Ba-Bye PICC Line, Ba-Bye!

Yesterday was five weeks since dad's emergency surgery. He went to the infectious disease doctor and had the PICC line removed and all meds were ordered to be stopped. WHAT A HUGE RELIEF! The surgeon is pleased with the progress of his incision and does not expect anything but progress from this point forward. Dad is on his way to a full recovery and we are so grateful.

We are grateful to all of you and the support and prayers that you have offered over the past several weeks.
We are grateful for the modern marvels of medicine, that despite the drudgery of it all, infections and complications can be treated and cured.
We are grateful for the emergence of grace exactly when it is needed.
We are grateful that our family has emerged stronger and more unified than ever.

Like mom likes to say, life can be hard but God is good!

On behalf of all of us, thank you for walking with us on this journey. We don't anticipate the need for further updates, so hopefully you will see dad soon and judge for yourself how good God really is.

Hug the ones you love.

Peace and love,

The Beiler Family

Wednesday Marks 4 Weeks

It's hard to believe. Wednesday marks four weeks since dad's complication and emergency surgery. He is resting at home and continues to follow orders regarding rest and necessary meds. As he likes to say, it still takes longer to rest than it does to get tired. Getting out of the house for short trips to Angela's Cafe has been all the action he can take, but it is so good to see him around when he does.

Continue to keep him in your prayers. This whole ordeal has taken a notable and expected toll on his body. This week, the infectious disease group will (hopefully!) remove the PICC line and end the administration of IV antibiotics. Managing the incision and infection continue to be the greatest challenges to his full recovery.

We miss his gentle and reassuring presence in the day-to-day.

Cards and comments are a real lift for him. So if you think of him, let him know!

Forward...Our favorite direction

Dad is resting well at home and continues to progress on all fronts. He has learned to self-administer his antibiotics and is quite impressed with the mechanics of the whole process. He is slowly regaining strength and mobility. To my surprise, he informed me today that he will be at our weekly leadership/family meeting on Wednesday. Wonderful! We have missed his presence at work and we are all eager to resume the work that is in progress. The Family Center of Gap is at the heart of the work that dad has begun. Click here if you would like to learn more.

Weekly follow up appointments with the surgeon and others are scheduled for this week. I will update the blog accordingly.

Your ride is here!

Dad is going home today! He is leaving with the PICC line in place and will be required to continue some of the IV antibiotics. I will post again as his recovery continues.

Thank you all for your support through prayer, cards, calls, visits, and comments. This has been quite the ordeal for dad (and mom) and he (they)would not have fared as well without all of you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

First the hurdles, then the skipping!

The CT scan from yesterday showed a pocket of fluid just beneath the incision. One doctor believes this has been the cause of the unrelenting pain dad had been experiencing until recently. Basically, the fluid has built up and has not been able to escape through the healing incision. The infectious disease docs are cautious of infection, obviously, and the surgical group is concerned with draining the fluid. I will spare you the squeamish details, but an opening was made to allow for better drainage and heat will be applied throughout the evening to draw out the remaining fluid. The surgeon who performed dad's emergency surgery seems hopeful that he will be cleared for take off before the weekend. I guess the tricky part comes in getting all of the various doctors to agree on the conditions of his release. Blood work will be evaluated again in the morning to monitor changes in white blood cell counts and a sample of the fluid was sent to the lab to test for bacteria. These two results coupled with the success of the draining process (and the ability for all doctors to agree) are the final hurdles for dad to clear before coming home...we think.

Dad's progress in every other area has been steady and upward. He is getting stronger by the day and may just skip out of LGH when the time comes. He practically runs around the 8th floor when he goes for his "walks." As for mom, she continues to stand by her man 110%.

What a journey...

Featured Ride at LGH - The Rollercoaster

After yesterday, today could seem like a set back, but I've heard it said like this: a set back is really a set up for a come back. And this is how we are choosing to see it. His comeback is in the works already as he has not required ANY pain meds in more than 24 hours. And...in the midst of writing this, dad sneezed...and it didn't hurt!

Dad's blood work from this morning showed an increase in white blood cells which triggered the need for a CAT Scan to determine the source, if any, of infection. The results aren't in, but an update will follow tomorrow. Dad admits that this news was a bit discouraging, but he has adopted a sort of surrender to his current reality. It's hard news, but it's not the final news.

We continue to wait and hope and support dad as best we can.

Pray for him and mom. They both continue to wait this out together.

Also, Uncle Carl was admitted into LGH last night for an infection in his leg. His blog can be viewed at http://www.carlsmucker.blogspot.com/. Fan reported that he is progressing well with the prescribed antibiotics. He is situated right below dad at LGH. Mom is pleased that she can zip downstairs and visit her brother. Keep him in your prayers as well.

More will be revealed...

Speedy Recovery

Dad was walking so fast around the 8th floor today, that he almost collided with the cleaning cart! He is recovering so speedily that he literally almost wrecked!!! Honestly, he didn't almost wreck, but he sure was speedy in his walk! We got a good laugh out of the thought of it. :)

His pain is almost non-existent. His eyes are clear and familiar. His laughter is full and lively.

Departure to be determined...