Home Sweet Home!!

We are HOME!! Our flight landed in New Orleans around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday night. We had a very looong day of traveling and we are all so tired. I am so tired that I cannot sleep! I hate when that happens!

Anyway, we saw the Doctor, Wednesday morning for my post-op appointment. He said everything looked wonderful and that I was on track to healing! I don't have to keep my incision bandaged anymore and I can take the steri-strips off of the incision this weekend. He said that I had to wait for the wound to completely heal and for the area where they had my drain to scab over and fall off before I will be able to take tub baths or go to water therapy. That should take about six weeks. I still cannot bend over or pick up on anything over 8lbs for quite awhile. This is a slow recovery and I have to take it day by day. He said that once I am able to bend over that I have to do a little at a time and then rest. He also said that some days I may feel wonderful and back to my old self and then get a flare up-that is normal and could occur anywhere up to a year after the surgery. He said the flare ups can last anywhere from a day to several weeks and are more common in young women! Go figure! LOL! I will be able to drive in about a month, but I will not be able to drive my car because it is to low to the ground. I think it looks like my parents and I will be trading vehicles in the near future! He also gave me the orders to have my follow up MRI's at 3 months, 6 months, a year and two years. These MRI's are vital in making sure that there is no leakage from the corrected cysts and that no new cysts are forming. My first MRI will be Dec. 21st.

It is very hard for me right now not being able to bend over or pick up on things because this makes me rely on my family a lot more. I hate to bother them! I can't even shower myself or get dressed by myself because I can't bend over to reach my lower body. However, I know that is just a side effect and will be gone in a few weeks. Until then, I think I am going to enjoy the attention from my family! LOL!

The trip home yesterday was very long and eventful! When we turned in our rental car there were a lot of people returning cars. The rental car company was trying to processes the returns fast because there were a lot of people coming into town for the NASCAR race this weekend. Anyway, while my Dad was dealing with the paperwork, Mom went and got a luggage rack to put all the luggage on so that it would be easier for them to handle. In the meantime my best-friend called to ask me a few questions and I sat in the front seat of the car and talked to her while my parents took care of everything else. I couldn't help because I couldn't pick up on anything. Anyway, we got all that settled and caught the shuttle to the airport. When we got off the shuttle and got all of our bags off we realized that we were missing my Mom's laptop and my parents carry on bag (which contained all of their medications and other important info). So, my Dad grabs the paperwork from the rental car place and proceeds to call them while catching the shuttle back to the rental car lot! Mom and I were praying so hard that no one had stolen the items! When my Dad got to the desk at the rental car lobby there sat all of our things....untouched!! PRAISE GOD!!

So, after that scare we went through security and got settled and waited in the Kansas City Airport for about two and half hours. It wasn't to bad sitting because I was sitting on a pillow, but I did have to get up and walk around occasionally. The flight from K.C. to Dallas was wonderful! I was able to get up and stretch my legs and the Southwest staff was great in helping me on and off the plane and into a wheelchair and pushing me from gate to gate! We arrived in Dallas at 7:20 p.m. and left for New Orleans around 8 p.m. The flight from Dallas to New Orleans was HORRIBLE!! The pilot kept swerving the plane and dropping altitudes really fast and it made me really sick! Plus, I wasn't able to stand up any on that flight so I was in some pain when we arrived in New Orleans.

I was never so happy to see my baby sister and her friend waiting for us at the end of the terminal when we got to New Orleans! I don't think I have ever been more happy to step foot on Louisiana soil than I was last night! I missed home!

I am SO thankful for all that God has brought me through and what He will continue to bring me through! It has been a long, hard road but I am almost to the end of it! I wouldn't have made it this far without all of the support and prayers from my family, friends, and church family! You all are wonderful and I thank God for each and every one of you!

Oh, and when I arrived home I was greeted by a beautiful arrangement on my dresser from my best-friend and godchildren and a beautiful valance to match my new bedroom set that my she made for me while I was gone! She is such a wonderful friend and I don't know what I would do without her!

I am going to bed now and probably will sleep until late tomorrow! We are all so exhausted! Thanks again, for all of your prayers and please keep them coming as I still have a long road of recovery ahead of me!

In Him,

Lisa

Halfway Home.....to LA!

