Desperately need prayers/good thoughts

[greenbriar]

hubby and I desperately need your prayers . Hubby is scheduled to go to the Mayo Clinic September 9 and is possibly facing major throat reconstruction surgery. The surgery is really serious and could have major complications. At present, we do not know if this appointment will lead to immediate surgery tho his doctor seems to think it will. We do not exactly know what syndrome or disease he has that has caused this. Not only is the surgery scarey and Very risky, This will also deplete our savings, run up our credit card bills and possibly make us miss a couple of house payments.
hubby is very embarrassed to ask for prayers or help, so here I am

[NMDemDist2]

1. oh no!

:hug: how absolutely terrifying

call the bank/mortage company and let them know what's going on, they may be able to help, you don't need the $$ worries at this time.

I'm so sorry and will be thinking of you both

[Rowdyboy]

2. He neednt be....For what its worth, we are here for you and he both...

Please keep us informed as to how he is and let people know if he'd like cards or notes etc...They can make a difference

[iconoclastic cat]

3. We're pulling for you both!

I'm sure he'll make it through! Keep us posted.

[jean]

4. you've got them - and Mayo Clinic will take good care of him

[Lizz612]

29. Mayo is a good place

I know a family whose son had some serious allergy problems and Mayo made the money thing work. With people like the late King of Jordan going there and paying full price, they Mayo will work with you.

My prayers are with your hubby and you.

[tandot]

5. My thoughts and prayers are with both of you

I hope everything will turn out alright!!! Keep us informed!

:grouphug:

[qanda]

6. I'll be praying for you and your hubby

:hug:

[nini]

7. You'll have my prayers and good karma

I hope all goes well :hug:

[cally]

8. I'm sending all my love

and hugs your way. I hope the surgery goes well. :hug:

[greenbriar]

9. Damn mods...I don't usually hang in the lounge...mostly gen discussion

Thanks

at the moment, all we know is he has to be at mayo at 7:30 AM september 9th.

it could be for rounds of testing only to be sent home to wait or return later for surgery or it could be he goes, they take one look at him and do the surgery that week???

Not knowing is hard.


we will both have to go on the FMLA...thank god for Clinton and of course there is no pay when that happens.


shit,,,just when life is good and getting to see light at the end of the tunnel......


I am not sure about cards and such as I don't know where we will be yet.

Thanks and just keep the prayer circle goin

[amazona]

10. sending prayers

Hope it all turns out well for you.

[wolfgirl]

11. Our prayers are with you both!

Do contact your bank/mortgage company. You would be surprised how nice they can be..when my hubby became disabled, we contacted 'em and they helped us through 6 months of no $$ on two separate occasions.
I would also try contacting any other creditors. If you can make contact with a real live person (preferably one that is in this country), you may be able to work out a payment plan that will keep you from getting too far behind, etc.

Hang in there! Keep us posted!

[NC_Nurse]

12. I'm sending mine too...

Make sure you get all the information you need when you see them at Mayo. It will make it much less scary. They will take good care of him. :hug:

[MuseRider]

13. I am sending good thoughts and

prayers. The Mayo Clinic trip is very unpleasant, he will feel like a cow in a large herd but it works. I hope you get good news. I will think of you.

[still_one]

14. You are at one of the state of the medical art places

Thoughts and prayers are with you

[flamingyouth]

15. You've got them coming from me

I do hope all goes well, and please keep us posted. I'll be thinking of you.:hug:

[Kadie]

16. Positive thoughts and vibes coming your way.

Take care. We will be thinking about you both.

[Hepburn]

17. My thoughts and prayers are with you...

...and with your husband. Please, never be embarrassed to ask that people send good thoughts your way. It is a matter of human love and kindness that we can all do for our fellow mankind.

[mwdem]

18. You have my prayers,

try to concentrate on his getting the right diagnosis. The Mayo clinic is the best place to be. I hope all goes well with you.:grouphug:

[Carni]

19. Wow I am really sorry to hear this

You have my positive thoughts aimed in your direction!

[Ms. Toad]

20. My prayers are with you, and...

I also have some very practical (and I have found essential) advice.

Members of my family and I have unfortunately had a series of unusual maladies. Had I not developed a very proactive style, we would not have obtained proper treatment. In at least two instances, the treatment I would have received would have been much more drastic than was appropriate - and would have had much more dramatic and long term side effects. (As one example, the recommended treatment by the first 3 physicians I saw required surgery with an 8-12 week recovery period. What I really needed - and eventually obtained - was outpatient surgery on a Friday and was able to go back to work without restriction by Monday. That was 5 years ago, and I am completely recovered from the original malady. without major surgery.)

You are obviously Internet savvy. Before your husband's Sept 9 appointment find out specifically what it is the physicians suspect (if you don't already know). If the physicians won't tell you (I had one who wouldn't) start by researching the treatment they are proposing - that will likely lead you to the suspected diagnosis.

Next, find an internet support group (if one is available) for the particular suspected diagnosis. These folks have generally been through every treatment imaginable, and can feed you lots of suggestions for treatments that may be options to explore with your doctor. You will likely have to sort through a lot of crazy suggestions, but in my case one of those crazy suggestions led to a treatment plan that has kept my daughter's chronic illness in continual remission for 10 years - which she had been unable to even reach prior to the "crazy" suggestion.

