9-29-10 p.m.

Brent grows stronger each day and is healing very well.  He gets around very good on crutches and will begin rehab tomorrow.  He is still in some 'phantom' pain which is VERY real.  Thank you for your continued prayers for him and our whole family.  Our middle daughter, Breanne, is dealing with mono now and needs prayers also.  I have come to realize that mono can be a very serious virus as we believe that mono is what weakened Brent's immune system and caused the staph infection in his leg to become active again.

9-27-10 p.m.

The pain is becoming less and less each day and he can get around very well on crutches.  We still have not been able to get rehab set up and its very important that we do that soon for many reasons.  He is feeling much much better not having to fight the infection any more.  It is very hard for Brent to feel better physically and not be able to do the things he wants/needs to do.  Please pray for his patience and peace.  (He is a very good patient and does not require much from me or the girls.)  He read his cards, notes of encouragement today and it blessed us both.  Thank you so much for your love and concern.

update 9-26-10 a.m.

Brent is home and adjusting.  The pain becomes less and less and his health is already improving now that the infection is gone.  I know that you all will continue to pray for him in the days ahead.  For those of you who know Brent best, it is very hard for him to not be as active right now as he would like to be.  He will have much adjusting to make in the every day things.  He will be working from home for a few weeks.  Thanks again for your many prayers on our family's behalf.  Please pray for Chris, Kelly, Donna, Pat, Debbie and all the staff and volunteers at BC.  They have a heavy load to bear.

Home?

If they can get rehab set up Brent may be going home today.  The insurance will not take care of in-house rehab so he will be doing rehab at home and possibly at the rehab center apart from the hospital.
Brent is doing great.  He was taken off the IV meds and now takes pain medicine by mouth.  He is getting up on crutches although it is extremely painful and hard.  His bp is almost back to normal.
Thank you for your prayers, cards, concerns, and everything you all have done for us.  We are confident that you will continue to pray as the months progress because we know that is who you are.  He will miss being at the Jackson Walk for Life today but will be there next year. :)

insurance problems

Pray that we can get the insurance problems worked out

Update 9-24-10 a.m.

How does anyone get through anything in life without Christian friends who lift them to the Lord through prayer during times of need?  We definitely feel your prayers.
We both slept great last night.  The pain become less each day.  Dr. Currie said that Brent will probably go to rehab today and that he is probably the best candidate for rehab that they have ever had.  Dr. Currie said he could be in rehab as long as 3 weeks but Brent says he is going to do a crash course.  I really can't see him staying that long, it would drive him bonkers.  His blood pressure is still a little low but gradually getting back to normal.  Very slight temperature this morning but expect it to get back to normal as the day progresses.
Thank you all again for EVERYTHING!!!

9-23-10 p.m.

Today has been a very good day.  Less pain.  Tomorrow they will begin taking him off of some of the pain medications.  Pray that the pain will not be too bad.  Thank you all for lifting our family to the Lord in prayer.  He is definitely listening to you all.

Prayer request

Pray that Christian Care Medi-Share will approve in-house therapy.  If so, it will start tomorrow!

Update 9-23-10

Brent and I are still sleeping well at night so obviously you prayer warriors are not.  Thank you!  Not as many interruptions last night and the nurses are very nice.  He was in pain yesterday after therapy.  Dr. Currie changed the dressing this morning and said everything is looking good.  We are waiting to see if we have coverage (Christian Care Medi-Share) for in-house therapy because Dr. Currie said that would be best-more agressive.  Brent's spirits are very good under the circumstances.  At least now the most dreaded part is over and we can begin healing and adjusting.  Thank you so much for prayers, concerns, cards, letters, love expressed in many ways, snacks, etc.  Thanks too for those of you (you know who you are) who have chopped and stacked wood for us to use this winter. 

Update

I am sorry I haven't given more detail for those of you not aware.  Brent came through surgery Tuesday very well; Dr. Currie was able to keep the amputation below the knee, for which we are very very thankful.  He was in surgery about an hour or a little more.  He was in recovery two hours longer than expected because his blood pressure was too low (prob because of the meds).  It is still low but much better.  The doctors and nurses are continually surprised at how healthy he is other than the leg problem.  Even the physical therapists commented on how robust he is.
Brent told me earlier today that the pain is bad but still much better than pre-surgery.  The nurse just told us his bp is coming up a little...good.  No temperature...good again.
The physical therapist had him sitting up and walking (with a walker) this morning and will have him up again this afternoon.
As hard as this is, Brent is adjusting better than I thought he would but I am sure there will be ups and downs.  Someone told me the other day that Brent already has a timeline for his recovery.
Brent and I slept very well last night even with the interruptions from the wonderful nurse, Vera.  Each time after she came in, we immediately went back to sleep.  I realize the reason we slept so well is because many of you prayer warriors did not; you were up and down during the night praying for us.  We are very humbled by the love and prayers that have been shown and given on our behalf.  Thank you is not enough.  You are each one doing "What Jesus would do", May God bless and protect you all.

good night rest

Brent slept well all night once they got the pain.  He ate breakfast and seems to be feeling better.  We have had great nurses so far.  I even slept pretty good also.  Thanks again for your prayers.

surgery is over

Surgery is over and Brent is in recovery for about an hour.  Everything went well.

surgery

Brent just went into surgery and it should take about an hour and a half.

