continued progress

Good Sunday afternoon. It's been a beautiful day. Not too hot. Nice breeze. Good lunch with good friends.

It's not hard to feel blessed when things seem to be going your way. Despite the tiny little accident a 14 days ago and the subsequent little surgery I'm doing awesome.

I believe the last post I wrote before I even reconnected with the C2C group. On the third day after my surgery I did end up making my way the four hours by car to see the cyclists for the firs time since they had set out from the Carribean coast 5 days earlier. We arrived in Matiguas just in time to greet the first group after their most physically grueling day of the event. They were exhausted. Even though I had been absent the first half of the trip, they encouraged me saying that it was almost as if I had been there. They thought of me and mentioned me often and were glad I could finally be joining them. That was neat to hear. Being with them also brought before me all the fun and joy and challenges that I missed out on...and now also facing my limitations (rather than sitting around at home) I did feel some frustration in being an invilid. But more than anything, it was good to be with them and helping out however I could. I was able to be an interpreter and helped with some logistical things. Check out the website that we have been updating to see some pictures of the trip and also read some of the moving stories from the ride (see the older blog entries). I'll let you know when there are more pictures there, too. They're coming soon. Also some video.

Actually, I should mention that I made national TV in Nicaragua for the first time... actually, probably the fist time since little league that I've been on TV. I had about 10 seconds, talking about my injury. I tried to convince them they didn't want to interview me, but after seeing my sling they went as far as sending somone to find me where I was hiding around the corner. :) I'm going to try to post the video as soon as I get it. Don't worry, I'll put some captions on it. We were covered by another channel the next day, and it was a great report aside from some humorous clip selections...which made it fun. I'll try to post both!

I visited the doctor this past week for the second time since the surgery. Gave me some more excercises to do, including moving my elbow out and up to almost 90 degrees and forward and back 45 degrees. I'll start physical therapy in the next two weeks I think, but doctor said the movements are basic enough at this point that I'll just do them at home for now. Below are a few pictures of the wound. It is incredible to me how fast it has healed. Thankfully there was no sign of infection when they took off the yellow sticker from the last post. And there has been relatively no pain--just some discomfort here and there--aside from one day when I felt a sharp and piercing pain in my ribs. For a few days I thought I was dealing with some broken ribs, hurting for the first time because my first round of pain meds had ended. But, I haven't had that pain now for many days. I've also been without the sling now for several days, too. So there is much to be thankful for.

From Surgery

From Surgery

From Surgery

And here's my favorite new background picture taken just before I left Michigan again. I miss that guy on the right.



Thank you to those of you who have been praying for my health and healing. The Lord has really made this easy for me. If you would like to help me get back on track financially or help me lay some tracks for the future so I can continue to serve the Lord in Nicaragua, send me an email or see the right side of this page where it says "online giving". Below are some more things you can bring before the Lord on my behalf.

Prayer Items:

-Praise God for the way he has responded to your prayers for my health and healing! And ask him to continue to put his hand on my shoulder and to encourage me through those around me.
-Pray that I will find some good options for new places to live. I need to be out of my current apartment before the end of the month. I've spent some more time trying to find leads and talk to people about possibilities, but nothing looks like it's for sure. Pray that we can find a place in a good neighborhood in the right price range.
-Praise God for how he has worked through the Sea-to-Sea event. It was a fantastic experience for all of those involved. And pray that Nicaragua will also be impacted through both team members and funds they raised. Pray that the Lord will be glorified as the affects of the event ripple through time and space.

recovery begins

Went to the doctor today. Second day after the operation. He took off the original bandage and put another one on. Moved my arm back and forth and out to the side at a 45 degree angle. Told me to do the same later. No problem, right? :) The pain also began last night as the numbness wore off, and there been at least a low level ache all day, with more focused pain at certain times. I know it's normal. I just need to tough it out and get through this stage. I had plans to go with a few others by car to meet up with the team which is about 3 hours (and 2 days on bike) outside Managua. At this point I'm really questioning that decision due to the level of discomfort.

I've been reading the book "Free of Charge" which speaks of God's character as a giver. It has reminded me to give thanks to God in all circumstances. Join with me in praising him for all that he has done and all that he continues to do. His gifts aren't always what we want, because the God of creation doesn't give just to satisfy our desires. He gives to create in us a character more like his. Join me in thanking him for what he has given us! May we learn to live as he would have us and give as he has given to us.

Here's a picture of the wound with a yellow sticky bandage covering it. Yellow because it's medicated.

From Surgery

From Surgery

From Surgery

post surgery

Hey, everyone. I thought it would be good to send you and update post-surgery! I'm continuing to feel very blessed by your many prayers! There continues to be no pain and it's already 12 hours after surgery! Thank you so much and praise the Lord. I suspect it will not remain pain free, but I am very thankful for it so far. Funny enough, my left shoulder hurts more along with my lower neck because they're getting knots due to the fact I've been using them so much trying to keep strain off the right shoulder.

So, I went in for surgery this morning at 6am. Alma, another friend and co-worker at the Nehemiah Center came to my house before 5:30am to deliver me to the hospital on time. I arrived, realized I had left an important doctor's note at home (which I intentionally left thinking I wouldn't need it), so my room mate Lennin met Alma half way with it. When she returned, it wasn't long until I was in a fashionable open- backed garment and lying on a bed. The anesthesiologist had some trouble getting the needle into the veins in my hand even though they're normally easy to find. Apparently being cold (air conditioning) and nervous makes them contract. She had to use a baby sized needle in order to get it to work. :) When I felt the warmness in my hand I asked her how long it would take for me to go to sleep. She said I should be feeling dizzy. I told her not yet. Within 10 seconds, I told her that the dizziness was hitting and wham...that's all I remember. Then I was waking up in same room on the same bed, but on my side and with a sore throat from the breathing tube they used (which she warned me about).

