Well, here I sit in my room after my second surgery. I'm actually sitting in a chair instead of lying in the bed!!! I'm still in a little pain, but not nearly as much as I have been. It sure will be nice to finally get out of here though.
Ronnie and I wanted to say thank you to everyone for all the thoughts, prayers, and gifts that you have given us. We just hope that one day we will be able to repay everyone for these. I guess you never really put a lot of thought into how many friends and family members you have that truly love you until something like this happens. It really has a way of opening your eyes to a lot of things when tragic things happen in your's or someone else's life. All we can do is say thank you so much and we hope no one else ever has to endure something like this.
Barring any problems the doctors have told me that I can go home either tomorrow or Sunday. Hopefully it's tomorrow. Once again we wanted to say thank you and we love all of you. I'm sure that we will be hearing from or seeing all of you over the next several weeks.
Thanks,
Sarah and Ronnie
Friday, October 31, 2008
HALLOWEEN EVENTS
HALLOWEEN, OCTOBER 31, 2008 - FRIDAY 12:45 pm
Sarah just returned from surgery. They placed a permananent shunt and she did well. In fact Ronnie just gave her a drink and they brought a light lunch. Her exact works were "That was so good GET THAT FORK AND KEEP LOADING THAT IN THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Her hear hurts but she is certainly Sarah. What a day to have staples and the zombie look. I forgot the camera, but will have Bill take a picture with his phone and post it later.
They are talking about sending her home tomorrow or the next day. We are still waiting for the final results, but they said that it has probably been there for years and they may just leave it and watch it or they may treat it.
Thank you so much for your prayers. We know that they were heard because the outcome could have been so much worse. Please continue with the prayers. We love each and everyone of you.
Sarah says to tell everyone hi!!!! She says to tell everyone that her husband is wonderful!!!!
With Love,
Bill & Alison
Sarah just returned from surgery. They placed a permananent shunt and she did well. In fact Ronnie just gave her a drink and they brought a light lunch. Her exact works were "That was so good GET THAT FORK AND KEEP LOADING THAT IN THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Her hear hurts but she is certainly Sarah. What a day to have staples and the zombie look. I forgot the camera, but will have Bill take a picture with his phone and post it later.
They are talking about sending her home tomorrow or the next day. We are still waiting for the final results, but they said that it has probably been there for years and they may just leave it and watch it or they may treat it.
Thank you so much for your prayers. We know that they were heard because the outcome could have been so much worse. Please continue with the prayers. We love each and everyone of you.
Sarah says to tell everyone hi!!!! She says to tell everyone that her husband is wonderful!!!!
With Love,
Bill & Alison
Halloween
If this is a Halloween Joke - it isn't funny.
You have not heard from me much over the last few days because I have been sick and asleep most of the time.
We came home tonight to check on a few things and get new stuff. We just heard tonight that Sarah will be having surgery in the am. We plan on leaving by 5:00.
Surgery is at 0730. Please remember to pray. the surgery is the easy part for it is a permanent shunt, but today is the day that we find out the biopsy results. (Halloween - isn't it ironic). I remember that I would never allow my kids to dress as demons for Halloween so maybe this will help keep them away. We always dressed as something fun or angels. I didn't like the dark side of demons around my children. Please pray for her today.
As I sit reading (and crying) the blogs and the love that everyone has for our family, I am overwhelmed. I knew we had friends and family, but not to the extent that i have read. WE love you all and i wish I had time to call and talk to everyone of you individually. As you read this please realize that the person that is reading it right now that IT WAS MEANT FOR YOU AS IF I WAS TAKING TO YOU. With all of love. Billy & Alison and family
You have not heard from me much over the last few days because I have been sick and asleep most of the time.
We came home tonight to check on a few things and get new stuff. We just heard tonight that Sarah will be having surgery in the am. We plan on leaving by 5:00.
Surgery is at 0730. Please remember to pray. the surgery is the easy part for it is a permanent shunt, but today is the day that we find out the biopsy results. (Halloween - isn't it ironic). I remember that I would never allow my kids to dress as demons for Halloween so maybe this will help keep them away. We always dressed as something fun or angels. I didn't like the dark side of demons around my children. Please pray for her today.