Thank you

We FEEL your prayers and have peace in the storm.  Brent is in good spirits under the circumstances.  Just ready to get this over with and start the healing process.  Thank you!!! :)

Note from Brent

After meeting with the Dr on Tue I learned that I will not get fitted for a prosthesis until 4-6 weeks after surgery so I won’t be away from home until then. I do plan to be able to do some work from home.

Pain is intense at the moment as they have taken the best pain killers and anti-inflammatory medicines away because they thin the blood too much.

While I do not want visitors, it will be fine to come by and offer encouragement to my wonderful wife.

Love you all

I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20.24

Surgery 9-21-10

Dr. Dean Currie in Jackson will be doing Brent's surgery this coming Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 3:00 p.m.  If all goes well, Brent will be in the hospital 3-5 days and will go from there to rehab.  Pray for a good surgery and that the skin will heal properly and quickly.

Surgery plans

As Beverly and I near the upcoming surgeries for my leg we have really sought the Lord for HIS wisdom. As you know, we met with Drs. from Campbell Clinic as well as infectious disease specialists and plastic surgeons.

Besides the long-term intense pain from the surgeries, subsequent sickness and nausea that accompanies months of high dose, high power antibiotics that will be associated with each step of several procedures, the prognosis for a cure is still non-existent. They know it will return as it always has. There is also the very real possibility that this rebuilding process could extend to three times the goal of three months. Another aspect is the cost involved which could reach astronomical proportions and there are limits to my insurance coverage.

Through much prayer and conversation, Beverly and I have decided to choose a more radical approach but one that offers a cure which will improve my general health, a below the knee amputation. I have met with prosthetics representatives, below the knee amputees and conversed with several Drs. about this so that ,as traumatic as it will inevitably be, at least we have explored every possibility and gathered as much knowledge as we can about the whole process.

I have spoken with Dr. Dean Currie about this and will meet with him Wed. afternoon. We have scheduled surgery for next Tue. When I know more details I will let you know. In the past I have always had visitors after surgery but I think I would prefer not to have any.

I look forward to much better health because of this decision as well as returning to basketball, running, and biking. It is my desire that this will not limit me in any way.

I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20.24

Catching you up......

A few months ago, Brent contracted mono.  This caused his immune system to be extremely low.  As many of you already know, Brent has osteomyletis in his right ankle near the joint.  He has had this since he was about 14 years old and has had many surgeries on it over the years.  The last flare up was almost 10 years ago.  The mono caused another flare up and he will once again have to have surgery.
There is no one in Jackson who will or can do anything with this and he was referred to Campbell's Clinic in Memphis.
This is the schedule of events up to this point:

He has met with the bone doctor who seems to have a great plan of action and has explained things very well to us.
He is having a bone aspiration on Tuesday, September 7 to help the doctors find out exactly what kind of antibiotics to administer.  He will be put to sleep with this procedure, so we will be in Memphis most of the day.  The doctor said his leg will hurt very much after this procedure, so he will probably be out of pocket all day on Tuesday and possibly Wednesday.  Knowing Brent though, maybe not.
He meets with the plastic surgeon on Tuesday the 14th.  The flesh has been cut so many times that the wound will not stay closed and is very much compromised.
After the meeting with the plastic surgeon, the plastic surgeon and the bone doctor will get together to plan a day of surgery.
The first surgery includes cleaning out the infection in the bone, putting in antibiotics beads, a bone graft, and a skin graft.  He will then have IV antibiotics for about 6 to 8 weeks through home health.  The last time we did this 10 years ago Brent continued to work most of the time.  Thankfully, he does have many many days of sick time he has not taken.  I did the IV's, etc, so this is not a problem since I can do this anywhere he needs (in his office or at home).  The second surgery will be to take out the antibiotic beads and finalize the grafts.
The doctor seems to think he can save Brent's leg for which we are extremely grateful and encouraged.  Pray for his healing and that the antibiotics will not cause too much in the way of side effects (he had some hearing loss due to the last round of IV antibiotics).
This will be a slow and long process and we will need your prayers as usual but are confident that God is in control.