The Hendersons ~ On a Journey 4 Him Weblog...

School DAZE ;-)

Since I've last written, my stitches have been taken out, and I have a physical therapist that comes to the apartment daily. I am down to one crutch now. YAY!  Poco a poco (Little by little).....pasito a paso (step by step). Today, my leg is swollen (from more use), and my ankle is sore. My blood's INR has been very thin the past two times...3.59 the last time.  I will get another blood test on Friday. Next week, I am supposed to get another echogram to check on my blood clot.  Keep me in your prayers, please, especially as I am officially back to classes now!

Today began our first days of school (for the kids, it is their 2nd semester) and Bible study for our students (our 3rd "term" teaching/training). Pray for Skylar and Sydney as they finish up their grades (5th/1st) in Peru.  We had 22 students in our Bible study tonight, plus other M's, Jim & Tommy, and us.  There were several new faces. It is good to see the students and translators grow in their knowledge about Him. Pray that we will be open vessels for the Lord to use to work through and that the students will be open to learning and growing in their relationship with HIM.

Brian is assigning translators to trips, sending out confirmation emails and trip details, and is working hard on 2 seminary classes from New Orleans Seminary. Lots of paperwork, reading, and studying!

From here on out, there will be many teams journeying to Peru to share with people groups in the mountains and jungles. That's GREAT news for the people, so they may hear the truth about our Saviour. It's also good news for our translators, as they are now getting to be sent out more frequently.  Pray for the teams coming in and their travels, for God to work in and through the translators for clear sharing of the gospel, and for the people to have open hearts and hearing ears.

Brian will go out on a vision trip on Monday night with two men from a church in Florida. They will be visiting unreached villages near Canta, and will return Wednesday evening. Pray for their travels and with meeting the people.  Also, pray for the kids and myself while he is away.

Thank you so much for your prayers!! 

A Week of Progress

This week has been a week of progress. Thank God!

On Wednesday, I had my blood lab test, and my INR had risen to 1.74. My cardiologist wants it to 2+, so he only required one more injection Wed. night, and boosted my tablets of blood thinner each day to 2, 1 1/2, 2, etc....  Tomorrow, I go for another lab test to see the level.  Brian and I both were very thankful that the injections ended. My stomach was bruised and sore, and he was simply tired of having to give them to me. After all, who likes to give someone an ouchy shot!?  HAHA.

On Thursday, I had my first session with my physical therapist, Lourdes. Brian got Ada (works at our M. office) to set up an appointment. She comes to our home daily.  She knows some English; we know some Spanish. Therefore, we each got to do a lot of practicing with our languages. She is excellent, and has a great personality. Before she came, I wasn't sure of what to expect...maybe a drill sergeant marching in with a whip, screaming for me to drop my crutches and walk.  HEHEH. Thank God, that was NOT the case. She is taking me step by step. We've seen lots of progress just in the 4 days she has come. I have little swelling in my leg/foot; at the beginning of the week, before she came, my entire leg was swollen when I tried "walking." She gives my leg long, intense massages, and she is working out the kinks in my Achilles tendon. That might have been the one that was torn during the accident because it is the one that is requiring the most work. I have went from 2 ACE bandages to one! Since it is so very warm here, this is great news for me and for my sweating foot, ankle, and leg.  I've went from hobbling on my crutches to striding with more weight on my foot using crutches! Thank God again for His provisions!!  He is sooooo, soooo good to me!!

On Wednesday, I'll see Dr. Suarez (Lourdes has called and told him of my progression) to get the stitches out. Please continue to pray for complete healing of my leg and for my blood clot to dissolve.

Meanwhile, the kids are counting the days down until school starts. 10 more days of summer freedom. Wii and lots of Nintendo are corrupting their brains.

It is also 10 more days til our last term of teaching English to natives begins. We're really sad that this will be the finale, but we want to make the most of our time left with our friends and family here, sharing Him with them. We want to finish our time here doing God's will. Pray that we will be discerning and obedient to what He has left for us to do here.  There are also several trips that Brian (and hopefully I) will be leading to the mountains. Two of those trips will be from teams in George and Greene counties. Please pray for them as they prepare.

