Unexpected Emergency

I haven’t posted on my blog since we arrived in Pigeon Forge, so I’m adding two posts now.  The one below will bring you up to September 11^th, and this one will bring you up to date on what has happened since then.

On the morning of Ron’s birthday (Monday, September 12), he awoke with abdominal pain and vomiting.  This had happened three times before, so we knew all too well what was happening.  I took him to the emergency room and a CT scan confirmed that he had a blocked bowel.  He was immediately hospitalized, given an IV, and they inserted an NG tube.  For those who don’t know, an NG tube is inserted into the nose and goes down into the stomach, to keep it drained so nothing can pass into the intestines.  It is terribly uncomfortable and irritates his throat and his nose.  In the past, we were able to wait it out until the block cleared and everything was functioning again. 

It has been explained to us in the past that this condition is caused by either a carcinoid tumor or from adhesions resulting from a prior abdominal surgery.  The first time he had this problem it appeared to have been caused by a tiny carcinoid, which was removed when the surgeon did a resection of his lower bowel.  The following episodes were a result of the adhesions that formed after that surgery.  In some people this happens repeatedly.  In others it never happens.  For Ron, it can happen again tomorrow, or it may never happen again.  It’s always in the back of our minds. 

Gary and Peggy came to the hospital that evening and brought him a birthday gift to cheer him up.  It was a small leaf blower, just like Gary’s!  Ron had mentioned that he would like to get one to clean off the top of the slide-outs on our fifth-wheel.  That was a nice moment for him on an otherwise miserable day.  Erin and Chris and the girls sent Happy Birthday and Get Well balloons that also made him smile!

We expected that we would be waiting for things to straighten out themselves, as we had in the past.  Dr. Rothwell said that it didn’t look like surgery would be necessary. Gary and Peggy were with us that Wednesday when everything changed. Dr. Rothwell came into the room and said that he didn’t like the looks of the xray and other tests that were done that morning.  He was afraid that Ron’s intestines would rupture if he didn’t do surgery. Then he added, “within the hour” as he walked out of the room.  We were all stunned.  I didn’t have time to digest what he said before the nurses were in the room prepping him for surgery.  I didn’t even have time to call all of our family!  Instead, I was madly trying to get a text written to send to everyone at once.  Within 10 minutes they had him out of the room and on his way to surgery. 

 

I thank God that Gary and Peggy were there.  They stayed with me until late that night, after Ron was settled into ICU and we knew that he was going to be okay.  They continued to come to the hospital every day.  We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends!  We talk to family every day, but it isn’t the same as having them here.  This is definitely the down side of traveling.  

The NG tube stayed in place until Sunday (18^th), then it was removed and he was put on a liquid diet.  He was getting a little stronger, but that only lasted two days before the vomiting started again.  The dreaded NG tube had to be reinserted.  Then it was nine days after surgery and he still hadn’t had a bowel movement.  He was up and walking every 4 hours, with the hope that it would help get things started.   They inserted a picc line and started him on TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition), which is a way of supplying all the nutritional needs of the body by bypassing the digestive system and dripping nutrient solution directly into a vein..  We were fearful of the next step, if he didn’t have results soon.  There had been mention of another surgery!

Finally, on Saturday, there were signs that things were beginning to work again and the hospital doctor said there was a possibility that Dr. Rothwell would let him go home on Sunday.  That possibility was quickly dashed when Dr. Rothwell came in on Sunday morning and found that his abdomen was distended again.  Further tests were ordered for Monday morning so he could see what was going on.  After he saw that all was well, he put him on a regular diet and said he could go home on Tuesday if he didn’t have any problems being on solid food. He was finally discharged on Tuesday afternoon ( the 27^th) around 4:30….FIFTEEN days after being admitted to the hospital!!!   

We would like to thank Gary and Peggy for being there for us through it all.  I couldn’t have made it without their support!   In addition to staying with me during Ron’s surgery and coming to the hospital every day, they had dinner waiting for me several evenings when I got home from the hospital! 

We also thank all of our family and friends who kept us both in their prayers.  The power of prayer is amazing!  And a big thank you goes to my Team Leader and coworkers who were supportive and filled in for me so I could spend my time at the hospital with Ron...and to Billy, the manager of our campground, who kept Ron's job open for him.

Time for fun

Peggy has been working part-time in the campground office.  Thanks to her recommendation, Ron also was able to get a job in the office, working two days a week in exchange for our campsite.

We had a good time during the first two weeks we were here.  It was good to get back to work at the Sweet Shoppe and see everyone again.  I work with a nice group of people!

