Blessings... :)

I am so grateful for the many blessings my Heavenly Father has given me!  It's amazing to see the power and love of God daily!  As many of you know this summer has been a huge struggle!
 Here's just a few examples of the Mighty miracles that have taken place in my life...

• First of all, my family doctor had suggested that I have a gallbladder ultrasound in May '09.  I didn't, because he said I should wait until I have insurance, which I never got.  I know this doesn't sound like a miracle, because obviously he had a concern.  However, the blessing in this is that, because I didn't have that ultrasound at Tanner Clinic, I didn't have to be treated for this at Davis Hospital.  (Davis Hospital is so scary!!!)  So, because of my lack of insurance, I didn't have to suffer through being there.
• My surgeon, Dr. Varela, is really young (and cute :)).  The procedure (T-TUBE) has not been done for decades.  The fact that he knew this from so long ago, and was able to make it work IS a miracle.  Every injury or sickness I have ever had is always worse on me then it is on whoever gave me the sickness, so I just planned on that.  Overall recovery was easy!
• The many priesthood blessings I received.  The wednesday after my surgery, my liver numbers were still extremely high.  I called Collin for a blessing, and the next morning, my numbers were near normal.
• I have never felt better in my life!  I never realized how sick I actually was until the past two weeks where I have felt amazing! 
• I've had a sinus infection for the last five weeks.  Instacare had said it was a virus, and wouldn't give me any antibiotics.  So, I went to the aforementioned family doctor, and because Collin and his son played on the same comp. soccer teams, and he's known me, he gave me a free doctors appt, and prescribed me some antibiotics, that are working quite well!  Thanks Collin and Krystal for your help here!
• My business has been quite slow, and piano lessons have been at a minimum with people moving and going on vacation during the summer.  So, it's been a financial struggle, not to mention my hospital bills and no insurance (more on this later!).  Had business been good, there is no way I could've done it during the last few months with me being so sick, having surgery, and the six week recovery.  However, within the last week, I've had four design contacts and new piano students referred to me.  I start work on a house next week and new piano kids in two weeks! 
• My hospital bills were over $34,000.  My surgeon was about $2500.  The anesthesiologist was about $2500, as well.  There is no possible way that I could do this on my own.  I'm extremely grateful for the kindness of those that are close to me that have helped with this situation.  The hospital has financial assistance and they've been amazing.  Up until today, they were taking care of 80% of my surgeon's fees, and about 89% of some of the hospital bills, and no word on the largest part.  So, I've been able to pay the doctor, except for $25 that will be taken care of soon.  Today I got a bill in the mail saying that I owed $24,862 that was due in full on August 10.  I was having a total meltdown, so I called the number on the bill to really hear my balance.  After hearing it, I was pretty certain it was mistaken or not all inclusive.  So, when I got home, I got online to check.  All of it was there except the anesthesiologist.  My total balance is just over $300!

I am completely humbled and so extremely thankful for all I've been given!  I know that the Lord's hand has been in all of this.  It's His plan, and I am in awe!

A crazy month...

It's been a horrendous, sad, painful (both physically and emotionally), miraculous few weeks.  Here's how it went...

On May 18th, ALee called me and asked if I'd heard how Grandpa was doing that day.  I hadn't yet, since I'd been running around seeing Mom at her Arts' Week performances and awards night, and teaching piano.  I decided during that phone call that I was going to switch my piano lessons for the next day so I could spend time with Grandma & Grandpa.  So, I quickly rearranged my schedule and got down to AF before 10:00 in the morning.  At the time Grandpa was sleeping, but he soon got restless.  He was antsy wanting to get out of bed, but his legs weren't strong enough.  He hadn't been eating and the nurse said not to give him food unless he asked for it, because they were afraid of him choking.  He asked for some shredded wheat, so we got him up and he ate some, then he said, "Can I at least get some juice?"  It was kind of cute!  Then he wanted to go back to bed.  We got him in there, and he never really woke up again.  As we have Grandma Mamie on hospice, I've been told signs to look for in the death process, I saw it was happening, but could not believe it was really happening, because he seemed so strong.  I couldn't bare to leave.  I knew when I kissed him goodbye that I was kissing him goodbye for the last time, in the back of my mind.  I had to come home to teach piano to one family that couldn't change, so I left, so not wanting to leave Grandma alone, and not wanting to leave his side.