I am sorry that I have not updated in a few days. I have been having trouble with the internet connection here at the hotel.

I am feeling better each day! I enjoyed going out the past few nights for dinner with my parents. However, even just getting out for a little while drains the life out of me!

Today has been a pretty lousy day. I have been in some pain and having some muscle spasms. I am also feeling like I am coming down with a cold or something. I spent the day watching t.v. and resting in bed. My parents and I enjoyed a nice dinner tonight at Red Robin! It was delicious and I certainly enjoyed the chocolate shake!!

Tomorrow we will go to the Doctor for my post-op appointment and then head to the airport. We have a looong day ahead of us tomorrow with traveling to the airport, sitting hours in the airport, and plane changes. I do NOT do well in the car. It causes A LOT of pain and I know the airplane will be worse! Please keep me in your prayers tomorrow for a safe, and pain free as possible ride home! I have never wanted to see LA soil so much in my life!! LOL! We will not arrive to New Orleans until around 9:30 p.m. tomorrow night. My sister and Grandma are picking us up from the airport. I am SO ready to be home and back in my own BED and in my own element!

My family and I appreciate all of your many prayers, phone calls, words of encouragement, etc. However, we are asking for no visitors until next week. I need time to rest from the long flight home and get adjusted to being back at home. Plus, my parents need time to rest and recuperate as well. We hope you all understand and we definitely do not mean this to hurt anyone's feelings. Phone calls are welcome! We look forward to seeing anyone next week!

Words cannot express my sincere thanks and gratitude to each and every one of you for ALL that you have done for myself and my family during this time in my life. I would not be doing so well if it were not by the grace of GOD and all of your many prayers! Please keep the prayers coming as this is a long recovery processes! I love each and every one of you and thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Still Counting My Blessings!!

Today we moved from our condo/town house on the medical center complex in Kansas City, MO to a Chase Suite Hotel in Overland Park,KS.

I have been so blessed and God's hand has been on everything regarding this trip! The Tarlov Cyst Foundation put my family and I up in the town house/condo on the medical center complex for a minimal fee per night. Then my Dr's office put us up in this delightful suite in Overland Park, KS for free! What a blessing!! We are just over the KS state line and we are in a better part of town and it is quieter here. The temperature here in KS tonight is a low of 49 and a high tomorrow of 65! It feels great!! You can certainly feel fall in the air here!

The ride today from the medical center complex to KS was about an hour with traffic and stopping for lunch, and finally finding my Mom a Sonic so she could have her Route 44 Diet Coke with extra ice!! LOL! The ride for me was somewhat uncomfortable even though I was sitting in the front seat with it partly reclined. When we arrived at the hotel suite I was having a lot of pain and spasms. I took my medicine and laid down for a little while and rested. I am still in some pain but that is to be expected. I just hope the plane ride home won't result in the same outcome as the car ride today!

We are currently watching the LSU game (well, I'm not I am listening to it) my Dad is though! I have enjoyed spending time with my parents even if it consists of them having to take care of me sometimes. We are all looking forward to finding a Craker Barrel or something like it for some good, hot food for Sunday dinner tomorrow! We are all tired of hospital cafeteria food and fast food but, at least we have food!

I leave you with the words to one of my favorite songs by Amy Grant, "Count Your Blessing" May we all fall asleep counting our blessings tonight!

When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my blessings

When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep counting my blessings

I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds

If you're worried and you can't sleep
Just count your blessings instead of sheep
And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings

When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep
You will fall asleep counting your blessings

Halfway Home.....to LA!

I was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon around 2:30 p.m. The Dr. came in at 1:30 and said that I was doing really well and asked me if I wanted to go home yesterday or today! I said, if I can go home today I want to go! LOL! An hour later I was discharged and we were pulling out of the hospital driveway!

This hospital is WONDERFUL! They have every hospital I have ever seen beat...hands down! They now what patient care truly is and they have their priorities straight! They don't care about money or revenue, they care about the patient and their families!! Hospitals at home need to take lessons from them! I cannot complement them enough on how wonderful they were to me and my parents!