Also, our future is unknown. I keep crossing this Scripture, and I know that He is reminding me over and over (because sometimes my thick skull needs that constant reminder) of Proverbs 3:5-6 (New Living Translation) : “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take."   Pray for us as we seek His perfect will to follow and obey Him.

Who is Your Surgeon?

The past few days have been slow. Saturday night, I kept my leg elevated on a pillow. Not much pain. Sunday, I got up and started "walking," but I had to use my crutches. I am putting some weight on them, and some on the floor. If I don't have my security, then, my good leg seems glued to the floor.  Monday, I walked some, and exercised my foot a lot. I found some exercises on the internet to strengthen the ankle and around the ankle post surgery or post break.

This morning, I woke up, and my inner ankle is very sore. I guess it is all the exercising + not being used in such a long time.

We had a 4 o'clock appointment with my surgeon. I hobbled into his office. It's even harder to "try" to walk with a shoe on one foot and not on the other. I told him it was difficult. He told me to take off my shoe. I did, and he took one of my crutches away. Again, my good foot glued itself to the floor, and I can't seem to make myself walk. He handed me my crutches again, and we went to his examining table. He took off the bandage, and then he removed the smaller bandage that is on the incision. His face glowed. There was little bleeding on the smaller bandage and everything looked good!  He looked at me and said, "Who is your surgeon?"  HAHA.  :) I told him that I had the best surgeon in the world. He beamed again.  He put a new bandage over the incision (about 1 inch or less), and he put a cotton bandage (ahhh, it's cooler!!) from my toes to my knees.

He gave us the name and telephone number of a physical therapist and said she would come to our house. Brian asked if she could speak English, and he said less than he could. Hmm. This should be interested.   He said it is normal to have fear of walking because the trauma of my falling and breaking my leg is replaying in my mind over and over again. We'll return to his office in one week to get the stitches removed. Meanwhile, I MUST walk!!!

I have been frustrated since we returned home. I tried walking with one crutch, and I can't seem to master it. It does hurt when I step onto my foot (my inner ankle), but more so I freeze up and my good leg won't cooperate. Brian tried my walking with a chair in front of me to push, like a walker. Again, I freeze up and won't walk.  Please pray for my mind and body to function correctly so I can walk!! 

Yesterday, I went to the lab to get a blood test. I have to continue injections because my INR was 1.37. It must be a 2 to be where the cardiologist needs it to be. He moved my dosage of pills to 1 1/2 per day instead of 1, 1 1/2, 1....  I get another blood test tomorrow. Pray it will get to where it needs to be. Continue to pray that the clot will dissolve.

Thanks for your encouragement and prayers. 

Glory to our King--King Jesus Christ!!!

Words cannot describe how grateful I am for your many prayers for me and for the provisions that our mighty King has made for me today!!!!

I woke up thinking about Phil. 4:6-7. One of my friends/translators (who also babysits the kids when we have Wed. night classes) sent it to me last night. Thanks, Mayra!!! 

6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

After dropping off the kids with Jim, Tommy, and Anibal, we arrived at the clinic about 30 minutes early, andthey took me in to a room in the ER to take my blood count. They directed me to a bed, and I was a little concerned they didn't understand the Dr.'s orders/our poor Spanish that they must get my INR level BEFORE surgery could take place. Our friend, J.P., whirled in, and they did understand. They wanted to go ahead and prepare me beforehand. I changed into a hospital gown, and a nurse took my blood test. She also pricked my ear, which was new to me, to see how long it would take a drop to form (because of me being on blood thinners). No worries. She was quick, and the tests were painless. Brian called Dr. Suarez and let him know he could head over to the hospital. He said he'd be there in 30 minutes.

Erick, J.P.'s brother, arrived. Then, Gladys M. came. We were having many great laughs and conversations....just what I needed. CALM and PEACEFUL. Just what THE Doctor ordered. Brian saw the intern (who had asked me some general questions) writing, and he took a look at my INR level on their desk.  1.14.  YAY--the surgery is on!!! Three nurses came into the room, and they seemed a bit anxious about my veins in my arms. Yes, it is not always so easy to get them to show like they need them to! In my limited Spanish, I told them I had much pain the last time; then, one of the friends stepped in and translated for me. She was very carefully put it into the side of my hand, a little above my wrist but on the top near my thumb. PAINLESS!!!!! Thank You, JESUS!!! Erick told them how much I appreciated their good work.  They were very sweet.

