Today Casey had his second surgery to remove his middle right lobe of his lung. We had told a few people this (but not many) but two nights ago Casey started hearing crackling noises when he would take a deep breath. He started doing some major deep breathing cause he thought maybe it was that lobe trying to expand like it should. After about 5min of deep breathing he started coughing up some gunk and even had some dried blood in the gunk.
We had also talked a lot about this latest development that at first had us a little down, and also discussed some things we both felt God placing on our hearts. We felt encouraged and decided the next day we would try to make it to church to talk to pastor about it.
Thurs we headed over to the church, we had called first and knew Pastor would be there. We went in and started talking to him. Discussed some things God had laid on our hearts, we felt like God was challenging us to do more for HIM and wanted to talk to pastor about it. We also wanted to tell Pastor about what Casey's fathers family was going through. Last Sun his uncle (Dad's brother) had gone into the hospital for complications with cancer he'd been battling. He was told he only had a few hours left to live, Casey's father right away jumped on his motorcycle and headed to the hospital in KS to visit him one last time. Casey's father lives on the MO side, for those not into motorcycles there is a helmet law in MO but not KS.... I think this possibly saved Keith from at least a serious head injury or worse (I haven't confirmed he had a helmet on but I strongly believe he DID due to no injuries in that area). Anyway, normally Keith pulls over and removes his helmet as soon as he gets into KS. I'm guessing in his hurry to get to his dying brothers side he didn't do that. Anyway, while on the highway a coyote dashed out in front of him and he hit it going rather fast. It caused the bike to fall to its side and skid across the highway. Keith ended up laying in the middle of 3 lanes of traffic and his bike in the median. He suffered a broken hand and wrist and arm as well as serious road rash and I believe a dislocated shoulder. He refused to be taken by ambulance to the ER and instead had his girlfriend pick him up and drive him to his brothers bed side where he did get there in time to say good bye before going on down to the ER. His brother passed away the next day (Monday).
Tues we learned Casey would need the 2nd surgery, we were a little stunned and depressed over the news. We neglected to call Keith right away, looking back now I think that was probably best because it might have been to much for him. Weds evening Keith called to tell us his brother had died, before he told Casey he asked how Casey was doing and Casey gave him the update. I wasn't on the phone with him and in fact Casey was in another room. As soon as Casey told him I could almost feel the breath leave Keith, I can't explain the feeling I had but I knew somehow that Keith was really struggling. I felt so bad for him, I knew this news was another bad blow to a really bad week. The funeral was last night to be last night (Thurs).
So we were talking to Pastor, we told him about Casey coughing up the gunk after telling him about Casey's father. Pastor thought that was interesting news and said we would pray and that this was not out of God's reach at all! We had a good long time of prayer with Pastor and another member from church who was there. I holding Willa, Eli entertained himself well by pulling 1 book at a time from pastors bookshelves and looking at it and then putting it back before pulling another one (ok I might have peeked a couple times to make sure he wasn't getting into anything). After prayer we discussed what was on our hearts and what God had placed on our hearts the night before. We told Pastor we are no longer saying we will "TRY" to follow through but we "WILL" follow through. What ever happened today we would praise God.
As we were getting the kids buckled into the car to leave I get a phone call. Some of you may know how I have been really struggling to get business for my photography. I've had portrait sessions but no weddings this year and I've gotten a little discouraged about it at times. So I answer my phone (it was a number I didn't know) and a young lady says "I would like to know what you charge for wedding photography?" I was so excited I started stuttering! After composing myself I asked her how she had heard about us and she said she had found us on google. Ok here's the thing, I've tried googling several phrases for wedding photography etc and I can't get us to pop up! So of God! She had gotten to my vendor profile I have on thumbtack.com (google it if you want to know what it is, but its a cool website). It doesn't list my prices but it does have some pictures up there and my phone number. I started talking to her about her budget, after a short converation we agreed to meet on Sat July 14. I am praying that this job works out for us, it won't be till next year but at least it would be SOMETHING! What amazed me was it seemed like as soon as we said we WILL do what God places on our hearts, (Don't get me wrong we weren't fighting anything, we had just not communicated that we were feeling the same things) he in return was like "See? I WANT to bless you!" I was so overwhelmed I almost cried. Even if the job doesn't work out I feel like it was encouragement from God.
So Casey went to his uncle funeral a few hours later where he said he was glad he was there for his father. Said he was taking it kinda hard. He came home and we enjoyed some time together while the kids were sleeping. We both felt very peaceful about today's upcoming surgery.
We woke up bright and early this morning and arrived at the hospital around 8:45am, they took him back to prep but we ended up waiting in the room without anyone coming in till after pastor arrived sometime around 9:30. He spent some time with us and prayed and then left. We again talked about the rattling in his chest and the gunk he'd been spitting up. We were hopeful that the Dr would go in with the scope before the surgery and find it open and clear. Finally they came back to get Casey (even though they hadn't done all the prep they had done before) that confused us and they said they were moving him closer to the OR where they would finish his prep but they wouldn't let me go with him. That was around 11am, the surgery was supposed to start at 11:45 and I waited with baited breath hoping the Dr would come out in just a few minutes and tell us he wouldn't need to do the surgery.
