Houston, Mission Accomplished (will return to Tolentino Trivium now)

Dear Family & Loved Ones,

I was released from Saint Luke’s Episcopal Hospital yesterday afternoon around 12:30. Susie and I had a great trip home enjoying the dazzling colors of the Texas wildflowers. I am humbled and full of thanks for all the prayers and concern for me and Susie! I am truly amazed by all the people who sent greetings and assurance of prayer, thank you all so much. I believe that this valve is healing normally. I should be able to resume regular activities in a few months. I do feel so much better than after the first surgery. I continue to practice all the sternal precautions and not put a strain on my healing bones.

I am so thankful for my sister JoAnn who came to comfort Susie and cheer me up:>) She is a blessing that keeps on giving through her blog and compassionate self sacrifice! Thanks go to my parents who flew her down to us.

God is faithful and merciful to me. I feel as though his presence and the assurance of grace carried me through the many days of pain and suffering. Now I trust that he will strengthen my body in order that I may continue to serve Jesus. This verse sums up my experience…

1 Pet.1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

In Christ,

EARL VANDERHOFF
chaplainvand@aol.com

Earl cell 206-595-0615
Susie cell 206-550-0392

Address:
203 Sugar Maple Court
Nolanville, TX 76559

Blog before the Last Blog on Earl/Susie - One More to Come

(From Susie) We are happily home and Earl's temp this morning is 98.6. What beautiful numbers!!

We loved connecting with OLD friends and new through this journey. We are especially proud of our 80-ish mothers who faithfully read and commented on the blogsite.

Our huge thanks goes to Earl's parents who flew JoAnn down to our rescue. We are undone by God's providence once again.

"Still Taking Sternal Precautions"


"Look at your Mom, boys"

After 35 years of avoiding this task, I am changing a tire on the car that we left home in the garage! Earl is thrilled. My former argument that I had four sons and would NEVER have to change my own tire finally came to naught on the altar of God's plan for my life.

Houston, We Have Take Off!

You're Still A Young Man (click for video)


Our Star Patient! (We thought he deserved a litte treat while he waited for the shuttle to the hotel)



Click for Video

Houston, We Have A WET Day

Still waiting for doctor to sign discharge papers. I had to cancel my plane tickets twice, and today I can't get to the airport in Killeen due to flooding, so I am leaving from Houston at 1:55PM(hopefully). Earl and Susie may need to spend one more night in Houston to allow roads to clear.

.......Not to mention the outbreak of Swine Flu here! (We don't even want to go there)

Houston, We Have One More Night

Discharge tomorrow....after we checked out of our hotel, we have to go back in. hahaha - oh we were a little too optimistic I guess.

Houston, We Have New Recommendation

Upon exam, the colorectol surgeon does not recommend surgery now. Bleeding is under control with medication.

We are waiting for discharge, and hoping it is today! Susie and I are checked out of the hotel.

Kinda boring blog, but kinda nice too......you can visualize your own pictures.

Houston, We Have The Lord's Day

"Health is a great blessing, but sanctified disease is greater still" J.C. Ryle


Click below for video

May the Word of God dwell richly
In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph
Only through His power.

May the peace of God my Father
Rule my life in everything.
That my life may calm and comfort
Sick and sorrowing.



Between each mile walk, Earl amuses himself by making the coffee in the nurses station. We brought take-out Chipotle to Earl after church because he has been such a good boy!

Houston, We Have A Delay

For the first time today, he got dressed in regular cloths, so we asked if we could take Earl outside for his first breath of fresh air in 15 days - they said no. He is sweet and patient and has not uttered one complaint through this entire ordeal.


The cardiologist, hematologist, and GI doctor are all recommending surgery here A.S.A.P. - waiting for colorectal surgeon.

Houston, We're Taking Care of Business

Click below for video




Click below for video


Diagnosis for blood in stools = hemorrhoids complicated by blood thinners
Action = waiting for cardiologist again

Houston, We Have An Alarm

I think we have been here too long to be alarmed by an alarm in the hotel room
(click for video)


Waiting for sigmoidoscopy, Earl is back on liquids-only


Click on video for "Taste of Liquid Lunch"

Houston, We Have A Stride

In tennis shoes and T shirt, Earl is convinced he is going home tomorrow - EVEN THOUGH they found blood in his last 2 stools, which could indicate internal bleeding. They are calling in a GI doctor.


