SQJ Taipei

(like my post before back surgery this is cross posted from our email updates… if you read it there… you won’t find anything new here)

I’d like to give you an update about my back surgery and recovery.

SHORT VERSION
I’m doing well! My legs and spine are pain free and my incision and surrounding muscles are feeling better with each passing day. The doctor says I can start stretching and even riding my bike after Chinese New Year (in about a week). I’ll have to wait a few more weeks to start running again.

LONGISH VERSION
This won’t be a blow by blow account, but it might seem like it sometimes… feel free to go back to the short version anytime!

Angie’s mom arrived on Saturday, January 5th to help out during my recovery (THANKS PATSY!) so Angie was able to go to Zhongshan Hospital with me when I checked in on Sunday evening. One fantastic surprise was that after I had blood drawn… some X-rays taken… EKG… and checked into my room… the nurse said I could eat… and that I could leave the hospital to do so. We didn’t want to go far, but didn’t have to since there was a SWENSON’S about 5 minutes away. I went in for back surgery, but got to go have a fun meal with my wife, too!

The surgery was to start Monday at 8:30AM and last about 1 hour. The doctor said that this surgery normally took about 30 minutes but my herniation was on both sides of my spine so it would take twice as long. I did not sleep well at all the night before. I was so excited about the prospect that this procedure might *possibly* be successful that I really couldn’t rest. It didn’t seem right to be so excited about having surgery… but the hope of being pain free was too much. I was definitely excited.

I got up early… since I didn’t really sleep much anyway… and tried not to slip and fall in the Taiwanese-style (water all over the walls and floor of the bathroom) shower. I kept thinking how many people must be in the hospital to get relief for something and end up hurting themselves by falling in the bathroom. Fortunately, I made it out safely. Then I put on my hospital gown… and waited for them to come get me at about 8AM and get to the OR. They came to get me right on time and I enjoyed being pushed around on my hospital bed… elevator ride… past the “Shock Wave Center” (which we found out later was for blasting kidney stones and the like)… and into the OR after some kisses and hugs from Angie.

It is almost always a bit tiresome to answer the usual questions we get from Taiwanese people we just meet…

• if we teach English… “no, I work at a church”
• what denomination… “none… just Christian”
• do you ride a bike… (which means, are you a Mormon?)… “yes I ride a bike, no I’m not a Mormon”
• does my wife live in Taiwan… um… yeah
• is she Taiwanese… no…
• do you have kids…
• how much is your salary…
• etc etc etc

But answering all those questions (which I know are innocent enough, but I’ve heard them HUNDREDS of times) in the Operating Room… before my first major surgery, my first general anesthesia, in a gown… and it is COLD in there… and the lack of sleep… all worked to bring the scenario to new levels of weirdness.
I discovered that the anesthesiologist’s kids used to go to Bethany School (the Christian school in Taipei) and we had several friends in common. His English was great so that took a little off of my mind. 8:30 came and went and I discovered we were waiting for the doctor… he showed up at about 8:45AM and after some greetings and a little small talk… I then got very sleepy…

I woke up in a daze… of course… thanks to the anesthesia… but my main problem was that I was REALLY uncomfortable on my bed. My lower back felt like it was arched up off the bed, and was very uncomfortable and I felt I couldn’t relax… but I could not at all think of the right words to communicate the problem. Several hours later I was finally able to pull the word “valley” out of the recesses of my brain. As in, “It feels like my back is suspended over a valley.” Then Angie said, “We can lower the head of the bed.” And she did… and that did the trick. I was flat… I was happy. Flat and Happy.

But the incision did REALLY hurt. Way more than I thought it would. And I found out that the surgery actually lasted 3 hours instead of 1. Why? We found out over the next couple days… the incision was small (which helps healing but makes the actual surgery take longer)… I bled a lot (the doctor said this was from all the painkillers)… the disc was destroyed and it just took a long time to get it all.
My surgery was on Monday AM and I was able to go home by noon on Thursday. Since then, I’ve been a good patient and followed the doctor’s instructions (for the most part) and my recovery is on schedule or ahead of it. My wound is healing well… and the only pain I feel now is in the muscles surrounding the wound.

Angie stayed with me the night after my surgery. Lots of people visited… both Taiwanese and some of our missionary friends, too. They all brought special gifts of food or money as is traditional here. Bethanie stayed with me one night and we stayed up most of the night playing CIV3 on the computer. Zach was going to spend a night with me too, but I got out of the hospital a day early. He was a little bummed because we were going to have fun together, but he didn’t really want me to go back in the hospital (thanks Z!) and we enjoyed playing a game at home that evening.

My legs are pain free (although there is a bit of numbness in my right leg which the Dr. says is normal and I believe it). My back is almost pain free. I’m happy it has all gone so well.

The hardest part is “taking it easy”. I’m not supposed to lift things… even Mollie… even things lighter than Mollie. Angie and the kids have helped me be careful. It isn’t that I want to lift heavy things… the problem is that my back and legs don’t hurt so it seems like the coast is clear. It is easy to forget that I need to be careful for a bit longer.

I’m thankful for everyone’s concern… prayers… emails… and notes!

Jim Wickenkamp is the Children’s minister at Christ’s Church of Oronogo… his response to my surgery was probably the most unique… the following quote and pictures are from his recent email to Angie and I.

In kid’s worship the last couple of weeks we have been praying for Scott’s recovery for back surgery. To help the kids understand more about the back surgery I borrowed an oversized backbone to explain a little about the surgery. Then I invited kids to come lay their hands on the display and pray for Scott and your family. Here are some pictures of the experience. I hope this finds you well and Scott feeling better everyday.

To Jim… to the kids at CCO… and to EVERYONE…Thank you for your support! We are blessed to be a part of God’s Family!

Love to all…