PROGRESS IS PAINFUL

I had my six week check-up at the surgeon... oh what a thrill! He "readjusted" my neck with a strong twisting and turning. I felt the ripping sensation as the scar tissue let go. I have now started physical therapy to stretch my neck back to where it belongs. By the end of the day, my chin gets closer and closer to my chest. I also started riding my bike on the road again, but found out my wind capacity is gone. I feel like I am starting all over again, like I did after my lower back surgeries a few years ago. I have now had 4 surgeries on my lumbar spine and 3 on the cervical spine.
     It has been 2 months since my cervical fusion from C3-C7, but progress seems slow. I thought the pain would be gone by now,  but the Dr. told me to figure on six months to be relatively pain free. What will life be like to wake up without pain and go to bed without pain? I can't wait to find out! The pain I am experiencing now is generally mild compared to what I had prior to the surgeries, so that is an improvement. The road to recovery has had some speed bumps along the way, but I am confident that in time, I will return to doing the things I did before (like cycling almost every day).

On THe Mend - Slowly...

No More collars to wear!

My third surgery to fix my cervical spine took place on August 19. I have come a long way since then, but admittedly, have a ways to go yet. The Dr. wanted me on my bike trainer one week after surgery. Riding the bike and watching TV forces me to keep my head up, strengthening the muscles in the neck. I am pedaling 30 minutes a day now and it is making a difference. I started by having a small rubber ball under my chin to keep my head up while on the computer or watching TV. I graduated to a tennis ball, then to a softball size, and now I can hold my head up without help. I still have a ways to go to get it as straight as it used to be. I preached Sunday (AM only) and plan to preach both AM and PM services this week. The pain has diminished considerably, enabling me to get off most of the pain medications. I use mostly Tylenol now. I will see the surgeon on Oct. 1, and hope to be back on the road with my bike soon after that. The limited movement I have in my neck due to the steel rods is a little tough getting used to, but it sure beats the pain I have experienced in the past. Thanks to all of my friends and family and church family for your prayers, support and encouragement along the way. I am still planning to ride the amount of miles I missed when I couldn't take part in the Sea to Sea Bike Ride. I am thankful to my supporters who donated a total of $8,500 toward efforts to end poverty. Praise God for the nearly 2 million  dollars raised through the Sea to Sea Bike Tour!

"THAT STIFF-NECKED HOLLANDER"

As the nine weeks of the Sea to Sea tour to end the cycle of poverty comes to a close, I just want to say THANK YOU to all of the riders, volunteers and staff who participated in any way. I also want to say THANKS again to all who supported my fundraising efforts and also for those who have now supported me in prayer. I have traveled along on a daily diet of Reading and praying through "Reflectors" (daily devotional, as well as through Facebook, emails, and several blogs.
I just had my third surgery on my cervical spine on Monday (Aug. 19). This time, the surgeon went through the back of the neck and took x-rays from angles not permitted before. Instead of fusing two discs, they found considerable problems and ended up fusing from C3-C7 with titanium rods and screws. This has considerably reduced my mobility in that area. I am now referred to as "that stiff-necked Hollander" with good reason. The last words from my Dr. before I left the hospital yesterday... "In one week, I expect you to be on your bike trainer, and in six weeks I expect that you will be riding again." Although I could not ride the tour as planned, I look forward to riding my bike again, with the full knowledge that every $ that God enabled me to raise will be put to good use.
Thanks to my church family and everyone else for being there for us throughout this ordeal. God is good!

Thanks again for your prayers, support, and encouragement,
Pastor Ken Prol
http://revkennethprol.blogspot.com/

http://revkennethprol.blogspot.com/2013/08/that-stiff-necked-hollander.html 
revkenp@gmail.com    

Surgery # 3 is Scheduled!

I have had two surgeries on my cervical spine (March 25 and May3). The first one failed when the vertebrae broke where the screws were attached. That was repaired and re-done on May 3. Well, something shifted since surgery and there is pressure on the nerves again. (IOW, PAIN!) I am now scheduled for a third surgery on August 19. I am so not looking forward to this surgery! I am told that going through the back of the neck is difficult, because of all the nerves there. Dr would not say whether or not I will be in a brace again this time. It depends on how well the plate and screws attach on this double fusion.

The only thing I am looking forward to is an end to this pain! Surgery # 1 was on March 25, surgery #2 on May 3, and now #3 on Aug. 19. That makes for 4 lumbar surgeries and 3 cervical spine surgeries. Five of these surgeries in five years (since I came to WI). I appreciate your prayers and support through these surgeries. I am also extremely grateful for the financial support of Sea to Sea that has now reached $ 8,500.00! I received another $ 250.00 min donations on Monday!! My passion for ending the cycle of poverty is stronger now, than when I first decided to join the ride last year. If you would still like to make a donation to this worthy cause, the deadline is August 24.   http://www.seatosea.kintera.org/pastorkenprol    Donations over $ 10.00 will receive a tax-deductible receipt.

