Tuesday, July 17, 2012 (11:00PM)

Emily's 2nd back surgery is Wednesday around 730AM.
She is having a vertabrectomy at L2 with decompression of the spinal canal & reconstruction with a titanium spacer & bone graft.
She had no motor activity in the lower body. However, she DOES have a pulse in her right toe - meaning the foot is "alive.". She also has some sensitivity on both legs & feet. At this point, pain is good as it means the brain is able to send & receive messages to her lower extremities.
She is quite apprehensive about tomorrow. Her main concern is having a breathing tube. This was VERY traumatic last week. We've requested it be taken out before she comes out of anesthesia, but they can make no guarantees.
Please pray for her to have a good nights sleep & peace.
Pray for Dr. Gireesan & his team.
Pray for all of us to feel God's presence & peace.
Of course, pray for successful surgery, no complications, etc. & that God gets the glory for all He is doing & has done.
Thank you for praying! We will send an update once she is out of surgery.
Tina

Saturday, July 14, 2012 (415PM)

Hello, friends.
The whole family is here in Chicago now. Me & the little ones arrived on Friday. I can't tell you what an emotional relief it was for me to be in the same room with Emily. Just to see her with my own eyes and talk to her face to face is a huge thing.
Thursday night was rough for her. Her mom was up with her until 5AM trying to help position her leg in a way that would not produce pain. She is experiencing more pain in her right leg (the unbroken one) than in the left. This is from the pressure on the nerves in her back. Hopefully, next weeks surgery will alleviate some of it along with a medicine she began taking on Wednesday.
Friday was OK, but she was exhausted and frustrated with the pain. However, she was up for visitors last night and several of her friends came to see her and wish her a Happy Birthday.
Today, a local pastor stopped by and encouraged her with his own story of near death and the unexpected benefits that came of it. Her ICU doctors came by to say hello as well. I'm sitting here now as she sleeps.
Wendy said that she felt her tickle her left left this morning. That was encouraging because it is just so hard to tell how much sensation she has due to the broken bones. It is my understanding that nothing will be done about her left leg until her back is dealt with completely. She also has to do some breathing exercises to make sure fluid doesn't settle in her lungs due to laying here in the bed for so long.
Please continue to pray for her healing. We are still trusting God that she will be completely healed and have use of her legs. There are still many decisions ahead for Tim & Wendy regarding Emily's future.
Of course, no one knows how long her recovery will be and what exactly will be involved, but we KNOW that God has her in this place for a purpose, He WILL provide for our every need throughout the recovery period and we HOPE that He gets ALL the fame for doing so.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012 (1030PM)

Emily is out of surgery! She has not fully come out from the anesthesia and she will remain heavily sedated. Tim hasn't been allowed to see her, but the surgeon said she is fine and did great! As you can imagine, it has been a long day for everyone. We really didn't expect for her to be in surgery for almost 10 hours. Please lift up the surgeon and his team! I can't imagine doing his job...
The bracket is in place to support her spine and protect her from further damage. The rod is not hinged so she will have limited movement. The surgeon said she will have some movement at her waist and some at her shoulders. Most likely she will not be able to get out of bed until after next week's surgery. That surgery is scheduled for Tuesday of next week. They have to completely rebuild the lower vertebrae that was crushed. Right now the bracket/rod is allowing a space where it was.
We are hoping for her left leg to regain feeling as some of the pressure is relieved. The doctor is cautiously hopeful that she will regain some mobility in that leg eventually.
"Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS. I will say it again: REJOICE! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:4-7 NIV
We all have much to rejoice in, no matter what our circumstances are. The Lord IS near to each of us...waiting on us, pursuing us, loving us. Even though my temptation is to worry and I find myself becoming anxious, I remember, GOD tells me what I can do. In everything (the good, the bad, the scary), I can thank HIM for all He has done. We have SO much to be thankful for! THEN, the peace of God comes. Then I can rest, truly rest in Him and know it is going to be OK. I pray each of you are blessed abundantly by the Lord & experience His peace!
Thank you again for your prayers and support. There are many decisions to be made as we move forward so we appreciate your continued prayers for healing, peace, wisdom, patience and planning.
God is good...all the time.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012 (530PM)

