Life continues...

Life continues. No matter what happens in our lives, life will continue on. We have learned that lesson over the last 3 years.

Paul continues to do so well! He had a second surgery - this time with FANTASTIC results. He was having some trouble with his neck again, so we went to our family Dr. and the neurologist to get advise on what to do. Both of them said Paul needed to see a surgeon. They both also said the surgeon is conservative and surgery isn't his first recommendation. He normally first would schedule physical therapy, maybe injections, but surgery would be a last results - if at all. Paul had to have an MRI done before going to the surgeon. We went to the surgeon's office and he has us come look at the MRI. You could see where Paul had 4 herniated disks, that were pressing into his spine. They had actually caused a divot in his spine and there was no spinal fluid in that area. The surgeon said he has 2 criteria that would cause his to recommend surgery. 1-if you have lost feeling or have tingling in an extremity and to wait longer for surgery could lessen the chances of regaining full feeling and use; 2-if your spine has been compromised to the point that if you tripped and fell, it could be life-threatening. Then he said Paul fits both criteria. So, 3 weeks later, he had surgery. We were obviously very nervous about heading in to this, but the surgeon said he would be monitoring everything very closely to make sure everything stayed as it should. The anesthesiologist put in a line so he could monitor all of Paul's organs and vitals, and be able to quickly give him whatever he needed if something started to show signs of problems.

He came out of surgery very alert, talking to the nursing staff (remembering their names), asking questions about his surgery ... his eyes looked like himself! (One thing we have been told several times since the second surgery ... people could see in his eyes that he wasn't quite getting it. At the neurologists office, the comment was made that they could see that Paul was "in there".)  Paul spent about 30 hours in the hospital - from the time he went in for surgery until he left the next day. When I got up to the hospital the day after his surgery, he had already walked around the floor 2 or 3 times ... by himself. Last surgery, the day he went home, they had him walk around the floor and there had to be 2 of us with him, helping to keep him stabilized. Paul was such a good patient this time. He kept track of what the surgeon said he could do and didn't do more than he should have (for the most part!)

As Paul continued to heal, it was obvious his memory was coming back, his attention span was normal, his energy level was normal, etc. He may never remember some things from the past three years, but his  memories from prior to surgery and since the second surgery is great. Another thing that has come back is his longing, desire, passion, and need to be in ministry. He talked to Paul C and was told there would be a church available for him at conference! That was an answer to prayer that we have wanted and waited for!! There was one church that was mentioned to us, but the day of a MEG meeting, one of the pastors said he wanted to retire. They started thinking of us to fill that spot. After a couple weeks of conversation, they decided to send us to the church where the pastor was retiring. That's a good thing! We are so excited about getting back into ministry and having the opportunities to serve God again.

Don't get me wrong, not everything from the last 3 years has been bad, church-wise. We were able to fill in at Alpena for 6 weeks. Paul did a great job, but doing that is what told him something was definitely wrong and we needed to figure it out. So, that actually is a good thing! We started attending Countryside. That has been such a blessing and help for us. Paul was able to fill in for Dave 2 Sundays. He did a great job. It was like his old self was back! Our ABF (Adult Bible Fellowship) has really been there for us. After Paul's surgery, they provided meals for us for a week. The ABF had only started about 2 weeks before his surgery, so this group was new as a "unit". They have been so uplifting, encouraging, loving, and supportive. We have truly grown to love and appreciate this group.

We only have six more weeks to go before we will have our own church. Between now and then, Paul will be speaking at two churches. One is filling in for the pastor, the second is at the church of a good pastor friend of ours. He's not going to be gone, he just wanted Paul to come as a special speaker. I know he has a story to tell about what God has done for him/us.

Side note ... the surgeon we used the first time had been recommended. We wanted a second opinion, so we were sent to Great Lakes Spine Center, where our second surgery worked. We were supposed to see Dr. Palavoli (the second surgeon), but he was booked six weeks out, so we saw one of his partners. He agreed that we needed to go through with the surgery. What it came down to was whichever surgeon could do the surgery first would be the one we could go with. The surgeon we used could get us in 3 weeks sooner, so we went with her. Had we waited the six weeks to see Dr. Palavoli originally, it makes my head spin to think about how differently things could have turned out.

God is still good. He's still on the throne. He's still in charge of our lives. And He still loves us more than we can imagine (or deserve!)