Dorothy clicked her heals together to get back home, Rachael's heals are a whole different story. Yet, she is home, by the One who has had all power and authority over all things given to Him, Jesus Christ! How often has it happened to you or someone you know that you were back home on the day of discharge by 11:00 AM? That is how it played out today for Rachael. We attribute this to a great doctor, Doctor O'Neill from Kennedy White Orthopedic Group and a great staff at SMH Ortho for getting us out the door.
It was a long night. Too reminiscent of the many nights we spent with Rachael at several different hospitals or health care facilities. The flip side is that we have done this before. Nancy did great! She was at peace and really that all started for both of us when the prayer chains started. This will be hard for some to process (J ) but we felt the prayer. The results were fantastic and it looks like there will be no need for further procedures. #PraiseGod.
For those that do not know, Rachael had Contracture Release surgery. Her feet were turned inward to a right angle at the ankle. Try to do that with your feet. She has been this way since about 3 months post accident.
The cuts were many to both feet. Her right Achilles tendon was cut but her left remains intact. Many other smaller cuts were made at strategic points to release the tendons. The doctor also moved tendons, removing it from one location and reattaching it to another. This is nothing short of surgical art. We prayed with our doctor for God to work through his hands and for God's will, whatever the result, be done.
Thank you all for your prayers, they worked big. Rachael's heart beat was up to 178 post op. That is a scary place to be. Your prayers helped to keep thoughts to the present and kept us from nearly losing it. Once again, Dr. Simon played a key role in providing comfort to us and Rachael. SMH is a great place to be sick or fixed in. What wonderful care all the way through at SMH! We also had the chance to share Christ during the recovery portion. What can you say when someone says "you guys must have a direct line" except 'so can you!' Then go from there.
Thank you again our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Out Of The Woods
Rachael has settled into her room here at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Her heart rate is in the 130's and stable. All 3 doctors involved agree that the heart rate should be monitored but is no urgent concern. Rachael is semi-conscience and has said she is in a great deal of pain in her feet and throat.
She is spending the night here. Nancy and I will be with her. We all want to thank you for your prayers today. We know they made a difference.
Rachael has a cast on each foot. She will be wearing them for about a month As i am writing, her heart rate went down to 116
Her doctor, Dr. Oneill from Kennedy White, was very approachable, clear in communication and readily available. He is quite meticulous and stated several times that he was not in a rush to do his work. The guy was great. He stated that this was the worse case of contracture that he has seen. He is very pleased with the outcome. So are we.
We have been pretty quite these past few months with updates. Thank you for responding so quickly and for keeping us all in your prayers. It has been tough as of late with the surgery and life. It has been 1yr7months since the accident. Realities set in yet hope does not wain. We are facing some giants, have picked our stone and slung our shot. Today and over the past few days, God was glorified.
Thank you all very much!
Burt and Nancy
She is spending the night here. Nancy and I will be with her. We all want to thank you for your prayers today. We know they made a difference.
Rachael has a cast on each foot. She will be wearing them for about a month As i am writing, her heart rate went down to 116
Her doctor, Dr. Oneill from Kennedy White, was very approachable, clear in communication and readily available. He is quite meticulous and stated several times that he was not in a rush to do his work. The guy was great. He stated that this was the worse case of contracture that he has seen. He is very pleased with the outcome. So are we.
We have been pretty quite these past few months with updates. Thank you for responding so quickly and for keeping us all in your prayers. It has been tough as of late with the surgery and life. It has been 1yr7months since the accident. Realities set in yet hope does not wain. We are facing some giants, have picked our stone and slung our shot. Today and over the past few days, God was glorified.
Thank you all very much!
Burt and Nancy
Rachael High Heart Rate Need Prayer
Rachael needs prayer. In recovery she has a very high heart ratE at around 160. This could be due to several thing.
Follow Rachael on Twitter @LoveToRachael
This is a re-post as I don't think the last one went out. Follow Rachael's surgery and more at
@LoveToRachael
At twitter.com
@LoveToRachael
At twitter.com
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Surgery On Thursday
Please keep Rachael in your prayers this day as she is having important surgery done to straighten her feet. Rachael has contractures on both feet causing them to curve to the inside. Thursday, she will have "contracture release" surgery. Pray for Dr. O'neill and his skilled hands, pray for Nancy and I as we care for Rachael, especially Nancy as she will be with Rachael on Friday. We are asking you also to pray that Rachael will experience minimal pain during her 6 week recovery.
Rachael has waited a long time to make this decision. We have too. Rachael is insanely gung-ho and ready to get this surgery done. She is not afraid, she is excited! We look forward to great results and once again to see our Lord work through the hands of skilled doctors.
Thank you for your prayers! We arrive at the Hospital at 7:00 AM
This will may have a logistical impact on how we perform care for Rachael. We will need to modify the way we do things, ways that have become second nature. Whenever there is a new adjustment like this, it is troubling and can lead to frustration. Pray for peace that goes beyond all understanding for Nancy and I.
Rachael has waited a long time to make this decision. We have too. Rachael is insanely gung-ho and ready to get this surgery done. She is not afraid, she is excited! We look forward to great results and once again to see our Lord work through the hands of skilled doctors.
