Prayers & good thoughts needed.

Michelle's surgery yesterday did not go as well as we had thought. The pain she was experiencing yesterday after the procedure was due to a perforation in her esophagus from the balloon inflation to treat her Achalasia. This tear allowed stomach fluids to enter her chest area around her lungs and heart. This is a very very bad thing.
We went to the E.R. at 3 am and she was in surgery at 8 am to repair the tear and remove all of the fluid, which saved her life. (If there is a delay in diagnosis, the mortality rate exceeds 90%)
While yesterday's procedure was done via a tube down her throat, this morning's required actual cutting in her side to drain the fluids and actually do the repair.. She will also have a G tube put in place for feeding since swallowing food isn't possible. This tube will be in there for approx 3 months.
She is in ICU now and resting.She will remain in the hospital for 7-10 days.
I would appreciate your kind words, prayers, and well wishes.
She is my life.

I hope all goes well! and I hope she has a speedy recovery.
Best wishes for you and Michelle.

ah brother, that is terrible news...deepest of thoughts, and many prayers from oklahoma will be with you...we wish you the best...

Thoughts and well wishes from across the pond bro!! :(

Wow... I'll be thinking about both of you.

Thoughts and Prayers sent

May God bless you and your family Nathan. Thoughts and prayers, Ryan :hug

Prayers for the best to Michelle, you and your family.

My family and I will pray for her immediatly. Faith is the answer brother.



-G

Thinking of you both Bro.

That is terrible news ,thoughts are with you both :(

I just saw your post on FB Nate. You and Michelle are in my thoughts bud.

I my thoughts and well wishes to you at this time.

Hope Michelle gets better soon! Thoughts with you!

I hope all the best for her recovery

I'm so sorry guys. My thoughts are with you. Good luck.

Oh Nathan, nothing that I can verbalize can express what I feel.

My heart is with you all.

Our prayers are with Michelle, you and your family!

Hang in there!

All my best...prayers are with you.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and Michelle!
Darren

Thoughts and Prayers are with you bolth.

Nathan, my prayers go out to you and your wife. I hope she has a speedy recovery!

Thoughts are with you and your wife...

Thoughts and prayers sent your way!

Sorry to hear that, brother. My thoughts and wishes for a speedy recovery are with you! Stay by her and please keep us posted...

Your in my prayers! God bless. :)

I can't imagine going through something like this.
It's one thing if it was happening to yourself, but to watch it happen to someone you love has just got to be worse.
Hope things return to normal quickly.

.

Let me know what we can do bro... prayers coming your/her way.:(

My thoughts and prayers to you and Michelle, stay strong and keep positive.

:hug

Sorry bruv!!! :'( Definitely will be praying for you!!! :D

I'm thinking positive thoughts for you and Mrs. Slave1pilot.

Myself and my extended family will keep you in our prayers.

both of you are in my prayers

I am extremely sorry to hear about this, brother. I will be praying for both of you. Hang in there. We are all here for you! :)

Will be praying for you both.

Jeeze!!!! Hope things go well!! Sorry to hear that!
D

Best wishes to you both Nathan and Michelle from across the sea.
Hope Mrs. Slave1pilot will recover fast and well!
My thoughts and prayers are with you Nathan!

Best wishes to both of you! Hope all works out fine!

My thoughts and prayers go out to the both of you......

Prayers to your wife, you and your family....

Nathan, I'm very sorry to hear this. Best wishes to the both of you. You'll be in my thoughts.

Prayers and thoughts your way bro.

Nate, I'm very sorry to hear about what Michelle is going through. I hope you and your family are ok, I'll be praying for you all.

you and your family are in my prayers vod

Positive thoughts for the both of you,

Sorry to hear about this. Good wishes for Michelle's quick recovery!

Nathan.....sorry to hear this. Praying for you and your family is becoming full time work. Michelle was very kind in her e-mails when you were laid up, so I feel very sad for you. You have our sympathies and prayers. Get better.

Oh wow, man. Sorry to hear about this!!! Prayers heading her way.

Ohhhhhhhhh Brother!!!!!!! A strong hug my friend, in my prayers is with his family and with you at the distance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leo

I'm sorry this is happening to your wife. I hope she has a speedy recovery.:(

Hope she feels better soon and heals up quickly, our prayers and thoughts are with you in this time of need. God bless you both

Thank you everyone.
Michelle had her throat tube & epidural removed today.
The Chest tubes (4) should come out in a day or 2, then she'll be moved out of ICU soon after.
They are decreasing her pain meds too and she is looking much better.

Great news. Hope everything goes well from here.:thumbsup

My prayers and thoughts go out to her and you. Stay strong.

Hey thats Great News brother. I will pray for you and your Love Today.
I wish her (and you After this horrible Situation)also a good and Quick recovery.
Mike

Hey thats Great News brother. I will pray for you and your Love Today.
I wish her (and you After this horrible Situation)also a good and Quick recovery.
Mike

Great news! Continued prayers still coming!

