Little Steps

I have come to realize healing is like faith. There are times when faith comes in bunches or waves but most of the time it comes in taking little steps. With each day I am experiencing a little less pain, and little more flexibility and movement. That reminds me I am moving in the right direction.

Faith is like that for me, in my past there have been some big moments of faith, some might say miracles have taken place. But most of the time my faith has been lived out in the little steps I take each day. Likewise in healing if I try to do too much it can be a step in the wrong direction and my health can take a setback much as my faith often does when I try to force my will upon a situation or become impatient waiting for God to do something.

Little steps are the key to faithfulness and healing. Each day we move a little closer to health and to God

First Full Day at Home

I got a good night's sleep last night which surprised me because I slept a lot after arriving home. The sorness around the incisions persists but it is much easier to move and get in and out of bed as well as the chair.

I have been up most of the day but will most likely head for a nap pretty soon. Recovery is nice because no one gets on your case for napping. As I have gotten older I have appreciated the timing of a well placed nap during the day. This is how I expected to feel right after surgery but it has taken me a couple of days to get there.

I have a much greater appreciation for those who have gone through surgery and really know what it means to experience incisions in the abdomen and how much those muscles are used for everything.

I realize how i need to take it slow and not try to do too much too soon.

Some new glass came while I was in the Hospital so I am anxious to see how it comes out in the kiln. I also have some new pieces I fused on Wednesday but have not had time to get them online yet most of these pieces can bus made into earrings so I may go that route. I am feeling up for visitors if not too many at a time. I appreciate all the prayer support i have received it sure has made a difference

The Recovery Begins

I am glad to be home from the hospital. While I recieved great care there there is no place like home. I now realize why it is going to take so long to recover from this surgery. I can not imagine the pain I would be feeling if I had opted for the older style of the proceedure. But i look forward to the recovery and it will be a slow process Wit every day the pain lessens a bit and some movement comes back.

I am amazed at the overwhelming amount of support I received from my family and friends. I appreciate all the prayers and notes and messages of encouragement that were sent in my direction. I have come away from this experience realizing how blessed I am as a person.

I was impressed by the staff at the hospital and their wonderful care for me and my family. If I had a need and they were aware of it they did their very best to meet it.

I must also express my thanks to Christy my wife for her care for me during this time. She was determined to spend the night and got up several times to take care of the little details.

I am sure with friends and family my recovery will go smoothly. Words can not express how I feel about the support I received

Going Under the Knife

As many of you may know I am having surgery in two days for prostate cancer. At first the news hit me like a ton of bricks. I never thought I would have to deal with this issue especially at my age. Fifty Six does not seem nearly as old as it used to. I did the usual things pondered the reasoning behind it all, asked the why me questions and sat around in a kind of blue haze right before Christmas. Then I began following my doctor's advice and began reading the information I was given and began to seek some understanding behind the diagnosis.
After dealing with all the info my question changed with some understanding. Instead of why me I began to understand why not me. My family history would logically point me in this direction since my grandfather has the diagnosis as well although at a more advanced age.
Second with my doctor aware of my history he was very intentional looking for it and as a result he discovered the problem very early. Since it was found very early I remain hopeful for the surgery taking care of the problem. Faced with the options presented to me I made the choice for surgery. I also have discovered those who have gone this issue in their lives have been very willing to share their stories with me. They all suggested their form of treatment claiming it was the best. It was like when my wife was pregnant everyone had a preganancy story to share with her. All in all I am thankful that my doctor said he would support me whatever I decided to do. In no way did I feel I was manipulated in any way to make the decision for treatment I made. I feel it is the best decision for a person at my place in life and I believe it will enable me to recover and rejuvinate in such a way that I can move on with my life in a healthy mode.
I am very thankful for the great support I have been given and thank everyone for their prayers and encouragement. I will write more about the experience as I recover and leave out the graphic details but share the experience in a way that may hopefully speak to others.