toward the end of my second-week post-op, causing more harm than good. For the next few days, I’m back to limited activity. Soon though, I’m determined to be walking again and after, advancing to light, low-impact jogging, at least for short distances by the end of July.

Living with the stoma isn’t fun, but it’s freed me up to do things I’ve not been able to do in the last few years, so although I don’t like it, it’s giving me a lot of the life back that I’d lost when my health began to take a nosedive.

I may not like it, but I’m very thankful to have had the option, to be cancer-free and (in time) able to do the same sports I loved doing before GID and cancer brought it all to a halt.

Whatever challenge, I pray you too, can find some positive aspects of it and put your hope in Yeshua the Messiah, who can (and wants) to help you shoulder it.

Thank you for your visit and keeping up with my progress. Your interaction with and support of independent bloggers is always a blessing!

'Til next time...

​Shalom!