So apparently the surgery went well. I now have a screw in my shoulder...hopefully it doesn't come loose! ;) And there's some wiring holding the ligaments in place. They should heal with time and I'll be back to normal. Good as new. They let me lay around for a few hours as they watched my vitals and let the sleepy meds wear off. I still felt a little dizzy when I tried to stand up, which is why they had a wheelchair right there for me.

That's about it. Not real climactic. I've got an appointment with the doc on Friday. he'll take the bandage off and let me know what I can and can't do. I'm guessing we'll talk about physical therapy as well. He did mention to Alma that I shouldn't lift my arm more than 90 degrees...so I think that's a good sign. I will be keeping it pretty still as I enjoy no pain. :)

The doctor offered to take my camera into the surgery. Unfortunately I didn't realize it was nearly full of pictures I'd already moved to my computer! But there are some interesting shots. I've put them on Picasa here. Be aware that they might be a little graphic, but there's no blood.

Again, thank you for your prayers! I have definitely felt them! I will continue to post as I hear more. And, also again check the Sea-to-Sea website. I'm posting some pictures that Kevin and I took when we made the trip since I don't have any from the current trip. Enjoy!

Here's a picture of me right before I went into surgery. See the separated clavicle on my right shoulder? Click the picture for the graphic slides. :) I'll have to post some of the other pictures I have of the damages from before the surgery when the group gets back with the camera containing them.

at the other edge -broken ligaments

Perhaps you've already heard, but my journey has taken an unexpected turn and brought me back to Managua in less than 2 days. Somewhere between Matiguas and Mulukuku on a dirt road the front tire on my motor cycle lost air pressure and after some struggle to remain in control, the front tire slipped out and I went down on my right side. I'm still trying to make sense of it, but in the end, my feet were both under the left side of the bike and I was sitting upright. When I tried to lift the bike off my legs it became apparent that it was far too heavy for me and that something was wrong with my right shoulder. I thought surely it was out of joint. As I looked around, I saw people in both directions and an approaching truck soon stopped and picked up the bike for me and helped me remove my helmet. A few minutes later the people I was traveling with showed up and were startled to see me on the ground with a small crowd around me. We ended up getting in the truck, leaving one of them with the bike, and headed for the next town and medical center. There they took a look at my shoulder, offered me some pain meds and after unsuccesssfully trying to get my shoulder back in joint suggested that we head to Siuna for an x-ray to make sure we didn't do more damage.

Two hours later on a terrible road, we arrived in Siuna. The x-ray technician ended up taking three shots because the first two were so bad they didn't show anything. Soon the doctor arrived and determined that my shoulder was not out of joint as we had thought, but rather that the clavical had come disconnected from the scapula, all four ligaments separated. This, he explained, would require surgery in Managua.

So we retreated to a hotel and the next morning went to the airline office and I bought a ticket back to Managua. I found out later that the airport had been closed for 4 months due to the dirt runway being washed out during the rainy season., and had only reopened two days earlier.

A friend and coworker from the Nehemiah Center graciously picked me up from the airport and took me straight to the hospital where I was seen by who is probably the #1 doctor in the country. He looked at me, took another x-ray, confirmed the diagnosis of the doc in Siuna, got some blood samples and made an appointment for surgery Wednesday morning at 7am. They'll put me under, make an incision, screw my clavical to my scapula, and attach the ligaments again with some wire. Then I'll go home and begin my 3 month recovery.

The Lord has shown his mercy a great deal during this time by preventing more harm, bringing people along side to care for me, opening the airport, and in many more ways. I have been relative painfree, which is also an enormous blessing--and I'm not sure how long that will last. I have health insurance with a $1000 deductible, and they should cover everything over that as long as it is precertified.

Thank you to those who have been praying. Please continue praying for the healing in my arm, for low pain levels, and that the insurance comes through for me.

Also, now that I'm back in Managua, I'll be updating the Sea-to-Sea blog each day of the trip, as they phone me of the day's adventures. Feel free to follow along! bikenica.wordpress.com

at the journey's edge

Well, everyone, after a whirlwind I'm back in Nicaragua and about to head out on a great adventure with 29 very cool people. At 6 or so tomorrow morning I'm going to be meeting at the Nehemiah Center with 3 other people to get a head start on the trip to the Carribean Ocean, where our Sea-to-Sea Nicaragua trip will officially begin on Monday the 29th of January.

I had the pleasure of telling many of you about the trip in person while I was home. I recommend to everyone that you have a look at the Sea-to-Sea Nicaragua website that I set up to keep family and friends back home updated. Go there, explore, read. Check the blogs and skim through some of the recent posts. Check out the profiles of the riders and support staff (like me, for example!)--email me or someone who knows me for the password if you don't have it. It's not a secret, but I don't want to publish it online.

Wish I had more time to write a few more words, but I want to express my deep appreciation for those who have supported me through 2009. It would not be possible to be here and do what I've been doing without your words, prayers, and financial support.

May the Lord bless you and keep you in this coming year; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.