Thanks, Bloggers!
Posted on October 13, 2007 by Eric
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Have been able to share all the blog commentators with Kris. She will probably have a chance to go through them herself in a day or so (reading, lighted screens, etc. are still a challenge for her headache). Thanks for the 53 comments from:
Susan S, Sharon, Audrey, Janice, Jeremy, Melanie, Amy, Anita & Jerry, Sandra, Maria, Sally, Elaine, Andrea, Pam, Chop, Teresa, Jenny, Barbara, Tommy, Chip, John & Donna, Claire, Joanne, Bethany, Betsy & Donald & Emma, Debbie, Diane, Jeanne, Sue , Tanya & Woz, Susan W
plus many other calls, e-mails, and visits.
Saturday Afternoon
Posted on October 13, 2007 by Eric
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3:45 and Kris is finally getting some good sleep for today. Dr. Stevens, our neurosurgery resident, came in soon after lunch and removed the drain from her surgery site (piece of plastic about 5 inches long and 1/4 inch wide was inside her head). Relatively small piece of gauze bandaging now covers the insertion site, and nurses will be watching for any excess drainage during the rest of the day. There’s an outside chance that they would have to seal the site with a stitch or two, should the drainage continue after the bandage has been changed a couple of times. Kris’ catheter is also gone, so she is now able to get up and step to the bathroom. Her headache has been pretty steady today and Dr. Glazier reminded her of the affects of trying to talk too much or move her jaw. The nurses are doing a good job with her pain medication (either vicodin or extra-strength tylenol). Morphine is also still available, but Kris has been able to stay away from this. The next hurdle (this evening or tomorrow morning) will be to make a walking trip around the neurology hallway loop. Literally, one step at a time. The power of God’s healing grace never ceases to amaze. We continue to rejoice in all your prayers, calls, visits, blog comments, and ….. love. Hope each of you are out somewhere enjoying this beautiful fall Saturday given to us by the Creator, Peace!
Surgeon’s Visit - Home Sunday?
Posted on October 13, 2007 by Eric
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Dr. Glazier visited again this morning and said everything was going well. His team of residents should be around today to remove the surgical site drain. And then ….. after his visit tomorrow morning, it is a good chance he will go ahead and release her from the hospital. Back to Eric’s parents’ home in Faith by Sunday afternoon? Miracles never cease. Blessings to everyone on your Saturday …. we continue to offer thanks to God for His work and for your love & support.
Kris’ Head
Posted on October 13, 2007 by Kris
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Audrey here again…
Kris asked me to post a photo of her head. Click below on the “Kris’ staples” link if you wish to see the picture.
Kris’ First Post-surgery Post
Posted on October 13, 2007 by Kris
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Audrey here…typing for Kris.
“Feeling much better today than yesterday. I don’t recommend anesthesia as a weight loss method but it certainly helped me NOT remember anything about the operation.
After two days in ICU waiting for an open bed, I am in a room. The operation seems to be a total success and none of the possible poor side effects have occurred.
That means I have full vision/sight, full memory recall and full speech. I will still be able to play guitar and was able to practice chords in my head and hands while I was laying in the ICU.
Thanks to all of your kind prayers and thoughts and a wonderfully skilled doctor and his staff. Also, thanks for your blog comments as well and many phone calls through Eric and Audrey here at the hospital.
Just wait until you see my new hair style!! And, yes, my right jaw is sore and a pretty constant, dull headache but it is not too incapacitating. The report from the doctor is that all went well with the surgery.”
ROOM NUMBER: A-461 (Ardmore Tower Fourth Floor)
PHONE: 336-702-3461
Friday Night Update
Posted on October 12, 2007 by Eric
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10:30 PM - We are still waiting for news about Kris’ move out of ICU. They now have a room available in the 4th Floor Neurology Unit, and Kris’ ICU nurse said she would call down to the waiting room when & if they are able to move her during the night. Kris slept a good bit during the afternoon. Her initial nausea has subsided, and she was successfully able to eat bites of orange sherbet and chocolate pudding at supper time. They plan to bring her a regular breakfast in the morning and see what she would like to eat. The drainage from the surgery site has almost completely stopped. At one time this afternoon, there was a small concern about her electrolyte balance, but subsequent blood work has been OK. She was very alert during the final 8:30 visitation time and gladly received visits from cousins on her dad’s side and Eric’s family, as well as earlier visits in the day from Grace, Prosperity and Lutheridge friends. We deeply appreciate those who have driven many miles just to come and show your support, as well as all of you who continue to bless us with your calls and blog comments. In so many ways, it has been yet another day overflowing with the mighty grace and love of God. We continue to be strengthened by your prayers - and for those and each of you, we give thanks to the Lord. May you rest with the peace of Christ in your hearts this night. Blessings!
