The Radiology and Anesthesiology (Pain Management) departments worked together creatively on my case. The doctor who was scheduled to do the procedure had heard of another procedure that is seldom used but offers much more accuracy and he wanted to try it. In fact, he doesn’t even do this procedure himself but got another doctor who had more experience to play the lead role. It looks like the first effort at killing the nerves many weeks ago was thwarted by some scar tissue and the alcohol never got to the proper place. By using the CT scan he was able to adjust the needles and got a good spread to the proper places so that it alleviates much of the pain in that area.
I am now officially entered into care with Hospice Atlanta and everything is in order. My care will be covered by Medicare Part A in which everyone over 65 is automatically enrolled. The home health nurse will come by this afternoon to assess any needs and will take over all pain management. It will be good to have only one team and it gives me great comfort because now, anytime day or night, I will have someone I can call if I get in trouble with pain or with other issues.
We were blessed throughout our stay by the excellent care at St. Joseph’s. I was even able to get some work done with their great wireless internet cafe.
It is good to be Home!
Thanks for your support and concern.
16 comments:
Blessings, blessings! I am glad you are home and the nerve block was a success.
AS you well know, hospice is wonderful. And they will be blessed by working with you.
Much love,
Harriet
Praise be to God!! You are in our prayers daily. My choir said a special prayer for you last night at rehearsal. Gods continued blessings on each of you!!!
Hugh
Jack,
Your spirit is bright and whole. I appreciate so much that you continue to be in touch with your friends and share your journey with us. I will never forget this experience I am having with you, and with so many others "gathered around" your messages. I hope you sleep well tonight, back at home, in you own bed, with Anita there at your side.
Joel Hitt
Jack,
This is one time when it is good to be able to say, "You don't have the nerve you used to have." Becky and I are grateful that this last procedure is giving you some relief from the pain. Love and continued concern from your friend in Berlin.
Jim
Blessings & thankfulness for your being home again! Once again God has heard our prayers and answered.
With much love,
Sheryl & the prayer group
HAB
Jack,
I'll resist the urge to follow Jim's note with more "nerve" comments...I'd hate to encourage him :-)
Good to hear you have some relief. Elizabeth, Ashley, Jeremiah and I continue to pray for you all.
Steve
Jack,
Dianne and I continue to keep you, Anita and the family in our prayers. Like Paul, "we are praying without ceasing" for you. It was great that you received some good news.
May God continue to bless you!
Doug
I wish I had the words to express what I’m really feeling. I’m not sure I do, but I’m going to try:
Jack, I am so sorry that you are having to go through this.
But, as a former prisoner of war once told me in an interview, the deal never was that life would be fair. The deal was that we have the resources to deal with life should we choose to call on them.
Those resources are great.
I’m reading In Search of Paul (Jonathan L. Reed and John Dominic Crossan) now is an effort to deal with my long-standing love-hate relationship with my namesake. One thing that comes through clearly, I believe, is that we already inhabit the Kingdom of God. It is a future promise, of course, but it is also a present event. This is posited also in Brian McLaren’s The Secret Message of Jesus.
If that premise is true, then the important things for all of us are, as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (NIV)
Would that I could lift this burden. But I can’t — and I and others here may well face this ourselves on our own or for our loved ones. When we do, our tools are those three.
They are sufficient to the task. But it’s kind of hard to remember that when your eyes are filled with tears.
Back to my main man Paul, in the 15th chapter of that letter:
“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Especially when we use the tools he has provided for us.
Jack – you have modeled the use of those tools for me — for all of us — for decades and longer in some cases. You taught me how to use them. And you continue to teach how to apply them in ever more sophisticated ways.
Grace and peace ...
Paul Harral
Jack,
Praise God that the surgery has provided some relief! I am pleased for your Hospice news as they have been a wonderful blessing for our family. Please know we pray for you, Anita, Stephanie and Charley daily.
May you rest peacefully today,
Beverly Connell and Stephanie's Greenwood family
our prayers are with you and family.we don't understand but treasure Hispromises
our prayers are with you and family.we don't understand but treasure Hispromises
Darling Jack and Anita, am finally home myself from several weeks in hospital and rehab, still in body cast, but not so much like a wild caged animal thanks to tranquilizers, another month to go, but THANKFUL to be able to finally read your blog for myself agan. I pray for your every day and night, and LOVE YOU LIKE THE ROCK OF AGES!!!! Julie Mason
Update from Steph:
Dad is in the Hospice Atlanta in-house treatment center. We are hoping that he will only have to stay a few days this time, so that they can get his ever-spiraling pain under control. Please continue to pray for a way to help him bear the pain, and for Mom to stay strong.
Thank you,
Stephanie Snell
Steph, I'm so glad you're there. If you need anything done in Jax, just call. Prayers go up for pain relief and strength.
Much love, Miss Dixie
Stephanie,
What a blessing that you are there for your parents. Know that I am praying fervently. Let me know how I can help!
Bev Connell
DEAR JACK..I WAS SO SORRY TO HEAR OF YOUR FIGHT WITH CANCER....AM REMINDED THAT JESUS NEVER LEAVES OR FORSAKES US AND IS A CONSTANT PRESENCE IN THE MIDST OF OUR PAIN..OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND NITA....MAY GOD GIVE GREAT COMFORT..LOVE, KITTY & WADE FRYE, (WHO NOW LIVE IN RICHMOND, VA.)
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