We're walking!

Friends/family,

Today was post-op day 1 and I think it went very well! The surgeon came by briefly at 7:00 am and then at about 7:15 am, the nurse moved Brent to the chair. He sat there for about an hour, used his incentive spirometer (small device used to help expand his lungs), and then moved back to the bed. Unfortunately, when he moved back to the bed, he started having severe pain and was very distressed. He was squeezing my hand and crying out to the nurse to please make it stop. He was very tense and just looking at me with these tearful eyes that said "please make it stop!" I didn't know what to do except hold his hand, tell him to relax, kiss his forehead, and silently pray. I was trying so hard not to tear up and upset him. I was afraid it was going to be a bad day at that point! His nurse called another nurse and she rushed in and gave him some Morphine, and he slowly started to relax. It was not a fun experience - it's so hard to see loved ones in so much pain - and I can't even imagine how much pain he was in! We then slept until about 11:00 am - I think we both needed the rest! Brent continued to sleep for the majority of the day - when he was awake he began to eat jello, drink broth, juice, and hot tea. So he's eating again!

Ever since the morning pain incident, Brent's pain has been well-controlled and he's made a lot of improvement on the incentive spirometer. The anesthesiologist came by this morning as well and informed us that the aneurysm on Brent's heart was the size of a fist! I can not believe how big it was - and how amazing it is that we caught this last Friday! The "what-if's" are horrible to think about - that aneurysm was almost the size of his entire heart! Praise the Lord that we caught it before it ruptured. I am so glad he made that cardiologist appointment at 4 months instead of waiting until after the honeymoon. What a blessing - and how amazing that they were able to fix him! So while it's disappointing that all of this has happened within the past 6 days and so close to our wedding day, I am SO grateful that everything has happened the way God intended. I might not have had a wonderful man to marry if we would've waited!

So around 4:00 pm, 2 of Brent's co-workers came over to visit. Even though Brent's been exhausted all day and in and out of consciousness, it was very good for him to see them. It was also good for me to have some outside contact today. :-) After they left, the nurse told Brent it was time to start walking. I know that it's so hard for him to walk and very painful, but I encouraged him that he could do it and that it would speed up his recovery. We started with one lap around the ICU and then he settled into the chair. Sitting up in a chair is also very good for recovery - even though he sleeps in the bed in a somewhat sitting up position - the chair is better. (Brent and I had planned on getting a new couch after we got married but I realized today I'll definitely be getting a new couch the first day we get home to help his recovery - mine is very uncomfortable and not post-surgery friendly!) He had me turn on the NBA draft - he told me yesterday right after surgery "Don't forget the NBA draft is on tomorrow at 5:00 pm!" - so he watched that today. And by watched it, I mean he slept through it but I think he was happy it was on. :-)

Brent sat up in the chair for about 30 minutes and then told me he was in so much pain, that he wanted to lay back down. I asked him to please take one more lap around the ICU, that it would help him so much and even one extra lap today would speed up his recovery! He said he couldn't do it. A very sweet woman from Elevate church made us a large gift basket, and in the basket was a jar filled with scriptures. I brought the jar over to Brent and said "Ok, here - pick out a bible verse for encouragement to help you walk." He reached his hand in the jar and pulled out the following verse "Stand and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes." (1 Samuel 12:16.) We both looked at each other and I was like "Honey, God just told you to stand up!" He agreed and was encouraged for lap #2. :-) It was so awesome - and so God! It was a really special moment for us. Brent got up and took another lap like a champ! I was so proud of him for doing 2 laps around the ICU - and so were all the staff! We all told him he would be perfectly fine walking down that aisle in 6 weeks. It was so encouraging after a tough morning.

Around 6:30 pm, Brent was transferred out of the ICU and into the Telemetry unit, where we will remain for 4 days. We are now in room 1340 (building 1, 3rd floor for those coming to visit!) We watched Jeopardy and now Brent has fallen back asleep. :-) Tomorrow all of his tubes will be removed, which will greatly decrease his pain.

As I said before, just because the surgery is over does not mean life is going to be easy for Brent. He's got a long 8 weeks ahead of him and we will continue to need prayers and support! 2 walks around the ICU just 24 hours after surgery is definitely a praise, but he's got a long way to go for our wedding in 6 weeks! He will recover very well and I know God is blessing him immensely, but I ask that you all please continue to keep Brent in your prayers. We've worked so hard planning our dream wedding and honeymoon - and we want Brent to be close to 100% in 6 weeks, which will certainly be a miracle from God!

Thank you again for your support and prayers thus far, we would not be where we are right now without that support and the huge outpouring of prayers!!! I truly believe that the reason Brent is doing so well is because of the tremendous amount of people asking God to heal Brent! I can guarantee it was not an easy surgery and probably one of his more complicated ones - yet he's doing better than ever. Thank you God!!!

I will continue the updates tomorrow!

God bless,
Rachel