Keeping it Renal

It’s been a day! I’m emotionally and physically drained as I write this, but so grateful for the answered prayers. 
Mike was taken down to the operating room around 8:30 am, and surgery for a Hemodialysis port started I believe at 9:45. He was out around 11:45, normally this surgery takes about 30 minutes to an hour and is normally done under “twilight anesthesia” or local anesthesia with sedation but, because of the complications of his fusions and inability to lay flat as well as his 2 fractured vertebrae, he was put under general anesthesia. To get him to lay as flat as possible, his back was moved in ways it hasn’t moved in years which most likely aggregated underused muscles as well as the fractures that are already there. He tolerated the surgery and anesthesia well, no complications, but came out of it with severe back pain. It took awhile, but after 2 doses of 2 different pain medications, they were able to control his pain to a tolerable level. 
Around 3 pm Mike was taken to the dialysis center for his first session. It took about 2.5 hours. Future ones will be 3-4 hours but they start off slow for the first few sessions to see how the patient will tolerate it. He tolerated it well and slept through most of it once his pain was controlled.
Afterward, he was very “loopy”, which they said is normal after dialysis, especially because this is his first time having it, plus he was under anesthesia earlier in the day and he’s on pain medications. Hopefully he will get good rest tonight.
The plan going forward is still unclear as it’s a day to day thing. He will have dialysis every day for approximately 4-6 days and then 3 days a week for the unforeseeable future. His hospital stay will continue through the weekend and possibly part of next week. This is to see how he tolerates the initial dialysis sessions and to watch his labs, specifically Creatinine, GFR, BUN and potassium as well as watching his blood pressure. He normally has high blood pressure, controlled by medication, but bp medication cannot be taken before dialysis sessions. When this hospital stay comes to an end, as of right now his next residence will be a stint of rehab before he can come home to Oscar (our dog) who misses his Daddy dearly. Tortellini (our turtle) misses him too I’m sure, but he doesn’t complain as much as Oscar, as long as he is fed .
So tonight, as I type this, I breathe a big sigh of relief and I am thanking God for getting him through this. I know God has been with both of us every step of the way. 
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8
Thank you to all of you near and far who have prayed for us, sent cards, flowers, my snoopy cup & journal, well wishes, offers of help, for visiting him, especially when I couldn’t be there. Thank you to our anonymous neighbor and to our friend Ray for plowing our driveway so I could get out to go to work and to go to the hospital to be with Mike. Thank you for the texts, messages, love and support. Thank you to my coworkers for always having my back and for watching out and working with my students on the days I had to be absent. Thank you to my sister in law and brother in law for decorating Mike’s room the other day with pictures of our beautiful family, looking at those pictures of our kids and grandkids reminded Mike what he is fighting for. Thanks to them also for being there today when he came out of surgery, to support me and have lunch with me while he rested. 
Mike and I appreciate each and every one of you for your part in our journey. Your prayers, love and support help us more than you know.
Please do not grow weary with praying, we have a long road ahead as we adjust to our new normal and we still need to be covered in prayer, every step of the way.
Love & hugs to you all ~Mike & Sheila xo




 

Comments

  1. Kathy Barrett-DickFebruary 7, 2025 at 6:34 PM

    So happy he made it well! I'll be dropping off a card to you for him! I'm here if u need anything! Love ya both

    ReplyDelete

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