My Purpose

Have you ever wondered why you are put here on earth, what the real purpose of your life is? I have asked these questions and more from my Heavenly Father and as I sit here I share with you some of my insights about my life.

You know through the year we are always to think of others not just at the Holiday times but all the time, I haven't been as good at that as I should but I'm going to try.

I was born into this world 55 yrs ago and I am still here by the Grace of God. Many of my family members have passed away or just left for no reason. Life as I have known it hasn't been the greatest but it was life. One day I gave my life away, actually I gave it back to Jesus and said, "thank you for giving me life and now I give it back to you so you can mold me into the person you want me to be, I will follow you no matter what the cost, no matter what is in store, even unto death, just use me for your Glory", I picked up my cross and never turned back.

As I sit here typing I am crying but tears of joy for the Lord has kept me safe, I might live by my myself but I am never alone, my Heavenly Father is always besides me. I asked Him to use me in anyway He chooses and to guide me on the path.

I have been through many trials, many surgeries, many hardships but still I am here strong in the Lord my faith does not waver. I can not go to church right now but that is okay because I have Jesus in my heart and He knows what is going on with me.

God is good all the time - He allows me to go places that others can not go for He knows I can do it. He uses me to witness to others in hospitals, clinics and to the Drs. One can not do that unless they are put there to do so. We are all called according to His purpose.

God is the ultimate healer and it is always in His time not ours. Sometimes we can get healed instantly, or over time, sometimes it is in our death that we are healed - but no matter how we are healed it is always within God's time table, He is never late.

I close with this: When God closes a door He opens a window so the Blessings can continue to flow. He never closes something before opening something else first.

I was Blessed this year by needing to sell my car - a recent surgery that saved my life also gave me the freedom to live. The selling of my car helped me to be debt free for the first time in my life. I used all the money to pay all my bills. We don't need material things in life to live, we just need to live according to His plans for us. I have given my all to Him and He keeps giving me Blessings on top of Blessings. I am financially okay right now and yet no matter how much I give to others He returns it 10 fold.

My life might be on a rough road right now, but I am thankful to my God I am still working for Him. I am here to be an encourager to others - no matter what I go through I know He gives me the Grace and Strength to keep going. I have one life to live and I chose to live it for Him. It doesn't matter how rough the road because one day my road will lead straight to Him. So if you think it is to hard for you to keep going please call on Jesus and He will carry you just as He does for me.

With Jesus' Love, may you also receive Blessings from above Debbie.

Much has been going on .....

I have been tied up with Therapy.

My 2nd neck surgery took place on Sept. 13th where both rods and 5 screws needed to be replaced, thanks to a therapist not following direct orders not to do ROM. I was in the hospital for only 1 week, then went home.

I had home care from nurses for 3 weeks, changing bandages and giving me my Axitra shots daily as I couldn't take my Warfarin for almost 1 month.

I began new therapy at a new location called ATI - I go 3 days a week and it has been on going since the 27th of Sept. They do very deep muscle massage, ultrasound and heat treatments every time I go. My muscles in my back and neck have already started to atrophy so much work is needed to be done. I have no range of motion what so ever - I had to sell my car which was a good thing because now I am debt free.

I have finally got excepted into the Pulmonary Rehab center at my local hospital 100% paid for by the local community care program - my insurance would not pick this up because I didn't have COPD or asthma - my nurses eval was today and Thurs will be my exercise eval to get the program going - that will be 2 days a week for 12 weeks. My latest respiratory muscle force was PI max 34, PE max 45. BP 110/70, resting HR 89, pulse ox 95, 6 min walk 150 meters.

They are believing that my muscles for my lungs could be because of the autonomic dysfunctions that are going on. My Kidneys are now showing signs of kidney failure can not go to the restroom without the water pills. I still have iron deficiency anemia for which the iron pills are not working. I see the kidney specialist every 4 months.

Been having problems with my knee replacement had to have another Cort shot yesterday and have to start Nsaid tomorrow, of course I had to get permission from the Neurosurgeon and Hematologist who prescribes my Warfarin, this means possible adjustments.

Oh and we're not to have cranberries because of Warfarin, but I now have to take the pill form of cranberries because I can't seem to fight off the bladder infections I keep getting every 4 months. Never had a UTI all my 55 yrs and I have had 3 this year go figure.

Good News - with all this going on my diabetes is still in remission A1c 5.1%, Lipid panel just done was excellent so my Dr said: total chol. 147, trigs 70, HDL 56 and LDL 77. According to this I am should be healthy, my weight is now 150.

Life has been like a bed of Roses especially for the thrones
that represent all my trials, my favorite color for a
Rose is yellow because it stands for peace. I am
truly at peace with all that has been going on
because I know God has been taking care of me
and not letting me down.

Cervical Repair Done

I got home last night Sat. the 17th but was too tired to post.

They had to open the entire incision to get at the screws and rods. I got to keep the hardware they removed. The surgery was supposed to be 1-1/2hrs but it was 3. I am in pain due to the surgery, of reopening, moving the nerves and muscles around etc.....

