From: Teresa
Date: Saturday, January 22, 2000
Dear Family & Friends,
I talked with Lynne Friday night. The visit with the neurosurgeon on Wednesday was not what Lynne had hoped for. She said he gave her some heavy doses of reality that were hard to swallow. He told her that when they do surgery that it will not be to repair anything, but rather it will be to insure that the spinal cord is working as best as it can. (Nerve endings in the spinal cord do not regenerate). Lynne called it preventative maintenance.
My understanding is that they will open the canals so that the spinal cord has more chance to move around and will allow her more movement. The areas that are affected are C-1,3,4,& 5. Apparently these discs have been herniated awhile which caused the trauma to the spine to be worse. Russell has requested results from an MRI that was done in 1994 so that the doctors will have something to compare her current tests to.
The diagnosis is called Central Cord Syndrome. Her spine is deeply bruised which will take months of healing. The doctor told her that even though it seems like she's been there forever, she is really only in the beginning phases.
Lynne says that she believes that the doctors are God's instruments and that God is in charge and sees what is best and is capable of miracles. We are definitely praying for a miracle. Lynne said she definitely feels "carried on the wings of prayer."
Since there is no urgency to do surgery, Lynne thinks that she will ride the wave of physical therapy until she hits a plateau, then do surgery, and then do more therapy before she goes home. The neurosurgeon explained the risks involved in surgery (if there is too much swelling, the risk is too high) and told her that once surgery is complete, that she would probably be in the surgical unit for a week before returning to rehab.
Although the work in rehab is a challenge, she is making daily progress. Once she is in her wheelchair, she is able to use her feet to pedal to the gym!
Friday was a difficult day. Around noon she began feeling a tightness in her chest, queasy, and light-headed. She said that it felt like a band of steel was around her chest. They cancelled her afternoon therapy, and ran a battery of tests on her including an EKG, complete blood work, urinalysis, and chest x-ray. As of last night, the test results she had gotten back had come back okay. One doctor told her that it's possible that her body is just trying to "wake-up".
On Saturday, the weather was nice enough that Dad brought the boys and Lynne's dog, Maggie, to see her. She earned "hospital privileges" so that she can go outside for a little while. Afterwards, Dad took Maggie home so Lynne and the boys could have some mother-son time.
We continue to be blessed by the number of people who love and care for Lynne. The phone calls, visits, and numerous prayers mean so much! Just this week my mom's sister, Betty, sent Lynne an afghan. It has a big eagle in the middle of it with the scripture, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." Lynne said she didn't know whether to hang it up, or wrap up in it until this is all over.
This scripture brings to mind another favorite song of ours.... "Teach me Lord to wait...down upon my knees, 'til in your own good time you will answer my pleas. Teach me not to rely on what others do....but to wait in prayer for an answer from you. Those that wait upon the Lord...shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like the eagles. They shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint. Teach me Lord, teach me Lord, to wait."
God bless,
Teresa
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Date: Saturday, January 22, 2000
Dear Family & Friends,
I talked with Lynne Friday night. The visit with the neurosurgeon on Wednesday was not what Lynne had hoped for. She said he gave her some heavy doses of reality that were hard to swallow. He told her that when they do surgery that it will not be to repair anything, but rather it will be to insure that the spinal cord is working as best as it can. (Nerve endings in the spinal cord do not regenerate). Lynne called it preventative maintenance.
My understanding is that they will open the canals so that the spinal cord has more chance to move around and will allow her more movement. The areas that are affected are C-1,3,4,& 5. Apparently these discs have been herniated awhile which caused the trauma to the spine to be worse. Russell has requested results from an MRI that was done in 1994 so that the doctors will have something to compare her current tests to.
The diagnosis is called Central Cord Syndrome. Her spine is deeply bruised which will take months of healing. The doctor told her that even though it seems like she's been there forever, she is really only in the beginning phases.
Lynne says that she believes that the doctors are God's instruments and that God is in charge and sees what is best and is capable of miracles. We are definitely praying for a miracle. Lynne said she definitely feels "carried on the wings of prayer."
Since there is no urgency to do surgery, Lynne thinks that she will ride the wave of physical therapy until she hits a plateau, then do surgery, and then do more therapy before she goes home. The neurosurgeon explained the risks involved in surgery (if there is too much swelling, the risk is too high) and told her that once surgery is complete, that she would probably be in the surgical unit for a week before returning to rehab.
Although the work in rehab is a challenge, she is making daily progress. Once she is in her wheelchair, she is able to use her feet to pedal to the gym!
Friday was a difficult day. Around noon she began feeling a tightness in her chest, queasy, and light-headed. She said that it felt like a band of steel was around her chest. They cancelled her afternoon therapy, and ran a battery of tests on her including an EKG, complete blood work, urinalysis, and chest x-ray. As of last night, the test results she had gotten back had come back okay. One doctor told her that it's possible that her body is just trying to "wake-up".
On Saturday, the weather was nice enough that Dad brought the boys and Lynne's dog, Maggie, to see her. She earned "hospital privileges" so that she can go outside for a little while. Afterwards, Dad took Maggie home so Lynne and the boys could have some mother-son time.
We continue to be blessed by the number of people who love and care for Lynne. The phone calls, visits, and numerous prayers mean so much! Just this week my mom's sister, Betty, sent Lynne an afghan. It has a big eagle in the middle of it with the scripture, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." Lynne said she didn't know whether to hang it up, or wrap up in it until this is all over.
This scripture brings to mind another favorite song of ours.... "Teach me Lord to wait...down upon my knees, 'til in your own good time you will answer my pleas. Teach me not to rely on what others do....but to wait in prayer for an answer from you. Those that wait upon the Lord...shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like the eagles. They shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint. Teach me Lord, teach me Lord, to wait."
God bless,
Teresa
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