April 18, 2009 9:47 AM
Tripp update 4/18
I haven't posted on Tripp for a while, but it's not because things are going okay. It's just because we've gotten used to things not being okay.
It's been seven months since his first knee replacement, which led to the unexpected infection and four subsequent surgeries, including removal of the replacement for a couple months and a second replacement 2/10. Though this time his knee is healing well, the last-line-of-defense antibiotics he has been on for so long have taken a toll on his body, which is already in a weakened condition (and yes, he is taking pro-biotics - and we are always open to new ideas).
While I was in California last month, Tripp called to say he was suffering from a loss of equilibrium - so dizzy that he was throwing up. This is a side effect of one of the three IV antibiotics he'd been on for months and months. Thankfully, the prescribed time for those was up last week and the PIC line was removed.
But the symptoms remain - and have been exacerbated by another high-end antibiotic they've put him on (total cost 5500 - our copay 200 for 10 days - and the doctor is battling with our insurance company because he says Tripp needs it for 30 days). When he walks, he is either steadying himself on walls or with a crutch. sometimes he can't get up at all.
Like yesterday morning when I left to talk to moms at St. John the Beloved in McLean, VA (and btw, if you would like me to come to talk to your mothers' group, please contact me and we'll put something on the calendar - these workshops have been going very well!). It's really disconcerting to see your 6'4" once-strapping husband curled up in a fetal position in the hospital bed which has graced your bedroom for seven months. I called our parish and asked for a priest to come visit. Father Cesar - who is from Venezuela - came while I was gone to spend time and pray with Tripp. He told him that he has noticed Americans are very different in their reaction to things of this nature - we want things to be taken care of immediately, we want a quick fix. But God has a different sense of time and sometimes we must be patient.
Tripp and I have lately begun to sense a change of direction which makes absolute sense. We also see that God would definitely have needed to strip away many things in our lives to bring us to the point where this could become a possibility. The loss of our home, the unexpected travail of recuperating from a knee surgery that should have only been a blip on the screen but which left Tripp with little to do but pray. This is not anything radical and does not involve a move - we feel we are rooted where we are. I will be sharing more about this when Tripp feels a little better, because the truth is that even though we know the direction we are to take, we cannot do anything at all until he is recovered.
Please pray for him and for our family. It has really been a long haul.
Posted in Family, My life | Permalink
Comments
Will certainly continue to pray, Barbara! I'm sure this is excruciating for all of you, especially you and Tripp. That priest is a wise man.
Posted by: Kim | April 18, 2009 1:08 PM
Continuing in prayer for Tripp and your entire family.
Posted by: Cheryl (Copper's Wife) | April 18, 2009 1:39 PM
Prayers for you all!
Posted by: angela | April 18, 2009 1:48 PM
Praying for y'all, as we would say in Kentucky....
My husband has suffered twice from inner ear troubles that came on very suddenly. Both times an adjustment from our chiropractor fixed it immediately. Don't know if it would help in Tripps' case or not, but had to share just in case.
Posted by: Kim | April 18, 2009 2:23 PM
You are one amazing women. I am so in awe of you--I can so see God working in and through you. May God richly bless you and bring quick healing to Tripp's body--those antibiotics they give you today are body slamming!
BTW roll up the sleeves and pant legs until the days make you sweat. Then bring out the summer clothes. Global cooling insures we have late and mild summers. That's been the case for us in California for the last two years.
Posted by: Chris Pedersen | April 18, 2009 3:53 PM
Prayers for Tripp and the rest of the family.
Posted by: lauren | April 18, 2009 5:51 PM
Praying for Tripp and you and your family. Lord have mercy.
My daughter had a mild concussion last summer which left her so dizzy she couldn't move without getting sick. After trying several medications, an ER doctor prescribed over the counter Bonamine (similar to Dramamine) and it worked immediately. It still took several days for her to recover, but she was much more comfortable not being so dizzy.
Posted by: Sandy C. | April 18, 2009 6:36 PM
((HUGS)) I am so sorry for all you have been through... I will definately be keeping Tripp in my prayers...I will be looking forward to hearing more about where God is leading your family!
Posted by: Lisa | April 18, 2009 8:42 PM
Hi Barbara, you probably already know this, but just in case you don't ... Padre Pio is a wonderful saint to pray to for healing ... he's come through for us! Keeping you and yours in our prayers.
Posted by: Nelda | April 18, 2009 9:34 PM
Sad to hear you have had to get used to Tripp not being okay but wonderful to hear you are finding the silver lining...looking forward to hearing what comes next.
Posted by: Alison | April 19, 2009 1:53 AM
Just wanted you to know that you are in my prayers. I cried reading your post today because I am in a similar boat. My husband had a "simple" surgery to repair a subdural hematoma last summer, but it led to additional surgeries, a brain infection, prolonged iv antibiotics, and a recovery that is not yet over 9 months later. I needed your reminder today that God's timing is not our own.
Posted by: Shauna | April 20, 2009 10:48 AM
Do you think that maybe it could be vertigo and not the antibiotics? Just a thought.
[The latest is that Tripp is going to the chiropractor for adjustments. They're helping a little!]
Posted by: Janet | April 21, 2009 5:30 PM