The doctor arrived, saw I was ready, and he headed to the operation room to prep.  When the nurses rolled me out on the bed, they had to go through the front reception part of the hospital. Brian said there was a leak in the ceiling of the hall in the ER, so we couldn't go the "regular" way. I felt like I was being given a scenic tour with a parade following behind me...Brian, J.P., Erick, and Gladys. :)

Brian and the gang were directed to a waiting room, and I was pushed down a long haul into the operation room. Dr. Suarez was waiting for me. The nurse came over to me and in English asked if I could speak Spanish. I told her very little, so she spoke to me in English!!! PRAISE GOD...more provisions!!! She washed my leg down and prepped me. Then, Dr. Suarez gave me quite a few HUGE injections. He showed me the first one to prepare me. He didn't know I NEVER look at the needles. It looked about 2 inches long!! OUCHY. Yes, I will be very honest and say the shots didn't feel good. He administered them to numb my leg/foot area. My English-speaking nurse talked to me and kept my mind off everything during the entire event. PTL!!  As soon as he finished the shots, another surgeon/assistant really bore down on holding my leg in place, and in what seemed like only seconds, the screw was out!!! He asked if I wanted to keep it for hanging my keys on. HEHEH.  Of course, I wanted to keep my screw!! He sewed me up, applied pressure to the wound for a bit, and I was done!!! 

Off I went to my room in the ER. Brian and the gang had moved to the main waiting area in the ER, so he saw me when I was going into the room. They came in, and I showed them the screw (that the surgeon/assistant handed to me on my way out). The doctor came in a little later, and gave me instructions:  Call Talledo for orders on when to restart the meds. Foot up today, but I must work on flexing it often!!!!  Tomorrow, get up and work on walking.  Yes, tomorrow!!!  Check up on Tuesday. Call him for ANYTHING!!!  The nurse returned to take out my IV, and she and Gladys helped get me dressed.  I was ready to go!!

Out into the main waiting area we go, while Brian is paying. Surprise!!! More visitors--Juan and Mali came to visit for a little while, bringing chocolates. We have such sweet, sweet, caring friends. As we started to go, Erick noticed the President of Peru leaving out of the hospital with much security and paparazzi around him. He stood on the steps as he was interviewed by the news, and we got to watch as we waited for the truck. How cool is that!!!

Brian called Dr. Talledo, and I restart my blood thinners tonight. I'll get a blood test on Monday to check my INR level.

After getting the kids and trekking across town, I am currently in my bed that Brian brought into the living room several weeks ago. My foot is propped up on 2 pillows, and I work on flexing it from time to time.

Again, thanks so much for your prayers! Our God is mighty!  I can't imagine how all of this would've been without knowing He is with me and for me.  Continue to pray for my rapid healing and ability to start walking again, and pray for my blood clot to dissolve.

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ~2 Corinthians 12:9

Today's Visit with Dr. Suarez

It took us about 45 minutes to get across town to see my surgeon. We arrived early, but he took us straight on into his office. He took off my bandage, felt for "the" screw, looked at my leg, and flexed my foot. I couldn't believe he was flexing my foot. I winced, and he asked me if it was painful. I think I was more afraid of HOW it would FEEL to be flexed (because it WON'T flex much at all) than how it really felt. WHEW. I survived. He wrote up the order for my blood test for my INR level for 7:30 AM Saturday morning. After we get it done, we'll call his cellular phone, get him to come over and check my results. If it is at the level they need me to be at, the surgery will go on.

We were in and out of there in less than 15 minutes. Amazing. It took us about an hour to return to the apartment.

I dread being awake during the surgery, and I really dread the IV being "hammered" (or so it felt) in the top of my hand. Pray for the following items, PLEASE:

* gentleness from staff (IV, etc.)

*  peace before, during, and after the surgery

*  the surgeon (Dr. Suarez) and staff at Clinica San Felipe for the surgery,  & doctors   

    (cardiologists Dr. Talledo and Dr. De La Pena) at Clinica Anglo Americana for continued treatment

     of my clot

*  Felicia's clot to dissolve safely

*  rapid healing of her leg/ankle/foot

*  strength and stability in learning to walk again

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers!!!!

