Thoughts from Kay on Her Journey
We are going home today, praise the Lord!!!!! We’ll see how the pain relief goes, I went to the CVS back in Raleigh last night and had them print out all Kay’s meds so the Drs at Duke could see what her baseline was. They finally relented and wrote her new scrips with larger doses, so I think we are going to be OK. Thank you for your prayers through all of this, we couldn’t have been more blessed than to have friends like you guys. More later, the nurse is back to start training me!!!
k
As I write this Kay is resting in the bed, after a very long day of trying to adjust her pain medicine so that she can get some tolerable degree of pain relief on a consistent basis. The challenge is that she can only have liquid pain relievers, no pills, because she can’t swallow (NPO). Liquid pain relievers work fairly quickly, but not for very long. Also, they don’t want to give her too much and possibly knock her out or depress her breathing. So in erring on the conservative side of the dosage see-saw, they do not medicate her enough to control the pain breakthroughs. On every 2-3 hr dose cycle last night and today, by the end of the cycle she was miserable. It is very hard to watch.
My prayer is that we can get this problem resolved before we go home. They have told us she can go home either Thurs or Friday. I can’t wait to get her home, but I sure don’t want to go without enough pain medicine!!!!
Everyone has been praying and we feel so very very blessed to have such caring friends. No one could ask for more. We love you all-
Kevin
The power of prayer will never be lost on us. Kay is walking without oxygen, 1,400-1,500 yards per day. I can assure you that each one of you account for some of those yards. She’s VERY sore and still has one drainage tube in her chest (the smaller of the two they inserted), along with various IV’s and a feeding tube, but she is making progress. I really don’t know how to explain being up here in this section of the hospital where so many people have had such major surgeries, and we are also right beside the ICU, so we see a lot of the same folks every day. They all need prayers and we are trying to pray for each other as much as possible. Incredible place.
I can’t express my appreciation for such wonderful friends as you all. There just aren’t words. We love you.
We are tired and are going to try to get some sleep, between alarms, code reds, and tests. More later, I promise-
Kevin
The Lord has been with us today, thanks to so many prayers. I’m just overwhelmed with gratitude for all that everyone has done for us.
Last night there were issues through the night with low blood pressure, but they finally got those resolved after several hours. She managed to get a few hours sleep, which is most since we’ve been here.
Another very hectic day, with more progress. The large drain in her chest, her epidural and her jugular IV were removed today. With less metal and plastic poking her, her comfort has increased. She has walked 8 laps and will go out on the “track” one more time before bed. There’s still several more IV’s and one smaller drain in her chest cavity, but we are definitely over the hump.
They just told us they will give her the first “meal” through the feeding tube sometime tonight. She hasn’t eaten since supper Wed. so she’s REALLY looking forward to that.
We both feel so blessed to have such wonderful friends and good medical care. I will try to update again tomorrow if I can find some time. God Bless you all!!!!
Kevin
Everyone-
All the Drs came by this morning. To a person, they say Kay is doing “great”. Glory be to God! Your prayers and love have benefited her immensely and we cannot begin to express our gratitude. Today will be a very strenuous day of more walks and breathing exercises every 6 minutes. Thank you so much for your support.
So now it’s off to x-ray then a lap around the “track”. Busy, busy busy. Good Bless you all!
Kevin
Kay was moved out of ICU today at about 1 PM to a “step down” room in the cardio/ thoracic unit of the hospital where she will stay until she goes home! So I’m very thankful for that and that she is able to get up and walk a little, with a stable blood pressure. She’s breathing on her own and her oxygen/gas levels are in the acceptable range. I was waiting until after I spoke with the surgeon before I wrote the update, but he still hasn’t come by, so I’m not waiting any more. Thanks so much for all the prayers, they have been and continue to be a huge blessing, which we will be forever grateful for. She hasn’t been evaluated on her vocal chord condition yet, so no news there. Gotta run, time to try another walk! Thanks to you all-
Kevin
I just talked to the surgeon, he was able to remove her lung. There were some complications, when he separated her bronchial tube from her esophagus, her esophagus tore, so he had to sew that up and put in a feeding tube, that will stay in for a few weeks. It will also prolong her hospital stay by a few days. Her vocal nerves could have been affected, we won’t know more until tomorrow. She must be evaluated. Please pray for that.
Our whole family is so grateful for your exceptional care and prayers. I feel unexpressably blessed. I must go to recovery now, I just wanted to get the good news out about her lung being removed before I go back. All the Nunnery’s love-
Kevin
How quickly a week passes when you are eating wedding cookies, filet mignon, pound cake, pizza, homemade macaroni and cheese, brownies, choc chip cookies, gourmet sugar cookies, cheesecake, doughnuts…the list goes on and on. Thanks to all of you who helped me accomplish my mission to gain weight in such a mighty way! And yes, let me assure you, the mission has been accomplished! ☺
We have just learned I am scheduled for surgery tomorrow (2/17) at 8:45 am with an arrival time of 6:15 am. We covet your prayers and we thank you for your dedication to us.
Once again, here are our specific needs:
1. That we would glorify God in all that we do
2. That Dr. Harpole would be able to remove ALL cancerous matter
3. That I would be free from blood clots or infections
4. That my healing would be complete
5. That my loved ones would walk in a hedge of protection, free from worry or exhaustion, safe in their travels and feel the Lord’s presence in a special way.
We have really felt your prayers over the last week. I have truly experienced that peace that comes only from the Lord. Thank you, thank you, thank you as we embark on what I pray is the last leg of this journey toward healing. We will update you as soon as we can.
“This is my comfort in my affliction, for your word has given me life.” Psalm 119:50
Kay and family
Hello all—
As it turns out, my Dr. Harpole has to be in Japan this weekend and has decided he would prefer to delay my surgery for 1 week (2/17) since he is going to be away. We appreciate his sensitivity to us in this regard. In some respects we would have preferred to go ahead and get this behind us, but we also know that our situation has been covered in much prayer and we know God is not surprised by this turn of events. So, I have another week to do my breathing exercises and continue on my weight gain mission! ☺
Thanks to all of you for your continued prayers. We promise to keep you posted. Much love and God bless –
Kay and family