As I sit reading (and crying) the blogs and the love that everyone has for our family, I am overwhelmed. I knew we had friends and family, but not to the extent that i have read. WE love you all and i wish I had time to call and talk to everyone of you individually. As you read this please realize that the person that is reading it right now that IT WAS MEANT FOR YOU AS IF I WAS TAKING TO YOU. With all of love. Billy & Alison and family
Thursday, October 30, 2008
This is part of Sarahs embroidery.
Sarah is going back to surgery tomorrow morning at 0730 AM this is to put a permanent shunt I didn’t find out till 2320 tonight. This is a 4 hour operation keep her in your Prayers.
I found this saying which is so true so I thought I would share it with you.
I found this saying which is so true so I thought I would share it with you.
GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU
“When I see you in bed, not speaking or moving, I think of this embroidery. Look at the back side - your life is like this. The threads are knotted and tangled. But when you turn it over, you see God is weaving a crown for your life – and He is working it out in beauty.”
My life is but a weaving between my God and me, I do not choose the colors, He works steadily, oftentimes he weaves sorrow, and I in foolish pride, Forget He sees the upper, and the underside. Not till the loom is silent, and shuttles cease to fly, Will God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why. The dark threads are as needful in the skillful weaver’s hand, As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern he has planned.
Dad
30th October 2008 Sarah's Update
This is just a quick update we are still waiting for the final results, and Sarah’s going for an MRI this after noon this is common they are just checking. Sarah’s attitude is still positive. I will follow up this afternoon.
Dad
Dad
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Sarah Being Sarah
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Dr. Jensen said that he has ruled out a very aggressive tumor and a lymphoma blood tumor. They are planning on putting a permanent shunt in and will have final results by the end of the week. Sarah is doing OK Ronnie and the rest of us are still concerned and yet relieved with news I guess we all will feel alot better when we get the final results on Friday. Allie and Ryan gave Sarah loves and kissess. I'm really tiered and Kyle is staying with Sarah tonight while Ronnie and I get some sleep.
Dad
Wednesday 29th October 2008 Sarah update
The resident M.D. came in this morning and said Sarah will need to have a permanent shunt put in, did not say when Dr. Schmitt would do the surgery. We should be getting some news on the Biopsy either this afternoon or tomorrow. I've been sitting here watching Sarah as she sleeps and she is so strong Sarah keeps her head heald high. Also Allie went to her soccer banquet and was awarded with a plaque for M.V.P. we are proud of her for just the way she is. Ryan is being a trooper.
Dad
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
4:30 PM
Today is Tuesday the 28th 2008 I got here this morning and Sarah gave me a smile she got her Nurse she wanted on day shift his name is Travis and he’s really good. Sarah says this whole think sucks, and doesn’t want to play this game anymore. But she is a trooper and knows that things still have to be done.
Dad
Dad
Tuesday 28 @ 3:45pm
I am sitting with Sarah at this time. She sleeps most of the time due to the pain medication and recovery from surgery. I got a smile from her when I came into the room at first because I had on her necklace and I told her she wasn't supposed to notice. Ryan is with his grandpa Aldridge at grandpas home and is going to return back to school tomorrow. Allie is with me and we are going to attend her soccer dinner tonight in Ogden. We thank you for all the continued prayers and support of the community.
Callie
Callie
Monday, October 27, 2008
It is now 10:oo pm and Sarah is back in her room and asleep.
They have put in an external shunt to drain the excess spinal fluid. They took a biopsy and we should know more in a couple of days. She was pretty visty and irritated when she returned to her room but they medicated her and she is now sound asleep.
We now wait for the results of the biopsy to see what we are dealing with. They do plan to go back in to do a more permanent shunt and what else depends on the outcome of the biopsy.
So she will have another surgery in a few days.
Thank you for your prayers, but please do not stop.
Allie and Ryan are doing extremely well. We are a close family and are open and loving. Thank you all for caring so much for all of us. I don't know how any of us can start to repay the kindness you have shown.
I have the night watch over Sarah until 2:00 am and then Billy will come and relieve me. Now that this is over Ronnie has agreed to sleep the whole night. He has not left her side, but to shower since Friday.
Don't forget to write Sarah messages. She read the first few and was deeply moved. My personal prayer is that my daughter sees what the Lord can do. Before surgery we prayed and she reaccepted Christ and has turned to anyone who will pray with her.
We love you all.
