Just got home from the plastic surgeon! He removed the sutures from my chest (it felt so weird when they came out!). But anyways, we believe to have reached some what of a break through concerning the reason behind my incision opening! This is a huge praise because we have been constantly asking why and not getting any answers!
After removing the sutures the doctor explained that there is 1 of 2 things happening. Either my body was rejecting the sutures, or my body is rejecting the wiring in my sternum. I have a follow up appointment with that doctor next week. If it was indeed just the sutures my body was rejecting then by next week there should be a significant difference in the healing of the wound. However if there is no change then we will proceed to having a CT scan done to check the wires and my sternum. If it is indeed a problem with the wires then it will not heal until they are removed in which case I will need to travel back to Minnesota to have that taken care of.
Yes it is indeed a lot to take in! However it is a break through on why all of this is happening and for that I am praising the Lord! Do I want to have to be opened back up again most certainly not, however I know the Great Physician I know that He has a plan through it all! If His plan involves my return to Minnesota and an additional surgery then I am ok with that. I will rest in His arms knowing that He has a greater purpose for all of this than I can every imagine! I know this because He said that for the His names sake He allows things to happen in our lives. But He also says He will never leave me nor forsake me. This new turn is for His names sake, He wants to use me, I may not enjoy all of what I go through during that time, but He will be with me through it all!
Thank you for your continued prayers!
I am praising the Lord for this new break through! And I am also praising the Lord that about 5 days ago I took myself off all my pain meds and have only taken on pain pill since then!
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Monday, September 22, 2014
3 Weeks Down!
I don't have much of an update but I did just get home from my 3 week check up. It's really encouraging knowing that I have 3 weeks behind me! I can't thank y'all enough for all of your prayers, cards, calls, and support! There are still three main things in which I would ask for your prayers.
First off for my lungs. The doctor did a chest X-ray today, and nothing has changed. The lower portion of my left lung is still collapsed. The doctor still has me on my incentive spirometer every 30minutes with hopes that it will inflate soon.
Secondly my for incision. The over all cleanliness of it is looking much better. The doctor said he believes the infection is cleaning up some. However the opening of the incision it is growing in size. My doctor set an appointment up with a plastic surgeon hoping that he will have some ideas on how to close the hole or at least prevent it from growing any larger. I will meet with that doctor on Wednesday.
Lastly the doctor still has some concern with my blood pressure. I am still having anywhere from 1-10 episodes of low blood pressure, nausea, and near passing out per day. I am on 2 blood pressure medicines currently, but the doctor lowered the dosages on them today in hopes that it will help. The medicines are necessary due to the nature of my surgery, however he is thinking that they are lowering it to much and it is causing the problem. He sent me home with a blood pressure machine to check it a few times a day and see if anything changes.
Other than those things everything seems to be healing up well. I am still struggling with sleeping at night due to back pain but it is getting better.
As far as Kiribati goes the church is going well, God is blessing and they are growing. Please continue to pray for the church as well as the missionaries there. I cannot wait to be able to serve with the Daku family! The doctors said I should be able to leave in 6 months!
Thank you for all of your prayers and support!
Preparing to serve Him on the Equator,
Candace
First off for my lungs. The doctor did a chest X-ray today, and nothing has changed. The lower portion of my left lung is still collapsed. The doctor still has me on my incentive spirometer every 30minutes with hopes that it will inflate soon.
Secondly my for incision. The over all cleanliness of it is looking much better. The doctor said he believes the infection is cleaning up some. However the opening of the incision it is growing in size. My doctor set an appointment up with a plastic surgeon hoping that he will have some ideas on how to close the hole or at least prevent it from growing any larger. I will meet with that doctor on Wednesday.
Lastly the doctor still has some concern with my blood pressure. I am still having anywhere from 1-10 episodes of low blood pressure, nausea, and near passing out per day. I am on 2 blood pressure medicines currently, but the doctor lowered the dosages on them today in hopes that it will help. The medicines are necessary due to the nature of my surgery, however he is thinking that they are lowering it to much and it is causing the problem. He sent me home with a blood pressure machine to check it a few times a day and see if anything changes.
Other than those things everything seems to be healing up well. I am still struggling with sleeping at night due to back pain but it is getting better.
As far as Kiribati goes the church is going well, God is blessing and they are growing. Please continue to pray for the church as well as the missionaries there. I cannot wait to be able to serve with the Daku family! The doctors said I should be able to leave in 6 months!
Thank you for all of your prayers and support!
Preparing to serve Him on the Equator,
Candace
Monday, September 15, 2014
From the 2 week check up!
