Pastor Scott’s Perspective -“The Hand of God in My Healing Journey” July 2020
“You are a ticking time bomb and at risk for permanent paralysis.”
Not the words I wanted or expected to hear shortly into my ORA visit with the neurosurgeon, Dr. Lusczyzk. Followed by, “I’m moving you to the head of the line. I want you to go home, pack your bag, head to the ER, and get admitted for surgery tomorrow morning.”
Did I want to proceed? Yes. I knew the hand of God was in this – that much was evident. God had moved this process along miraculously fast – to do me good, not harm.
How did I know that it was God who had brought me to the point of this emergency surgery? Because I had seen His hand at work in so many ways already.
For about 3-4 weeks prior to that, I had been experiencing mild to moderate sciatica pain. Nothing alarming. A couple of chiropractor visits and some exercises, and the pain should subside. But it didn’t. Hiking became more painful. But most of the time, the pain was quite tolerable. No big deal. Maybe try some different exercises?
Then came Monday, June 1. I worked out at the gym – nothing too strenuous. Then another chiro visit. She said my alignment was not the problem, so I should see a PT (physical therapist). Then Beth and I went for a hike at Schuetzen Park. Some pain, but nothing extraordinary.
We had gone about a mile and a half, with one big hill to go. It had some stone steps higher than stair steps. No problem many times before. But this time, I could not go up the steps without pulling myself up by my arms using the railing. My leg strength was gone, and my balance and coordination were way off. Even then I didn’t fully realize that I was in serious trouble.
The next day I saw Dr Darrow. The other possibility he mentioned was Guillain-Barre syndrome (rapid onset muscle weakness caused by immune system damaging the nervous system). He took an x-ray and ordered an MRI. That can take several days, but he got me in the next day.
I preached that Sunday,with some difficulty getting up and down the platform, as you might recall. At that time I didn’t yet know the cause of my muscle weakness. I was praying for clarity. It came the next day. The results of an MRI can also take several days, but the results came back Monday morning – thanks to CBC member and friend, Carolyn Bjustrom. The MRI showed severe spinal stenosis at several vertebrae. And a cyst impinging on the spinal cord. Clear diagnosis.
Seeing a specialist like Dr. Lusczyzk can take weeks. He was scheduling visits for August at the time. The appt. was made for Thursday that same week. Thank you, Lord (and Carolyn and Dr Darrow).
Dr. Lusczyzk spent about 45 minutes total with me, initially asking about my family and responding very positively to learning I was a pastor. He said tha the was also a man of God and that he and his wife would pray for me that night.
Then he dropped the bombshell: “You are a ticking time bomb and at risk for permanent nerve damage or even paralysis.” He showed me some MRI pictures and said he wondered how I had not had more serious problems prior to this. I was expecting to hear of several different therapeutic options prior to surgery.
Not, “Go check into the ER andget prepped for emergency surgery tomorrow morning.” He bumped someone else who was not an emergency in order tomake room for me in the schedule. (I pray that person is doing well.) He made no promises and gave me plenty of scary scenarios of what could go wrong. He said the aim of the surgery was to prevent paralysis, not make my back whole. He said he could not promise that the nerve damage causing the foot drop would be restored. He told me to expect future problems down the road.After about 15 minutes of worst case scenarios, he asked, “So, do you want to proceed with surgery tomorrow?”I was able to say “yes” with a good deal of peace because I knew that God’s hand was in this. God worked through Deana and Carolyn and Dr. Darrow to expedite a process that would normally take weeks, not days. God protected me from doing further damage when I was at high risk. I was now in the hands of the top neurosurgeon in the area – but more than that, I was in the hands of my strong and loving heavenly Father.
More answered prayers to come. We were told in the ER that Beth would not be able to accompany me to pre-op the next morning. Disappointing, but “The Lord is my Shepherd, I will not fear, for You are with me.” But upon admission into Genesis East, we received the good news that yes, she could accompany me. How hard it must have been for so many who have been isolated from loved ones when going through a personal health crisis during this pandemic. I was taken to the COVID floor while awaiting test results. They came back Negative. No COVID. They took me back down to orthopedic. (By the way, no COVID patients in the hospital at that time, andthere have been no COVID pa- tients for 2 weeks there.)The surgery was completely successful. Nothing that could have gone wrong went wrong. Nothing.
I was told to expect off the charts pain following surgery. Never higher than a 5-6. Mostof the time, 2-4. Today, an occasional Tylenol is all I need.My first words that Beth heard after surgery were, “I can move my feet! I can move my feet!” Not full strength yet, but no foot drop. Huge. No lasting nerve damage. Muscle strength will return with time, healing, physical therapy, exercise, and prayer.Today I am walking most of the time without a walker. Without pain. Praise God!
Did God answer the healing prayers that Wednesday night –and all the many prayers since then? YES. Dr. Lusczyzk and his associate both commented on that. We all have sensed God’s hand in this whole process. And I am trusting Him with my future as well.
The best is yet to come!