Thanks Troops

Things seem to be getting "lighter" around here. In all seriousness, it felt like a heavy dark cloak had been thrown over this room, and Seth and myself today. The morning, mid-day and evening were REALLY bad. Seth had been VERY sick. He was vomiting (violently) and has the NG tube in. For those who may not know what and NG tube is..it is a tube that is in his stomach and comes up through his throat and out through his nose and pumps stomach fluids from his stomach. Even with the suction running he was vomiting (and stuff was coming out). How can that be? The pain was intense from the pressure and then his lower (new surgery) stomach kicked in. It was really a bad situation. The doctors were called in several times and they don't understand what is going on. Pain management doctors have been in also and are coming back in soon.
The med's have been changed around and steroid taper slowed.
The night nurse came on and said he was running a fever of about 101+
I just asked her to take it again and she said it went down on its own. Now it is 99+
Seth's normal temp is around 97. We run low in this family.
Anyway. I believe the atmosphere changed due to the prayers that went up.
Seth is asking for specific prayer from everyone who logs on. His throat is REALLY REALLY hurting him from the breathing tube (in surgery) and the NG tube. The vomiting has added to the pain in there too. Please pray right now that his throat STOPS hurting. He has complained since he came out of surgery and he says it is getting worse. HE CAN'T SWALLOW with out it hurting. We have asked several times for help and all they give us are lozenges that make him swallow and that makes it HURT worse. Thanks I know that between me, you and Jesus we can get this thing under control. So thanks in advance. We'll keep you posted. Love Vic & Seth

HELP, something is wrong! Seth is in my opinion depressed at this point. I can't stop crying and something is very wrong. The atmosphere in this room is strangling and overwhelming and we need help. Please pray for this to lift and please pray for the Spirit of life and not Death to be here. This may sound crazy to some of you, but I am 100% serious. Please Help.

Seth's Noon Day Report

Hi. Seth has slept off and on throughout the morning. He did take a short walk. He couldn't stay up, he was too sick to his stomach. He is very weak too. He did have a sponge bath this AM.

In Seth's words he says, "I fell like I've taken a step backwards." He is really not feeling well today and is very tired. His throat is VERY sore from the breathing tube and the NG tube. They offer him lozenges. Seth says they only cause him to swallow more and swallowing is what make it hurt so badly. It has only been 48 hours since his surgery. I suppose we were hoping for too much too quickly. Your prayer are appreciated.

Personally, I am feeling kinda low today too. I think we are all really tired and have been reflecting over the past two years. Maybe a better word is "overwhelmed" at this point.
I'll post again tonight. Vickie

Good Morning. Things were very quiet through the night. Seth rested well and so did I. The cot made all the difference, along with having the room to ourselves. The only times we were awake was when the nurse came in and that was only3 times I think.
The surgical team (minus the Big Dog) were in about 1/2 an hour ago. They say there are no noises in the belly yet and that it isn't waking up. The nurse we had Monday evening said she heard something. I guess she was wrong. Still nothing by mouth! Seth hasn't had food since Saturday afternoon. He is still putting out through the NG tube too.
He'll probably drop the 20 pound thing again like he did with the first surgery. Man I hope not!
He will have to walk more today. Maybe that will get things going.
He says he is still itchy so they gave him more meds through IV for that last night.
Basically what he gets through IV are antibiotics, Potassium Chloride, Steroids (tapering), and pain med.
Jan (same day nurse he had yesterday and a few times last stay) was just in and said Seth looks so much better today just through the face. His color looks better. She says that in a years time we will look back and just marvel at how well Seth is. She says we are leaving this nightmare behind and that we are definitely coming out of it. I will claim that! Seth will have a Student nurse today until 2 along with her instructor and Jan. Days like these tend to be very busy.
Karen, Jan lived in Steamboat for 10 years. Her husband was a Dentist there and in Boulder. She just moved back here last summer. Her husband is originally from Iowa City and she's from Chicago area. We talked quite a long time this morning about Steamboat. It was fun.
OK, the next wave of doctors should be coming in soon. I sit here with wet hair still, so better find my blow dryer and curling iron. We'll talk later. Vic and Seth

