Good-bye, Audios, Sayonara, Bon Voyage

I just said good-bye to Kyle via skype. He will be spending the next two years in Honduras with the Peace Corps. You can read all about it on his blog, Honduras Happenings. We will keep in contact via email and skype - thank goodness for technology these days. Kellyn is the only sibling in Arizona now - I think my parents are sad. At least it is only temporary though.

On another note, one year ago today I had my surgery where they removed 8" of my intestine. I will let prior year emails tell the story again.

February 20, 2008

Well after three weeks now of having this drain to get rid of the abscesses, I am back in the hospital for surgery on Friday. The drain has done its job as the abscesses are pretty much gone. However, there is a hole in my intestine (which caused the abscesses in the first place) and that is not healing. I had a test on Monday where they put a dye into the drain and followed it through. That is how they discovered the fistula (tunnel from the hole) which is hitting my abdominal wall and going back to my intestine. (If you are a little confused so am I but that is how it was described to me). Anyway, on Monday after the test the surgeon called me and said that he had bad news and that he thought that surgery would be the best route at this point.
They are going to be taking about a foot of my small intestine known as the illeium (that is where Crohn's most often attacks). They still don't know if they will be able to reattach my intestine immediately or if it will be three months down the road :(. The surgeon (Dr. Terazi) was in tonight and he said that he is going to do his best to leave as little scars as possible - he has been a huge blessing in this whole process. I have his cell number and I had to call him on both Saturday and Sunday and he answered both times.
Surgery is scheduled for noon on Friday and it should last about 2-3 hours. Prayers would be appreciated :) Everyone is asking me how I am doing and granted I am frustrated with this whole thing. My friend Katie said that she was going to make a shirt that says "I hate intestines" and I told her I would buy one :) However Romans 8:18 does say that the "sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Faith isn't faith without fire. I am just trying to focus on the big picture.
I will keep you all posted.
Kristin
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