The First Operation - ICU

My first operation was scheduled for the 30th October. The operation was to remove the inner portion of the T/12 vertebrae and fuse my spine. Little did Yvette I and know on how huge this operation would be! The operation lasted around 6 hours, I lost around 4l of blood. When I starting coming out of anesthetic in ICU, the pain was incredible! I was also freezing cold, and shacking madly. Yvette says all I said was my rib is sore and I'm cold. I also remember being extremely thirsty, my tongue felt dry and wrinkled.

ICU is really not a nice place to be, there where no windows, so you could not see outside. I just watched the clock on the wall, for those 4 days. I was determined to get out of ICU as soon as possible. I also felt I could not pray, or I felt it hard to do so, perhaps this was this the medication. I asked Yvette to please hold me up in prayer. Little did I know that there where armies of people that where praying for me! Thanks you Lord!

In this time I was determined to get off the morphine as soon as possible. They give you a little button to press for self medication. Although I guess it takes the pain away, one feels drugged. I found that I would want to sleep, but my senses where so active, that the slightest noise, or movement or what ever would wake me up. Sometimes I would "skrik wakker" (good afrikaans expression).

I made every effort to eat well, drink water, reduce my dependance on medicine just to get out of there. I was also very uncomfortable, as I had 2 drain pipes that come out of my ribs, which I felt like I was lying on them, sore! Soon I was going to make it to High Care...

The Body of Christ

It was amazing to see how how the Body of Christ was engaged! Prayer support started pouring in, prayer chains where formed, cell groups prayed, individuals prayed. So much prayer need, so much pray offered.

Prayer that was felt, Thanks so Much. Also the support offered in this time was amazing, from help with lifts for the children to food in the evenings, Thanks so Much!

Yvette and I really, felt the the Body of Christ was stirred into action, and as a body would, just started functioning as such. If one of its members is hurting, it will send re-enforcements for healing and assistance.

The Emotional Roller Coaster Ride

The curve ball! How did this happen? I'm so young (43), have so much more of life to live, so much more to give! Another 40 years + of life to go, had just grind to a halt! What now? I was faced with my own mortality. 

I found myself constantly listening to worship music on my iPod, seeking the Lords face, crying out to Him. I think the people in hospital though I had lost it, but I really need to connect with the Lord. His Word my comfort, my sure help in time of need. Scriptures that came to me, with new meaning! 

Music that really touched me, and kept me going was Jesus Culture, pure worship, keeping my mind focused. I felt that I didn't want any other external influences, I just wanted to connect with my Lord. I could not bear the thought of switching on the tv, it just felt like a waist of time, being distracted by the "things of world".

The strange thing was the peace I experienced, total peace, I knew no matter what happened, He was with me. The two concepts that came to me was "to Gods Glory" and "the extension of "His kingdom", I stood in anticipation that no matter what, God will get the Glory, and through the path I must walk, that His kingdom would be extended.

And through it all, there was a pillar of strength right next to me, Yvette. She stood by me, comforted me, held my hand, cried with me. I thank the Lord for her. 

Friday was the day!

Friday at the office, I get a call from Yvette letting me know that I had been booked into hospital.
She had taken my x-rays to our local GP for comment, with an appointment she had for Chloe. When the GP saw the x-rays, she immediately called the Radiologist, who confirmed the severity of the situation. As stability in my spine was critical.

I immediately left the office and came home, packed my overnight bags, and was admitted to Unitas Hospital. For the next 4 days, I underwent various tests, including blood tests, mri, c-t scans, etc. The doctors also then confirmed the treatment options. The stability of the spine was the most crucial aspect, as it could collapse and damage the spinal chord.

The doctors confirmed, at that point in time that it was a plasmacytoma blood cancer which attacks bone, and had only occurred in one place. There was no other evidence of any other lesions. The treatment course was confirmed to remove the vertebrae and fuse my back. The operation was schedule for the following Friday. The doctors also confirmed that I would need radiation and possible therapy. But first the operation.

Somethings Wrong?

So, I'm off to Unitas Hospital for x-rays and soft tissue scans. Afterwards waiting for the reports in the waiting rooms, the doctor comes to me with the reports and x-rays with a worried look on his face. I was oblivious anything serious.
The doctor, not being very clear what the problem was, suggested that I urgently see a Orthopedic Surgeon, so I immediately went upstairs to book an appointment, and could only get a appointment for the following Tuesday. The report received from the Radiologist spoke of legions on my T12 vertebrae. At the time I had no idea what this was?

