Nerve Surgery

<< April 11; 4 months >>

Dear Family and Friends,

Many of you have asked about Sherri. And many of you have prayed for and remain praying for Sherri. This note is not so much an update on her condition but is instead a short request for you to lift up Sherri in your prayers for the following:

>> Nerve surgery this Friday, April 15 at 8am (check-in 6am !!) The goal of this surgery is to work on Sherri's peroneal nerve as this is still showing no signs of recovery. The surgery may involve one nights stay at the hospital involving an incision of 4 or 5 inches on the inside of her left knee beginning just above the knee. This surgery will:

• provide the Neurosurgeon visibility to the nerve. Traditional x-rays and cat scans do not provide visibility to the nerve, so to see it's condition, the docs have to perform surgery. If everything appears in perfect order, the surgery would end.
  
  
• enable scar tissue to be cleared from the injury site a few inches above and around Sherri's knee. It is very possible that scar tissue has built up from the original impact of the accident as well as from follow on surgeries. Clearing the scar tissue may enable the nerve to regenerate.
  
  
• enable surgery on the nerve itself. If the nerve is actually severed, this would allow the surgeon to align the nerve properly unto itself so as to optimize the prospect of regeneration. If the nerve is crushed the surgery may allow for the possibility of "snipping" off the frayed ends and then aligning the nerve.
  
  
• It's also possible the surgeon may harvest a small nerve from the bottom of Sherri's foot and place it as a "gap filler" to provide a fully aligned nerve path.
  
  
• Another possibility is the surgeon may insert a conduit as a guide path within which to lay the nerve.

>> The point of working on the nerve is because this nerve plays a key role in sending instructions to Sherri's lower leg muscles. So the nerve surgery has a bearing not only in terms of feeling/sensation but also and significantly the prospect of Sherri lifting her foot. This would be a great development and would enable her to possibly no longer wear the leg/foot brace.

>> While the surgery is not primarily directed at relieving her nerve pain, it is possible this could be a positive outcome.



Sometimes the splicing and repair of an electrical cord comes to mind. However, when the electrical cord is connected together, the electricity flows immediately and the light goes on. That is not the case here. In this procedure, the nerve needs to be aligned just so, and then the regeneration can begin. The regeneration process usually occurs over months and can be a year or two. So it will be quite some time before we see "results".

As you can see, there are many "ifs" in this surgery - just like life itself. And so we ask for your prayers for:

>> Sherri - that her leg will be healed
>> the surgeon and his team - for wisdom and knowledge and skill
>> and every aspect of the preparation and follow up.

Wendy and I are very grateful for your prayer support over the last several months (four months today). Wendy will return to Cambridge this Thursday, the surgery is this Friday, and Nick and I will join the following week on Good Friday for the Easter weekend.

Thanks for your demonstrated love and your effectual, fervent prayer for Sherri.

Gratefully,

Steve

p.s. In many ways, Sherri is doing great. She's walking a ton using her brace, enjoys riding her bike, and is able to get around, albeit a bit more slowly than she's used to! She continues to be greatly challenged with nerve and other pain and is courageously working through it. She continues her PT 3 times a week.