Last Post for today

This will be the last post for today, it's 10:35P and we are ready to turn in.
Seth went for two more walks tonight, 4 for the day! He is doing great.
Still sleeping all the time.
Still nothing by mouth. Did take a Tylenol tonight by mouth and did ok. He drank a couple sips of water with it.
Hopefully we will both get a good nights sleep tonight.
Our little room mate did get to go home after all.
One of the nurses got me a cot to sleep on. It has to be better than the chair.
Till morning then. Good Night All. Vickie & Seth

Hi Everyone,
Nardin was gracious enough to send me the email she tried to post earlier today. It is a link that allows anyone who would like to send Seth a greeting can, and it will be delivered to him here at the hopital. Here's the link:
http://www.healthcare.uiowa.edu/Programs/Volunteerservices/emailpatient.asp
Just click and send.
Thanks, Love Vic

Hi NARIN, thanks for the tip about sending Seth a greeting. n We aren't able to do it. My sister tried too. Can youb send the full address to my email jeff_eubank1@hotmail.com thanks.

Good Afternoon. "In the hospital, the mighty hospital, the Seth sleeps tonight"! That is the only tune that is playing here in Iowa City. Seth has literally slept the day away. The nurse says it is good. When the patients do this they don't remember very much of the experience. God knew that. Going into this surgery seemed to be so much worse emotionally for us. He has taken care of everything, even the small stuff (Martha 1).

Day #2 Off To A Good Start

Seth is awake and getting a bath from student nurse Jenna. We had her the last time. She is really cute, she washed Seth's hair and completely flooded the bathroom. Water literally was coming out into the hall. We laughed as we remembered the experience. No floods today.
Seth will have to take baby steps today in his recovery process. He is to sit on the side of the bed later on and then try to walk from his bed to the chair in the room.
The nurse said his gut is starting the "wake up" process. It will probably take a few days to fully get there.
He is still very agitated. NO SENSE of HUMOR at ALL. I try to stay quiet most of the time.
He has had the TV on already. Actually last night. It took 4 days to even turn it on the last time.
At this rate we will probably be home on Saturday or Sunday. I don't really like to be a complainer, but that chair/bed really stinks! Deb, Dianne, Carla and Karen I will really need Gerald!!!!! What do you say. Are you guys up for a road trip??? Maybe there is a Gerald in Peoria!!
Thanks for posting you guys. Keep it up please. Big thanks to Cassie, Lid, Adam, Hannah and everyone at PCS and Riverside, Aunt Laura too. Love youb all, The Eubank's

Good Morning Everyone ~Seth is resting. The first wave of Doctors came in a little before 7A. We were up and down ALL night. With two post-op patients in the same room, the nurses did vitals all night. Seth had a reaction to something in the epidural early one. I think it was around 8P. I was standing at the end o f his bed and his face was covered in large red blotches. His entire eye and eyebrow area very red. He was itchy on the face neck legs and groin. They checked to make sure his breathing was OK. It was. His throat was very sore from the breathing tube so to was had to discern if the throat was swollen from the surgery or from the medication. The nurses gave his a medication to help. It did some, the symptoms have not completely go away. His face is still blotchy and itchy. His pain level is low. The pain management team are really on that this time. He has the epidural, morphine and Tylenol around the clock. He is still nauseated. Any movement and it sets him off. Pray about that because they want him to walk today of course. He seems less alert this time around, and more agitated.
Jeff hasn't made it down here yet this morning. He is probably cleaning the room at the RM House. That's part of the deal.
I am going to head down to the cafeteria for a cup of decaf. Be back in a bit.
Thanks for praying everyone and have a blessed day. Love ya, Vic

Miss Lydia you are one very special young lady. Thanks for the verses. You're right I have heard them many times, but I never grow tired of His word. Scripture is like a fresh drink of water in a dry land everytime I hear it. You have blessed us for sure.
The doctors all (7) of them were just in. The pain management team wanted to make sure Seth was comfortable and would stay like that through the night. The surgical team checked the incision and the epideral sight. All is good.
Seth is resting so I think I'll slip out and get a bite to eat.
This posting clock is about 2 hours slow. It is really 6:20 PM
Talk to ya later. Vic

