Greetings on Day 10 after surgery

I appreciate your concern and prayer for this pile of dust now resting in Fort Worth, Texas. I know how rumors can spread, so thought I needed to set the record straight concerning my condition.

The surgery was performed early Wednesday morning, November 10, using a local anesthetic rather than being "put to sleep." That evening, the hospital brought me delicious noodles and sausage, green beans, bread, etc. In the night hours, nausea set in. Due to the surgery pain, I could not move -- could not find a bed pan - - could not find the buzzer for the nurse -- and all of that delicious food came up and up and up and up. What a mess. Nurses were not happy, nor was I.

From that point on I was plagued with daily nausea. Getting up to walk brought increased nausea and limited use of my new hip. Things were not off to a good start. :)

As Friday and Saturday came, medications helped lessen the nausea and brought pain under control. I was able to be discharged to the Pool's home, for which we are extremely grateful.

Sunday was a blur.

This was so unlike my FIRST surgery that replaced my right hip. The first one was a "piece of cake." I was speaking to my Father about the difference in the surgeries, the pain level, the progress, etc.

The dear God of glory began to show me some things I needed to re-learn and pass on to my friends interested in my progress because of the spiritual applications.

I entered my FIRST surgery with great caution, asking many questions of God and physicians. The Bible word would be "circumspectly" (Ephesians 5:15)

I entered this last surgery with "self confidence." I KNEW the procedures, the RULES, the expectations, the people involved, etc., but it took a curve I was not prepared for. Shame on me.

Isn't SELF CONFIDENCE at the foundation of most if not all of our failures? We KNOW how to handle this situation, this Scripture, this song, this saint, this sermon, this skirmish, my spouse, this student, this sibling, . . . and on and on and on . . . ad infinitum . . . ad nauseum . . . forgetting that WITHOUT HIM we can do nothing at all. (John 15:5b)

SELF CONFIDENCE needs to be treated as an enemy, with self-crucifixion (Galatians 2:20) and self-emptiness (Philippians 2:7-8) as the only solutions. God gives gracious GRACE to the humble, but resists the proud.

My next blog entry will begin to explain the trail the Master has brought me down.

Thank you for your love and prayerful support.

Update from Pastor

Sorry this update is so late in coming. Pastor called me today and gave me an update to pass on.

He was released from the hospital on Saturday evening. Sunday was NOT a good day. We don't know if it's the medication or what but he was very nauseous and no appetite at all.

Each day he has gotten a little better. Good news is that he is in NO pain when he sits or lays down....it is only when he stands or tries to get around that there is much pain and nausea. So there are many naps throughout the day : )

Pastor still has no appetite but he said that won't hurt him a bit : ) Thank you for all the prayers and he is very grateful to his dear bride for putting up with him and taking care of him. The Pools are a tremendous blessing, as always.

As you know, Pastor is very ready to be home with the people he loves! He was ready the day after he left : )

He is not currently on "top side" but he said that he prays this teaches him patience and gives him more compassion on those who are hurting.

God is good....all the time!

Day One - after surgery

I spoke with Pastor Duffett this morning. He said that while the pain is better than it was yesterday, he is still hurting pretty bad. The pain level for this hip is significantly greater than the first one. I asked my dad why the pain was so great this time and not last time and he said "That is the very FIRST thing I am going to ask my doctor when he arrives!"

He did get up and walk with the therapist this morning. His doctor is supposed to stop by to see him today and this will be the first time they have talked together since before the surgery, so after that, we should know more about how the surgery went.

Thank you all for your prayers and concern. Though Pastor is in pain, this too shall pass :) I will do my best to keep you updated on his progress.

We sure love Pastor & Mrs. Duffett and want them home SOON! Please keep praying that the pain is not any worse than it has to be and that his recovery will astound the medical team in such a way that everyone who sees it will KNOW that only GOD could have done that!

God is good....all the time!

Surgeon Is Pleased and Releases Me!

What a great meeting I had with my doctor on Tuesday. Not only is he saved, but Dr. McGowen was saved in a Bible Baptist Church in Indiana. He is an excellent surgeon and his staff has been wonderful.

He said I could drive again. Cynthia and I went to Cabellas in Denton, Texas, for our anniversary and I drove home at closing time.

We have lots of packing and shipping to do. Lord willing, we plan to leave tomorrow and see Luke & Sarah Greenfield (our son-in-law and daughter) in Omaha for a few days. Then we will visit Golden State Baptist College in Santa Clara, California, and Pastor Arthur Maricle in Petaluma before we make our last leg back to home-sweet-home.

I seem to feel better every day, though I am not without pain. Prayer, time and exercise should care for that.

Thank you for the flood of “Happy Anniversary” wishes we received with much gladness. You are so thoughtful.

It is going to be hard to say, “Goodbye,” to Max & Carol Pool. They are such dear and caring friends. They turned half their home over to us to make us comfortable. We have laughed and cried together. Carol has been through the “knee surgery ordeal” and has given wonderful advice and help. I just cannot say enough about all their help and love. We will sorely miss them.