Anyway, I digress! Yesterday after I was discharged we came back to our condo and I rested and napped on the sofa for a couple of hours. I am able to walk by myself, I just need help getting up and sitting down. The pain from the cysts is GONE! Praise God! I only have pain from the actually surgery and it is slowly getting better! I slept really well last night and was quite comfortable. I am able to take a shower today (they had me wait for an actual shower until 3 days post op to prevent infection). So, I am waiting on Mom and Dad to get back from lunch so Mom can help me get a shower and wash my hair! I know I will feel 100% better after that!

We will be at the condos until tomorrow morning and then they are moving us to a hotel suite in a quieter and nicer part of town! It will be very similar to the condo with a full kitchen, living area, bedroom, etc. Plus, they have a pool and sauna that Mom and Dad can relax in.

God continues to bless me and our family even here in Kansas City and for that we are so THANKFUL! We are also so thankful for our wonderful family, friends, and church family back at home that are constantly lifting us up in prayer! I would not be doing so well if it weren't for the power of prayer and loving people! Thanks so much for everything!! We love you all! We will be back in LA on Wed. the 29th around 9 p.m.

And we're up!!

Well, it's the day after surgery and we had a very rough night.The pain medication was not working,had to be constantly turned from side to side like a rotissere.Didn't get much rest at all until they changed the pain medication.Oh what a relief it was!!!

By about 8 a.m. this morning she was feeling better and getting some needed rest,although the rotissere continues!!!. At 9 a.m. the bed was raised 15 degrees and that helped even more. At noon the bed was raised to 30 degrees to get her prepared to get out of bed. They have to gradually raise her upper body in order to slowly stretch the spinal column area.So, at 3 p.m. this afternoon they SLOWLY sat her up and into the chair in the room.She did alright for about 15 minutes and had to get back in bed because of the pain and nausea.The nurse told her that she will need to walk into the hall and back later this evening.

ALL tubes,wires,drains,cords and anything else that may have been attached to her have been removed!!!!! THANK GOD!!!

Doctor said "so far so good" she seems to be on track. Please continue to pray for an uneventful and speedy recovery.

Thanks and God Bless!!

Thank God for answered prayers

Lisa was in surgery for two and a half hours and all went well.However,the doctor found and removed 3 cysts instead of 2.She came through the surgery fine and is in her room.She is very uncomfortable and in pain but that is to be expected.She will have to lay flat until 9 a.m. tomorrow morning. They will gradually raise the head of her bed throughout the day and try to get her to walk by 3 p.m.

Please continue to pray for a speedy recovery. As a family, we covet and thank everyone for their prays,love and support.

Doctors.....and Hospitals......Oh, My!!

Today was a day filled with many blessings and even more conformation that God is in control!

I had a pre-op appointment with the Doctor this morning. He was very thorough in explaining the surgery to my parents and I. He pulled up my MRI films and showed us the cysts and what he would do. The cysts are derived from nerves that is why they cannot cut them out! They will go in and drain the cysts and fill the cyst sacs with fat from surrounding tissues and then wrap them in sterile bovine pericardium so they cannot re-inflate. The surgery should take anywhere from 2-3 hrs. I will be in recovery for at least an hour and then they will transfer me to my room.

We also got to meet the Dr's assistant and his clinical coordinator that have made this surgery and trip possible! They are two very sweet ladies! They told me that I am Dr. Feigenbaum's 301st Tarlov Cysts patient that he has operated on in the past 2 years! They also took us to a map of the United States on the wall and it had push pins for every patient they have operated on. Patients ranged from Washington State to New York and everywhere in between! There was even another patient from the Hammond area! We wish we could find out who it is but with HIPPA laws that is almost impossible!! I might have to some detective work when I get home! LOL!

We went to the hospital to register and have pre-op testing with the nurse. They did the normal testing and blood work and questions and then we toured the floor that I will be staying on. The spinal and orthopedic floor is beautiful!! It is decorated in brown and teal blue just like my sisters room! LOL! The rooms are all private and have a bed for my parents to stay with me if they wish.

The surgery is scheduled for noon tomorrow but the Dr.'s assistant wants me to be at the hospital for 9 instead of 10 because she said she doesn't think the surgery ahead of me will take very long.

I have had a peace since before I got here about everything. I have even more of a peace now that we have met everyone and seen everything! I am still scared about having surgery on my spine but, I know that GOD is CONTROL and that I am literally covered in prayer! I feel all of your prayers!! One of my parents will update the blog after the surgery tomorrow. It will probably be late afternoon or early evening before they get the chance to do it! Thanks again for all the prayers and keep them coming!

