Jude 2

About 2AM Thursday morning we took Amy to the ER at Vanderbilt University Medical Center when she experienced severe discomfort, chills and fever. She was diagnosed with acute appendicitis, and they scheduled an O.R. immediately. Not exactly the way we had this Assembly trip planned but God's timing...

Amy's appendix was perforated, and they were unable to complete the removal as a laparoscopy -- they had to make an additional incision, clean out the beginnings of infection, and remove the appendix, resecting a small portion of her colon. She is okay, heavily sedated and sleeping. The recovery will be a bit more difficult and she may have to stay in the hospital for several days.

Wiped out, worried and stressed, I looked across the waiting room and saw Scott Creasy. He sat with me for HOURS, brought me coffee, watched my stuff so I could take bathroom breaks, and generally pastored me. Once Amy was in recovery, I encouraged him to leave and head back to the Assembly. Not long afterwards, Ron Hamm showed up and sat with me for some time. When I went up to her room, and was awaiting the okay to go in, off the elevator walked Jeff Jones, who gave me a ride back to he hotel to rest.

I came back the hotel to collapse, and my daughter handed me an envelope with a sweet card and a love offering from Linda and Nancy Arnold.

Say what you will about Jude2, but it is FAMILY! I love you all.

I hope you get some rest, Pastor Gary. I'm glad you were near a good hospital when you needed one for Amy.

That is sweet, I'm proud of all our Jude2 folks, too... God has a way of binding us together in the midst of trials.

I hope Amy will have a quick recovery and I'm praying God will do that supernaturally so you'll both be able to enjoy the Assembly.

we have been praying. i saw Tori a couple times, but didn't get to ask her for an update, she seemed to "be on a mission".

scooter is here with me in service.

I am so sorry to hear of this. And at Assembly time too. But glad you got a lot of help from the Jude2 family members.
Will be praying for Amy.

My son went through a similar happening on his way to the Assembly several years ago he ended up in a hospital in Knoxville..missed most of the Assembly.

awsome to have a family that is there for you.. Hat's off to the Jude 2 folks.

we contiue to pray for Amy tori and you my dear friend.

Praying for a good recovery. Thank the Lord for such good friends who were able to be there for you.

Praying here...

Thank God all is well.

Any new updates regarding Amy? Been thinking of all of you all day and praying everything is going well.

I'm sure there are others than know more detail, but here's what I have as of this morning when I talked to PG...

Amy is sick from the anestesia (she normally reacts poorly to it) and that's the main thing right now. He didn't mention any further complications or anything, just that she is really sick.

Her father was going to be here today sometime to stay with her as well.

I visited the hospital today and spent a few minutes with Amy. The surgery was a little more extensive than they first thought.

They had to rescect a part of her intestine along with the apendix. That makes the recovery period a little longer. They are talking at least Monday for a release.

Please continue to pray for her. She was her cordial self....except for the drugs....

I also visited another family whose daughter was beaten and left for dead. Her face was mutliated by a boyfriend. He left her for dead. She had re-constructive surgery to her face.......not even close....

Please pray for her. She is the niece of Gabriel Montjo....my daughter in law's father.

I just left the hospital.

Amy is having some breathing problems...nothing they can't handle..and not at all unusual. She is using some oxygen today.

One of my pastors works there as a respitory therapist. He will be on nights and will keep a good check on her.....

Keep them in your prayers.

Praying for complete healing on all the issues you highlighted Dr. Ron.

Tori & I just left the Vandy at 7:00 PM. We have been taking shifts with Amy's dad, Sam. He prefers mornings. Amy is slowly showing some progress... walked twice today, once was a full lap around the Nurses Station, and the other medical progress markers are starting to be met. She is still in much pain, and was doing better with the nausea until she sipped the broth they gave her for dinner.

The room is filling with flowers from Hawaii and from the Assembly Children's Ministry, and a few other small gifts of love.

We still do not know exactly when she will be released from VUMC, but we want her well, and do not want to rush it.