I was told that sharing specific prayer requests really helped you guys out there...so here we go.
The nurse decide to give Seth some Tylenol by mouth. Go figure, since she had just said earlier that he couldn't even have ice chips for 2 days! She turned the ng suction off and gave him two Tylenol with about 3-4 drinks of water to make sure they went down (throat is so sore he couldn't tell). Within two minutes Seth was sitting straight up, hard dry heaves and said that where his ostomy had been was fluttering quickly and killing him.
She got cold compresses for his head and neck and alcohol patches to inhale. She administered more morphine for the pain and compusine for the nausea.
We are back to NO mistakes or carelessness is allowed to even come near the doorway of Seth's room. Prayer request #1
And Seth's neck and shoulders are hurting badly. I think it is from surgery. Prayer #2 No pain or discomfort. Our God can do that.
And #3 for now is that Seth will be at peace.
Jeff and I have gotten several emails asking how we are doing. We are hanging in there. Our total attention is on Seth, honestly Can't tell you how we are. Fine I guess. You guys must really be doing your job. Thanks.
The little boy was brought in about an hour ago. He looks to be about 11 or 12. His mom said it was his 3rd surgery. I don't know for what. She said they should be able to go home tomorrow. They like the room very cold. They have the AIR on. You guys know us. I'm cold at 75. Seth was cold too. We are piling on the blankets and I am covered up sitting in this chair. It's gonna be a long night.
The

Seth is resting comfortably now. His only complaint was the ng tube, his nose itches where it is taped in and that his throat is really sore from the breathing tube. They just brought him some lozenges to suck on. That should help. I think the combo of the morophine and the epideral are just what Seth needed. Nausea seems to be under control too.

Jeff & I are waitingin Seth's room now. The recovery nurse just called and said it will be another 1/2 hour before they bring Seth down, he is vomitting.
We are unfortunately in a shared room. I requested a private and we will be moved when one is available. They are at capacity now and all of the private rooms are used for kids who are infectious for obvious reasons.
Seth's room mate is a teenage boy that is in surgery right now appartently.
His surgery is not as extensive so we have been told. The nurse assures me the two guys will probably sleep most of today and tonight. I certainly hope so. With Seth's epideral, he may sleep right through since he won't be in pain like the last time. I hope. I don't have a couch to sleep on this time only a chair. We (the roommates parents,the Eubanks' and the patients) will all share the same bathroom too, unless they have another one for the parents somewhere. That should be sweet after a shower and blow dryer, and in the middle of the night. I can adjust!
Seth likes the room to be dark and quiet, pray the family of the roommate complies. If not it could get ugly, mamma bear syndrome and sleep deprivation are not a good combination. Ok, here is where "pray without ceasing" comes into play. I'm counting on you guys. Remember last time with the Resident. Ok. I'm gonna sign off. I'll keep ya posted. Vickie
Oh here he is, bye.

this is really taking longer than they had originally said. we were told 2 hours, then 2-4 and it's been 5. As soon as we see him and I can blog I will. We have been here at the hospital for 6 1/2. I'm getting tired can you tell????

We just got a call from OR. They have closed on Seth and said the the doctor was on his way up to talk with us. I turned around and there he was. We all 3 went into the conference room.
Dr. Shilyanski told us that Seth was fine. He could breathe on his own but they couldn't get him to wake up so they are leaving the breathing tube in for now. they will keep him in OR until he is somewhat conscience and then take him to recovery.
They found a considerable amount of scar tissue in there and the intesting had loooped itself around and then around again and was laying on the pelvis. That is what had caused Seth so much pain. the dr. said he was probably uncomfortable all the time and just didn't tell us. We only knew it when he was in ALOT of pain. There are no guarentees that this won't happen again, so please pray right now that the intestine will NO LOOP. If it does, it will mean another surgery! Dr. Shilyanski said if he had known this before Seth would have been in surgery then.
Peoria didn't give a good report after Seth's visit to ER.
They had to make a large opening and did some reworking where the Ostomy was. (VERY HIGH RISK of infections in this area.) It is considered a contaminated area due to the output of the Ostomy (bowel). He will have a consideratble amount of scarring now, but will shink with time.
Dr. Shilyanski said they manipulated the intestine alot and will slow down the recovery some.
I will sign off for now and wait for them to come and get us. We'll let you know something when we know it. He has an uphill battle from here.

