Surgery Day is Coming Up Soon! What Should You Expect & How Can You Pray?

I've had lots of questions about my recovery time following surgery and what to expect for recovery.

The doctor/surgeon and physical therapist informed Rence and myself that full recovery would take 18 months. I am having 3 screws placed on each side of my pelvis bone and spine (SI joint) - 6 screws total - as well as a possible periformis release, which will involve cutting a muscle on each side of the pelvis that stabilizes the SI joint (screws will now stabilize mine) and, in my case, presses on the sciatic nerve. This causes numbness, tingling, burning, and additional pain in the pelvis and down the legs. Clipping this muscle would help with that.

I will be staying overnight in the hospital for at least one night, and hopefully returning home on Friday if my pain is managed well enough for the trip (there is really no way to know this - this is typically a very painful surgery, so we are praying for the ability to manage my pain well, especially on the 3-4 hour trip home).

I will be using a walker for 3 weeks, then transitioning slowly to walking unassisted & using my chair for long distances until I recover fully. I will start physical therapy locally at 3 weeks post-op. I will be absolutely unable to bend at the waist past a 90 degree angle when sitting, completely unable to bend at the waist when standing (weight will be on the joint), no twisting, no lifting more than 8 lbs (a container of milk - even that hurts right now), no climbing stairs or lifting my legs to a right angle while standing, no favoring one side/leg over the other (regarding weight-bearing), no standing still for more than 2 minutes without moving or resting the spine.

I hope this helps some of you who have been asking or just wanting to understand better. Please continue to pray for both Rence and myself as well as a smooth transition for the boys to childcare during surgery & hospital recovery time. Please also remember to pray for the medical care team (Dr.'s, nurses, techs, etc.) - that God will guide their hands and that this might be a time of miraculous healing in my life & circumstances. And if God has other plans, I praise Him still!

NOTE: If you would like to help us out with childcare or meals, we would be so very grateful. There are still many, many ways to serve that are listed on a sign-up calendar on Volunteer Spot. The link is http://vols.pt/hx3WP5 . 

Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:

·    Visit this link to see our Sign-Up on VolunteerSpot: http://vols.pt/hx3WP5 

·    You will be asked to enter your email address before entering our customized volunteer calendar. This is so that we can contact you for further details if you sign up. Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact Rence or Beth Anne, and they can sign you up manually.

·    Simply look over the calendar and the descriptions of needs listed. If you see something you feel you can fulfill, simply click "sign-up" and follow the prompts. Rence and I will be notified through email that you have volunteered. NOTE: There is always the flexibility to swap with another person at a later time if needed - if a cancellation is needed, please let either Rence or myself know.

You have successfully signed up (no log-out from the site is needed)! If you have any questions and would like to help out in any capacity, please feel free to call.

We can't tell you how much we appreciate those who help out in such a large capacity in such a big time of need in our lives. Thank you for being the hands and feet of Christ!

A Sweet Surprise

Image from www.wizecounsel.com

I am nearly speechless at God's provision once again...the way my Savior loves to surprise Rence and myself with his provision through the most surprising of ways and the most unexpected of times.

We found out a few weeks ago that my Medicare from Social Security doesn't cover hardly anything due to us having Peehip (primary insurance - Medicare always pays secondary), and it took $104 out of my disability check every month (for paying out nothing). So we are in the process of cancelling that.

Because of the Medicare cancellation, we are now going to be paying the "leftover" fees from surgery. I was told by someone from insurance that would be $150 for this type of surgery and an overnight stay (at this location). Then I get a call from the doctor's office, and they informed me I would be owing at least $729 at our pre-op visit, not to mention the other fees that come about after surgery from things like anesthesia, operative EMGs, equipment fees and so forth that will be billed to us later. (By the way, none of this was their fault - the representative from insurance I spoke to was incorrect.) We will also need to be traveling down there 3 times before surgery, as well as stay overnight in a hotel the night before surgery (pre-op, pre-admission & additional testing is the day before).

We haven't told anyone any of this information except for my parents. This morning, I had one person tell me they were going to get us a gift card to Effina's for after surgery (woohoo!), a Sunday School Class from FBC Oxford​ gave us a collaborative amount toward whatever we need during this time, and when I got home from church this morning, I was unloading my bag and discovered another financial provision that was completely unexpected.

Have I not told you how faithful my God is?! He NEVER fails. He is ALWAYS on time (according to His calendar...not mine). God, you have ALL the glory for today! And to these precious people that are the hands and feet of Christ, time after time - may you be tremendously blessed for giving in our time of need! We can't thank you enough. This church, FBC Oxford, a church that is truly running after God's desires, striving to be the model of Christ that is modeled for us in the New Testament. I praise God for all of you!

Want to Help Our Family After Surgery? Keep Reading....

Dear Friends & Family,

As most of you are aware, I (Beth Anne) will be having spinal surgery on March 26 in Georgia. We're using VolunteerSpot.com to organize sign-ups for meals, childcare, as well as ladies to sit with me as I recover long-term while Rence returns to work.

Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:

·    Visit this link to see our Sign-Up on VolunteerSpot: http://vols.pt/hx3WP5 

·    You will be asked to enter your email address before entering our customized volunteer calendar. This is so that we can contact you for further details if you sign up. Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact Rence or Beth Anne, and they can sign you up manually.

·    Simply look over the calendar and the descriptions of needs listed. If you see something you feel you can fulfill, simply click "sign-up" and follow the prompts. Rence and I will be notified through email that you have volunteered. NOTE: There is always the flexibility to swap with another person at a later time if needed - if a cancellation is needed, please let either Rence or myself know.

You have successfully signed up (no log-out from the site is needed)! If you have any questions and would like to help out in any capacity, please feel free to call.

Your help is greatly needed to make this happen. We can't thank you enough for the selfless sacrifices being made by others to help us in our time of great need. You are a tremendous blessing.

With thanks and a grateful heart,

♥ Beth Anne & Rence Cochran