Here we go again

Dear warriors,

We just returned from dropping off Randy at the train station in Winona after having a bite to eat at Perkins, which reminds me…the jelly packets there look very similar to the jelly packets Mom received in her care package from the breakfast bunch this morning. Actually, they look exactly like the Tecumseh Big Boy packets. Hmmmm. She is still giggling over the crazy things she’s pulling out. It’s just the medicine we need right now.

It was tough seeing Karl this morning. He knew we were all there and you could tell he was in a great deal of pain. We told him he was having surgery today and that he’d be done with the ventilator tube soon and he’d be able to talk. He asked for something to write with/on. After several attempts and some considerable frustration on Karl’s part, Mom finally discerned that he wrote, “I hurt.” Of course that made us feel horrible and we all had a good cry. But I asked if he’d like me to pray with him and he nodded yes. And before I prayed, I told him there were hundreds of people praying for him from all over, which made him tear up. Anyway, in the prayer I asked for pretty much everything I asked for in the last blog entry, but I also asked that Karl’s pain subside. Shortly after the prayer, Karl nodded off to sleep. God is good.

At 7:40 they took him to surgery. We kissed his teary face and told him he would be okay. The nurse communicator called at 9:30 and told us surgery began at 9:08. We are expecting to hear something again very soon. When they do, I'll update this blog.

11:56: The nurse communicator called and said she doesn't have much of an update other than Karl is doing fine. His vital signs are good. Surgeons are still working on exposing the area that will be resected.

1:26: Dr. Sim, an orthopedic surgeon, is working on Karl right now. Karl's vital signs are still strong and he's doing well.

3:20: Karl is fine, but they are still working on taking out the tumor. Best estimate is that they will be finished by 8 p.m. Looks like reconstruction will wait for another day. Lord, be with him.

4:45: I just heard from Dr. Yaszemski. He said the tumor is out and they have negative margins. Praise God! He said everything has gone exactly as planned. He also told us they were going ahead with the reconstructive surgery using donor bones. Again, the surgery is taking longer because of the Karl's previous radiation which makes things stickier and more brittle than desired. He ended with: "Karl is doing great." Glory be to God!

6:45: Karl's nurse along with the nurse communicator just called to let us know that he was doing well and that they were still performing the instrumentation portion of the surgery. They thought it would be 11 or 11:30 before he would be back to his room. The nurse communicator said she thought it would be wise for us to visit him in the morning rather than go tonight as they will keep him sedated.

10:00: I called the floor. Karl is still not there. I asked them to call me when he gets there and is settled. They agree. I decide to grab some shuteye.

12:15: Dr. Yaszemski called...said Karl is still doing well. He is done with his portion of the surgery. All rods and pins are in place and he is happy with what's been done structurally. The plastic surgeon, Dr. Yssar, is now finishing up. He should be done in an hour.

2:15: I called the floor again. Karl is still not there. They expect him within the hour, but say it will take them 30 to 45 minutes to settle him and they will call after.

3:01: Karl's nurse called. He's finally in the room. She said he is still sedated and will remain so. He is quite swollen, I assume, from fluids and medication they gave him throughout the surgery. He will remain on the vent until the swelling goes down. I hope to grab some real sleep now.