Earl now walks a mile before each meal (click below for video)

Hebrews 12:1 "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us"



The Production Crew

Houston, We Have A Changed Heart

Ezekial 36:26
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."

The doctor is hoping to discard ;) Earl Friday IF his blood levels are perfect. He added that he is very sorry that Earl had to come back for this again.

We have watched this view from the room for nearly 2 weeks now:


There are construction cranes everywhere you look - Earl especially likes cranes ;)

Houston, We Have Earl Back

This morning Earl is feeling more like himself.

Click below for video


AND he wanted us to sing this song, but while he was in the shower, we posted the words only - we can't let him get too much control ;)

The Light Of The World Is Jesus

The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin;
The Light of the world is Jesus;
Like sunshine at noonday His glory shone in;
The Light of the world is Jesus.


Come to the Light, 'tis shining for thee!
Sweetly the Light has dawned upon me;
Once I was blind, but now I can see;
The Light of the world is Jesus.


No darkness have we who in Jesus abide;
The Light of the world is Jesus;
We walk in the Light when we follow our Guide;
The Light of the world is Jesus.
(chorus)

Ye dwellers in darkness with sin-blinded eyes;
The Light of the world is Jesus;
Go wash at His bidding and light will arise;
The Light of the world is Jesus.
(chorus)

No need of the sunlight in heaven, we're told;
The Light of the world is Jesus;
The Lamb is the Light in the City of Gold;
The Light of the world is Jesus.

Houston, We Have Training and Trains

Earl and Susie attended Sternum Precaution Class for the second time around.


If you have a Big Mac Attack, you need not leave the premises - talk about heart healthy.


Earl made Susie and I take a break. We got on the train thingy and rode the entire line.





Transfusion yesterday and today. Echo looked good - chest xray shows a little fluid outside the lung. Waiting on his blood to improve before discharge. Earl is saying Thursday for sure - haha.

We are reading all your comments to him and he enjoys them and is encouraged.

Houston, We Have A Funny

While Earl got a transfusion, I went and donated platelets for him, and got a free t shirt, bag, and ball!



After his transfusion, he felt better and wanted to sit in the chair, while Susie took to the bed, giving the doctor a moment of confusion.

As we were discussing discharge ~ Earl said "I think I'll go home on Wednesday." Susie is in favor of waiting longer, and made reference to the failure of the first surgery. Earl said "What do you mean it wasn't a success? I lived one whole month!" (click below for video)



In spite of severe pain to his sternum, we love to see him laugh! (click below for video)

Houston, We Have Ponderings

Do we realize how rare and unusual these things have been for Earl? Yes, we do. We are also reminded as we walk from hotel to hospital how this rare Earl stands out from the rest as he trusts Jesus. Today they took out the wires that were in his heart in case of an emergency start-up


We were discussing the past few years for Earl. He had TWO lower back surgeries, a neck surgery followed by an "emergency repeat" because the first one left him paralyzed! Now, his second valve replacement "replacement"! Earl said "this is just a bump in the road"...somehow, that isn't strong enough for me. On a walk today I saw this sign!!! HUMPS are much larger than bumps! This is a HUMP in the road!

A beautiful reminder of the canopy of God's love that spreads over us as we walk in faith, as I was shaded from the sun on my walk:

I cannot leave out the tender, loving care of Susie ~ my brother's helpmate. She also has become quite a bit better in all ways than any nurse here, complete with "Catch A Wave" dance while putting his elastic stockings on.
!

Houston, We Are Walking and Leaping and Praising God

WALKING



LEAPING (out of his skin)


PRAISING GOD (with the Gaithers)

Houston, We Have A Culture War

I gotta admit, I got a little discouraged this morning. First thing we did at hospital is pick up the wayward valve, while still waiting for culture result. Earl's lunch came. Lo and behold! Look at that bread! In the 9 days awaiting culture results, the Culture War is decided - the bread won! (the hospital sent several people to apologize for such a thing in Earls lunch) For this news - we rejoice! They are fairly certain that there was no bacteria on the old valve.