Alison
They have put in an external shunt to drain the excess spinal fluid. They took a biopsy and we should know more in a couple of days. She was pretty visty and irritated when she returned to her room but they medicated her and she is now sound asleep.
We now wait for the results of the biopsy to see what we are dealing with. They do plan to go back in to do a more permanent shunt and what else depends on the outcome of the biopsy.
So she will have another surgery in a few days.
Thank you for your prayers, but please do not stop.
Allie and Ryan are doing extremely well. We are a close family and are open and loving. Thank you all for caring so much for all of us. I don't know how any of us can start to repay the kindness you have shown.
I have the night watch over Sarah until 2:00 am and then Billy will come and relieve me. Now that this is over Ronnie has agreed to sleep the whole night. He has not left her side, but to shower since Friday.
Don't forget to write Sarah messages. She read the first few and was deeply moved. My personal prayer is that my daughter sees what the Lord can do. Before surgery we prayed and she reaccepted Christ and has turned to anyone who will pray with her.
We love you all.
Alison
Monday 27 @ 8::15pm
Surgery is OVER Sarah is back in her room awake. We are unable to see her for 30-40 min so the nurses can assess her. They were able to perform the surgery through one hole. A temporary drain was placed and will removed at a later time. Will update in 30 mins.
Monday 27 @ 5:30pm
They finally got everything together and was all on the same page and took Sarah for surgery at this time. We all got to go her room and give her hugs and kisses. We keep getting in trouble for having to many family members in the room at once, but it is so hard when you love her so much. Sarah will be in surgery for 3-5 hours they will update us every 90mins and I will update the blog as they update us. Thank you for your prayers and support and your continued prayers. Sarah really likes to read the responses so please write back to her we will help her respond.
Sunday, Oct 26th,
We again waited most of the day on Sunday for news.
We were then told that surgery would be tomorrow. They will probably place a shunt and/or clean out areas for the fluid to flow. They also plan on taking out part of the tumor to see what it is. They told us 1 or 2 o'clock.
Monday, October 27th, 2008
One of the surgeons came and talked with Sarah this am to describe the surgery. They will drill a hole and try to obtain a piece that way. If they can't the other specialist will then biopsy thru mapping thru the brain and into the tumor.
It is currently 1 o'clock and they have not yet taken her to the MRI mapping, so I guess the surgery will be postponed.
Wouldn't it be great if they did the MRI and found it HAD DISAPPERED due to all the prayers. We have no doubt that this is possible if it is his will.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Sarah's story
Friday, October 24th started out as any other day. Our daughter Sarah Aldridge is the Program Coordinator at the local senior center. She has always said that Callie and I can care and “clean up” the seniors, she just wants to entertain them. AND THAT SHE DOES!!!! She loves her job. She plans trips and takes seniors places, does ceramics with them and definitely “entertains them”. She freq. has bands or singers come and play at lunchtime. I remember about 2 wks. Ago a singer came and Sarah was taking turns on the dance floor with any senior that would dance with her. Center of it all – that’s our SARAH.
Last Friday she had planned an afternoon with a young gentleman to come and show “my seniors” his program call “Snakes and Scales”. She had approx. 50 people attend and made sure to invite friends with children to come. This young man brought spiders, scorpions, snakes, lizards, and a huge turtle and 2 boas about 20 feet long. For 1 ½ hrs after the show she made sure that all “My seniors” got a chance to have their picture taken with the large snake. She took the pictures herself.
The young man put everything away and was preparing to go and Sarah asked him to let her take “one more picture” of Allie (my granddaughter) and the snake. He took the snake out and Sarah grabbed a chair, turned it around backwards to strattle it to take the picture and went to sit down. There was not as much chair as she thought and she fell backwards and hit the back of her head very, very, hard. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital. She was in so much pain that they decided to do a CAT scan.
After the first CAT scan they said they needed another with dye. At this point we were a little concern thinking a small bleed or something.
And this is where our current story begins:
A little while later the MD came in and said he had some bad news. He started off by saying that the fall was “a blessing” because had the CAT scan not been done our story could have had a fast, split second ending.
He said they had found something unrelated to the fall. It was about 2 cm, and in the middle of her brain. He then said that he was sure it was and aneurysm. We didn’t realize how the world can change after a one word sentence.
He said that he had already made arrangements at the U of U, and life-flight was on the way. He was worried that the fall may have weakened it or that it was unstable and he wanted her down there within the hour.
