FRIDAY for Jason's Surgery; Send Good Thoughts and Prayers

Jason's surgery to reverse his colostomy is re-scheduled for Friday. This is not an unusual surgery, however it normally results in high levels of pain for the day(s) immediately following surgery. This surgery also has the increased potential for infection because it involves the lower bowel. It is difficult for the bowel to return to function normally as it has been "resting for six months." Patients have gone as long as two weeks after surgery before having a bowel movement.

Jason and I met with Dr. Golarz on Wednesday. Dr. G said he had two surgeries prior to Jason on Thursday. He was worried that Jason would not be able to be operated on and would have to prep again for surgery on Friday. Prep for this surgery means laxatives to clean out the bowel and fasting from solids. Dr. G did not want Jason to have to go through the prep more than once.

I asked Dr. G to tell us about the surgery. Dr. G explained that the surgeons in Iraq, after reviewing the severe extent of Jason's buttock wounds and the injury to the sphincter knew that the area would have to be kept clean to heal, thus requiring a colostomy. Dr. G was very happy that Jason had suffered no internal wounds and that the MD's did not have to use mesh in his abdominal area. I gathered that mesh would complicate this surgery, I did not ask for specifics because Jason does not have it. The stoma for the colostomy is formed by creating a opening in the intestine and connecting it to the fascia (outer skin) It is sewn together and heals as one unit as Jason's has done. The intestine is cut and stapled at both ends; the ends a length away from the rectum.

To reverse the colostomy the stoma from the intestine is cut away from the outer skin which has grown together to form the opening, sewn shut and returned to the stomach cavity. The opening in the outer skin also closed during surgery is a site, "that almost always becomes infected." The two inner ends of the of the intestines are unstapled and sewn together. The inner wall of the intestine is sewn together with silk thread "lasts a lifetime" and the outer wall is sewn together with re-absorbable stitches. The MD's will go in through the same incision used to create the colostomy six months ago. The scar is about 6" long starting at the belly button. If there are no complications the surgery should take about 2 hours and the new incision will be stapled closed for healing. Jason will remain in the hospital until he has a normal bowel movement. About 1% of patients have leakage of the intestine after this surgery.

Dow will arrive on Friday during the scheduled surgery and stay till Tuesday. We will celebrate his 55th birthday on Monday, May 1 while he visits Jason in the hospital. A successful and healed "take down" surgery for our son will be the best gift Dow could ever receive.

Please keep Jason's complete and total healing and recovery from this surgery in your thoughts and prayers. Imagine Jason pain free and infection free after this surgery. Pray that his digestive system quickly returns to normal with no complications. Hold Jason with your love and care as you have been faithful these 6 months since his wounding in war.

Let us envision Jason up and about; stretching and doing physical and occupational therapy, working, working out, relaxing, reading and watching movies, going to school, learning and incorporating the lessons life teaches us, helping others, traveling, enjoying life, resting and continue to heal in his mind, body and spirit.