Sorry this is a little longer than normal.
By Amber
@AmbiePam (86525)
United States
April 25, 2023 12:44pm CST
Shortly after the New Year, my dad woke up in agony. He made an appointment with his doctor, and they gave him a shot of a mild pain killer. It did nothing, and after two days of no sleep one night he went to the Urgent Care. The Urgent Care sent him to the ER. They gave him a shot of morphine, and referred him for an MRI. After the morphine shot my dad slept for four sweet hours, and spent the next two finally getting things done he needed to do.
After six total hours the agony was back. Some nights my dad's wife said tears ran down his face until he fell asleep. The pain medication they prescribed him (it's not like they could give him morphine all the time) did nothing. Long story short, the MRI showed he needed 5 vertebrae in his neck replaced. It involved a cadaver bone, and a lot of titanium. He had the surgery, and they ended up replacing six vertebrae, not five. The day after his surgery his catheter just exploded with blood. His blood pressure dropped, he lost liters of blood, and they put them in the ICU. I did not know that until after he was out of the ICU because my dad told his wife (my mom died some 8 yrs. ago) not to worry me and my sister.
Because surgeons have to nudge the aorta to the side as well as the voice box to do the surgery we knew he wouldn't have a voice for awhile. After weeks of only being able to whisper with no signs of improvement they got him an appointment with a specialist. He finally got to see him. The right side of his vocal cords are paralyzed. Thursday they will briefly put him under, and inject his vocal cords with Restylane, which you might recognize is used for wrinkles. If that does not work, they will do another in a few months. If in a year no progress is made they will do surgery.
He is at total peace with it. He is 67, and calculates that he can afford to retire at aged 72 (he's a pastor). He says if he has to retire he'll be fine, and I truly believe he means it. I also hope he gets the strength back in his arm. At one point he could not turn the key in his car. But it hurt my heart to think I'd never hear more of a whisper of his voice again.
I kind of took him off guard with this picture when I took it of him while sitting in my car. The battery in my car had died, and he was taking it to be replaced. I love the big guy.
18 people like this
19 responses
@kobesbuddy (75946)
• East Tawas, Michigan
25 Apr 23
Oh my gosh, your father has been through a lot the last few months! As a pastor, he no doubt prays and God is faithful to answer our prayers! I will pray for your father, also:) He's a beautiful man!
4 people like this
@kobesbuddy (75946)
• East Tawas, Michigan
25 Apr 23
@AmbiePam I love to pray, God is faithful to hear our pleas, he cares about each need we have and he answer, too!
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (172468)
• United States
25 Apr 23
I am so sorry your dad is going through this. I hope and pray his voice will come back.
3 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (87119)
• United States
26 Apr 23
The suffering..oh my God Ambie.
I am so very sorry.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (86525)
• United States
26 Apr 23
@RebeccasFarm The first month the children’s pastor filled in, and then there have been a succession of other preachers (all who have known my dad) who have filled in. We knew he would need fill ins for six weeks so we had six weeks of replacements ready. After word spread my dad was having trouble with his voice we had some of his old pastor and preacher friends (some retired) volunteer to fill in if they were needed. It’s been very heartening to see people pitch in. After a month of resting my dad was able to physically go back to church, and I think having him there gave everyone a nice boost of energy.
It’s quite hilarious/frustrating to see so many people still call him. He’s not supposed to be talking, and he has to strain to be heard over the phone! Why do people not text him? 
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (87119)
• United States
26 Apr 23
@AmbiePam So since he is a Pastor..is there another Pastor taking his place or what Ambie?
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (49488)
• United States
25 Apr 23
I pray that his voice will come back.
3 people like this
@1creekgirl (40842)
• United States
25 Apr 23
Oh, Amber, I know you trust God, but I know you're worried sick about your daddy. He will be in my prayers.
3 people like this
@m_audrey6788 (58482)
• Germany
26 Apr 23
I know the feeling of seeing your love ones suffering and you can`t do anything about it but to pray and wait. I hope and pray that your father will be have a good full recovery 1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (86525)
• United States
26 Apr 23
When he was in his thirties he fell off a ladder which caused part of the problems, and then about six years ago he was helping a lady in his church move when he picked up her table and he heard his neck pop which messed up more of his neck. The damage just got worse as he got older.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (60382)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
25 Apr 23
He sounds strong. He's going to do well.
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (48972)
• Canada
25 Apr 23
Oh Ambie, such a long journey for your family and your dear Dad.
I will keep him in my prayers.
I hope that you will hear his voice again.
A couple that are our best friends, he had cancer on his vocal chords, and when he woke they did not know if he would be able to speak or not. Their daughter was there, and he always teased her about her hair styles, and he looked at her, everyone was so nervous and on edge, and he said hello Michelle, that's quite the hair do today. Everyone cried they were so happy to hear his voice.
I hope that your family experiences this wonder also.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (86525)
• United States
27 Apr 23
Yes, I totally agree! And literally 30 seconds before I started typing this reply to you his wife texted me he is in recovery, and the injection procedure went well.
The children's pastor preached several weeks, and they had a few guest preachers planned because we knew he'd be out six weeks. However when word spread about his voice, a whole lot of preachers and pastors he knows reached out and offered to fill in if he needed them too.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (86525)
• United States
26 Apr 23
Thank you, I appreciate the well wishes. Way back in his twenties he fell off a ladder and damaged a few discs. And then a few years ago he was helping a lady in his church move, and picked up her table. Immediately, he felt and heard several pops in his neck and knew he had done some more damage.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (161378)
• United States
30 Apr 23
My goodness. Your father has been through so much. I wish him all the best and hope he will be better soon.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130922)
• India
26 Apr 23
I think your father must have read the book Power of Positive Thinking by Vincent Peale as only a positive attitude could have seen him through such situations. Hats Off to him. He will get his voice back
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (80647)
• United States
26 Apr 23
Your poor dad having to go through all that. I hope the Restylane works for his voal cords and he won't need any more surgeries. I'll keep him in my prayers Amber (and you). He looks like such a sweet and gentle man in your picture. I think you have his smile 
1 person likes this