Thank you for your prayers! We arrive at the Hospital at 7:00 AM
This will may have a logistical impact on how we perform care for Rachael. We will need to modify the way we do things, ways that have become second nature. Whenever there is a new adjustment like this, it is troubling and can lead to frustration. Pray for peace that goes beyond all understanding for Nancy and I.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Road Trip #2
Everyone made it safe to Atlanta, thank you for your prayers. Yesterday was spent getting aclimated to the complete shift in schedule and thus tasks. We have a tight routine here during the day with Nancy guiding the tasks. Routine is very important to Rachael, it is her time refrence, it gives a framework to her day. With the trip to Atlanta, it has been a bit disorienting for everyone.
Pray for the gang today as the appointment at the Shepherd Institute is at 2:00 PM. Today is the day she gets to meet the doctors and get her evaluation.
Last night they all went out to eat with some friends of Rachael's aunt Mary. they had a lot of fun and one of the dinner mates was a neuro science doctor and his wife that are friends of Mary's. Everybody had a blast and though a bit troubled by the new surroundings, Rachael is keeping her spirits up and the joy flowing. Nancy was pretty burnt from the trip but is doing great.
Keep prayers up for Nancy, Rachael, Mary and the Doctors she meets today.
God Bless,
Burt
Pray for the gang today as the appointment at the Shepherd Institute is at 2:00 PM. Today is the day she gets to meet the doctors and get her evaluation.
Last night they all went out to eat with some friends of Rachael's aunt Mary. they had a lot of fun and one of the dinner mates was a neuro science doctor and his wife that are friends of Mary's. Everybody had a blast and though a bit troubled by the new surroundings, Rachael is keeping her spirits up and the joy flowing. Nancy was pretty burnt from the trip but is doing great.
Keep prayers up for Nancy, Rachael, Mary and the Doctors she meets today.
God Bless,
Burt
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Road Trip!
Rachael, Nancy and Aunt Mary are leaving Monday morning for Atlanta! The Shepherd Institute is located there. http://www.shepherd.org/
This is one of the top brain injury/spinal injury centers in the nation. This is an evaluation trip to see if they can work with Rachael. We are excited to see how the evaluation comes out. If so, they will stay up there for several weeks. This is a wonderful opportunity and we ask for your prayers for travel mercies and for opportunities to share Christ while they are up there. So Daniel, Hanna and I will be solo for a few days, we need your prayers too! Nancy has done a great job of setting us up with all sorts of food. We will hide the Checkers wrappers before she gets home!
Hanna starts school in the morning at Calvary Chapel School. It sounds like it is going to be a banner year there.
Once again I have to apologize for the lack of updates. We have gotten busy here with Nancy and Rachael doing Mary Kay http://www.marykay.com/nancywizeman
and having a ball doing it. Also my day job at Stewart Signs http://www.stewartsigns.com
Rachael continues to improve in those little increments that we cherish. Her right leg is nearly a full extension now. She has had steady Hyperbaric treatments now for a few months. As I stated before, they work. If you know anyone with a brain injury, have them check it out.
So we move along. We have far fewer tough times at the house. There is a lot of paper work for Nancy to do as she gets ready to take over full care for Rachael. To save the state money, they have a program where they will train you to manage the therapies for your loved one. Instead of having the patient in a home or institution, they remain in your house and you take over the managmanet of her care instead of a 3rd Party agancy. It is a good program and makes us much the more comfortable haveing control over what is happenening with her help and therapy. All said, we will miss our friends at Shakina Glory.
Well, I need to get Hanna to school in the morning so I am hitting the sack. For s steady prayer request we pray that Rachael will regain site and the ability to talk clearly.
Rachael remains in great, Spirit filled joy.
Love Burt And Nancy
This is one of the top brain injury/spinal injury centers in the nation. This is an evaluation trip to see if they can work with Rachael. We are excited to see how the evaluation comes out. If so, they will stay up there for several weeks. This is a wonderful opportunity and we ask for your prayers for travel mercies and for opportunities to share Christ while they are up there. So Daniel, Hanna and I will be solo for a few days, we need your prayers too! Nancy has done a great job of setting us up with all sorts of food. We will hide the Checkers wrappers before she gets home!
Hanna starts school in the morning at Calvary Chapel School. It sounds like it is going to be a banner year there.
Once again I have to apologize for the lack of updates. We have gotten busy here with Nancy and Rachael doing Mary Kay http://www.marykay.com/nancywizeman
and having a ball doing it. Also my day job at Stewart Signs http://www.stewartsigns.com
Rachael continues to improve in those little increments that we cherish. Her right leg is nearly a full extension now. She has had steady Hyperbaric treatments now for a few months. As I stated before, they work. If you know anyone with a brain injury, have them check it out.
So we move along. We have far fewer tough times at the house. There is a lot of paper work for Nancy to do as she gets ready to take over full care for Rachael. To save the state money, they have a program where they will train you to manage the therapies for your loved one. Instead of having the patient in a home or institution, they remain in your house and you take over the managmanet of her care instead of a 3rd Party agancy. It is a good program and makes us much the more comfortable haveing control over what is happenening with her help and therapy. All said, we will miss our friends at Shakina Glory.
Well, I need to get Hanna to school in the morning so I am hitting the sack. For s steady prayer request we pray that Rachael will regain site and the ability to talk clearly.
Rachael remains in great, Spirit filled joy.
Love Burt And Nancy
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