And he said, "It Is Good!"

That is what my surgeon was able to say after my incredible surgery. It went very well. At least, that's what I heard he said as I was still out cold in those moments after he finished. But those were some of the first words I remember my dear brother trying to tell me as he desperately tried to wake me up. Apparently drugs have quite the strong affect on me, so come 2 hrs. post-op, I was still fast asleep, apart from the brief moments waking in pain and crying to my dear nurse for help. So Jeff finally grabbed my hand and started whispering sweet encouragements to me, trying to get some form of response. My first memory of all that is him trying to tell me he was there, I was alright, and everything went really well. And my first thought was to please go tell my parents I was ok- I made him leave for a minute to go make a call- but then I took him back to wake me again...

So all that to say, it seems the surgery was a success. Hallelujah! In fact, I was feeling stable enough by late that evening that they let my friends take me home to rest for the night. The first couple days have definitely been a bit rough including some terrible nausea. And let me tell you, vomiting for 12 consecutive hours after recent neck surgery is no fun, whatsoever. But after another trip to the hospital, they settled me down, and I've pretty much been on the mend since then. Now I just have to watch I don't get things lodged in my throat which has happened a few times. It's still pretty difficult to swallow so I'm trying to embrace the broth and smoothies and soups and accept this forced diet as a good thing. And although my voice is scratchy, I've still got one, and so I have to say I'm very grateful.

I've been so well taken care of by people near and far. In a great moment of appreciation, as a friend helped me shower today, I said to her, "Isn't this just how the church should be?! This is great!" I know my family has been very grateful for the friends that have stood in for them, but it's so nice to be able to tell them I'm recovering well. Today was my first really good day. So I pray that every day continues like this and I am up and running like a good 20-something year old should be doing in no time! All the nerve issues haven't healed yet but we all knew that it would take some time for those things to regenerate. But I did say that if I get all my function back, I might just give that surgeon a whopping kiss on the cheek for his good work!

So thank you all for your continued support and prayers. All your sweet encouragements go so far in these long days of recovery. And if any of you have any wonderfully inspiring books or such you think I'd be interested in as I settle in to cabin fever, please let me know!

Love to all,
Jules

Sweet "Muma M"/Peggy and I right before they wheeled me away...

This Day, too, the Lord Has Made!

As I wait for the sun to rise on this morning, I'm admittedly both a little anxious but profoundly at peace. I can't even imagine what people go through who have multiple surgeries with higher risks than this all the time. But the only thing that gives me peace this early morning is to remember the Lord's promises and His faithfulness thus far. He has been so good. I guess you could say God's sovereignty has a whole new perspective for me this morning. This day has been 10 years in the waiting and as I reflect on that journey, I could never have orchestrated it like He has. It's been wonderful. The road has definitely been pretty hard and for a long time I couldn't grasp God's goodness. But today my faith can cling to His promises and trust His love.

So as you pray today, please thank Him for his goodness and ask Him for His mercy. I already feel completely surrounded with love from all over the world, and so I pray this morning with so many, a great cloud of witnesses, ready to face the day.

Surgery is scheduled for 11am, eastern time. I can't wait to tell you how much better I feel after this is all over!!

May the peace of Christ be with you all today!