Surgery tomorrow

I am scheduled for a 1:30 back surgery tomorrow. A minimally invasive lumbar microdiscectomy. Whew! I am ready. I have heard from others who have had the surgery that the pain in my leg should be gone shortly after surgery. It sounds as if the recovery should not be too bad. (I expect it to be less pain than what I have been experiencing.) The surgeon told me that he is hoping that I will be so happy to have the pain in my leg is gone, that I will not mind having the pain in my back from the surgery.

The surgery itself is scheduled to be 40 minutes long and will basically be a removal of the disc material that has escaped from the disc and is pressing on my nerve that goes down to my leg. I am planning on spending the night at the hospital, but it is possible to be discharged in the same day. The surgeon also has given me 3 weeks of disability leave from work so that I can focus on recovery.

One thing that God has been showing me is how much He and others love me. My sister-in-laws were quick to volunteer to come and help me through the surgery. (There's nothing better than family!) Mindy volunteered first, so she gets to come and is on her way already! She comes in tonight and will leave on Friday. I'm sure thankful for Bill, Audrey, Ben & Luke for letting me have her for the week! My co-workers have been loving me as well. They have been coming and helping me--making sure that I have food, they've been washing my dishes, doing my laundry, cleaning my bathroom, taking me to appointments, and even rescuing me from my appointments (when I drove to them myself and was in too much pain to drive myself back home). And of course they have been praying for me. Today a friend is even brushing and washing my dog. Mia has been neglected a lot since I stopped being able to go out on walks.   

I've had to focus on some of the promises of God recently. Here's some of them:

God will work things out for good:

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

^{God is with me and won't leave me:}

^{Deut 31:6} Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

^{His grace is sufficient for me:}

^{2 Cor 12:9} But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

^{God can heal me:}

^{James 5:15} And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.

I find that if I focus only on myself then I am fearful, but if I focus on God and serving Him and knowing that He knows what is best for me then I suddenly have the peace that He has promised me! 

Pray that the surgery will go well and bring forth the needed healing & that I would continue to experience His peace. Thanks for all of your prayers & keep praying! 

In His Peace--Denise