Neal’s surgery and very slow recovery.

Wednesday evening Neal call Craig Cannon and Dan Patton to come over and give him a blessing prior to his surgery scheduled for Thursday morning.  Bro. Cannon sealed the blessing and Bishop Patton gave Neal the most beautiful and spiritual blessing.  How grateful we should all be for the Priesthood.  What a blessing it is in our lives.

Thursday morning we got up at 5:00 and prepared to leave for the hospital.  We were supposed to be there by 5:30 a.m.  We went out to the garage, pushed the garage door opener and nothing happened.  I pushed it again and it went up about 8” and then back down again.  We did this a few more times with the same result.  The garage door would not go up.  Neal pulled the pulley down to release the door so that we could lift it up.  We both tried to lift the door but could only get it about 2’ and then it would not budge.  After trying numerous times we realized that we were prisoners of automation!  Neal called our friend down the street but he didn’t answer.  And as Lynda Ann said, “No call at 5:30 a.m. is good!”  So, then Neal called our home teacher Craig Cannon who also lives in the complex and he came right over and drove us to the hospital. 

Neal went into surgery about 7:30 for the Seeding Implants of radiation in the prostate.  Dr. Lee and Dr. Middleton both came to the waiting room to talk to me and tell me that the procedure went well.  Neal was back to his room about 10:45. 

He was, of course, a bit loopy and asking all kinds of repeated and funny questions.  I was grateful to have Lynda Ann there to help me remember all the things that the nurse went over that we were supposed to do and what to expect when we took him home.  They released him about 12:15 and Annie drove us home.  She had been up all night working but somehow found the energy to be with me and Neal.  After we got Neal settled in bed we left and ran to the store to get his RX’s filled and grab a couple other things. 

Today is Saturday and it has been a rough two days for Neal.  He has experienced nausea, pain, soreness and all kind of inconveniences that you can figure out for yourself.  Wednesday evening (before his surgery), he made a trip to Western Gardens and bought all the flowers for his patio planters.  He did that thinking that by Thursday afternoon after his surgery, he would be up and going and well enough to plant!  Of course, he couldn’t plant them Thursday.  Friday morning, he was so worried about the flowers that he gathered enough energy to go out and get almost all of his flowers planted.  I don’t usually get involved in his planting but spent the whole time with him running and gathering what he needed so he didn’t have to move and lift.  I felt much relief when the last huge pot was planted.  If you look closely you can see the pain and discomfort on his face.

We were scheduled to go to Mexico this next Wednesday morning.  We have called Ron and Judy and had to bow out of that commitment.  I’m afraid this is going to be a hard thing for him to recover from.  I’m guessing at least two weeks before he starts feeling good and starts getting some of his energy back.  This is really hard for him because he is a very active individual.  Sitting around is just not his forte’.  I’m grateful that he had this done during his long summer break. 

All of you children need to remember him in your daily prayers.