December 1994

Dear Family and Friends:

Well, it' hard to believe that Christmas is here again!  Chip recently got his high school, senior ring, and I'm still doing "double-takes" every time I see how tall he's gotten!  He was nominated for Governor's Honors Program in band this year, and he's really been progressing in his quest to become a top-notch, jazz trumpet player (move over Phil Driscoll!!!).  Also, I finally graduated from Georgia State University with a master's degree in counseling.  Over the past five years, it often looked as though my physical problems would forestall my goal of completing this degree, but with God's help, I very slowly, but surely triumphed over the few remaining requirements.

For those of you who may be wondering, I survived my spinal surgery on April 12!  My sister, Judy Rogero, drove me to the medical, house of horrors at dark-thirty on the morning of my surgery.  When we arrived at Emory University Hospital, they quickly outfitted me in one of those gowns (you know, the semi-formal type with the large gap in the back!).  Within twenty minutes, I was in the Operating Room, stopping only once to remove my nearly forgotten, contact lenses.

Once in the O.R., my anesthesiologist informed me that I'd be on a ventilator for twenty-four hours following my surgery; later, in the waiting room, the nurses informed my family that I'd be in the Intensive Care Unit for twenty-four hours before going to a private room.  Finally, after an intense, wrestling match with my veins, all of which collapsed (i.e. fainted!) at the sight of numerous I.V. needles, my anesthesiologist speared the jugular vein in my neck and put me to sleep.  Eight-and-a-half hours later, I was wheeled into the Recovery Room, and after another two-and-a-half hours in recovery, I defied their best predictions and went to a private room without a ventilator!

Like a good (big!) sister, Judy had removed all of my luggage from the car and had then taken it back to the car when told that I would be in I.C.U. overnight; when she finally instructed valet parking to bring the car around a third time in order to get me unpacked and situated for my first night, they were beginning to wonder about Judy's condition!?  Fortunately for me, Judy decided to stay with me the first two nights; she's a Paramedic, so I had the best of private duty care.  Whenever I needed something, I simply groaned "911" and Judy was there with C.P.R., defibrillators, flashing lights, sirens, and salsa from El Toro's to recussitate me!

I don't remember much about that first night, except Judy shoveling spoons full of crushed ice down my throat to soothe a very heavy-duty case of cotton mouth (which brought back many long forgotten memories of my undergraduate days at the University of Georgia!).  By the next morning, I was starting to experience some pretty remarkable dreams (rivers of sparkling glitter flowing like lava down the sides of crystal and glass mountains, etc.).  My pain medication wasn't doing much for the pain in my back and hip (where they harvested the bone grafts), but it was providing a spectacular array of video images unparalleled by The Wonderful World of Disney at its best!

Fortunately, Dr. Horton's arrival the next morning was at a point when I was both conscious and lucid since I was eager to hear about my surgery.  However, I was unprepared for the look on his face or his physical demeanor as he described my operation: he seemed genuinely stunned by what he'd seen!  As I mentioned in my first newsletter, four tests and five doctors had confirmed that the fusion grafts from my first back surgery 1989 had failed, requiring that they be redone during this second operation.  To paraphrase him, Dr. Horton said, "When I looked at your previous fusion grafts, I couldn't believe my own eyes; not only was your fusion solid, but it was fused with what looked like young bone!"  He went on to say, "I have no explanation for why your pre-op tests looked the way they did.  I am astounded by what I saw!"

As many of you know, there were a lot of prayers that were raised up on my behalf prior to my operation.  Strangely enough, I felt a calm assurance that God was in control, despite the seeming bleakness of the circumstances of my condition, and I never doubted His ability to heal me instantly if He so desired.  Being a strong believer in the miracles that God works through the hands of skilled surgeons, I, nevertheless, had no particular expectation that God would touch me in such a dramatic and mind-boggling way as He did.  In reality, my pre-op tests were accurate and so were the post-op findings; the astounding difference was due to the telltale thumbprint of Almighty God!

As expected, Dr. Horton fused one new disk level to the two older ones, so I now have sixty percent of contiguous, lumbar spine fused.  Also, he removed all of the old steel rods and screws so he could examine all aspects of my disks, and then he replaced them with newer, longer, and more state-of-the-art models for the tri-level fusion.  As you can ascertain, my surgery was very extensive, despite the fact that they didn't have to redo the previous fusion grafts.

Throughout this, my twentieth, surgical operation, I felt a comforting assurance that God was using my physical condition for His perfect purpose.  Obviously, I have been faced with a very lengthy recovery and don't expect my back to be like new (without a reconstructive miracle!) until I get to Heaven.  However, I am encouraged in my heart that The Great Physician has touched me and confounded my eminent team of physicians by His indelible and undeniable mark of grace.

Currently, I am having both good days and bad days.  This recovery has been more difficult than the previous one because of the scar tissue from 1989, which takes longer to heal with each additional surgery.  Also, they're telling me (again!) that my new fusion grafts are not healing!  However, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth.  And after my skin (or my spine!) has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes - I and not another.  How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:25-27)

Chip did an admirable job of "holding down the fort" while I was in the hospital.  A special thanks to those of you who called to check on him or sent him cards in my absence.  On a final note, I'd like to thank all of you for your many expressions of support and concern, particularly your prayers, which are appreciated for the past, the present, and the future.  For all of the cards, letters, phone calls, flowers, food brought in, and personal visits to either the hospital or my home, I am truly grateful.

To God be the Glory and may He bless your lives immensely during this holiday season and in the new year to come.

With warmest regards,
Margie Y. Cash