At 6:23 a.m., on May 20th, Grandma called and said, "Ross is gone, and I can't talk more..." 

The next 5-6 days were kind of a whirlwind, but at the same time slow motion.  There was a peace in Grandma's house.  I didn't feel peace about Grandpa.  I'm glad I got to spend that day with him.

The peace came.

Since about Mothers' Day, I'd been feeling pretty crappy!  I thought it was acid reflux.  The pain persisted, sometimes increasing, sometimes just being a dull pain.  The day Grandpa died, the pain left.  The pain started around Memorial day, again.  On June 1st, the pain was so horrendous, that I didn't sleep that night until 5:40 a.m. on the 2nd.  I had made an appt for June 3rd, so I was biding my time.  As many of you know, I have no health insurance, so I was just waiting until then.  I went to Cory's graduation dinner at the Olive Garden, and by 7:00 I was in tremendous pain.  I couldn't ride in the car all the way home, so we stopped at Grandma Mamie's house, so I could lie down.  We got home a little after 10:00, and by 2:00 a.m., I couldn't handle it one more second, so we went to the ER.  At the ER, they gave me some fantastic medicine, and ran some tests.  The ER dr. came back and said I had a really sick gallbladder that he'd like to get an ultrasound, but that there wasn't a tech to do it until later, so he sent me home at 5:00 something.  I returned to the hospital for an ultrasound at 9:40 a.m.  After the ER dr. saw the results of the ultrasound, she said that they needed to get me in for surgery soon, "so, what does the rest of your day look like?"  I was amazed it was that urgent.  She called over to the surgeon to see when he could do it, and he couldn't until tuesday, so that was the plan.  Then, they had me go over and meet him.  he explained what was going to happen, and said there were ways to have the surgery be sooner, if absolutely necessary, but to take the pain meds, and he'd see me on tuesday.  He said if I was running on pain pill to pain pill to call him, and he could change things.


Friday morning I woke up to yellowish eyes and yellowish skin.  I called the nurse to see what I should do, because it was listed as a "serious side effect" to the medication.  After she called around to the pharmacist and doctor, they decided I needed to go in for an MRI at 9:35 p.m., so I was running on half a sandwich all day.  The MRI was about 24 minutes long, and thank heavens for KSOP not having many commercials, I was able to make it through commercial free!


Saturday morning I felt horrific!  I waited around to hear the results, but then called in around noon.  No one was going to be there until 1:00 to read the MRI.  So, I waited.  I asked for a blessing and Derrick, Seth, and Michael from our ward came and gave me one.  It was very nice.  Right after the blessing the dr called and said I needed to go to the hospital immediately, and that he'd already have me admitted by the time I got there.


Saturday night-  I had to have a scope down my throat to get a gallstone, that they thought was blocking the bile duct of my liver.  I had adult jaundice.  The surgeon that was going to do that, told us he was the best in the nation at this procedure, and that the national average was 90 min., and he could do it in 7-9 minutes.  Well, after the procedure he came out and told Mom that there wasn't a stone there, but there was a toughness that wasn't normal, and may be a tumor.  (Mom kept this a secret from me.)  


The liver numbers are supposed to top out in the 50s, mine were in the 322+ range.  They said my numbers were too high to perform the gallbladder surgery.


