[Magdalen] Prayers requested: travel and surgery

[thedonboyd at austin.rr.com]

Not sure whether I've told y'all about Janice's gallbladder troubles, but several weeks ago she had to have ERCP (endoscopic removal of gallstones blocking the bile duct--usually a fairly routine and low-risk procedure) and cholecystectomy (removal of gallbladder itself).  ERCP #1 required putting in a stent, and when time came for stent removal, previously undiscovered gallstones were found.  New stent installed.  Stent #2 removal found still another very large previously undiscovered stone, this one too big to be removed with the endoscopic equipment available.  Stent #3 installed.  Gastroenterologist here referred her to specialist iin Houston who has access to laser lithotrypsy device that will enable breaking up the stone and removing it.  This will be ERCP #4; the alternative would be going in the old fashioned way--much more invasive, higher risk, longer recovery, etc.  Tomorrow we will drive from Austin to Houston, see GE there on Tuesday, do procedure on Wednesday, return home on Thursday.  We ask your prayers for safe travel and effective relief from pain she is experiencing which is likely due to the yet-unremoved stone.

And while you're in your praying-for-the-Boyds mode, I ask a petition or two on my behalf--I've been having lower GI distress (sparing you disgusting details) of unknown origin since early June and am undergoing serial tests in descending order of probability.  My GE is certain that whatever I have isn't life-threatening, which is nice to know, but like anyone who has prolonged GI distress I am not enjoying occupying my body right now--and I need to be able to focus on helping Janice.

I well know that compared to what some of you are living with this is relatively minor trouble.  Guess I'll go read about Job's troubles.