Around 12:45 a nurse comes out and finds me, my heart skips a beat. Could it be? She sits down next to me and explains they forgot to have Casey sign a blood transfusion list and they needed that signed in case he needed a transfusion. I asked her if they had started the surgery yet and she said she didn't know. They had called her from the OR to tell her to get it signed. I didn't hear anything again till 3pm.
Finally the Dr comes out at 3 and talks to me. You could tell he wasn't really happy with things, he asked if I was alone this time (talk about heart stopping) as I said yes. He goes "Ok well he's done with the surgery and he did well." So from what he told me when he had done the scope before the surgery he discovered that the right middle lobe was now completely sealed off (it did have a SMALL opening before). He said that lobe was no longer functioning at all. He said he had hoped he wouldn't have to actually CUT but he had no choice but to go in again the same way he did before. He said he went in the same incision and there was nothing he could do besides remove that lobe. He said if we hadn't done that Casey could have gotten VERY sick VERY quickly and it would have been VERY hard for him to recover if he ever did fully recover. He stressed the VERY sick several times. He had a very appologetic look on his face and he said he was so sorry he knew this wasn't what any of us expected and he doesn't understand why it happened. He said out of years and HUNDREDS of surgeries he has NEVER seen this before. He has no clue what caused it and said we would never know. He said it could be that a blood clot got stuck and blocked an artery there causing it but he doesn't know for sure. Regardless, Casey had done well in the surgery and would be recovering and then taken to his room in a couple of hours. He said that this SHOULD be the end of this and hopefully in a few weeks Casey will be ready to get back to work like he has been gunning to. I told the Dr that we KNEW he did everything he could, and we trusted him completely. I told him I knew that he only removed it because he felt it was the best thing for Casey. I told him we understand and we know it had NOTHING to do with him, these things just happen and no one was to blame. I thanked him for being on top of it the whole time and at the same time giving it time to heal on its own before just jumping into surgery a second time. He thanked me and headed out and I went back to waiting.
Finally around 5 I was told I could go up to his floor and I would be allowed to see him shortly. Finally I arrived on his floor and stopped at the nurses station to make sure it was ok to go in. She said "Yes" and I headed down the hall to his room. As soon as I got to the door he goes "Hey Babe!" Woa a LONG ways from last surgery when he had looked at me and about cried at the sight of me. He was with it a lot more this time, we talked and he didn't fall asleep on me. He was complaining of some pain, he told me that this time they kept him awake while they put in the epidural, he said he can't believe I've had that twice with both kids. Haha He also had a pick line in his chest and said they had him awake when they put that in too. He said it HURT, they also kept him awake when they put in the cath, poor guy. Apparently his Dr wanted to talk to him while he was able to understand so they had decided to finish the prep with him awake. Nice huh? The nurse heard him say he was awake when they did the pick line and she was like "You were awake for that??????????" So encouraging! Ha But he looked 1000 times better this time around then last time.
I finally came home for a little bit and told him I'd be back when the next baby sitter got here, but I needed to get home and see my kids 1 of whom was still in bed when we left and I hadn't seen her at all yet today. I came home, got some dinner and did some things for the studio. The next baby sitter arrived and I finished my work and went to see him where I was able to spend about an hour there. He was looking even better, he had been able to eat some jello and was complaining of being hungry! You know a man is on the mend when he's complaining about being hungry! :D The nurse mentioned they might try to get him up to walk tonight and he was like "Please do! I want to go ahead and go home! I think I can go to work tomorrow!" I was like "DON'T YOU DARE! If you cause yourself more damage and kill your self I WILL come and get you and bring you back.... Then I will kill you myself!" The nurse just kinda laughed.
So we're on the mend again! We're hoping he'll be out in a couple of days this time instead of 5 days. We believe this is the end of it! Several people have told me how strong I've been through all this and how encouraging it has been to them. I don't feel like I've been any stronger then any other woman out there, yes its been hard. Yes there have been tears, some days a lot of tears. But my strength has come from God first, family and church family second. None of my strength has been mine alone. I have been supported by so many people. We all have, we love and thank everyone for their prayers, meals, time (baby sitting), groceries, gift cards and even gifts of cash. Without the support of God and others we would not have been able to survive this. This is God's victory! Not ours, to him be all praise.
Woah this ended up a really long post (sorry about that). Since its so long, I'm not going to proof read it... Sorry for any spelling or grammar errors. If you feel the need to correct it just remember this was typed up after a VERY long day at the hospital late at night before I go to bed. I just wanted to let everyone know how much we love and appreciate them. :)
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