We just got an update on Seth. The nurse that is in OR with Seth right now called. She said he is doing fine. They have done exploritory on the upper part of the small intestine to check for adhesions and blockage. The doctors are doing a run through of the sm. intestine now and have already put the two sections back together and have done the pull through. They said they will start to close and it should be about another hour in OR and then he will go to recovery. As we had expected it should be noon or after before we see him. Keep praying. Love V&J

Hi. They took Seth down from PACU to OR about 45 minutes ago. He was verbally scared and nervous. I told Seth to tell John (Anest) to give him something to calm him down. Things are a little different this time. They are going to give Seth an Epideral this tme. They will open with this surgery and last time they went Lapriscopically until the end and then did a small open. The Epideral will help with the pain contraol with a total open this time. Seth was nervous about the Epideral. When I had Seth I had my first and last Epideral. The doctor put the Epideral in the wrong space in my back and put my heart and lungs to sleep. I coded and woke up in Cardiac Intensive Care. I tried to comfort and reassure Seth that he would be ok. (Actually trying to reassure myself at the same time.) We could have gone with a Moriphine pump again, but that is less effective.
We are asking everyone to pray for perfection in performance by everyone who comes into contact with Seth from 6AM today until God sees us through this entire ordeal. There is NO room for mistakes or errors. We pray God will direct Everything that pertains to Seth in any way.
We are expecting to be able to see Seth in Post Op Recovery a little after 12:00 noon. We will try to keep you guys posted as we are informed.
Keep Prayin' Love, Vic

Hi Everyone. We are in Iowa City. We checked into our room here at the Ronald McDonald House around 6 o'clock. This is a very nice facility. There are no televisions in the rooms which is a little boring for Seth. He brought a book to read. He is hoping the reading will make him tired so he can sleep.
He hasn't had food since Saturday at 4:30 PM. He is on clear liquids. He is very hungry, very sick of Jello and Gatorade, and very stressed out. Jeff and I hope he reads and goes to sleep too! There are 2 other nice TV's in lounge areas, but Seth wants to stay in the room.
Please continue to pray for all of us. The tension is mounting as we watch the clock and know what's ahead.
As many of you know, we have said that this surgery is much worse on all of us Eubank's this time. We aren't exactly sure why, but we are all very stressed and I tend to cry at the drop of a hat. I am scared of what Seth has to face this time. He was so brave last time, and I know he will be again. I just wish that he didn't have to be brave. That he could just be Seth, a normal 16 year old kid. This whole thing is so unfair. That comes from a mother's heart. I just wish it could be different. I have to look past the next few weeks and months and on to how God will use this very brave young man for the rest of his days.
We all know Seth will be ok. We just want it to come quickly.
We will be in the surgical check in area at the hospital at 6 AM. Seth is scheduled for surgery at 8 AM. I will post again once they have taken him down. (This time will be VERY difficult for Jeff, Seth and I). Please pray for us to be strong and trusting. It is so hard.
We love you all. Vickie
PS. our phones will be shut off. The only way to reach us is through this blog and by our email jeff_eubank1@hotmail.com We would love to hear from you. Love V

Good Morning. It looks like today won't be Seth's last day at school. He missed school yesterday because of stomach cramping and nausea. I spoke with the Pediatric Surgery Nurse and the Surgeon has changed some prep orders. Seth is still feeling bad this morning. He got up and completely got ready to leave the house, but couldn't. He is laying down. The surgeon says "It's a good thing we are going to close."
I'll keep you posted.

Well can you believe it, we are back. As many of you know, Seth's next surgery is scheduled for Monday April 28th at 8 AM. We are only 3 1/2 days away. We are starting to feel the pressure. The hospital has called several times to make sure we are ready and getting ready.
Tomorrow will be Seth's last day at school for at least 3 weeks. The last day of school for the year at PCS is May 21st I think. He may finish the year at home. The teachers and administrators will see to it that he finishes his sophomore year.
Today was my last day at work until May 13. I work with the most amazing people. The women I have bible study, with at work on Thursday's over the noon hour, took the time to lay hands on me and pray for Seth, and our family. That meant SO much to me. As different ones left for the day their final words as they went out the door was, "We'll be praying". You know the neat thing is, I know they will. God has got us covered.
Jeff will work tomorrow and not have to go back in until Wednesday April 30th. He will come back from Iowa on Tuesday afternoon or evening.
Please share the news with everyone to check the blog. It really is my only connection to the outside world. My cell phone doesn't work in the hospital and I won't give out the room phone number until I feel Seth will be able to handle the disturbances and noise from it. (He likes the room to be rather dark and quiet all the time). Remember how the noise from the monitors really bothered him? And please post back. we love to read the comments. I read all of them to Seth. Actually I read and re-read them to myself. They give me great comfort and a lot of joy.
I'll sign off for now. Thanks for caring about us so much. We love you all. Vickie