Just wanted to take a moment to update. God is good and while there are something's that are not so great there are a great many blessings I have to share. First off I have to say that I am beyond thankful for my wonderful family! I cannot imagine what I would do without them! They have set aside so many things in their lives to help make this situation as smooth as possible for me. My parents have gone above and beyond to make me comfortable, come in the middle of the night when I have had muscle spasms, taken care of my doctors appointments and so much more! I could ask for anything more! I am so thankful for my sister Amanda who willingly put her family and life on hold to be able to travel all the way to Minnesota with me and be there with me as I went through everything. Siting with someone after surgery and trying to patiently work with them, comfort them, and even just hold their hand as tubes are taken in or out isn't easy, but my sister went through it all with me! My brothers have been just as wonderful. It has been such a blessing to see my little brother be my right arm, he helps me up from bed every morning, from the chair every hour. He walks with me everywhere as I am not very stable on my feet, he even picked me up the other day from the kitchen floor. And as much as I don't always enjoy it, he keeps me accountable with all my meds and brings me something to drink every hour. Brandon has been a huge encouragement even though he could not be here with me he has called several times to check on me, and facetimed several times so that my niece and I could talk which lifted my spirits so much!
Secondly I am thankful that of all of these meds they had me on (this is just the morning dose) I was taken off of two of them today!
I am just so overwhelmed right now at how good. God has been to me! Thank you so much for all of your cards and calls, they have been helped me so much! I love Gods timing because every time I am having a rough time is when I receive a call or a card. For those of you who have asked my parents address is:
2674 Township Road 1087
Perrysville Ohio 44864
As for the most recent update on me. I am fairing pretty well. My pain has started to even out some as opposed to before when I would have random spasms. I went to the doctor today for my 2 week check up. My incision infection has worsened a great deal and the incision has opened some. We are
still praying that it will heal. The doctor said as of right now there is nothing they can do for the incision so I just need to keep it as clean as it can and pray it will begin to heal. As for my pneumonia they feel as though it has gotten better, however the lower portion of my left lung is collapsed and does not seem to be re-inflating. They are going to have me some back in next week to recheck that lung as well as the progress of the infection. Please also continue to pray for my dizzy/passing out spells. We are not entirely sure why I am having them, but something is causing my blood pressure and pulse to drop very low very fast and it is causing me to nearly pass out. (This was the original reason I ended up in the ER last week. After my shower my blood pressure dropped and I nearly passed out which was followed by vomiting.) Today in the doctors office my BP dropped to 78/64.
I will update y'all on any changes that happen.
Thank you for all of your prayers and support thus far!
Please continue to pray for the Daku and Snyder families as well as the iKiribati people!
Candace
.
Secondly I am thankful that of all of these meds they had me on (this is just the morning dose) I was taken off of two of them today!
Thirdly I want to thank The Lord for my church! I am so thankful for all of the love and support I have received from them! I am also so thankful for the technology available to watch livestream services! It lifts my spirits to be able to watch my church service as I am not able to go anywhere for church.
I am just so overwhelmed right now at how good. God has been to me! Thank you so much for all of your cards and calls, they have been helped me so much! I love Gods timing because every time I am having a rough time is when I receive a call or a card. For those of you who have asked my parents address is:
2674 Township Road 1087
Perrysville Ohio 44864
As for the most recent update on me. I am fairing pretty well. My pain has started to even out some as opposed to before when I would have random spasms. I went to the doctor today for my 2 week check up. My incision infection has worsened a great deal and the incision has opened some. We are
still praying that it will heal. The doctor said as of right now there is nothing they can do for the incision so I just need to keep it as clean as it can and pray it will begin to heal. As for my pneumonia they feel as though it has gotten better, however the lower portion of my left lung is collapsed and does not seem to be re-inflating. They are going to have me some back in next week to recheck that lung as well as the progress of the infection. Please also continue to pray for my dizzy/passing out spells. We are not entirely sure why I am having them, but something is causing my blood pressure and pulse to drop very low very fast and it is causing me to nearly pass out. (This was the original reason I ended up in the ER last week. After my shower my blood pressure dropped and I nearly passed out which was followed by vomiting.) Today in the doctors office my BP dropped to 78/64.
I will update y'all on any changes that happen.
Thank you for all of your prayers and support thus far!
Please continue to pray for the Daku and Snyder families as well as the iKiribati people!
Candace
.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
From Home Sweet Home
We are home. The trip was quite long and agonizing, but we have made it safe and sound. I can't express how thankful I am for all of your love, prayers, and support. I am not feeling wonderful but I know it could be worse. I will continue updating as I am recovering, please continue praying.
Candace
Candace
Sunday, September 7, 2014
...from the hotel again!
Candace was discharged just before 2. We will head home tomorrow!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone
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