Sunday morning 5:00 a.m., the dr decides he has to do the surgery.  Laproscopic gallbladder removal takes 45 mins. to an hour, and recovery is 2-3 days.  So, that was the plan.  Now remember it was Sunday, and the hospital didn't have it's normal staff.  So,  while in the surgery, they couldn't get my gallbladder out laproscopically.  So, my 45 min. surgery turned into 4 1/2 hours.  My poor mom sitting out in the waiting room was never told anything.  She just had to wait and wait.  I feel so bad for her!  They had to hold down my intestines to carve out my gallbladder that was stuck to some other organs.   They had to use a T tube, which is from like 30 years ago, and they never do those anymore, but it apparently worked.


Five days later, I was released from the hospital with two drainage bags and a lot of pain.  Today I had my first check up since, and I came home with only one bag, which I'll have for the entire 6 weeks of recovery, and no more staples!  The pain is still quite severe, but is manageable, and hopefully one day, I'll be able to eat anything I want.


I'm so grateful for all of the prayers that have been offered in my behalf and the blessings that have been given.  I'm grateful for all of the visitors and phone calls and flowers from everyone showing their love and support.  I know I've been blessed through this, and that the Lord is watching out for me.

Grandpa Ross...

"Sanford Ross Nicholes, age 76, passed away May 20, 2010 at his home in American Fork, Utah. Ross was born Feb 2, 1934 in American Fork to Howard Wing and Hope Hatton Taha Nicholes. He married Orpha JaNae Batchelor on Oct 13, 1953 in the Salt Lake Temple.

Ross has many titles. Most important, a loving husband, and second most important, Dad. The funnest title he holds is that of Grandpa. Many experienced his great love for cooking. He learned to cook while spending time herding sheep during his younger years. His reputation in the kitchen gave him an opportunity to serve an LDS mission cooking in the cafeteria at the LDS Cannery in Lindon. This was an 18 month mission, but after three years he was released to share his other talents elsewhere. This reputation also got him a job as a hunting camp cook. For tips he received money, hats, and even a pair of shoes. It’s rumored that he received a $100.00 tip once. As a family, we loved to eat the fruits of Ross’s labor. However, the family favorite is his homemade ice cream. Over the years, whether waiting for ice cream, prime rib, or any other time, Dad could be heard playing the spoons.

All through Ross and JaNae’s house and yard is evidence of Ross’s love of woodworking. The plans for the arbor in their backyard were taken from a 2x2 picture from a magazine. When most people say, “They have had a change of heart” they are referring to a change in attitude or a decision. Ross had a literal change of heart in July of 1989. From time to time one would hear him say, “I’ve had a change of heart.” Ross’s heart transplant gave him 20 extra years to witness all the events of his growing family. Ross has always been a farm boy. From playing on tractors in his youth to his Kubota, to his last tractor, a Sears riding lawn mower. He has loved being on a tractor, and the grandkids took advantage of getting rides anytime they could. Though Ross was somewhat of a kidder, he wasn’t much of a game player. In recent years Ross and JaNae could be found sitting at the kitchen table playing 5 Crowns; many times at Ross’s suggestion. Of all the games the two of them played, it is thought, unfortunately, that Ross ended up with the losing record. And he was okay with that, because he was spending time with his life long sweetheart.

Survived by his wife, JaNae, his children, Colleen Church Nicholes, Todd (Jeanne) Nicholes, Juli (David) Larsen, Bartley (Jennifer) Nicholes, and ALee (Jason) Blake, 20 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, his sister Sydney Thomas, and his brother Doug Nicholes. Preceded in death by his parents, his son Sanford “Sandy” Ross Nicholes, Jr. and 2 brothers, Frank and Tracy Nicholes.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in the American Fork 5th Ward Chapel, 380 South 300 East. Visitations will be held Monday evening from 6 to 8 pm in the Anderson & Sons Mortuary, 49 E 100 N, American Fork and Tuesday at the church from 9:45 to 10:45 am prior to the services. Burial, American Fork Cemetery."