If you know me, you know i hate nothing more than having to ask for help...with anything. Especially in these times when everyone is just trying to make it.
Last year, just about this same time I had surgery at Duke University in hopes of being able to eat and digest food. As well as stop IV feedings I was doing every night for 12 hours. Unfortunately we had complications and the surgery was unsuccessful. This left my surgeons with 1 last option, which is where I am now. They will perform the procedure, called an esophagojejunostomy via thorasic approach and complete/total gastrectomy to include y en roux. In "normal" terms they will remove all parts of my gastric (stomach and y en roux) then connect my esophagus directly to my small bowel by bringing the bowel up to my esophagus, having to open my chest cavity to access my esophagus. If I handle this part well and am strong enough (6-10 hour surgery) they will also remove my gall bladder but only if I am stable enough for them to proceed. I'll have a feeding tube for 6-10 weeks after surgery and my picc line/tpn will remain in place until we are sure the surgery is a success. Again, this is the last option besides living off of my tpn (IV nutrition).
I will be hospitalized at Duke for 12-14 days, have physical and occupational therapy for 3-4 months, and out of work for at least 6 months.
Between us working as much as possible and saving every penny, and the help of family we've almost paid my $7500 deductible for the year (which just started over 1 Jan).
Stef will be at the hospital with me the first day or 2 but will be at the hotel after until I'm released since we will be 4 hours from home. She has saved all her vacation time to ensure she is paid for being out of work and will hopefully be able to stretch and pay our house bills until I am able to get back to work.
Unfortunately I won't have extra for travel back and forth to appointments, medications, and my portion of my therapy costs. Between my health insurance and the VA my hospital is paid for once I pay the rest of my deductible but I still have the "little" extras.
I have truly put this all in God's hands and my faith in him. Most importantly I ask for your prayers, our God is an awesome God and I am ready for what he has planned for me.
If you can donate, any and everything will help, if not I simply ask for your prayers! I'd give my last to anyone who truly needed it, I try to do what God puts on my heart. I ask that from you. If it's a simple prayer for a safe surgery I am eternally grateful for that!
Thank you for reading my story and your prayers and all!!
God Bless!
Missie
