Prayer request.

[Waterfoul]

Which hospital are you in Mike?

Thinking about you both... call me if you need anything.

[Mike S.]

We are at Mercy. Thanks, Mike. I appreciate it.

[Dan]

Prayers are off and I will be waiting to hear how things went. Will be thinking of you today.

[Mike S.]

I just talked to her surgeon. She is a strong woman. He said she did very well, and she will be in recovery by noon or so. Once again, thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. You guys are awesome.

[Waterfoul]

Great news!

[djkimmel]

Hope everything has gone excellent today? Waiting to hear some good news but take care of the family first.

[Mike S.]

What an emotional day. All 3 of my kids had a meltdown today. My 2 daughters took it the worst.  It breaks my heart to see my kids cry. I had a moment with my son where I told him that if he needed to cry, and needed a hug, I was here for him. That's exactly what he needed.  Tonight I am home with them. Just got them to bed. My mother in law is taking the night shift. The wife is in good spirits. She is in quite a bit of pain, but she's got lots of drugs.

Being home without her is a new experience. I haven't spent a single night without her since we got married 9 years ago. This experience has really made me think about how truly lucky I am to have my family, and my wife. It has really made me sit back and think about just how much I love her.

Today starts a long journey to being healed. The worst part is over, and she's still in tact. Thanks everyone for listening to me. Thanks for all the thoughts.

[tjrock]

Great news Mike, your family and a speedy recovery will remain in my prayers

[djkimmel]

That's great Mike (other than the lots of pain part)! It is important to remember what is most important to us often. Sounds like you're a great dad and husband. Here's hoping for a good recovery for your wife.

[Mike S.]

Day 2 is now over. I am staying at the hospital with her tonight.

She's in more pain today. She didn't get the surgery drugs plus the drugs in her room like yesterday. I have had her up walking 3 or 4 times now. Making progress. The kids are handling it better today too. Hope to have her home in the next day or so.

[djkimmel]

Thanks for keeping us posted.

[Mike S.]

The queen came home tonight, around 6:00. Boy, is this ugly. She is in a tremendous amount of pain. They took her morphine IV away at 7 this morning, and now she's home. She is extremely weak, and has a heck of a time doing anything, including laying down.

Life at the hospital was way easier. What a chaotic mess it was when we threw the kids into the mix. Wow!!!!  My head is pounding.

[Mojo]

Dude, you ok ? This is your time to be the rock. Dig deep bro. We are praying for her pain to subside, and a whole lot of love and luck comes to your family so it all ends up positive.

Mike

[djkimmel]

My Mom used to always say... well, she still does... this too shall pass. It didn't always help but it helped sometimes. Still thinking about all of you over there.

[Mike S.]

Thanks again, guys. Mojo, I'm good. I know she will heal, and I keep telling her that. She's really come a long ways since we got her home. She's moving better as of right now. She slept really good last night. Luckily, our new bed is still comfortable for her. I was worried about that. BIG money there.  I think its just the comfort and security of home. Now she can see the kids at any time, not just when we bring them to her. It will all work out. The only question is whether or not the surgery was a success. We won't know for quite some time.

[Mojo]

My mom has 5 discs and a rod fused in her back. She said the pain was god awful for a few weeks, then subsided. She is limited in movement but is pain free now.

Funny - she complains of the stuff she can no longer do like "ice skating or riding a bike"... I told her - mom - at 68 do you really need to be ice skating lol !!! I guess the message is she will have emotional distraught because of the things she can no longer do (like gardening etc ) and for that YOU need to be the most empathetic.

Now thats a foreign word to me. Clueless. And even stranger that someone on a fishing website give you input to "provide empathy" when she talks about her losses ..... but since guys dont speak female, maybe this will help.

[fasttrack]

Thinking about you guys! Continue to keep us posted. My dad had steel rods put in his back when he was 17, in a body cast for months, missed most of a yr of school. He's 60 and can still outwork most all of us! Stay optimistic!

[Dan]

Hey Mike,
Keep your chin up! Focus on making it till tomorrow. Take it a day at a time. We'll be thinking of you and hoping that things can straighten around for your wife. Chronic pain is no fun, and is something she has to take her best shot at eliminating. I had surgery on Tuesday of last week and just starting to cut back on the pain meds. Each day it gets a little better and like your wife, I won't even know for a few months if the surgery did any good. Mine was surgery for chronic heartburn and they did a transoral fundiplication which basically is a valve reconstruction. Nothing like your wife went through.
She will really appreciate your support and strength. Take care and tell her she has a bunch of smelly fisherman thinking of her and sending her prayers.

[Mike S.]

Good luck on your recovery, Dan.  I had no idea you were going under the knife also.

[VinceR]

Stay strong, Mike. It will get better. Prayers sent for a good, and speedy recovery.