Peggy and Gary invited us and their friends, Brenda and Larry, over for dinner one night so we could meet each other.  We liked Brenda and Larry immediately and we had a nice evening together.

We also introduced Gary and Peggy to some of our friends from the Sweet Shoppe, Clair, Dave and another friend, Harry.  Gary was hesitant at first, because he was very self conscious about meeting new people because of the scarring on his face.  We convinced him that everyone would be supportive and that it would be good for him to get out and have some fun.  We all went to the Country Tonite show and then met again for breakfast the next morning.  Clair and Dave had been here all summer and were leaving to go back to their home in Indiana within the next few days.

I’m happy to say that Gary’s doctor started him on a new chemo drug and we soon started seeing results!!  The lesions began to heal and his face is looking better every day.  Thank you, God!  Our prayers have been answered!  As I write this, all that remains is a little redness, which is quickly fading.  

Gary, Peggy, and I went to Maryville while Ron was training in the office one day.  Gary took a shortcut and we went quite a distance before he realized he had missed the road where we needed to turn.  We may have been on the wrong road, but we were on the right one for scenic vistas.  On our way back to Pigeon Forge, we stopped to look in several shops along the way.  Later, Ron grilled hamburgers for all of us and we drove to Gatlinburg to see the show at Sweet Fanny Adams Theater.  We should have called beforehand, because we found the box office closed and there was no show scheduled for Wednesday.   We quickly overcame our disappointment when Ron suggested going to Mel’s Diner for a banana split! 

Hay bale 'sculpture' we saw on our drive to Maryville

Another hay bale 'sculpture'

Gary, Ron, and I at Mel's Diner

Mmmm!  Our HUGE banana splits!  Definitely made for two!

Brenda and Larry invited us all to join them for dinner at a local BBQ restaurant one evening.  As we went into the restaurant, Ron mentioned that his stomach was hurting a little.  He didn’t seem too concerned, so we planned to all meet again for dinner the next night to celebrate Ron’s birthday.

First week back inTennessee

We arrived at our campground in Pigeon Forge on Monday afternoon and were warmly welcomed by Gary and Peggy as we pulled into the site next to them.  It’s so nice to have them as neighbors again!  After we got set up, Peggy fixed dinner for all of us and we had a chance to visit and get an update on Gary’s condition.  Gary has a rare form of skin cancer (mycosis fungoides).  He has been treated with radiation and several chemo drugs, but the cancer had progressed considerably since we saw him last. Most of his face was covered with painful lesions, and the swelling around his eyes obstructed his vision.  He started a new chemo drug recently and we have been praying that this is THE ONE!  

The four of us went to ‘5 Guys’ for lunch on Tuesday and then did a little shopping.  Peggy and I especially liked ‘Ten Thousand Villages’, a fair trade retail store that markets items handcrafted by artisans around the world.  A nearby tool shop kept the guys busy and happy while we shopped.  After watching a demo in a craft shop, Peggy and I both became interested in needle punch embroidery.  That may become our next hobby!  That evening, Ron and I met Clair and Dave for pizza at the Smoky Mountain Brewery and to the ‘Tennessee Shindig’ show.  We had hoped that Peggy and Gary could join us, but Gary was tired and not feeling well, so they stayed home. 

We went to HR Wednesday to get my ID and name tag and picked up my uniforms at wardrobe.  While we were there, we checked to see if they had found a Fall position for Ron, but there was nothing available yet.  We’re hoping we didn’t make a mistake in coming back now instead of last summer.  My job is in a location that is open year-round, but Ron gave up his summer job so we could spend this Fall in the Smokies.  Hopefully something will open up when the Southern Gospel and Harvest Celebration begins later this month.

  

Peggy was working at Dollywood, so we stopped by to say hello before we went home to check on Gary.  His doctor had called in a prescription for pain so, when it was ready, Ron and I went to the pharmacy to pick it up for him.   Peggy got home soon after we did and we all had a nice dinner together in their coach.  Peggy and I took turns cooking dinner when we were in Florida last winter and we are continuing that tradition here.

 

We had dinner at our place Thursday night.  Gary still wasn't feeling well, so they didn't go with Ron and I to see a new show with Clair and Dave at the Majestic.  Clair and Dave are leaving soon, so we didn't want to miss the short time we have with them.  We didn’t care for the show at the Majestic last year, so this year’s show was a big surprise!  We loved ‘America’s Hit Parade’!  It was a good production with some excellent singers. 

 

The biggest news is that we are suddenly seeing some improvement in Gary’s condition!  The chemo is making him tired, but the lesions appear to be healing!  We’re praying this is the beginning of a long remission, if not a total cure!!