Update on Leah's Medical Progress

Hi all. I thought I should give you the heads up that I am scheduled to have my second surgery on October 15th. I am feeling really good these days and my surgeon thinks I am ready to proceed with the next surgery. As you recall, during my first surgery, the doctor removed my large intestine and created an ileostomy (a hole in my abdomen where the end of my small intestine sticks out - that is where I have the ostomy bag that I have to empty oh so many times a day!). This next surgery will be a big one. The doctor said it will take about 3 1/2 hours to complete. He will remove the last 6-8 inches of my rectum that is still diseased. Then he will cut and resew the end of my small intestine to create a small, internal pouch that he will connect to my sphincter muscle (all so lovely, right?). Then he will pull a different section of my small intestine out of the hole in my abdomen for me to use until everything heals. Then by the end of the year, I will have my third surgery where he will sew up the part of my small intestine that is sticking out, shove it back in, sew up my abdomen, and pray that everything runs the way it should.

My mom and dad will be staying with us for three weeks and then Ed's mom will join us for a week. After that, we will probably be looking for a few local friends to come over and help me out while Ed is gone because I still won't be at 100%. But all of your prayers have helped so much so far - seriously, I am amazed at how God has worked through all of this and how supported we've felt.

So, all in all, I am trying to live it up these next two weeks until I go back in the hospital. At least this time I know what I'm going in for and about how long I'll be there. I can be a little more prepared, both mentally and with home stuff (meals, etc). Not too much longer now...