Life support

Surgery is always a complicated process even when it is minor. This has been a full 30 hours!

By seven AM Wednesday, Deb was given a radio-active dye which was to help in locating the sentinel lymph node during surgery. She had several hours to wait then before it had moved through the system and was ready for the parade to begin. Since there were three surgeries, there were three surgery teams. Add to that the anesthesia crew, the nursing crew, and the recovery room crew. For most the routine was the same: check the name band on her wrist to be sure it was the right person. Then repeat all the processes that were to be done--that litany started to feel cuttingly cruel after only the second time. Do we HAVE to be reminded of everything that had to be done? But then I began to watch the story in a new way. All these people were part of the support system, each doing their j0b and each needed to be sure they had the right person and were doing the correct procedure.

So when the surgeon drew her lines on Debbie's chest it was to be sure everything was in the correct place. When the anesthetist looked into her throat it helped to ensure that the correct alternatives were in place when they had difficulty during intubation. All those on every team were well aware of the long list of drugs that could not be considered because of her Long QT. Finally the last nurse finished the routine and said "we are ready, lets go..." I watched as Deb walked with confidence into the surgery area with IV bag in tow. It was just before 11:00 AM.

By 12:30 the mastectomy and the plastic surgeon was finished and came back with a good report: everything had gone smoothly, quickly, and she was buttoned up--well zipped up might be a better description. Good skin preservation had been accomplished, the expander was in place, and the third procedure had been started in the pelvic area. Two hours later that too was finished--repairing and repositioning organs that had been jumbled by three children and infections of the past.

By 3:45 I was in the post-op recovery room with Deb and she was very much awake, but not quite as perky as she had been at 11:00 AM. All three procedures had gone well. The life support systems had sustained her as the doctors did their redemptive cutting and stitching. Although she did not FEEL better, and although there was a very little blood loss, the Life Giver was working in her body to knit it together again.

As the day wore on the pain grew more intense and movement became more difficult. The pain pump alleviated much of the pain, and slowly the shifting of position helped the movement to be less difficult. Hannah spent the night next to her bed and was available as her blood pressure dipped low and then returned to normal.

By 7:30 AM today the doctors had made their rounds and began removing tubes that had siphoned off body wastes or infused life-nurturing liquids. As her body gains strength those other life support systems become less needed, and we are reminded of the single life support system that does not diminish nor become redundant: God's grace supplied with His strength and often through His people.

As this afternoon comes, We await the doctor's decisions about whether Debbie will return home today to be embraced by support there--Donna, Rebecca and Hannah plus many others who have enlisted to encourage and help. We anticipate seeing people who have passed through our lives long ago as we receive visitors. They remind us of God's faithfulness through the years in His supply of life through His body.

Deb has started her exercises! A little head-rocking and arm-movement to there and back. Not much you know, but life movement begins with the regular and faithful demonstration of what we can manage. Call it a mustard seed approach to life.