Cards/Contact for Kris
Posted on October 12, 2007 by Eric
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We will let you know as soon as we have a room number here at the hospital. In the meantime, any cards could be sent to:
Kris Fink c/o Mr & Mrs. Larry Fink, P.O. Box 344, Faith, NC 28041
This is where Kris will be once she leaves the hospital (possibly Monday?) and for the following week or so.
For your general information, the hospital is:
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (WFUBMC)
Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157
ph. 336-713-0000 www.wfubmc.edu
Mid-day Friday Update
Posted on October 12, 2007 by Eric
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9:00 visit was very good. They had removed the bandaging from her surgery site. The line of staples starts directly in front of the mid-point of Kris’ right ear and extends in a question mark shape up above the ear, around the upper side and terminates just above the temple. Probably a total length of 10″ - 12″ of staples (haven’t been able to count them yet). Some of you asked about my hair comment from earlier this morning - she probably lost about half of the right side, but long hair from the top hangs down over much of the shaved part. It’s pretty cool, and actually looks similar to some styles we saw in Seattle on our last trip there. The only remaining bandage is the one that holds in her surgery site drain tube. The little collection bag has gained very little fluid at all since early this morning.
11:00 visit was wonderful. She was awake and talking a good bit, with some return of her sense of humor. The nurses were able to give her a little bit of a bath, which made her feel better. She was also able to drink a carton of apple juice without any consequences and was asking for more. Her nurse said that everything was ready for move to a room on the 5th floor Neurosurgery Hall (North Tower) - they’re just waiting for a room to become available. No guess as to when that may happen. By the end of the 11:30 visiting hours, she was ready to get back to sleep.
Kris has been excited to hear all your comments of support - she said to make sure to tell everyone it really means a lot to her. She says hello to all her students, fellow teachers, folks at WKMS and CSMS, relatives, and various other friends. She loves you all very much!
Thanks again and again and again for your many prayers. They continue to be powerful. Kris’ ICU nurses so far have been Amy, Christine, and Jimmy (12-hour shifts from 7:00-7:00). You may want to offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God for their wonderful attention and care, as well as for her surgeon, Dr. Glazier. There are many folks in the Neurosurgery ICU with difficult situations (tumors, car accidents, etc.). We, too, hold them and their families in our prayers.
Morning After Surgery
Posted on October 12, 2007 by Eric
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Got to see Kris at 5:30 this morning. She was alert and able to keep her eyes open for the whole 30 minutes. She talked a good bit, even though her throat is dry/sore. Oxygen has been reduced to the standard little nose piece. Still has her IV, but no other connections (except for the circulation air wraps around her lower legs). She tried to sit up in the bed, and this made her feel a little nauseous, but the nurse said this was normal. She is moving her legs a good bit, and helped slide herself up in the bed by pushing with her legs. The surgery site looks good above her right ear - and the amount of hair they had to remove is comparatively minor. The nurse said she had a good night. Her responses and memory continue to show no signs of initial problems. Next visiting hours will be at 9:00 and we will await developments to see if/when she can be moved to a regular room. Kris said to say thank you to everyone for your calls, comments, visits, and prayers - and that she loves you all very much. Truly, this is the day that the Lord has made and we have much cause to rejoice and give thanks! Blessings and peace …..
P.S. We have received your comments and have shared them with Kris. They are great! Because of the different groups of people visiting the blog (friends, relatives, students, teachers, etc.), we will wait and let Kris do the public posting of any of them. Keep them coming - they mean a lot to her!
Surgery Day is Over
Posted on October 11, 2007 by Eric
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Kris went to the ICU from recovery about 2:15 pm. This is standard procedure after this kind of surgery. She is still sleepy and taking pain medication but she responds well to the initial neurological tests. The surgeon spoke with us at 7 pm and indicated he was very pleased with the surgery and her initial responses. He said that if there were any major problem, they would have almost certainly appeared by that time.
Our last visit was at 9 pm and she looks good. She had taken sips of water and her evening medication by mouth earlier. The ICU nurse told us that was very good.
She opens her eyes briefly, squeezes our hand and responds to our questions, which is also great.
Our next visitation time is at 5:30 am and we can call the ICU at any time during the night to check in for updates. The surgeon said she should be able to move to a regular room pending availability of a bed in the unit where she needs to be, however, rooms are currently full so she might have to stay an extra day in ICU because of that.
We’ll pass along more updates as we get them. Once again, thanks for all your prayers throughout the day. They were truly felt here in the hospital, even across the miles. God’s love comes to us in many wonderful ways. Thank you for being a conduit of that love for Kris.
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About
This blog is for friends and family of Kris to find out about how she is doing and what she is thinking about before and after her surgery.
If you want to comment, you must register first. When you register, you DO NOT have have to complete the profile...just create a username and then you will be emailed a password.
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Please know that even if your comment does not appear publicly on the site, Kris will still get every one of them!! -
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