Let me begin by saying I Love You All and Thank You for all your kind words, support, and prayers!
My husband DOUG!
I guess you can say that the two stone angels from cemetary's in New Orleans are about as close to representing Doug and I as you can get. He wants nothing said....putting me in a position to carry much on my own. Too much! Which has left me to express my feelings through the pain of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Sybdrome. Fortunately I don't keep it all in and have had your help to get through some of this.
To make a long story short Doug has known for a long time that he needed this operation which is now scheduled for Tuesday the 11th at Fort Walton Medical Center. Because it is a pre-exhisting problem you can just imagine the costs that we are having to deal with......after a long renovation and a cafe closed for 8 months it has caused him tremendous stress. He was to have this operation in June, then July, then again in August....but he re-scheduled for after Labor Day. Why? So he could train and re-train our wonderful chef John Solomon and Sous Chef Robert. They have been cooking almost all the food that has been served since July. If you know Doug he has NEVER left any of our restaurants in another person's hands.
This is a big step for Doug. He not only has to worry about his own health, but me and Kalie, and a restaurant full of loyal staff. I don't think I'm saying anything out of line....these are the normal things that most men would worry about. So maybe he won't get too upset at me for letting this out.
This is the second time that Doug has been operated on for spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis is where the cusion between two discs enlarges and presses against the spinal cord causing muscle deteriation...for Doug it has been the right side....arm, hand, leg, foot. Symptoms are tingling in extremities, paralysis, numbness, extreme muscle loss, nausea, insomnia, irritation, short fuse, loss of memory. At this time Doug's spinal cord is 95% compressed, leaving only 5% for anything to flow through.
The first operation was done by a wonderful Dr. Daniel Choy in New York City 2 1/2 years ago. He used a laser on the cervical spine and lumbar. He told Doug he would have to change his life style, get re-habilitation, could not fish for anything over 5-10 pounds (brim and trout). For almost a year Doug was like a new man.....BUT he just could not change his life style. Soooo now he is much worse and considered disabled. In fact, he could easily be on disability right now. He can barely walk and yet he is down at the cafe right this moment.
His love for the kitchen and running it to "His" perfection is both wonderful and diastrous. If he does not let go he will be disabled. In June we made the decision to train new chefs....we looked for a long time until we found the ones that could "get it"! Of course prayer played a hugh part in this! Now, we must pray that Doug lets go and "gets it"!!!!
Doug will have a bone grafted between C5-7 with a titanium plate screwed in to give his spine stability and keep his spinal cord from ever being compressed again. This procedure will take the pressure off his spinal cord causing the above symptoms, BUT his Doctor has said he may never get his strength back because of damaged nerve endings.
Dr. Dale K. Johns will go through the front of the throat and will have to be very careful for nerves that have already been damaged. His windpipe and esophagus have to be moved to each side so he can get to the spinal cord....this will cause a really sore throat as far as breathing and eating goes. Not to mention the recovery of the operation itself.
So my SoWal friends that's about it in a nut shell. I just ask that you pray for our family, our staff, and Doug. We have a long road ahead of us. We, at the cafe, are committed to see it work smoothly and with a calm spirit amongst us all. D&K's is committed to you! I AM committed to you! There is no room for fear....only love.
Bless you all!
Doug & Kat
especially the inspirational ones.