Here is a brief update from Tim. Emily is still in surgery...so we are waiting anxiously by the phone.
Emily’s should be out of surgery soon
It’s been over five hours now so I have some time to thank you all for
your many prayers and encouragement. Tina summarized all of the
emails, facebook responses and phone calls and sent it to me
yesterday. This was the last thing Emily read before she went into
surgery today around 11am. She was scared and this really lifted her
spirits to realize SO MANY people care for her and are praying for her.
It also really touched my heart.
I can share a few new things but its still way too early to determine
the extent of the spinal cord damage and if and when she will gain
feeling to her left leg. She has some feeling in her right and this is
very encouraging considering the damage to her back. It’s going to be
a long recovery with a month in the hospital and three to eighteen
more in rehab. SO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE for offering assistance with
our kids, our home in ATL, frequent flyer miles and the other things
including a home in Chicago for our family as we try to figure out
what Emily will need help and support with the next few months. These
many gifts from you are ALL answers to our prayers.
Today’s back surgery is to stabilize her lower and middle with a
hinged brace that is affixed to each of the vertebras from L4 to T6 so
there is no additional damage to the spinal cord. Specifically, it’s a
thoracic and lumbar posterior spinal fusion. After she recovers from
this in four to ten days, she will have a second surgery. This surgery
will be through the front where bone will be graft from her hip and
used to rebuild L4 that is completely destroyed as the fracture to T9
should heal on its own.
Tina has been wonderful these last few days as my amazing ambassador
so I can totally focus on Emily and stay by her side. I’m SO thankful
for this, as Emily was so surprised to see me the morning of her
accident. She really touched my heart yesterday by saying that she was
thankful to have her Dad all to herself for these last few days. Her
Mom, Sister and all the Grandparents arrive here tomorrow. We have
counted many blessings between a few crying moments. Most touching for
me was while I read her some Psalms this morning as we waited on the
call to pre-op.
Emily has been a real trooper for here nineteen years (turning twenty
this Friday). The staff and doctors have been great. Northwestern
Memorial is supposed to be the best in the State and many say the
country for spinal surgery and rehab.
Thanks again for your prayers and encouragement – I love you guys,
\

Monday, July 9, 2012 (630PM)

Thank you for praying. Thank you for calling and emailing.
Tim just spoke with the doctor. Emily is scheduled for surgery tomorrow morning around 730.
Her T-9 is fractured. Her L-2 is completely destroyed.
Tomorrow they will run a bracket between the damaged vertabraes to connect them & stabilize. They are only 4 in between the two injured ones. This is to stabilize the spine & allow them to heal. This is similar to what is used for extreme scoliosis cases to straighten the spine.
In one week, the will do another surgery to remove the bracket & use bone graft and other materials to re-build the L-2.
She has no feeling in her left leg but does in her right. Again, we won't know the extent of the damage to the spine until surgery is complete.
Emily seems to now understand how serious her injuries are and is thankful her arms and hands aren't injured or affected. Her pain is extreme. She cannot have a spinal block/epidural as the doctors do not want to deaden the sensations she does have in her spine.
Thank you again for praying.
Tim has his phone with him but he is not able to answer each call. He is literally staying by her side and she needs to sleep as much as possible. If you call, please don't think that he doesn't want to talk, he is just focusing on Emily and trying to get information as it comes.
We appreciate your support more than you know!
Tina

Monday, July 9, 2012 (11:00AM)

Tim is with Emily now. He said she was in good spirits and glad to see him. In true "Emily" fashion, she said she was fine and for us not to over-react and make a big deal of it.
Her roommate, Kaycee was there and said they were at a rooftop party, it was early in the evening around 9PM, they weren't doing anything stupid, etc. The skylight was painted or covered in dirt and Emily didn't realize it until it was too late.
The doctors that were there this morning are now off and a new set of doctors are in. They are waiting on the orthopedic doctor for more information. Her hip is also broken. She seems to be able to move one leg, but obviously we won't know anything for a while.
I was able to speak with her and tell her I love her. She is heavily medicated, but it warmed my heart to hear her voice.
We covet your prayers.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Wendy called Tim at 3AM. Emily fell through a sky light - at
least 30 feet down. She is ICU at Northwestern. Tim is flying there
now.

Emily has two broken vertebrae in her lower lumbar, a broken
pelvis & a broken ankle. She is sedated and will probably have
surgery at any moment. The main concern is possible paralysis on
her lower left side.

Please pray for complete healing. PRAISE GOD THAT HE SAVED HER
AND THAT SHE IS ALIVE!

I will keep you posted as I hear more.