Thinking of Wednesday

For those of you who are curious about what Mom is expecting Wednesday, the surgery has two components. The first is an exploration and mapping of her brain to determine how her 12-year old anuerysm repair has held up, and also to learn some more about the nature of her second anuerysm.

If the anuerysm is repairable, then the surgery team will move to the second phase: filling the anuerysm with a coil of wire. This causes a clot to form at the anuerysm site which will allow the artery wall to then be strengthed at that location. Check out the picture to the left for an idea of what the coil would look like.

(I am just a juris doctor, not a doctor-doctor, so you might want to consult with an expert before you try this at home. Remeber, if guys like me don't do our jobs well, we just file an appeal.)

Something to keep in prayer is that Mom would be a candidate for the surgery. The anuerysm needs to be the right size and shape to receive and safely hold a coil of wire (and the resulting clotting and cell growth).

Thursday afternoon report

After finding out that my procedure couldn't be done today because tests came back showing that my blood wasn't "just right" for the procedure, we settled into the hospital cafeteria for a late morning snack (I think I was the only one who ate!) and chat with everyone who had come to support us. As we gathered around the table with Joe and Janice Bricker, our pastor Steve Shelby, John, Maria, Stephanie and Mary Kate, we bowed our heads in a prayer of thanksgiving for God's faithfulness and the way the medical team at the hospital used care and caution in their decision to postpone the procedure.

We are back home now, and I've got a new prescription for meds that should take care of my blood numbers as we look ahead to next Wednesday, September 3 at 12:30 PM for my new check-in at the hospital.

So there you have it: Wednesday, September 3 at 12:30 PM is our new target time and date!

Thanks for praying for us and encouraging us throughout these recent weeks, especially the last couple of days. Look for us to post again next week.

Love,

Dolly

Rain delay

Just got the news that Mom's blood work came back showing that there's a number that's off. Out of an abundance of caution, they don't want to do the surgery today (elevated risk of a clot).

It looks like it's going to be postponed.

We're here!

We arrived in Charlottsville at about 8:50 a.m. this morning. Coming up I-64 in the rain was a mixed blessing. We were thankful for the rain, but it made our travels a bit slower than we expected.

We checked in at Radiology at UVA hospital a little before 9:00, and after a little bit of "Here's the beeper" and "sign here," and Dolly went back. Steve Shelby is here with me and my Dad. His presence (and the ability to talk sports with my Dad) is a blessing.

The Brickers came into the waiting room right after 10:00, and Kate, Steph and Maria walked in right behind them. Coming in to meet them through the opposite door, from the bowels of the hosptial was...Mom!

Apparently, the first patient of the day, who was scheduled for a two hour procedure, was undergoing some additional "treatment." (At least that's what the nurse said.) Mom is free to go wherever she wants, so long as she stays within cell phone range of the hosptial.

The nurse said that if she hasn't been called for her procedure by noon, then we should check back in at Radiology at noon.

We're hanging out in the Cafeteria. Like Maria says, "it's like being in an airport, and our flight's been delayed by rain."

Stay tuned...