Richard Medical Update

Saturday February 7, 2026

Home.

Can’t believe we’re back.

Arrived in Spartanburg at 4 pm on Friday.

My freshly re-mulched beds were there to greet me.

Slept well Friday night. Took a 20 minute walk Saturday.

We experienced much goodness at Emory, but healing will accelerate ten times more here.

Nothing like being home!

Thursday February 5, 2026

As we looked out the window from room T743 and watched the sunset over Atlanta, we marveled again at the mercy of God shown to us this week at Emory University Hospital. The repair of my colon was a surgical wonder. God blessed the talented hands of Dr. Patrick Sullivan and each member of his team who played such a meaningful role in my care. Six months ago it appeared that reversing my ostomy was not a reasonable option. Yet here I am, taking the first steps of rehab on the hall. And depending on the most recent lab report, there is a good chance that I could be discharged tomorrow (Friday). We have seen the Lord work in ways that we could have never imagined. We are grateful for each of you who shared in that work as you labored for us in prayer. Over the next few days, please continue to pray for: (1) no infection (2) continual grafting of the rejoined section of the colon.

I will sing to the Lord because he has treated me generously.

Psalm 13:6

Wednesday February 4, 2026

We had an encouraging day. Richard sat up in a chair most of the day. He took three walks on the hall, each for about 10 minutes.

Both stents that were placed in the ureters are now out. The foley catheter may come out tomorrow. The bowel pathway that has not been used for eleven months is working well (that’s the PG version).

They did an amazing job with the hernia repair. They are so proud of their work that they said they are going to send Richard an extra bill for giving him great abs for the summer.

We had 3 visits from the surgical team today. They are keeping a close watch on him. The Doctors said they will feel good about making it over the infection hurdle at the one week mark. But because they said everything is trending well, it is probably not necessary that Richard stay here for a week. They will actually consider releasing him on Friday!

Tuesday February 3, 2026

9:50 PM

Richard is finally in recovery!

Dr. Sullivan came out and said Richard’s surgery went well. The colon connection was successful and he did not have to place a temporary ostomy on the other side. He was also able to repair the hernia. Surgery was delayed, and it’s been a long day, but we are thanking God for His mercy! Please continue to pray for no infection and quick healing!

6:00 PM

Richard’s surgery was delayed until later this afternoon (4 PM). The surgeon said he will be at least 4 hours in surgery. Lisa received a call from the OR at 5:30 PM saying that Dr. Sullivan had started the surgery and everything was going well. The next update will likely not be until Wednesday, but Lisa will give an update as soon as she can. Thank you everyone for your continued prayers!

Sunday February 1, 2026

As I prepare for colon surgery on February 3rd at Emory, thank you so much for engaging in that mysterious combination of the power of God and the prayers of His people. Our hearts resonate with the apostle Paul who said to his beloved Philippian church in Philippians 1:19;

For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

For anyone unfamiliar with my recent medical journey, I had emergency surgery in Spartanburg on March 15, 2025 for a perforated colon. The surgery was complicated by a difficult battle with pneumonia and covid soon into recovery. After eleven days in the hospital, I went home with an ostomy bag and a large hernia produced by several days of suture-bursting coughing.

The upcoming surgery is an attempt to reverse the ostomy by reconnecting the colon and repairing the hernia. Because of scarring and radiation from other surgeries over the years (four of them at Emory) this particular ostomy reversal is a bit more challenging. Likewise, the hernia repair is atypical in that standard surgical mesh is probably not an option in this case because of its tendency to invite infection (due to the increased bacteria that is present with a colon surgery). The increased possibility of post-surgery infection is why we are so grateful for your prayers.

Beginning with surgery to remove a sarcoma at Emory in 1996, God has used a golden thread of divine grace to weave together His plans for my life. The Lord has designed that our deepest encounters with Him occur through trials. He doesn’t just use them; He leads us to them. As the apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 3:3,

no one should be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them.

Though our flesh would never choose the very trials that God sanctions, it is in those moments where natural strength is low that we can experience the comfort and power of Christ in the deepest way. No one knew this better than the apostle Paul who testifies in 2 Corinthians 12:9,10;

I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

As we see in the early chapters of the Bible, when the storm came and the flood waters rose, there was safety in the ark for the great ship builder Noah. And for all those who believe God and place their hope in the death and resurrection of Jesus, there is eternal safety in Christ. But also like Noah (who stayed on the ark for about a year), there are many times in life when the only thing a believer can do is float. Noah honored God by attending to many important details while building the ark. But once on board, He could do nothing but wait and float. There was no steering wheel in the ark. Noah would discover the next portion of the will of God only as the waters receded. The ark would come to rest when and where God decided. So beginning Tuesday and the days that follow, Lisa and I will discover the next steps God has planned for us on the Calvary road. Until then we wait and float and pray.

My surgery is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. As time permits that evening or some time Wednesday, Lisa will provide an update to this blog post. We are using the blog to communicate in this manner because it is simply not possible to respond to individual emails, texts, and calls. As always, thank you for praying – and for not visiting during our hospital stay 😊.