Edward's Surgical Journey

On Thursday December 2nd 2010, the day finally came for the "thing" to come out!

 Here is Edward in the preoperative suite.  He had to remove all of his jewelry. 

 Here is the stylish hospital attire that he would be donning for several days.  

This is the trusted Dr. John Hudson - the man with the knife - the one who so skillfully removed the nasty tumor from Edward's spine. 

 

The far spot here in the corner is where Tonja worked during the surgery to pass the five hours in relative peace.  They called the waiting room with updates quite often.  They took Edward off to the operating room around 9 a.m.  At 10:40 they called to say that all was going well and that they had an extensive amount of preparation, but they finally began the incision at 10:15!  Another call at 12:30 said all was well and that Edward's vital signs were very strong and stable.  Then, quite unexpectedly, the call at 2:00 said they were closing up - a whole hour early!  At 2:15, Dr. Hudson came to say that he was able to get the entire tumor out.  The bottom of it came out very easily, in fact Dr. Hudson said, "It jumped out at me as if to say, 'I'm the tumor! Take me outta here!"  The top was a bit more challenging, but he was able to get it all.  

Then there was a LONG wait to get to see him.  Originally, it was supposed to be about 40 minutes, but he had to be in the neurosurgery intensive care unit (as part of standard protocol for this procedure since he was going to have to lie flat for 36 HOURS!), and there was not a bed for him.  The recovery room nurse (Erin) called every half hour with updates, and finally after two hours, Tonja was allowed in to the recovery room (against the rules - teehee) to see Edward.  After another half hour or so, there was finally a spot for him in the NSICU, and he was transferred there.  

Edward was very groggy with all of the medication.  Here he is in his NSICU room.  He is hooked up to heart monitors from the chest, he has IVs in his left arm.  He has a monitor on his right finger.  He has compression stockings on both legs that take turns squeezing every minute or so to prevent blood clots.  He has a catheter.  Just after this picture, he also had oxygen in his nose!  So, whenever he tried to move, it felt like he was a tangled-up marionette.  He could already tell a difference though.  He had none of the nerve jolting pain with drifting off to sleep that had plagued him for several months.  He also had no pain with laughing.   

The next day (Friday), he was allowed to eat real food!  Tonja had to feed him, however, because he still had to remain with his head level with his incision.  It sure felt good to eat!

Definitely feeling better!
He had a followup MRI on Friday afternoon, which came out perfectly clear!  Praise the Lord!

On Saturday, the kids got to go visit Dad finally!  They watched a VeggieTales on Tonja's computer while waiting for him to be out of the NSICU (no kids allowed).  The funny thing was, they got all set up, and Tonja went in to the room to tell Edward they were here and he was GONE!  He had already gotten into his new room.   When we found him he was walking in the hallway!  PRAISE GOD!  The kids each got to hug him and say hello, and then he went FAST asleep from exhaustion from his first walk.  

Tonja and the kids stayed at Edward's brother and sister-in-law's house very near the hospital.  Bob and Jo were angels to host all of us in their home for two days.  The kids helped Bob put up all of the Christmas decorations and went on to play the Wii, while Tonja returned to be with Edward at the hospital.  Bob made us a 5-STAR breakfast the next morning and played more Wii with the kids.  Then we all went back to watch the Broncos while we waited for Edward to be discharged.  

Edward was walking well and talking to his mom!
HI MOM!

Here are the Bronco watchers!

This is Olga - the sweetest little nurse ever!

The last photo in St. Anthony's Central Hospital!

The incision.

Close up.

Dr. Hudson told us that these types of tumors are extremely slow-growing.  He believes that Edward has had this tumor for several years.  Thinking about that, it is a fun thing to think about how the Lord has orchestrated this entire affair.  If Edward had been at Great Harvest, not only would he have lost his job, but they would have been STUCK without the star baker in the thick of the busiest season of all.  The Lord delivered him from that job, and he will be able to return to work at the school much sooner because of not having any lifting or bending to do (the girls pick stuff up for him if he needs it - teehee).    Then the door to the surgeons in Fort Collins was closed SO THAT we would find Dr. Hudson.  He is one of the top THREE neurosurgeons in Colorado (like top 8 in the nation I think) and has performed this very rare surgery dozens of times!  Even though the Lord did not choose to heal Edward via a miraculous on-the-spot "take the tumor away without surgical intervention" kind of way, HE has healed Edward.  He used the surgeon's hand to remove the tumor (He LOVES to use his people to do His work!) and now HE is healing the wound and Edward's body.  I am so grateful for the prayers He has answered and for all of you who offered those prayers up on our behalf!  We are truly blessed!