In the lap pool . . .

You're probably wondering why the student from my second class yesterday and I are in the lap pool - because one of the student's from my first class puked in the leisure pool.  And it wasn't just puke - it was CHUNKY puke!  And everyone moved to the other pool for a cool hour while the chemicals did their work . . .

Oh, the Things That You'll Poop . . .

After spending a couple of hours in the pet vet emergency room on Saturday, and spending far more than a couple of hundred dollars for the privilege of being there, and hearing that there was NOTHING in Annie's tummy or intestines but FOOD . . . our sweet lab-wanna-be POOPED not one, not two, but THREE socks this week!  I think they're all accounted for now!

Scheduled!

My full-knee replacement surgery has officially been scheduled for Tuesday, November 20th at 9:20 a.m.  At first it didn't look like it was going to happen until mid-January at the very earliest - everything was booked - but there had been a cancellation that morning.  Did I want it?  

Yes!!!  No.  Yes!!!  No.  Friends, I am scared to death!  I'll get to spend at least two days, if not three, in the hospital.  I haven't spent a night in the hospital since I was eighteen!  I'll have four to six weeks of rehab, and then I'll walk again.  YES!!!   Walk again!  I'm in!

So today, I had my nose swabbed, scheduled my pre-op, scheduled all my physical therapy appointments, talked with the nurse at Fairview, planned a grocery list and am working on finding subs at both of my jobs.  Pray for me!  Thanks!

When it rains, it pours!

I finished my YSL (YMCA Swimming Leader) class yesterday a whopping fifteen minutes sooner than what I had wanted to - and without swimming the butterfly!  Consequently, I made it home sooner than planned only to discover . . .

That Sam's mom had just passed away.  She had had a stroke back in February.  While she was in the hospital then, the doctor's discovered an aneurysm in her lower chest.  It burst yesterday afternoon and she went peacefully.  Sam and his oldest brother Mark are now on their way down to the farm for a private family burial with a memorial service to be held later.  

Sam still wanted to go to my cousin's visitation yesterday afternoon so we took off to St. Peter.  What a blessed time with my aunt, uncle, cousins, and their families!  I am so glad we were there to love and support them.

It was a wild day, but a good day . . . and now it's TODAY!

Day Off!

Today was my first Saturday off since July 7!  I was stoked!  I woke up early and actually finished my Bible study for Wednesday.  I brushed Annie's teeth.  I started my review for my YSL (Y Swimming Leader) class tomorrow.  

Unfortunately, the computer crashed no less than three times while I was on it.  The most frustrating time was when I was down to the last of fifteen videos and I got to watch all fifteen videos again, plus the one I hadn't watched.

As I finished reviewing, an hour and a half in, I saw that I had an e-mail from Micah.  Annie has not been feeling well - vomiting, not eating . . . Matt had sent a text to all of us saying that "one of the most obvious symptoms of a blocked intestine was vomiting.  If your dog has recently swallowed a sock and begins to vomit (without any sign of the sock reappearing) this is now a veterinary emergency.  Your dog will pretty much need immediate surgery . . ."

We knew Annie had swallowed one sock.  It showed up on her other end.  However, she was missing at least three socks.  I had cleaned the house.  She hadn't hidden them.  (We were using socks to cover the wart she was licking on her paw because she hates her "cone of shame".)

Micah was in her room in tears.  She had to be to work noon, but her dog was going to die and her parents wouldn't take her (Annie) to the vet.  Sam called the vet in order to calm Micah down.  The vet said bring her to the emergency clinic right away.

Sorry, animal lovers, I translated "right away" to "right after my lunch".  We got there by one, had x-rays and they found nothing except food in her tummy/intestines.  They did, however, take almost my entire paycheck from my last two weeks of work at Sand Creek.  And we're to check in with our vet on Monday . . .

I got home fifteen minutes before I was to meet my friend, Laura, at Caribou on the corner.  I beat her there by an entire minute and we had a lovely conversation.  Just good and pleasant and calming after my day . . . 

Unfortunately, the roads were icy when we left but not enough to make us late for church.  Sermon was amazing, leftovers for supper, lunch packed for class tomorrow and now I'm off to pack my pool bag . . . 