I'll be praying for you guys!!!

She will be in my prayers. Your last line got me all teary.

Sorry to hear of the challenges Mr and Mrs Slave1pilot are
going through. I hope everything continues to go well with
your wifes recovery. My wifes been through a few things too,
I know how that makes you feel. Pass on our hopes for her
speedy recovery and hopefully you're coping alright.
Mike

Somehow missed this...

Praying for you and Michelle!

Michelle is getting better.She had her chest tubes removed yesterday ( except for 1) and has been sitting up and actually on her feet a few times now. She was moved from ICU to "Progressive care" (Room 240,Bed 2) last night. Please do not send flowers as she is very afraid to sneeze ;) . She is sharing a room now so please be considerate of the other person if calling.

I haven't logged in here for a few days due to a strained muscle in my shoulder and being looped out on the muscle relaxants, and to see this post and hear what is happening to a fellow members family...

My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your wife Nathan. Your initial post made me well up with tears hearing of her situation, and I am releived to hear that she is doing better and getting stronger as each day passes.

I've always looked at and thought of this forum as a second family, and I've always felt a closeness to my real and extended family. So please pass along all of my well wishes for a speedy and full recovery to your wife. You and your wife are a part of both my TDH family, and of my 501st family.

Take care, and get better soon.

Great news! Praises offered for the the progress she's made so far and continued prayers for a FULL and speedy recovery!

We've never met in person, but I can only imagine what you are going through as I don't know what I would do if something like this happened to my wife. I had a scary situation happen on our honeymoon of all times, nothing this serious and this isn't the time to go into details, but I sobed like I don't think I had ever before or since. My heart definately goes out to you from one husband to another!

Best wishes to your wife, you and your families.

My best wishes for her speedy and successful recovery for her.

I will pray for both of u...hope for the speedy recovery. GBU always!!

Heart found wishes to a speedy recovery and swift return home.

Hey Nathan, hope all is going well and that michelle is on the mend bro.

Nathan - I had not heard of ANY of this !!!! Oh my lord buddy, I'm so sorry to hear all this happened !!!!!!

You're both in my prayers man :thumbup

-Chris

Michelle is doing well, but isn't home free. The surgeon said that if everything does not heal right, it can still be lethal.
She is off of her oxygen and only has one chest tube still left in. They are going to put some dye in and make sure everything is fine before removing that.
She is scheduled to have the staples in her abdomen removed today. There are 13 of them (of course 13, how lucky are we?) going straight up above her belly button . It's about a 3 inch incision there. She also has about an 8 to 10 inch incision on her left side going around to the center of her back that is healing well, but still tender. The incision for her chest tube(s) is right under her left boob and is a few inches long as well. She also has the "G" tube in through her belly for feeding. So, she has a lot of healing to do.
She is up and walking several times a day and feels so much better to be out of bed. It does take a lot out of her and she is still short of breath. She still has some fluid in her lungs but is working with the Respiratory Therapist to get that taken care of.

Michelle said to tell everyone "Hi" and thank you .
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/15/chellerecovering.jpg

Let us throw the second sentence out because it isn't going to happen! More thoughts and prayers coming for a speedy recovery! :thumbsup

s1p, you two are in my prayers. i know things aren't done but, i'm glad to see improvments have been made.

you two keep fighting andwe'll keep you in our thoughts.

Michelle had some tests today that showed everything is healing fine. She still has the staples & the chest tube though.
She started a clear liquid diet today & if that goes well then she moves on to soft food. If that goes well then they remove the chest tube & she gets to come home soon after.
I'm hoping for this weekend.



For those that are unsure what she had done, it's called a "Posterolateral thoracotomy"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoracotomy

and for those wondering what it looks like, (be warned, very graphic)
http://www.wjes.org/content/figures/...22-1-4-2-l.jpg

That isn't her actual surgery, but that is very similar to what was done.

Yikes (talking about the photo of the surgery). Glad to hear she's moving in a positive direction....Hope her recovery is speedy...

Here's wishing her a speedy recovery, Nate!

I am glad She is doing well, I will continue to keep you both in my prayers.

Praying for the best for her Nathan. Very glad to hear that things are moving in a positive direction.

Thanks to God my friend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leo

You will be addedto my prayer list " According to your faith will it be done to you" Matthew 9:29a

I'm so sorry you and Michelle have had to go through this.

But it's great to hear she is recovering so well! :cheering

Glad she's coming out of it Nate. Yeah, from the pic that is some seriously invasive surgery. I know this has been a very tough go for you guys, I'm glad that the progress is good and hopefully it stays that course.

Sorry to hear about it man, prayers your way. :)

MICHELLE IS FINALLY HOME

YAY!!!:cheering:cheering:cheering That is terrific news Nathan!!!

THAT'S GREAT!!!! Continued prayers for a full and complete recovery coming your way!