“Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. A
fter two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.
Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD;
His going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.”
Hosea 6:1-3
Today marks the one-month anniversary of Noelle’s surgery and all I can say is Noelle is doing AMAZING! After reading so many tragic stories of Nuss procedures gone wrong and severe, severe pain, I am so happy to report that Noelle has truly been a “textbook case” as a friend wished for us.
Noelle is taking no pain meds at all. The doctors still have her on limited activities such as sleeping on her back, no lifting, no twisting, etc., but she feels GREAT.
She’s breathing great. In the hospital she could barely get the spirometer to 500 and now she’s getting it to 1500! Yay! I think that’s actually about normal.
Our biggest struggle now is slowing her down!
She does still need help to get out of bed in the morning. Oh, and she does still have the head of her bed elevated. My husband made a wooden wedge that elevates the mattress. It goes under the mattress on top of the springs. This helps her sleep on her back and I think makes breathing a little easier.
She does have a little rash on her chest but not too bad. Did I mention she got the titanium bar because she has a cobalt allergy? I’m praying the rash goes away soon and that there are no major allergic reactions to having a metal bar in for 3 years.
In fact, Noelle went on a youth retreat last weekend — without me! Just before the retreat, my oldest daughter, who is one of the youth leaders, came to our 3-week post-op check up and talked with the Nurse-Practioner, Beth, which helped me. She got to ask lots of questions and get clarification on what she can and cannot do. Both sisters did terrific. Thank You, Jesus!
Noelle’s scars are all healed up. Her chest looks good- if anything it looks a little too far out. I’m going to ask the surgeon about that at our next check up which is in 2 more weeks.
We started back to schoolwork on Wednesday and that’s going well.
I confess, though, that I keep waiting for the “other shoe to drop.” My life experience has been littered with tragic situations and I am having a very hard time receiving this precious gift of good health and healing. And why is that? Do I not believe that I have a good Father who loves to give good gifts to His children?
So, today, I pray that I will press in to the Lord in faith, living before Him and trusting that He is as sure as the dawn.
Teach What is Good 