Almost a week has passed since Jim’s surgery. We thought we would update you in a ‘diary fashion’ as follows below. But first – we praise and thank the Lord for the outcome of the surgery, and we also thank you who prayed with us, emailed, phoned and sent cards. It was awesome to see the body of Christ at work ministering to our needs in many ways. Thank you for standing with us and continuing to do so as time marches forward. We find ourselves overwhelmed and humbled to know that so many care as y’all do!

We are also very grateful for our children, Elizabeth and Matt, Emily and Steve, Justin and Katie, and Erika who each ministered to mom and dad in their special gifted ways.

Diary

Monday, 8/11 – we gathered ourselves together and headed downtown to Jewish Hospital for our scheduled 6 a.m. check in. We were accompanied by our daughter Elizabeth to the hospital where we were met by our Pastor, Larry Duncan. Shortly before 7:30 the prep nurses let us know that it was time. Larry led us in a brief prayer together and then off Jim went. Around 10:30 a.m. Jim was placed into recovery and we received the report from Dr. Sweitzer that the surgery was successful! The cancerous tumor, with sufficient surrounding tissue, was removed to ensure a confidence that all of the cancer, which was encapsulated in the tumor, was taken out. In the process of removing the tissue a small artery was cut which resulted in the lower 25% of the kidney dying. We met with Jim in recovery and then later once he was assigned to his room. He was pretty much “out of it” this day and recall very little after the anesthetist said “please relax Mr. Null”.

Tuesday, 8/12 – Goals for this day for Jim were to begin to stabilize his pain, his blood pressure and have him sit and stand! Jim was able to sit. He barely remembers the day but does remember the sitting attempt. As those of you know who have major surgery (especially abdominal area) – this first sit/stand attempt can be excruciating – and it was. The floor nurse had made a slight mistake in Jim’s blood pressure med and tripled his dose. This resulted in extreme dizziness only adding to the work of getting him sitting.

Wednesday, 8/13 – Goals for this day for Jim were to sit, stand and walk, stabilize his pain, his blood pressure, get the water company and the power company back online and begin a liquid diet. The day started with a visit from Dr. Sweitzer letting us know, that indeed, the tumor was malignant, it was cancerous, it was encapsulated and that they did get it all. PTL – what good news to start the day with. Days in the hospital are hard work – about every 2 hours someone stops in to take stats, provide medicine, check out stitches, measure, encourage, and other hospital type things. It was discovered this a.m. that Jim also had pneumonia.

Thursday, 8/14 – This day stared with welcome news – no longer is Jim required to be on a liquid diet! The water works were fully online and we were just looking for the power plant to join the party; which did so by coming online early in the morning. Dr. Sweitzer also indicated that Jim may be able to go home on Friday which served as motivation to get Jim up and out of bed walking the hall. A single loop around the wing, which was about 6 rooms per side took Jim 15 to 20 minutes to make. A normal walker would cover it in about 20 seconds or less.

Friday, 8/15 – Wonderful news, “you can go home today”! So after that morning announcement from Dr. Sweitzer began the separation process; unhooking all of the hospital apparatus from Jim. While removing the bandage we learned that Jim is allergic to silk tape. He has several 2^nd and 3^rd degree burns from the tape that we will continue to nurse over the next weeks as part of his recovery. We were also glad that we prepared earlier in the week by purchasing some very large sport-shorts for Jim to wear home, along with one of his old large shirts. The swelling was such that this clothing was awfully tight fitting so much so that he looked quite huge! We arrived home about 1 p.m.

One of Jim’s comments today was “what was I thinking that I would be at least working my computer by the 2^nd or 3^rd day. I had no idea this surgery would be as it has been”. The swelling continues to lessen each day as Jim gradually improves.

This coming Friday we visit with Dr. Sweitzer to remove his staple stitches (about 12 inches worth). His recovery goals over the next two to three weeks are pretty simple; reduce pain, sit more than lay, and walk as much as possible. Today, taking a walk around our 20’ by 20’ foot rock garden is about all Jim can handle. But as the swelling comes down and his body heals we’re already looking forward to getting back to long walks together.

Our prayer focus items as we head into a new week are: rest for Phyllis – sleeping through the night, Jim’s swelling to continue to reduce, the blisters to heal up, the pain to also reduce and more baby steps taken!

Thank you again for your help and support in whatever gifted fashion you have ministered to us in this week. We trust the Father that glory has been brought to Him through this event, the “Big Event”, as Jim has called it.