God bless you. Take no thought for tomorrow. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Casting all your care upon Him for He careth for you.

The entire Fairchild family dropped in on Benbrook, Texas yesterday

What a wonderful surprise to see one of our deacons and his entire family show up Saturday evening around 6:00 PM. They will be able to stay a week. Max and Carol are so thrilled to have their daughter and grandchildren around them . . . and glad to have Michael here too. : )

How everyone kept this a secret is beyond my ability to comprehend. It has been like “family reunion day” here at the Pools headquarters. This is a day I will long remember.

The Fairchilds also brought down a Gospel tract that Delynn wrote (and Jan Duffett prepared) sharing Max’s testimony. It is entitled: Sudden Changes - - Without Warning. The thrust is NOW IS THE TIME, TODAY IS THE DAY of salvation. It has Max’s smiling face on the cover with an ambulance and him in his hospital bed days after he was hit by the stroke that paralyzed him.

I know God is going to use this tract and use Max as he passes it around to folks he sees every day.

We are going to work on a LARGE PRINT edition for him to take to the hospital with him. He is such an encouragement to others in therapy who have also had a stroke.

What a day. It will be so thrilling to be in God’s house with these dear friends and fellow-labourers Sunday. My thanks to all who kept the secret and helped in making this trip for the Fairchilds possible. This Family of God . . . this Household of Faith . . . is surely a blessed gift from God.

Another week is coming to a close

Yes, another week and some more progress . . . though the progress seems to come in smaller increments now. I am working on getting up and down without extreme pain. OUCH! When I think of the pain of getting up, I don’t want to sit down. I can go from lying down to sitting to standing pretty well with minimal discomfort, but when going from sitting in a chair to standing

. . . now that’s another story. : )

Today was a beautiful, sunny day in the high 50’s. We went to the YMCA, as we do every day, but only made it there once today. We were hoping to take Max and Carol to a concert of the Fort Worth Symphony tonight, but Max was feeling quite tired after therapy. We may play chicken-foot after a while.

Cynthia appears to be over her stomach bug and we both had a good day handling pain and discomfort today.

The thought came to me that the folks in Fairbanks who may read these words may get the impression that I am returning home “walking and leaping and praising God.” Well, I am indeed praising God - - - but walking is slow and leaping is nowhere in sight at this point. I meet with my surgeon on Tuesday and will discuss climbing stairs. Without a handrail, I am pretty helpless when it comes to stairs right now.

When I had my hip replaced last summer, he commented that steps were hard on the new joints and did not want me climbing stairs until 2 months after surgery. I will wait and take his counsel about the knees. Seems to me that if I take one step at a time, I would make it just fine. We shall see, what we shall see.

So rejoice with me but don’t get our expectations too high upon my return home. I am looking forward to getting a good exercise bike . . . perhaps one for my office and one for my home to keep the knees moving. Sitting is among the most difficult things I have to deal with. After just a few minutes, the knees begin to pain . . . and then getting up multiplies the agony. I am sure that this too, shall pass.

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die – I scarce can take it in.

That on the cross – my burden gladly bearing –
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee –
HOW GREAT THOU ART !!!!
HOW GREAT THOU ART !!!!

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee –
HOW GREAT THOU ART !!!!
HOW GREAT THOU ART !!!!

I went to my first Rodeo today.

After Cynthia and I went to the local YMCA gym this morning, Cynthia and Carol Pool headed out to do “girl things” while us men headed to the Rodeo. Scott Pool bought us all tickets and I rode my first “chair lift” to get to an upper level.

Lots of new smells, words, sounds and experiences. Very good crowd for a Tuesday afternoon; obviously rodeos are “big happenings” for the folks in Fort Worth, Texas. I was encouraged by how well I did after a long afternoon that followed a good workout at the gymnasium.

We all had a great time at the rodeo and then ate at Furr’s restaurant (like a Royal Folk) for dinner.

The management at the YMCA after hearing our plight of double knee surgery and only being here another 2 weeks (Lord willing) allowed us to visit the gym as many times as we desire FREE – Texas hospitality. In fact, Cynthia and I are headed back again tonight for another session.

Yesterday, I was hurting so much after the gym that I could hardly move at all. As I recall, I came home and went to bed for the night; so I am greatly encouraged that I am ready for “round #2” today. I surely don’t deserve the least of His mercies, but rejoice that they are new every morning.

Max Pool was having a bad couple of days so the men’s excursion today was good for him also. We all laughed, relaxed and had a refreshing time.

My next Doctor’s appointment is on our 42nd anniversary, February 9th. Doctor will decide then whether to release me early or not. We shall see what we shall see. The outcome will be good whatever happens, because that’s how God works all things.

Day by day and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here.
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best –
Lovingly – its part of pain and pleasure –
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Adios amigo.

Max Pool, Kenneth Pool, Pastor Duffett, Scott Pool