May 19, 2006
Blessings upon all who have been praying for us. [:)] George's surgery was
done about an hour ago, and I've now talked to his vascular surgeon. The
surgery went off without a hitch, and the doc indicated the results were
satisfactory to start the blood flowing again to his foot. So that gives
lots of optimism for the long haul.

For the short haul, the doc's biggest concern is dealing with the
quarter-size "bedsore" like wound that started this whole episode. The
blood had been cut off totally to that area of his foot for some period a
week or so ago by some kind of unnoticed pressure, and a gangrene-like
effect had ensued ... not the kind that can spread, but just an area of
black, hardened, dead flesh. During the leg surgery, the doc removed that
thickened area, that has left now an open wound. With the improved blood
flow, it can heal, but the question is if and how much infection entered
into the picture. It's right over a bone, probably the one to the little
toe I'd guess. If the infection gets into the bone, they have no choice but
to remove the toe. That, of course, is a big improvement over concern at
losing the foot or leg. He wasn't yet able to determine if and how much
infection may be involved.

They'll be doing a culture to see, as the doc put it, "what kind of bugs
are coming out of the wound." Then they'll be pumping him full of IV
antibiotics for the next few days to deal with any of them. There's no way
to anticipate how effective that is going to be right away, they have to
just keep a close eye on it.

This doc has an office in our small little town of Allegan, and then works
at the big Borgess hospital in the middle-sized city of Kalamazoo about 30
miles away. So he comes to Allegan two or three times a week. George will
be hospitalized in Kalamazoo until at least Monday, possibly Wednesday.
After he gets home, we'd then be taking him to the specialist's office
every day he is in town for a few weeks to keep a close watch on things, I
guess, including both the healing of his leg from the surgery, and healing
of the wound. And perhaps going to see his foot doctor on some of the off
days ... that's who referred him to this specialist in the first place.

So the bottom line is that we have taken a good first step down a very long
line of recovery. Thanks for everyone's continued prayers.

I've been up since 3:30AM, so have come home to take a nap before going
back to see George-- he has to be in the vascular surgery recovery area for
almost 12 hours, and I wasn't going to be able to see him until at least 2
PM anyway, so decided a nap would be a wise choice.

Pam
 

May 17, 2006
George went in for an angiogram procedure today that allows the doctors to
look at the blood flow in his legs. Complications of diabetes have left his
lower extremity circulation poorer and poorer as time goes on. Their plan
was to use this test to prepare for the fairly simple procedure of an
angioplasty to open up the leg artery, which they planned to do perhaps
soon after Memorial Day on his right leg to increase blood flow to his
foot. (He had this done once about ten years ago.) This was in particular
because there is a sore on his right foot that was obviously not going to
heal properly without better blood flow to it.

Unfortunately, they discovered that the situation is much more serious and
much more critical than expected. The artery in that right leg was
completely closed, and an angioplasty would be impossible. His body had
created some small vessels around the blockage to allow a little bit of
flow to his foot, but very, very little. The vascular surgeon explained if
they didn't come up with an alternative almost immediately, the condition
of his foot and lower leg would deteriorate dramatically and he would
likely need an amputation below the knee.

The alternative they are going to do is bypass surgery on his lower right
leg, using a vein from his upper leg. They admitted him to the hospital
immediately, and there will be tests to prepare for the surgery for the
next two days, as well as intravenous antibiotics for the foot situation.
The surgery will be Friday morning. Then he will remain in the hospital for
three to five days for initial recovery, and then will be close to
bedridden at home for at least six weeks after that. Because of the
diabetes problems there is a good chance that his leg might even swell up
quite a bit for six weeks or so while the healing process works through.
The surgeon was quite optimistic about an ultimate good outcome, but
obviously this is a long-term situation. Thanks for your prayers for
everything to go as smoothly as possible and for God's complete healing.
For the even longer term ... the left leg wasn't critical yet like the
right, but the circulation is very poor in it too, and he may well need a
similar procedure on it in a year or two.

And obviously this has cancelled our plans for the CEM Memorial day retreat
at Paris Landing. We are both so disappointed that we will not be able to
visit with so many old and new friends there! For any who plan to be there,
know that our hearts will be there with everyone.

George is in a hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan, about 40 miles from here.
I'll be going over daily. If anyone would care to send a card, our address is

George & Pam Dewey
3508 Babylon Rd.
Allegan  MI  49010