Think it was time to see a Physio Therapist!

My lower back pain didn't get any better, Yvette wanted me to see our doctor, but I thought rather to go and see a Physio Therapist. 

Ritali worked on my back for couple of sessions, and I generally felt better. I had one more session planned on a specific Monday, and I must say, I was feeling much better. In this session pressed on a specific spot against a vertebrae, which was really sore. She worked on this area extensively, and by that afternoon, I was in major pain again. She recommended that I go for X-rays, and that is when my story really begins!

Now my back is really Sore!!

After many years of deliberation, September 2011, Yvette and I finally decide it is time start with alternations to our house. We also decided that if we are going to start a project of this nature, we should make all the changes we need to...and get finished! So moving out of the house was the only option for us. Being in our house for more than 10 years, this became a massive task! We rented a house down the road, and planned our move.

At the time I was recovering from mild flu, and had stopped all my gym and cycling at the time, really trying to recuperate. Although, the pain in my lower back was getting worse, and more pronounced, as I was not exercising at the time.

The move consisting of caring furniture, moving boxes, and everything else. Even though we had movers, I still ended up straining my back. During the move I used one of gym "kidney belts" to hold my back in place, as it was becoming excruciating.

Alterations to our house - September 2011

So, How did it all Start? First Symptoms, Sani2c

Well, thinking back on when I got the first symptoms... It was earlier in the year, in fact, on our December 2010 holiday. We really had a fabulous holiday in Mauritius and December.

Charl, Dominique, Chloe & Yvette

Lying on the beach, the water skiing really looked great, it reminded me of my youth. My Dad had a ski boat, and as young boys we enjoyed water skiing. So after close to 25 years, I thought I would go for it and see if I still water ski? And guess what it was like "riding a bicycle" you never forget. So I first tried with two ski's, no problems. Then I tried a slalom ski. this was much harder, I really battled to get up, and once up, the impact on back was very sore. "Enough of that, I thought, perhaps I should rather stick to cycling" (my favorite sport).

Water Skiing - December 2011

Back on the beach I said to Yvette, "my back really hurts, feels like a pain in my lower back and or perhaps kidneys". The rest of the holiday was amazing, something that we would never forget. (writing this entry months after the time, I realize how important it is to spend quality time with the ones you love. Our lives are so short, we need to live for the day, make the best of every moment, the Word of God talks of our lives being like the fleeting withering of grass, or the fading away of a flower in the field).

So, January 2011 starts with my rigorous training program for the Sani2C Multi Stage Mountain Bike Race. One of the most amazing staged events in the country, over 3 days, and 240km. The race starts in the Underberg in the Southern Drakensberg and ends in Scottburgh on the Natal South Coast. (see www.sani2c.co.za) The race event was in May 2011, so we had over 4 months of training, which consisted of 8-12 hours of cycling a week. Early mornings, really exhilarating, hard work, and very rewarding.  I guess you're wondering why I'm telling you all of this, well, lower back pain and cycling seem to go hand in hand. Especially in mountain biking, one is generally sore in your lower back, due to the time in the saddle, and also the terrain that we train on. The routes are generally, strenuous, rocky and hard. Cycling also shortens your hamstrings, and so if your stretching regimen is slack, as mine generally is, then you generally have a lower sore back. And so, I guess the underlying symptoms of my diagnosis, was largely suppressed by my cycling activities.

So completing my third Sani2c was great! Adriaan, my partner and I did relatively well, and we where happy with our result. I experienced minor lower back pain by nothing serious. (as I write this entry, still in my current condition, I'm determined to ride the race again, Lord willing, perhaps not this year, but the next)

Sani2c - May 2011

My First Post

I always wanted to start a blog, but never new what to blog about, well things have changed! There so much to blog about. The intention of my blog is not a technical one, but my life experience and the "narrow road" that I'm on. I would like to be an encouragement to all other's who may one day have to walk the same road. I also want to thank my family, friends, and brothers and sisters in the Lord for all their prayers and support over the last couple of weeks.

So, in starting this blog, I have already been through so much, and now being 5 weeks after my first operation, but have to rewind all the events to get the sequence right.

So thanks for everyones support and encouragement!