All In One Weekend: A Visit From Family, Trip To The Hospital and Surgery!!

Yes, last weekend turned out to be quite different than what we expected and quite the adventure!!!

I will try to describe it as best as possible...

Grandpa and Grandma from Kansas City along with Aunt Merilou and her youngest Issac (they were visiting from Virginia) came to visit us for the weekend. It was such a nice visit and we are so thankful that they were able to come. My Grandparents no longer drive long distances, so we were very thankful that Aunt Merilou brought them along with her and our cousin for a visit. Regrettably, our main photographer (namely me!) was out of commission and unable to take pictures of their visit as you will see why in the following.

Last Friday about noon my stomach started hurting. As the afternoon went on, it got worse and I began to feel somewhat nauseated as well. We didn't think too much about it and continued our preparations for the arrival of our company. Everyone arrived late afternoon and we sat down to dinner after showing them around the house (they hadn't been here before). By the time we sat down to dinner, I was feeling quite awful. The pain was not only in my stomach, but had switched to my right side as well. We were beginning to wonder if this was something a little more serious. Mommy told me to go lay down which I did and my pain just kept increasing. We thought there was a possibility of it being appendicitis though we weren't sure and Daddy and Mommy decided to take me to the emergency room if my pain got any worse. My pain kept getting worse. It was such a blessing that our family was in town. Daddy and Mommy were both able to be with me while they stayed home with the rest of my siblings.

We got to the ER about 8:30 p.m. and they got me back to a room pretty quick. They said my symptoms did point to appendicitis (by this time I was running a fever), but they weren't sure. They put an IV in my arm and ran a lot of blood tests. All of this was so strange to me. I don't remember ever having to go to the ER before. The doctor wanted to do a CT scan, but first I had to drink three different dosages of this really awful stuff 45 min. apart. It is supposed to make your major organs stand out better in the scan. We like to do things as natural as possible and I didn't even want to think about what I was putting inside of me!!! :) I would gladly go my whole life without drinking that again!!! Anyway, I didn't get done drinking that awful stuff until about 11:30 p.m. It was such a long time to wait and I was really not feeling good at all!!! The drink made me sick and I was praying I could keep it down long enough for the scan or I would have to repeat the whole process again!!! Thankfully I did. :) While we were waiting, we talked, prayed, listened to "Charlie Zahm" on daddy's phone and made phone calls (thank you so much for all the people that were praying for me. It was such an encouragement to me.) About 11:45 p.m., I had the CT scan. More waiting...

The results came back that my appendix was inflamed and between that and my blood count (which wasn't good) the doctor thought the surgeon would recommend surgery. So, we waited for the surgeon to arrive. The surgeon arrived and seemed like a very nice man. He said that he would recommend surgery immediately. So, the plans went forward. More blood work, paper work and IV lines. I was nervous, but the Lord was my strength and He gave me courage. I like the definition of courage that I read once: " Courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to do one's duty in the face of fear."

I went into surgery about 3:00 a.m. I don't remember much. They put me under pretty quick. I do remember them asking me a few questions and then switching from the hospital bed to the surgery table. The nurses were so nice. Daddy and Mommy said that I came out of recovery at about 5:00 a.m. I was still out for the most part although I do remember waking up and seeing Daddy and Mommy just for an instant before I went back to sleep. When I woke up, it was bright sunshine. I was in my hospital room and Mommy was there with me. Daddy had gone home to get a few things. I was still under all the pain meds so my incisions didn't hurt much. But, I was miserably nauseated. Thankfully that died away. Getting out of bed and walking was quite an effort and hurt, but it went alright. Daddy then took Mommy's place and she went home to get some much needed rest. Daddy read some G.A. Henty to me and I slept some more.

We were able to go home at about 3:30 p.m. It felt so good to get the IV out of my arm!!! It was a blessing to be able to go home so soon. We had a wonderful rest of the visit with everyone and I so thankful that we got home in time to still spend quite a bit of time with everyone before they left on Monday.

I am recovering quite nicely I think. My family is taking great care of me and won't let me do anything but sleep, eat and rest!!! I have three one inch incisions. My pain level is decreasing, but has been quite severe at times. I am moving slow, but getting quicker (or at least trying to :) I am thankful that it all went well and I still can't believe I had surgery!!! The Lord is good and faithful. - Savannah

Mommy took the following pictures...

Aunt Merilou, Issac, and all the kids


Grandpa and Grandma