Dealing with the Unexpected

In the middle of March I woke up one morning with lower back pains which in a few days had spread to my lower front abdomen. Rest did not do much so I eventually went to my doc. He was puzzled and so I ended up at a neurosurgeon who put me through an MRI and discovered severe spinal stenosis (narrowing of the space around my spinal column nerves). Surgery was recommended but a follow up MRI indicated problems requiring surgery in my lower back and neck. Marty and I decided to have outpatient minimally invasive surgery on my back first while we pray.

That was step one. Now comes step two. My neurosurgeon wanted to have me checked by a cardiologist before he attempted any surgery so I went to a cardiologist who had me go through a nuclear stress test because of my previous heart artery stent procedures 4 years ago. I go through that 3 ½ hour test and head off to Tacoma where I am serving as interim pastor. Two days later I get a phone call from the cardiologist’s office with the news that part of my heart is not getting enough blood supply so he will do a heart catheterization to see what is causing the lack of adequate blood supply. That procedure will happen next Thursday in the morning. I find myself dealing with the unexpected and thanking God for your prayers.

So at the present time, here’s what I am facing:.


#1-Heart catheterization with possible angioplasty and/or stent placement next week. If that one-day procedure doesn’t work, then I may need something else done.

#2-Lower back minimally invasive surgery to open up space for my nerves and take care of some disc herniation. This too should be a one-day outpatient surgery.

#3-Soon I will probably need a more extensive surgery on my neck involving fusion of three vertebrae with laminectomies.

#s 2 and 3 are dependent on a successful treatment and resolution of #1.
These issues are really no surprise since I have a history of cardiac artery disease and stent placement for blockages and 3 different back surgeries in the lower back and neck, but they are certainly unexpected and will require God to provide funds for the insurance deductables.

So thank you for your prayers and please pray for wisdom and guidance for the doctors and health care people involved resulting in healing from the Lord. Pray that I will not have to miss much time away from my many ministry responsibilities. Pray for Marty who will be giving some home care for me while I recover and as she works part-time. And pray for us for the peace of God, patience for recovery and healing, dealing with pain caused by my neck problems while I wait for surgery, and for the strength and courage to trust the Lord for his will.