God is Good

[andym]

On Dec 08 I had a pain in my neck and shoulder which prompted a visit to the emergency room. I was diagnosed with a neck sprain and sent home with Tylenol. Later that night I had a seizure on the couch and the wife called for an ambulance. After four days of cat scans and MRI 's and blood test and every probe I can imagine they informed me that I had an infection in my blood and it had settled in my cervical spine. During my 4 hour surgery, they removed an abcess filled with puss from my spine and installed a drain  after removing two disk and fusing 3 vertabrae in my neck and installing a titanium plate across the three vertabrae.  During this process and the week leading up to the surgery my blood pressure was over 190 and body temp exceeded 103.9 F. I was on many pain killers and had a very unhappy time.

Strangely after leaving the hospital I felt thankful. All the people who donated blood and the people at work who donated their unused sick time for me. My family all being there pulling for me when I was apparently on the edge of existence. The caring Doctors and nurses......wow I felt so lucky to be here and most importanty to be able to still ride my beloved Valk in a few months. I must say how all the friendships I have forged with VRCC and VOA members, the folks at work, the local Habitat group Im working with helped me to feel loved and needed. All those prayers from family and friends kept pouring in. The Doctor remarked how well and quickly I was recovering and how he was amazed. Im not ...I know all those prayers and love from my wife, friends and family helped me to come home 3 days after this major surgery and recover just as quickly.

Next time Im tempted to complain over minor stuff, Im going to think back to how I almost died via an infection I wasnt aware I even had and how God pulled me from this horror show and put me back with my loving friends and family.

You know what they say ....What doesnt kill you makes you  stronger and I think this is a good example of that.........I still need to recover physically but feel spiritually and emotionally stronger already....

God Bless all my friends and family and please enjoy your holidays , have a safe, happy and HEALTHY New Year

[alph]

WOW!

i'm thinking my pains in the neck will be heading off to college in a few years, and here you're talking surgery and stuff!!

[SANDMAN5]

Glad you're still above ground!!! Yep, God IS good!!!!

[highcountry]

Call close!  Glad to hear that you are recovering nicely and will be back on your Valk in the spring.

[Tx Bohemian]

WOW!!! is right!

Although sounds like a real tuff time I'm glad it worked out for you.

It's great you realize all the blessings you've had, I can relate.

After the wifes accident we made many, many trips to Houston to specialists which some had weird hours.  One only saw patients on Tuesdays and another on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays!  So to see both we would get a late appointment with the Tuesday guy and early on  Wed.   So I'd work till noon Tuesday run to Houston for the late appointent, spend the night at a Hotel 6 for the early appointment and be back at work Wed. noon.

I realized what a good job I had to where I could "adjust" my hours as not to use all my vacation.  Plus I have very understanding co-workers and bosses.

[Hoser]

Good on ya, I felt the same way when my cancer was confined to my prostate and had not spread on my first check up after surgery last August.  Hoser

[andym]

Its funny how so many people with good health and wealth focus on petty non sense.....Guess Im getting older and smarter and Im happy to come out of this with the ability to still ride with some very wonderful friends......

[Dave Weaver]

All the Time!     

[mikeb]

congrads on getting better  you find in life the biggest cry babys are the ones that hever had any real issues in life to deal with... once you go through a life changing event  you dont cry about the little things
i fully understand this first hand ride on and good luck ..mike b

[Big Rig]

Andy,

Sorry to hear about your illness...beginning to wonder where you were, have not heard much from ya...Get healed up so we can ride to the shore together...check that battery... :-)

As for the implants...maybe we should change you handle to Ti Andy...

Heal fast and true my friend and I look forward to riding with you again in 2010.

You are on the prayer list along with your family.


Dave

[andym]

I feel truely blessed that I had the wisdom to buy a Valk and make so many great friends via this club and the VOA...................Since this is the season for miracles, maybe my wife will come home one night and tell me that she wants to ride with me, LOL

[Chrisj CMA]

WOW...sounds real darned scary to me....glad youre on the mend now!

[Normandog]

Good read. Thanks for sharing.
And He is an awesome God.

[Oss]

wow you have had a real tough year health wise

Hope you get feeling better and we can share some more rides this year.

I wont be holding my breath that your wife will be on the back of the bike though Andy

When you need the wind do what I do, just leave a note on the kichen table and head on out

oss