29 Days Post Op. Reflecting.

Receiving one of ten blood transfusions.

I just re-read my last few posts.   Not too bad considering how much pain medication I was under the influence of.  :) Sorry about all the spelling mistakes!

I took a break from blogging for a while because I have really needed to focus on healing.

My husband brought me home from the hospital on Sept. 28.  On Oct. 4 I was re-admitted because of pain.  It turned out to be some kind of blockage in my gallbladder or liver.  While I was in the hospital, they had me fast for 6 of 8 days.  Just ice chips.  The obstruction subsided and I was allowed to come home on Friday in time for Thanksgiving weekend.

In total, with everything that went wrong, I fasted for 5 weeks.  I have lost 30 lbs (too fast!!) so far.

So for a few days now, I have been eating well (all things considered) and I have been steadily healing at home.  SLOW and steady.  I still have pain, I'm very limited in what I can do, and I still struggle to breathe normally after the collapsed lung shenanigans.



All hooked up and drugged up after
the second surgery.

I will not lie, this is he hardest thing I have ever gone through personally.  I am fighting to (and succeeding) at being thankful.  Some days are harder than others.  I consciously thank God out loud for the good things he has given me.  It seems to lessen the hardship.

I vaguely remember the Tuesday night that I fainted (after the first surgery) and the doctors buzzing around me to discover the internal bleeding.  I saw the looks of concern and worry in people's eyes that surrounded me.  Panic.  When they started speaking of multiple blood transfusions, EKG's, more surgery etc. all I remember is whispering over and over again "I release life into my body in Jesus name".  I just put my life into the hands of Jesus (with full intentions of living!!).

First time sitting up after collapsed
lungs.  Hard work!!

With everything happening so quickly at that time, I am so thankful that my deep consciousness had stored up the knowledge to breathe those words out loud.  One of my favorite verses in the bible is John 10:10.  Us folks who believe in Jesus need to fight for what God has provided for us.

When I lay in the hospital last week, all I knew is that my digestive system wasn't working.  The doc said I had a "blockage".  In my mind I fought thoughts of "what if I'll never be able to eat again" and "what if the doc messed up so bad that I'll have trouble for the rest of my life". 

I gained 30-40 lbs in fluids.
Fluids were pumped into my
body though IV in order to
clean my body out from the
internal bleeding.

Thankfully I had friends and family reminding me of God's promises.  "We have not because we ask not"...OK, God, please heal me.  "I have to come to give you life in the full"... OK, God, please give me life in the full.  I could go on forever about all the promises I was reminded of and how hard I had to fight to believe them. 

Friday my doc walked into my room and told me he was not going to do the MRI we were waiting for because all the blood tests showed that my body fixed itself.  I could pretend it's not God that fixed me, but I know it was.  Him and I have had some pretty sweet moments the last few weeks.  I give Him all the praise and thanks for healing me, getting me through this, and for what He will do in my future.  I look forward to a full strong life ahead!

MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF GRATEFULLNESS go out to the people who have encouraged and prayed for me.  To those that have remained positive through the scary times, THANK YOU.  To those that never gave up when it looked hopeless, I can't even express how much it means to me.  And to my God who comforted me beyond words during those long hospital nights, THANK YOU.  I have no words, but my heart bursts with thankfulness.