Finding out lots of information from the doctor (as someone else suggested) is great, in theory. I find that going in with LOTS of information I have found makes it a lot easier to know what questions to ask, and I'm much more likely to come out of the visit feeling like I have the whole story.

Best of luck to you and your hubby.

[greenbriar]

26. excellent advice

we have been doing all kinds of research. The doctors have been really open with us.

We have been dealing with this situation since Feb. So we know the shots going in. at least we think we do

[Eloriel]

21. Hugs, blessings, prayers

for you both. Good luck!!

[Norbert]

22. Thoughts and prayers coming your way.

Tell your husband not to be embarrassed. Everyone needs help and prayers at some point in their life. We are happy to give it.

[Bertha Venation]

23. you're in our prayers, s.t. pam.

Please come back to post an update when you can.

[Stew225]

24. I truly hope the best happens to your husband

and your family. You can do this and actually come out better because of it.

[nosmokes]

25. did and done,

smoke rising for the both of y'all.

[MissB]

27. Good thoughts heading your way (nt)

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

28. Good thoughts coming your way

Hope and pray everything works out well for you.

[blondeatlast]

30. Saying a prayer for you and hubby.

The love from the DU LoungeLizards will astonish you with its power.

My husband needed surgery for what they thought was a malignant tumor in his neck near a very sensitive area.

Opened him up, and it turned out to be just an infection--you coulda knocked the doc over with a feather.

Keep us posted.

[DemWitch]

31. Best Blessings your way...

will burn a candle for you both...

[greenbriar]

32. thanks one and all

:)

[Terran]

33. (good thoughts---->)

But, major surgery without even knowing the reason (or the cause, I should say)? That seems highly unusual.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

34. You are both in my thoughts and prayers. May your husband have a

successful surgery and a speedy recovery.

[LWolf]

35. Blessings to you and your husband.

My thoughts, prayers, and hugs are with you both.

:hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

36. You got it! *hugs and prayers*

[Jane Austin]

37. You can have both.

Let us know after the surgery which hospital, and maybe somebody with extra change can send it to your husband's account there.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

38. Keeping you in my thoughts

and my prayers.

Please keep us posted...:hug:

[Baja Margie]

39. Special prayers, for the white light of protection

around you and your husband.

[greenbriar]

40. thanks

and thank you everyone

[VOX]

41. Sending many good thoughts and prayers your way, Pam...

You are facing some difficult times ahead, and in no way am I trying to minimize that fact, but right now it sounds like anxiety over the unknown is your worst enemy.

You've received some excellent advice in the posts above about trying to find out just what this might be, and what the ramifications are.
(I was diagnosed with cancer in 2001, and I researched the heck out of it, which actually alleviated some of my anxiety about the disease and the treatment.)

Mayo is one of the best, so you're in good hands. As for the money, take each day one at a time. Your choices may rather narrow in this area, but all creditors want (besides your $$$, of course) is for you to be responsible with your obligations. If that means writing letters to or calling your creditors about your situation, I'm confident that they will make some wiggle-room for you. (I also ran up some serious bills when I was treated, and I *finally* got out from under them this year, but all my creditors understood my situation.)

Do not panic. Know that you are capable and and have the mental and emotional resources to deal with anything that comes your way. This is hard to see right now, I know, but it's true, and the main focus is getting proper diagnosis and treatment for your husband.

Hang in there, know that you're much loved :loveya:, and keep us posted on how it's going!
:hug: :hug: :hug:

[mdmc]

42. same here

my prayers...

[jackieforthedems]

43. My Prayers Are With You Both

:)

[davsand]

44. Mayo does wonderful things.

I was just up there with my Dad a while back. He had another open heart surgery (his third) and is recovering here at home. His future sounds quite a lot better than it did before the surgery--so do not give up hope for your husband's quick recovery from his current problems.

One tip abut Mayo--look for a hotel close to his hospital if he's gonna be in for very long. Many of the hotels have a shuttle to the hospitals--but if you can get one in walking distance it is much easier on you. Not all the shuttles are created equal.

IF he's in St Mary's there are several places across the street that are quite reasonable--the Fiksdall is one, and I'm struggling to remember the others. It isn't fancy--but it is close and it is not expensive. Another plus is they have small kitchenettes in the rooms so that you don't have to do food out all the time.

IF you are gonna be there for a few days do ask about price breaks on rooms for longer terms--they will come down on the price for you.

If you are gonna be at the other hospital (Methodist, I think it is...) avoid the Economy by Kohler. I was there for a couple of nights and it is not a place to be. My brother was in his room and had some woman try and break in while he was in the room--she had a working key which means that somebody on staff gave her one... When he talked to the manager about it they were completely non-upset.

The staff at the hospitals are all wonderful--and if you need ANYTHING do not worry about asking. They deal with people in distress all the time and will do all they can to help you. They are just terrific up there.

Brightest blessings on you both--I'm sure all will go well.


Laura