SURGERY SCHEDULED

As you may remember, I had an emergency appendectomy on June 24th. Well, they never actually took out my appendix due to a large amount of inflammation found by the surgeon.

Over the last 3 months I have had a colonoscopy, small bowel series, several blood tests and a CT scan. The surgeon can find no signs of Chrone's Disease (which was his original fear) or cancer (thank you God). In fact, he admits that this has him puzzled. Anything that would show up on the outside of the colon in inflammation should start on the inside and all the tests show no problems inside the colon. The CRP blood test that they keep giving me to check for inflammation indicates there is still a large amount of inflammation somewhere in my body. The lowest count was 20 (normal is 0-5).

Next Monday, 9/26, I will be having surgery at 3:30. The plan is to laproscopically(sp?)remove my appendix and send me home the same day. However, I have given the surgeon instruction that if he sees excessive inflammation again to open me up and do what needs to be done. He feels that the worse case scenario would be that a small portion of my small intestine may need to be removed. This will only be done if there is clear evidence that it needs to be removed. It is unknown, at this point, what he will see when he begins surgery. The CT Scan doesn't show anything 'remarkable' but the blood test results do create some concern.

Please pray with me that God would give the surgeon the wisdom and skills to do what needs to be done (only what is necessary) and that He will give me the mental and physical strength to heal completely. Please pray that all confusion will be cleared up and that what needs to be done will be clear and unmistakable.

I have had so much support from friends and family along this long journey and to each of you I say THANK YOU and I love and appreciate each one of you!