In Him,

Lisa

We Have Arrived!!

We arrived safely in Kansas City yesterday evening around 6:45 p.m. after getting a rental car and trying to find our condo in an unfamiliar city while driving in the dark and the pouring down rain, we all finally got to bed around midnight last night! We are thankful for safe and uneventful travels here!

Today we went to the town of Mansfield, MO which is about 3 hours away and visited the Laura Ingalls Wilder home and museum. I have ALWAYS been a HUGE Laura Ingalls Wilder fan, so this was especially exciting for me and I was in my own little world today! It was a great distraction from all of the activities of the upcoming week. You can see my pictures from the home on my Facebook page.

Tomorrow I will see and meet the Doctor for the first time and have a pre-op appointment with him. Then I will go to the hospital to pre-register and get blood work and stuff done. We plan on spending the remainder of the day resting in our condo.

As of right now my surgery is scheduled for noon on Tuesday and should last around 2-3 hrs. We have to be at the hospital for 10 a.m. on Tuesday morning. However, times are subject to change when we see the Dr. tomorrow depending on his surgery schedule and the hospitals.

I want to thank everyone for all of the out pouring of prayers, support, words of encouragement, text messages, phone calls, cards, and most of all your love! I couldn't make it though this without God, my family, and my wonderful friends! May God's Blessings be upon each and every one of you in a special way! Goodnight! I will update later tomorrow evening or night!

When Life Gives You Lemons......Count them as BLESSINGS!!

I found this note on my Facebook profile from June of 2008. It reminded me that God is still working on and through me and that everything will be alright. And how far HE has brought me in just 2 years! He is still FAITHFUL!

As many of you know I have been struggling for quite some time now with health problems. I have been diagnosed with severe Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I am having trouble with my left knee (for those that remember my right knee being messed up, its the same problem).

I have lost my job in the midst of all this. I am currently on Medical Leave from work, but I am not guaranteed a job when I go back.

Anyway, I have been really down lately. I have been almost mad at God for allowing all of these things to happen to me. After all, I have done nothing to deserve all of this. I have been having trouble praying, and reading my Bible. I am currently not happy at the church I go to now. There is nothing for people in my age group to do. There are no Sunday School classes, bible study classes etc. I have been dealing with the guilt of wanting to change churches. There is nothing going on to challenge me spiritually. I haven't gone to church since Mother's Day. I am not proud of it, but I just really haven't had the desire or I have been sick.

I have been trying to pray about all of this, but considering the circumstances it is hard to. I have talked to my pastor and several of my friends and they have all told me the same thing. That I am being to hard on myself and that this is just a valley that I am going through and God will lift me up out of it in His time. I know all of this in my head, but it is really hard to believe it in your heart.

I emailed a former youth minister and explained to him what was going on and asked for his advice. When I got his email and read what he wrote, it all made since. I have been searching the Bible for scripture on all of this and have even been given scripture by friends, however this made it all clear!

James 1:2-6 " My brethren ,count it all joy when you fall into various trials,3: knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4: But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.5: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6: But let him ask in faith, with no doubting for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind."

I have read this verse many times in my life, however it hit me; that what I am going through is just preparing me for the wonderful things that God has in store for me in the future, if I only ask in faith and with no doubt!

It's like the old hymn says "Great is thy Faithfulness oh God my Father. There is no shadow of turning with thee. Thou changest not thy compassion's they fail not as thou has been thou forever wilt be. Great is thy Faithfulness, morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed thy hands have provided. Great is thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me."

God never moves or changes, we do. He will provide all our needs if we only trust him with them. He will provide new and glorious opportunities each day for us, if we only trust Him.

Please be in prayer for me as I continue to climb out of the valley, slowly but shorely. I am uncertain if I will have to have surgery on my knee or not. I am looking for a job, so if anyone knows of anything please let me know.

Thank you all for being such wonderful friends! As I close,Ijust want to say; when God hands you lemons.......count them as blessings, because He is teaching you something in the process. Bigger and brighter days are ahead as we worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I cannot wait to see what blessings He has in store for me!

In Him,
Lisa