In the last week I have been receiving calls, emails and cards telling me that people were praying for me as I go through asu rgery which was first scheduled for November 25, 2019, but had to postponed until December 10, 2019 . Other than praying with a small group of my friends, I haven't requested any prayers, but I am grateful for each of them. By the volume of emails and text messages that I have received in the last few weeks, I realize that I am connected to people in a personal way who have been concerned about me, and it has been difficult to keep up with their concern. So I have started this site to keep up to date those who are interested in my healing .
The condition I am being treated for is called Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. It is not life threatening, but it is serious. In 2019 I have had a series of unexplained falls; a total of 10 in the last 12 months. My Primary Care physician and my physical therapist attributed the falls to my neuropathy which is a result of late onset diabetes. It made sense because I was having trouble walking, and I would fall in the most unlikely of places. Finally in October I pleaded with my doctor to admit me to the hospital to find out what was really wrong, and s after checking with my insurance companies, they agreed that this was a good plan to see what, if anything, could be done to address my situation.
After six days in the hospital and a battery of tests, my medical team was able to diagnose Normal Pressure Hydrocephelus (
https://www.webmd.com/brain/normal-pressure-hydrocephalus#2-3) which causes people like me to lose their balance and fall unexpectedly. It is caused by a build up of spinal fluid in my brain which presses on my spinal chord and causes imbalance. By the grace of God, I have never hit my head in any of my 10 falls, but I don't want to tempt fate. And by the grace of God, there is a surgical procedure (the placing of a shunt in my brain which drains the excess fluid from my brain to my abdomen.) The treatment is surgical placing a shunt from the ventricles of my brain into my abdomen where it is discharged through our normal bodily function.
Again, my condition is not life threatening unless it goes untreated. So while I do not relish having holes bored into my head and the month or so of recovery, it promises to return me to the life I had before all the falls and staying active until I trade this body for something better on the other side.
So for those who pray, I appreciate every prayer uttered for my healing. There are people who live with far mor debilitating diseases than mine, and they live with courage and grace. They have been my heroes and heroines throughout my ministry. I pray for my surgeon, Dr. Kristine Dziurzynski, my primary care team led by Dr. Heidi Kistler, and for those at Lancaster General Hospital who will care for me both before and after the operation which is now scheduled for Tuesday, December 10 at 7:30 a.m. I will use this site to keep you updated over the weeks ahead as I heal.
