I'm Home/ Thank You

I am home and taking it easy. I first wanted to thank you ALL for the support, the gifts, e-mails, cards, prayers, balloons, flowers and chap stick. You were there for me and you will never know how grateful I am for all you have done. It was very serious and scary there for a while. Here is the story: Sunday afternoon (12th) I started not feeling my best, but still was ok and still going on with life. I just thought I ate too many of the wrong foods at the Mushroom Festival. Then Monday and Tuesday I was still hurting, not eating and burping alot. Tuesday afternoon I started to get really bad pains in my lower tummy and sharp shooting pains in my lower back. But I made it through with work and was off to school (Immaculata University) for my class, which I had a quiz in. I got to school and I tried to get to my class, but I just couldn't do it. I went to the bathroom to try and make myself throw up, because the pain was so intense. I decided at that point to try and get to my car, go home and then to ER at Christiana. Well, I made it outside and fell down to the ground at the college and some lady called the campus security, which they called Paoli Hospital for an Ambulance. Two nuns happen to be walking by and they stayed with me until I was on the Ambulance and taken to the hospital. They called Rick (my husband) from some ladies cell phone and I told Rick to meet me at the Paoli Hospital and page Dr. Peters, Jr.. Dr. Peters then called Paoli and had it arranged for me to get out of pain and transfer me to Christiana Hospital. He had called before I even arrived at Paoli. I was at the hospital, the didn't want to touch me because I was a Gastric Bypass Patient and they didn't have surgeons who did that procedure. Which was fine with me. The two nuns came to the hospital and stayed with me. They were wonderful and they were God's little angels on earth, helping me through that moment in my life. I have NEVER been in that much pain before in my life. I was screaming in ER, those poor other patients. Anyway 6 shots of Demoral and 4 shots of Morphine with in two hours period, I was on my way to Christiana by ambulance (lights and sirons and all). I got to Christiana to ER they got me in, Dr. Peters beats the ER doctors there. By this time I am tollable of the pain and some what coherent. Dr. Peters wanted a cat-scan, so the was done immediately. Dr. Peters called Dr. Irgau at home and explained the situation. Both doctors decided to go and do emergency surgery at 1:30 am in the morning. After 3-1/2 hours of surgery it turned out I had a strangulated small intestine. I almost lost my small intestine and would have lived and eaten off an iv bag the rest of my life. The small intestine went through an old hernia at the Y (which was just fixed 3 months ago) and then it cut the blood and oxygen supply off. I saw the pictures and it went from pink (healthy) to light blue, to dark blue and spots of black (which is dead). I didn't realize how severe it was until I saw the pictures and talked with Dr. Peters. He told me that another hour to an hour and half I would have lost the small intestine and been a vegatable the rest of my life and that if I was 65 years old I would not have made it threw the surgery. I am telling you this is the closes I have come to the white gates of heaven. I am so thankful that God had angels with me the whole time and love from you. So now I am on the mend and trying to heal and take it easy. I am glad in a way that I was in the hospital when I was, because they put me on 5th floor, which when I had my GBP they didn't have designated to GBP patients. It was great to see how things have changed since 19 months ago. Plus I got to visit other GBP patients and hopefully gave them support during their jump to the losing side. I do have to say that I am glad that I had on my medical braclet on, because that is the first thing the the nuns and ambulance crew asked me: "What does your medical bracelet mean"? I always believed in the before, but now I am pushing them! I just had mine updated to: Gastric Bypass 2/2003 No NG Tubes No NSAIDS/Aspirin No Sugar Dr. # 302.892.9900 I am truely one lucky person. I will be out of work for a couple of weeks and then will start back slowly. I really am sad, because I do really enjoy my new job and hate to miss it. I will hurry and get back soon. If you want to chat my home number is 610.925.3447. I will be here. Thanks again for all the love. It means so much to me, especially since my family is in South Dakota and they can't be here. You are my family!! Oh also, now I can say I have had all the doctors at the practice and I am pleased with them all. I know that my mom was very pleased with the OR nurse who called her and told her they were going in and then when Dr. Peters called her at 5am to update her on the surgery. He answered every question. I am so impressed with our team!!!!!! We really do have a great circle going on-that is why we suceed! My hugs and thanks to all of you- Nicki

Wow Nicki, That's quite a story, terrfying! Thankfully you had all right help in the right places when you needed it. I'm sorry you had to go through all that pain and suffering and glad you are on the mend now. Take it easy, give yourself a chance to get back to 100%, and stay dry in this rain! Ugh suirfing the net is about as active as I'll be today, afraid I might turn into a duck and start quacking if I go outside. Linda

Nicki, What a blessed lady you are for sure. I am simply too stunned to say much of anything here ... just please continue to rest and take good care of yourself. Love, Tammy

Welcome Home Nicki! Your story really reinforces how thankful we can be that we have a competent and realiable surgery team! I'm glad that they were able to react quickly and take care of your urgent needs! I do hope that you continue to feel better and better. You'll continue to be in my thoughts and prayers! ((hugs)) Carla

Welcome home Nicki~! Glad to see you on mend....please take it easy and rest up girlfirend. I'll call ya later~Your in my thoughts and prayers. (((Hugs))) Shay

Nicki-girl, All I can say is thank God! You truly are a very lucky woman. And yes, we are fortunate to have the wonderful team of doctors that we have. Valerie

Hi Nicki!!!!!!!! I am so glad that you are home and doing better...take care....Gail

Nicki Glad you are doing better. Thanks for sharing that story. I'm in tears. Firstly, terrified tears and now tears of joy that our Drs. rock and you are safe. God Bless you, Nicki. Dianne

Nicki, So glad you got to come home so quickly. Hope all is well. Call if you get bored or if you need a ride or just want to get out. Elissa

Dear Nicki, Praise God that you are doing better and on the road to recovery. You are truly a blessed woman with God working for you. Please know that everyone is continuing to pray for you and wish you all of the best during this time. Take it easy and get better. You have already been an inspiration to so many of us with your weight loss and other surgeries. Now it seems that you will be a further example to all of us in this time as well. I agree about the medical alert bracelet, necklace etc. I just got mine in New York and purchased a few extra if anyone is interested. I really wanted the 14K gold one that I could wear as a necklace under my clothes. Some of your previous postings on the necessity of this item helped me make the decision to get one. Thanks alot. Hope that you get well soon and that you use this time for YOU. God Bless, Mama mama