We owe a big, "Thank You" to all who have been praying for our health. It looks like I may be finished having surgery for the foreseeable future. I had outpatient procedures on June 9 and 21. I am still being careful from the back surgery on the 21st. An MRI on my left knee revealed no immediate need for surgery, just some arthritis meds and icing for pain. Praise the Lord my shoulder continues to improve. I am hopeful that by the time the next round of travel begins, I will have more strength and some relief from pain. We'll be putting out a "Summer Ministry Update" soon with additional information.
Brenda's recent reports on her liver disease are, according to the Gastroenterologist, "a bit boring for now." That's good news. No real changes. Her debilitating problem since the late fall has been a downturn in the condition of her feet and legs. Since her hospitalization in November for serious infections in her kidney and legs, she has been in weekly wound care. The regimen involves complex treatment and bandaging done by the Wound Care Clinic and an in-home nurse on alternating weeks. Recently, they accelerated the regimen to twice a week, and then to "every-other-day." The positive result of her having to stay off her feet is an established routine of e-mail communication with friends that is providing an archive of information that we will be gleaning for posting in installments on a new section of this website very soon. Brenda's prayer need right now, is that in the last month, the troubled foot has been causing her severe pain. The nurse is encouraged by that, believing it means that the nerves are regenerating. It has been and continues to be a very tiresome and limiting complication.
June 1, 2010
Doctors' appointments have become a scheduling challenge! Pray that we can be at all the right places at the right time. Brenda's Wound Care Clinic appointment took a very long time on Thursday, May 27. As a result, she missed her important Gastroenterologist appointment, which has been rescheduled for Friday, June 4. She has also been scheduled to see the vein specialist regarding the ongoing problem that makes the weekly wound care necessary. The earliest she can see him is July 22.
Meanwhile... I am scheduled to see another surgeon on June 7 regarding my outpatient back surgery... And, this morning I was scheduled to have a separate outpatient procedure on June 9. We depend on the prayers of those who bring our health before the Lord. We hope that I won't continue to have as many surgeries as in recent months and that Brenda's strength will improve.
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May 25, 2010
Thanks to everyone who has prayed and written regarding the surgery I had scheduled for this morning. It was canceled late last week and will be rescheduled in the next few weeks. A follow up MRI on my repaired shoulder brought good news yesterday: there are new temporary limitations, but no new injury, praise the Lord. Thank you for your continued prayer for Brenda. She is getting lots of extra rest after last week's trip to visit our daughter Debbie and her family in New Jersey. She will see the Gastroenterologist on Thursday afternoon for her three month follow up exams.
April 8, 2010
Thank you for your prayers. Many thanks to Pastor Jerry Walker, long time pastor in New York City and now serving as missionary furlough replacement and in other ways, with his wife Dawn. Jerry took me to the hospital and waited most of the day. The surgery was successful and recovery is coming along well. The next day, Dawn took Brenda to have her ultrasound for the next visit to the Gastroenterologist on May 27. On Tuesday, we received the official "all clear" from the specialist who was reviewing the ultrasound from February. I have a follow up with the Neurosurgeon on April 23. We'll give current information in our upcoming "Spring Update."
March 25, 2010
The surgery on my leg that we mentioned in an update last week is scheduled for Tuesday, March 30. This is the second time in nine months that a neuroma has developed on a branch of my sciatic nerve. My doctors are also concerned about a similar structure near my spine. There is some risk in this surgery regarding further weakness in my right foot. Thank you very much for praying. Also, Brenda has an ultra sound scheduled for Wed, the 31st. Her Gastroenterologist has put her back on “every three month” studies due to her crisis in November. Although she continues to be “mostly home-bound” she and several faithful helpers are maximizing what strength she has. She continues to enjoy her “email” ministry.
March 18, 2010
Brenda has enjoyed some sunshine recently. We had a restful trip to the coast for an extended weekend. During my recent trip to Iowa for the ordination of two young men, she has been weak and needed extra rest. The results of my visit to the neurosurgeon are that I do have another neuroma on the nerve in my right leg which will require surgery under general anesthesia within the next couple of weeks. This is the same procedure I had last June. All these reports remind me of something my father use to say when a well meaning church member would offer a weekly report of her internal ailments--"another organ recital." We do appreciate your prayers for our "oft infirmities."
March 2, 2010
Praise the Lord for continued stability; God is answering prayer! Brenda's November crisis and its aftermath seems to have passed. She continues on a weekly regimen of wound care--alternating weeks at the clinic and then in-home care. This month we begin the routine round of blood tests and scheduling for ultrasound and other exams coming up soon on the "every six months" cycle for the management of her cirrhosis.
Today, I was released from physical therapy for my shoulder. On March 23rd, I see the surgeon who repaired my rotator cuff in December and expect to be released by him as well. I will, however, be seeing the neurosurgeon again who operated on my leg last June, regarding a possible recurrence of that problem. Praise the Lord for the wonderful hope in the promise of new bodies some day! Thank you very much for your love and prayers.
February 11, 2010
Thank you for your earnest prayers for Brenda's recent tests. Both her Ultrasound and MRI on February 2nd brought great news. Her visit with Dr. Saito on Monday, the 8th, was very encouraging. We were "all smiles" to learn that there is no problem with the bone in her foot, and the current weekly visit to the "wound care" clinic should bring continued progress. Best of all, the spot on her kidney is clearing up and has been confirmed as an "infection" that is improving. No further treatment needed on that. She was so happy about her foot that I took her to "IHOP." To God be the glory.
John C. Vaughn Evangelistic Association, Inc. 109 Saffron Way | Taylors, SC 29687-6257