My daughter Callie stayed behind to help load Sarah while the rest of us took off to the U of U Hospital.
We met her in the ER and stayed with her for about 1 hour before they took her for the MRI. After a couple of hours the report came in.
They were not sure what it was, but it was affecting the “river of cerebral spinal fluid between the left and right side of her brain” they considered her as “needing to be watched closely” and moved her to ICU, where she remains at this time.
Saturday, October 25th,
Sarah had a pretty good night. They arranged for us to stay at guest housing which is within walking distance from the hospital. It is just like a motel and they offer breakfast. It is a little cheaper, but definitely closer than a motel.
We stayed with her all day today waiting to hear. I neuro resident came and took Sarah and Ronnie to view the MRI and she was told that it is a TUMOR and not an aneurysm. It DOES NOT have feelers, but does have to be removed due to the interference of the fluids. It is deep. We were told that a surgeon would come and talk to us. We waited all day and as of midnight the “surgeon” had not come because the one they thought was going to do it is not sure he is the most qualified.
Sarah is alert, oriented and herself. She has gone thru all the emotions of anger, denial, etc. She is very scared and so are we. She keeps telling me that she has two children to finish raising.
We have contacted all the friends and family that we can think of. She has been placed on every prayer list and temple in the state and beyond. Just keep praying.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
She had a fairly good night. It is now 9:30 and Billy and Ronnie are over with her. I am with the kids and letting them sleep in and will join them later.
Last Friday she had planned an afternoon with a young gentleman to come and show “my seniors” his program call “Snakes and Scales”. She had approx. 50 people attend and made sure to invite friends with children to come. This young man brought spiders, scorpions, snakes, lizards, and a huge turtle and 2 boas about 20 feet long. For 1 ½ hrs after the show she made sure that all “My seniors” got a chance to have their picture taken with the large snake. She took the pictures herself.
The young man put everything away and was preparing to go and Sarah asked him to let her take “one more picture” of Allie (my granddaughter) and the snake. He took the snake out and Sarah grabbed a chair, turned it around backwards to strattle it to take the picture and went to sit down. There was not as much chair as she thought and she fell backwards and hit the back of her head very, very, hard. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital. She was in so much pain that they decided to do a CAT scan.
After the first CAT scan they said they needed another with dye. At this point we were a little concern thinking a small bleed or something.
And this is where our current story begins:
A little while later the MD came in and said he had some bad news. He started off by saying that the fall was “a blessing” because had the CAT scan not been done our story could have had a fast, split second ending.
He said they had found something unrelated to the fall. It was about 2 cm, and in the middle of her brain. He then said that he was sure it was and aneurysm. We didn’t realize how the world can change after a one word sentence.
He said that he had already made arrangements at the U of U, and life-flight was on the way. He was worried that the fall may have weakened it or that it was unstable and he wanted her down there within the hour.
My daughter Callie stayed behind to help load Sarah while the rest of us took off to the U of U Hospital.
We met her in the ER and stayed with her for about 1 hour before they took her for the MRI. After a couple of hours the report came in.
They were not sure what it was, but it was affecting the “river of cerebral spinal fluid between the left and right side of her brain” they considered her as “needing to be watched closely” and moved her to ICU, where she remains at this time.
Saturday, October 25th,
Sarah had a pretty good night. They arranged for us to stay at guest housing which is within walking distance from the hospital. It is just like a motel and they offer breakfast. It is a little cheaper, but definitely closer than a motel.
We stayed with her all day today waiting to hear. I neuro resident came and took Sarah and Ronnie to view the MRI and she was told that it is a TUMOR and not an aneurysm. It DOES NOT have feelers, but does have to be removed due to the interference of the fluids. It is deep. We were told that a surgeon would come and talk to us. We waited all day and as of midnight the “surgeon” had not come because the one they thought was going to do it is not sure he is the most qualified.
Sarah is alert, oriented and herself. She has gone thru all the emotions of anger, denial, etc. She is very scared and so are we. She keeps telling me that she has two children to finish raising.
We have contacted all the friends and family that we can think of. She has been placed on every prayer list and temple in the state and beyond. Just keep praying.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
She had a fairly good night. It is now 9:30 and Billy and Ronnie are over with her. I am with the kids and letting them sleep in and will join them later.
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