But the horrible pain I was having when I sat up or stood for more than 15mins is gone. Thank God.

I am back to wearing my neck brace again for 6 weeks or longer, go in on Friday the 23rd to get the staples removed. I have a nurse coming in everyday to give me Arixtra shots (heparin) until I am therapeutic in regards to my INR. I have to have daily dressing changes by them as well since I can not do it.

I will be needing more therapy and muscle massage without any Range Of Motion, this will take place after my brace comes off.

As for my girlfriend's funeral I was told it was nice. My friends gave me all the papers that were handed out which was nice. She is in a better place now.

Other than that it is one day at a time until I am healed. Again thanks for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers.

I'm in need of a repair

Yes you heard right - I'm in need of a repair. My cervical hardware has decided to come a part. I currently have 3 screws that came out of the vertebrae.

Tuesday the 13th I'll be having the screws taken out and replaced. My understanding is they will take out the current screws, fill the holes and drill new holes to accommodate the new screws.

This will not be day surgery, as the Dr told us - it will be to painful for the first few days I'll be put on a pain pump. Should stay in the hospital for about 3 days then go home.

Now I can say I am a pain in the neck and I have a few screws loose. Go ahead and laugh everyone does.

To see the hardware I am talking about go to
http://www.aesculapimplantsystems.com/assets/base/doc/DOC859-S4CervicalSystemBrochure.pdf

I tried to copy the picture but I couldn't. You do not need to read the entire brochure, but it does explain all the equipment used and what they did in the first place on June 6th.

A Long way to go.......

I started outpatient therapy on the 1st of August. This was just my evaluation so the therapist would know what to do with me.

My Neurosurgeon said no forcible ROM (range of motion). I was to have Ultrasound, massage and stabilization with exercise. Simple right, wrong.

On August 3rd I went for my 1st therapy appt. I did the normal exercises, then the therapist said I needed to do some active ROM, I told him I wasn't allowed to do that, he said yes within reason. He gave me a sheet of paper with the movements on it so I could do them at home.

The next morning I woke up and I was in a horrible amount of pain. I took my muscle relaxer and a pain pill and laid back down. It seemed like every time I sat straight up or stood up for more than 20 mins I would get this severe headache in the top of my head. Nothing would take it away, I had to lay down to get rid of it.

This went on all weekend, so on Monday the 8th I put in a call to my Dr. then I called my therapist, and said I would not be in that day until my Dr. called me and explained why. The associate Dr. called me and asked what happened, I told everything the therapist did and he said do not go back until you see Dr. H again, you'll need new x rays when you see him to make sure nothing was damaged. Oh great just what I needed to hear, the therapist could have damaged my neck.

My appt. with my Dr. was on the 19th, I had new x rays taken and I have 2 screws out of place, inflammation and a pain in the neck. I will need to go for some steroid injections to calm things down, I am not to go back for therapy. Then go back to see the Dr. after my injections to schedule more surgery to put things back in place. In the mean time I lay around a lot to keep the headaches at bay and no movement of my neck what so ever.

Cervical Surgery Completed

Boy does the time fly by when you're having fun.

My Neurosurgery - Cervical Fusion was done on 6/6/2011

• C2, C7, T1 bilateral partial laminectomy.
• C3, C4, C5, C6 bilateral complete hemilaminectomy.
• C3-C4, C4-C5, C5-C6, C6-C7, C7-T1 bilateral foraminotomy.
• C3-C4, C4-C5, C5-C6, C6-C7, C7-T1 bilateral arthrodesis with local autograft and OrthoBlast bone matrix.
• C3, C4, C5, C6, C7-T1 cervical instrumentation with Aesculap S4 cervical fixation system.
• Decompression of spinal cord.
• Electrophysiological monitoring.
• Ultrasound.
• Harvest local autograft
  

And to think my original Neurosurgeon said there was nothing wrong with my neck, just live with the pain.

I stayed in the hospital for only 5 days then I was transferred upstairs to the inpatient Rehab. On June 17th they sent me home telling me I was able to do all things by myself.

No joke I was sent home only 12 days after major surgery knowing I live alone - Marilyn made supper for me and shortly after that I went to bed. I awoke the 18th, got somewhat dressed, brushed my teeth and took my morning meds. I was in so much pain I had to lay down couldn't even make oatmeal for breakfast. My tolerance for sitting/standing at that point was only 15 to 20 mins. Yet the Rehab said I was ready to go home and fend for myself. Yeah right.

I am thankful that I had a nurse come to my apt. to give my shot of heparin, because she said there was no way she was going to leave me there alone. My nurse called her boss and told her what was going on and I was told to get a friend over immediately that I wasn't to be left unattended. So I called Marilyn to help me out. Before the nurse left she had me scheduled to go to a long term Rehab Center. She also read my discharge papers from the Rehab to me - stating all the things I could do, make a meal in the microwave, empty the dishwasher, pull things out of cabinets, take a shower independently and could sit up for more than an hour at a time, do my laundry. None of which I could do at all nor ever attempt to do at the Rehab Center. Take a shower by myself - What were they thinking I still had a neck brace on and it could not get wet or be removed until July 15th.

