Our Betty… is getting better!
Many of you regular readers are familiar with Betty, aka themema, either in person or from this blog. As you know, she has recently had a very serious operation. There have been many, many prayers wafting up from the Taff household for this incredible woman. I ‘met’ her originally on the old Gaithernet site, where her political opinions and outspokenness were forever getting her in trouble with the powers-that-be there (I’m sorry, but I kinda loved that!) By the time we finally met in person, it felt like we’d known each other forever. She is smart and funny and has a heart as big as all outdoors. She is fiercely loyal and loving to her friends, as Momma Lloyd and LindaB can also attest. She has ‘been there’ for Russ and I in so many ways over the last few years.
She has always been a strong shoulder to lean on, full of advice, lovingly bossing me around and always telling me things are going to be just fine. She has a strong faith in God, and she faced this life and death surgery with her usual low-key pragmatism.
I can’t begin to tell you how courageous and strong my sweet friend is.
Here, in her own words, is a little bit of her medical history and you’ll see what I mean– she wrote this right before her surgery:
In 1958 I was diagnosed with Hodgkins. Between then and the mid 70’s a received 7000 rads of radiation to the chest area. This has caused damage to the heart valves which my cardiologist has been monitoring for about 10 years.
The time has come that 3 of the valves need to be replaced. In testing for this, it has been discovered that I will also need one bypass. However, the biggest concern it that my aorta is calcified, which greatly increases the possibility of my stroking out during surgery.
On Dec 3rd, I went into surgery. In inserting the 4 part Port, my lung lining was knicked and the procedure had to be aborted, thankfully before the sternum had been cracked open. Ispent 2 days in the hospital, and then returned home.
The surgery has been rescheduled for Thursday January 7th. I am very confident in the skill and wisdom of my surgeon, Dr. Philpott, and in my anesthesiologist Dr. Dickinson. Dr. Dickinson says that he will probably keep me in a coma for 3 days, and Dr. Philpott says that I will probably be in the hospital for 14 days. Sadly, I can’t drive for probably 8 weeks. :>( lol.
My friend Kak, and son Dwight will update this site as their is progress to report.
I ask your prayers for the skill and wisdom of my entire surgical and care team.
So much has happened since Betty posted this on CarePages! The surgery was successful, thank God, but her recovery has been harrowing. There have been countless twists and turns– sometimes it seemed like things were crawling along at a snail’s pace, and then sometimes it felt like things were changing every hour or so. Her family has very kindly and conscientiously kept us updated, and I know they have appreciated knowing that we were praying for her. I haven’t spoken to her yet (the family has gently let us know that her strength is very limited right now) but Russ called her and talked for a few minutes before he left for the Faroe Islands last week, and I have gotten one email from her so far. A few days ago she even posted to the CarePages site– it is obvious she is off her game, because her spelling and punctuation are usually impeccable!
it is I
Posted Feb 28, 2010 11:08pm
thanks so much for all the prayers and spport for my family. it
is sometimes hard to grasp how successful the heart suurgery was,
and how many. unexpected problems I have had to handle. Thank you,
God for such talente doctors, my faithfl family and friends. The
biggest unknown and hurdle now is the kidney failure.
As of yessterday, I am enjoying reading on my laptop, but I will
turn the posting back to Robyn, as I shkake so badly tat typing is
stressul and tiring.
love betty
…
The latest reports are continuing to be positive, but I wanted to let you all know that there is still something very specific we can pray about: Betty’s kidneys have taken a beating because of the extreme nature of this complicated procedure and she has been put on dialysis. The doctors can’t say for absolute sure at this time whether or not that will be a permanent situation, but the dialysis is very rough on her. Betty is a very private person, and I didn’t check with her first to see if this was OK, but I just wanted to post this today to ask all of you if you would please join with Russ and I to ask God to please intervene in this last huge hurdle. He has been so faithful, and Betty has come so far. I know it would be a comfort for her to know that she is being lifted up by all of us here at the ‘bloomr, so hopefully she won’t fuss at me for drawing such ‘unseemly’ attention to her! And if you could maybe leave some love and encouragement for her in the comments, I will make sure that she gets them.
This is yet another way that this community can come together to help one of our own. Betty has a long way to go, but she is such a fighter! I truly appreciate your kindness towards her, and thanks so much in advance for your prayers.