All on my day off!  

    

All Around The Africa Mercy

Nurse Jenny, in her blog, "Shine Bright", wrote                                             It's been almost 2 months since the ship landed in the country of Guinea! We've been off to a good but very busy start! While over 400 patients have received free surgery, it takes a while to get their stories and photos to share with you all. So I thought instead, we would take a little tour of what else is happening around Mercy Ships. Working in the hospital, I generally focus on those surgeries and patients, but there's lots to see outside of our wards and ORs too!!

Last week, the screening team left the Africa Mercy and headed several hours up country to seek out patients from across the large country of Guinea. Several hundred patients were selected from two cities to come to the ship for further assessment. We ask you to join us in praying for the teams involved in a second screening trip coming in a few weeks. Please pray for: Safe travels for those staying away from the ship Wisdom and discernment for the screening team selecting potential patients The future patients who will receive surgery on the ship Security and safety at the sites

Sometimes the larger tumors our volunteer surgeons see are the result of a neglected dental problem, making the dental program such an important preventative aspect of the work of Mercy Ships. The focus of the program is the removal of decayed teeth and treatment of infections; they also provide cavity treatments, dental hygiene and partial dentures for some patients. This field service in Guinea, the dental team has the unique opportunity to hold their clinic inside a local dental school to provide training opportunities for local dentists, hygienists, sterilizers and denture makers. 1,600 patients have already received treatments and we look forward to supporting thousands more!

Dental Clinic Before: an unused classroom at the Dental school sits in disrepair Dental Clinic After: a few repairs and cleaning made this space usable for patient assessments and treatments by the Mercy Ships Dental team

Pediatric eye screening has now started in Guinea to find the young lives who have suffered with blindness due to cataracts. Because of your partnership, these children are given a second chance at a brighter future after surgery on the Africa Mercy! Most of these children are born with congenital cataracts due to genetic reasons or infection and grow up unable to see, work or go to school. Thanks to a simple, short surgery to remove these clouded lenses, we are able to celebrate new sight with hundreds of eye patients every year!

Through our Medical Capacity Building program, we believe that leaving a lasting impact should be one of the core foundations of Mercy Ships. Courses are held throughout the country in areas such as Safe Surgery, Safe Anesthesia, Surgical Skills, BioMedical and Sterile Processing several times throughout the year. For further training, 1:1 mentoring for surgeons, anesthesiologists, therapists and dentists is also provided. This photo from the recent sterile processing course is just one of several classes held so far in Guinea.

It’s not just surgeries that take place when the Africa Mercy is invited to a country. Here in Guinea, the Medical Capacity Building team is to thank for the fantastic HOPE Center renovation (Hospital Outpatient Extension Center) that houses patients before and after their surgeries. Having recently opened, it now looks forward to being filled with patients, all of whom will receive free surgery!

Prayer Points: Ongoing surgeries each day on the ship in Maxillofacial, General, Ophthalmic and soon to start Orthopedic specialties Peace in Guinea as there are riots and protests occasionally happening here in the capital of Conakry against rising gas prices and other government issues Large turnover of crew members as many 2-3 month commitments end Health of the crew and a stop to several illnesses spreading around the ship

Thankful Thursday!

Today, I am thankful that we are healthy and well.

I called my dad on Monday.  He told me that he had just found out my cousin Jay had colon cancer.  His parents were on their way up to see him in St. Peter, but dad didn't know anything more than that. 

You have to understand Jay became my favorite cousin after high school.  He was four years younger than me.  We both went to Mankato State, but not at the same time.  We both worked in the Cities after graduation and he was a frequent visitor in our town home.  We both married.  We both adopted two children.  I didn't see him a lot.  I could list the number of times in the past twelve years - mom's funeral, Aunt Janice's funeral, his niece's graduation.  But the memories and the laughter we shared all the times we were together were good, very good.   

Jay died yesterday.  Dad told me when he called to wish Micah a "Happy Birthday."  It was a "brief battle with cancer" - very brief.  We'll be going to visitation Sunday afternoon because on Monday I have an appointment with the knee surgeon that I've been waiting for for three weeks . . . 

I am thankful that we are healthy and well.