I got to another Rehab Center for long term care in the afternoon of June 18th at 3pm. That is where I found out they mixed up my paper work with another person that had the same name. Also this person was a different race and younger in age. I tell you things we go through now a days.

Within 24 hrs the real records were sent to the long term Rehab Center and my therapy began. I was so bad off I stayed at this Center for 5-1/2weeks. My cell phone didn't work there nor did I have computer access so communication was minimal.

I have been home little over a week and I still have a long way to go before I am to a fully recovered state. I am still in Outpatient Rehab which can take several more months and up to a year to heal.

I am so glad that I have God to look over me and take care of me, so many things could have gone wrong and did but God took care of every little detail. I am still here and on the mend. He always takes care of His own.

What A Month May Has Been

Here is my update:

Saw Neurosurgeon in early May, told me the surgery I needed and we scheduled it for June 6th. I need to be there by 5:30am, surgery will be at 7:30am. He will be working on 4 levels of my neck through the back to free up the spinal cord. Will be placing 2 rods and screws in to fuse the neck. Hospital stay 4 to 7 days.

Since I have had the neck brace on my sugars are climbing slightly, my blood pressure is now normal 110/70 and I had my first ever normal EKG. So spinal fluid is a must to our bodies. God only knows how long I have been low on fluid. but at least now I will be fixed in that area.

May 11th rectal surgery - it went fine. Today went to get the stitches out still quite sore, I'll see her in 3 weeks for another check up. She said I could have surgery.

On May 20th myself and our maintenance guy tried to stop 2 male ducks from killing a female duck, Paul scared them and they flew above my head and hit me and I went down on my butt. My knee got damaged and I found out on the 23rd I also received a hair line fracture on my left wrist so that now is in a cast. Will be on for 3 weeks or longer. New Xray in 3 weeks.

That is it for now typing is hard, I will post as soon I can following the surgery. Thanks for your prayers.

Day Surgery

My surgery on the 11th went well. At first we thought it might not happen because of all the delays. But finally at 2pm I had my surgery.

I was told my Dr fixed all that she could. Many stitches so I am being very careful when sitting. And yes I went home at 5pm. Only 3 hours later, a first for me.

I am doing good just taking it easy as my neck surgery is on the 6th of June. More later.

My Current Update

Just wanted to give you a brief update.

Tomorrow May 11th I am having my prolapse fixed or repaired - it is a day surgery. I was told I go to the hospital in the morning and go home in the afternoon. I am hoping this is true.

We are shooting for the last week of May or first week of June for my neck surgery. That procedure will be a lengthy one, with a 4 to 7 day stay in the hospital He will be cutting out and replacing my vertebrae's at the 4th through 7th levels of my neck with rods and screws. I will blog as soon as I get a date.

I have been in the neck brace now for 5 weeks - will be wearing it until the surgery and for 6 weeks afterwards. I was told I will be having months of therapy and it could take up to a year to heal. I am praying the healing goes more quickly and the surgery is a success this time.

I Am Trying To Get Up To Date

I haven't been blogging since December so much has been going on. With the Lord's help I have been directed to some new Drs who actually have been diagnosing me properly. I have been told I have this when in reality it wasn't that in the first place but something else. I am doing good now that I am finally getting to the bottom of things.

Here is the most current medical info to date:

Echo/Bubble study: Dr V said it was somewhat normal - the heart monitor report to my Dr said Normal but he ?'d it because he said every time I had an episode my heart rate dropped extremely low. (When I got extremely dizzy). Dr V said the heart monitor and the echo results are not going hand in hand. He needs to looked into it further he said. He did diagnose me with POTS.

Colon: Defecography is scheduled for the 22nd report will immediately be faxed to my surgeon so she can schedule surgery - either a colostomy or a rectal prolapse repair.

Chiari Center: Shocking results - no I do not have Chiari (good news), but I have something worse than that - my neck is in worse shape than my Neurosurgeon thought. I am crushing my spinal cord so much so I am not getting any spinal fluid to the brain. Plus I have 3 new bulging discs above the fusion and more pinched nerves. This is causing my Occipital Neuralgia, can also be causing my colon / bladder problems. I was put in a hard ridged neck brace to take off the pressure from my spine. I wear this 24/7.

Dr H is a Neurosurgeon - who treats patients like me daily. Not a clear cut case. I am to wear this brace for 2 weeks report in any and all changes that happen. Then I wear it 2 more weeks and go in for more tests so he can schedule the necessary surgery to correct the spine issues.

Dr H also told me I have POTS but believes it has been caused from an Autonomic Dysfunction but it also can be caused by the spinal cord problem. Both Dr H and Dr V said I need to be on some meds to stop the action of the Vagus Nerve - that is why he said I am complicated.

At this point you are probably wondering what POTS is so here is the link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postural_orthostatic_tachycardia_syndrome#Symptoms

As always thank you for your love, support, prayers and Phriendship I could not do all this without you. Deb