What the Doctor Has Ordered

Brian just talked to the doctor. He says the surgery will go on! They had not received the old echo gram results from the other hospital yet, but because my measurements, etc. were okay yesterday & because of the meds. I'm on, they feel the clot is the same "old" one,  and not as dangerous as it could be after the first few days of a "new" one. Continue to pray for good decisions on their part, and for peace and healing on mine.

Meanwhile, our internet is up and down. The phone man came today twice with a n modem and router, but there is still problems that are not in the house. He'll get it checked  and worked on, and he will return tomorrow evening. If you've tried to call our USA phone and it goes straight to voice mail, know it's the internet. Hopefully, it will be fixed by tomorrow night.

We have a team meeting tomorrow. This week is flying by. Saturday will be here before we know it!!

Much Worse Than Expected

After we received the results of my ultrasound (echo doppler), I tried hard not to let the devil convince me to be "scared stiff."  Brian and I talked about how God has a purpose for all of this. I thought back to the Scripture (Isaiah 55:8-11) that He gave me directly after I broke my leg the weekend of Nov. 5:

8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
and your ways are not My ways."
[This is] the Lord's declaration.
9 "For as heaven is higher than earth,
so My ways are higher than your ways,
and My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For just as rain and snow fall from heaven
and do not return there
without saturating the earth
and making it germinate and sprout,
and providing seed to sow
and food to eat,

11 so My word that comes from My mouth
will not return to Me empty,
but it will accomplish what I please
and will prosper in what I send it [to do]."

Okay, now let me back up and tell you what unfolded with the ultrasound. Our last ultrasound was done at the hospital that I had surgery at. Today's was with a different doctor at the hospital that my cardiologist works mostly at. The doctor found the clot to be much more serious, and the blockage was from below my knee to above my groin area (where the main clot is located) to my stomach area. After asking us twice when we were supposed to see our cardiologist again and we replied "After Saturday's surgery," he urged us to go see him immediately. He said that Talledo would want to see the results and would be waiting for us. 

A little surprised and doubtful about what was to happen, we headed to the fifth floor to find Talledo, who was in a meeting, and his secretary had already left for the day. Fortunately, we have Lily's telephone number (the secretary), so J.P. (our friend/translator) called her and told her what was going on. Returning our call, she told us to wait on Talledo's assistant; he'd be there in 10 minutes. After about an hour, he came in. He had been to see the doctor (interrupting his meeting), shown him today's results, and was advised to admit me into the hospital. The clot/blockage was much worse than they had anticipated! If it had grown recently, there is a much higher risk of it breaking loose in the first few days. It was also located close to some larger veins, which is not good news.

Shocked, we followed him down to the E.R. He contacted our other hospital to get the results of the first ultrasound sent over to compare the two. Meanwhile, another cardiologist and he checked my swelling (none) by measuring my legs and took a blood test for my most recent I.N.R. (thickness). Because of my feeling okay and having no swelling, they decided not to admit me into the hospital. By tomorrow, they will have compared my ultrasounds and make important decisions of whether or not to postpone my foot surgery (scheduled for this Sat.) a few days or week(s) or not. He ordered me not to get off Warfarina (today was my first day off to get ready for surgery).

When we got home from the hospital, I had received this excerpt in an email from another friend/translator:

I will keep praying that you may recover soon. You may not see now why all this is happening to you, but your God has a good purpose. Do not lose heart!

And with this thought, let's add the remainder of Isaiah 55:12-13:

12 You will indeed go out with joy
and be peacefully guided;
the mountains and the hills will break into singing before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap [their] hands.

13 Instead of the thornbush, a cypress will come up,
and instead of the brier, a myrtle will come up;
it will make a name for the Lord
as an everlasting sign that will not be destroyed.

Indeed, there is something to look forward, too, even through all these struggles that we seem to be having!  Thanks so much for your prayers. Please continue to pray for my family and for my healing. Pray for good decisions to be made by my doctors (Talledo, Suarez, etc.). Pray for me to stand as I wait on the my sweet Savior and Lord!