I am more than just a little disappointed over not being able to join the Sea to Sea bike ride in Grand Rapids, MI as had been planned. I trust God to lead and guide me into the future, just as he has in the past! My original intent was to ride about 825 miles, ending in Montreal, Canada. It is still my intent to ride the equivalent miles in this area of Wisconsin when I am fully healed.
I covet your prayers as I travel this road again.
Pastor Ken Prol

BUMMER... THE FINAL SET-BACK! NO CYCLING :-(

Last Fall, I began planning for the Sea to Sea ride. It has been an exciting journey of preparation, fundraising, shopping, and fine tuning my bike. On March 25, 2013 I had surgery to fuse the cervical spine @ C6-C7. My plans were to get right back on the bike within 6 weeks. Well, in 6 weeks (May 3), after a time of intense pain, I was back in surgery to fix the broken vertebrae from where the screws were fastened. I was disappointed, but still determined to get back on my bike and train ASAP. After a slow start, I realized that the pain from my surgery and from wearing the large neck brace wasn't going away. I continued trying to ride, in hopes that I just needed to get back in shape.

Last week I went to see the surgeon and had an x-ray. The Dr. called me back  and requested a CT scan. On Thursday July 25 I received the bad news.  Something has shifted since the surgery and is putting pressure on the nerve root. I am not allowed to ride as planned in the Sea to Sea tour, and I am off the bike until further notice. I am not even allowed to drive my vehicle any long distances. I had hoped I could go to Grand Rapids, MI just to meet some of the riders and volunteers. I am sorry I will miss all of that. I will see the Surgeon on Wednesday July 31 to discuss the next surgical procedure.

I want to take time once again to thank all who have donated to this cause of ending the cycle of poverty in my name.Together, you have donated over $8,000.00 to end poverty! I am so proud of all of you and so thankful for your support, prayers and encouragement, despite the set-backs. I am also humbled by your generous support. I ask once again for your continued prayers as I face a third  surgery on the same spot in the very near future. Prior to my neck surgeries, I also had 4 back surgeries in recent years. I am now equipped with titanium rods in my back and a T. plate in my neck, along with the screws and fastening hardware:-)

I have not thrown in the towel... yet! When my neck is properly healed, and with the Doctor's approval, I hope and pray that I will ride again. My intention, is to ride the miles I would have traveled on the tour, at a future date. I will stay in this area of Wisconsin as I ride, take pics and keep you all informed through my blog. This will be my leg of the Sea to Sea Ride. I have not lost my passion for cycling, nor have I lost my passion to work at ending the cycle of poverty that claims so many lives. Stay tuned for more info. You can follow the bike tour at www.seatosea.org  and donations toward the cause can still be made until August 24
http://www.seatosea.kintera.org/pastorkenprol

The pain of sitting out this ride is somewhat comparable to the physical pain I am enduring once again. I am not looking forward to yet another surgery, but I trust in God's guidance and direction as I face the future. I will continue to blog as I am able through this next phase of my stiff-necked ordeal!

Thanks to all for your understanding and especially your prayers. I am especially thankful for my church family and their patient endurance throughout these set-backs.

Pastor Ken Prol
revkenp@gmail.com
920-382-8061
http://revkennethprol.blogspot.com/

TALKING WITH BOTOX!

As many of you know, I have been through two surgeries to fuse my neck @ C6-C7 due to degeneration. The first surgery (March 25th) failed, when the vertebrae split apart from the screws, causing severe nerve pain. A second surgery was done on May 3rd to correct that and I ended up wearing a large and very uncomfortable brace (24/7) for almost 8 weeks. The difficulty is that I lost my voice from the second surgery for 10 weeks. I have now seen an Otolaryngologist and a speech pathologist. I was getting rather discouraged, since I couldn't even answer the phone. Well, all, I can say is Praise God for technology and Botox! I had injections on both sides of the vocal cords to help them close tight enough to talk. The injection should last between 4-6 months. It is hoped that the nerve damage to the larynx will begin to heal in that time. If healing is not sufficient in that time, I can have another injection. If healing still does not happen, there is a surgical procedure in which they can place silicone implants next to the vocal cords as a more permanent solution.

My voice sounds a bit different than it used to, and will most likely never return to the same tone and pitch that it was before. Nevertheless, I am thankful to God for the advances in medical science that have allowed me to talk again! As a pastor, my voice is important. I am especially thankful for our church family and the patience they have demonstrated through this trial. Thank you to all of my friends and family who have encouraged, supported, and prayed for me throughout this long ordeal!

This week I will see the Doctors for final approval to begin the bike tour in Grand Rapids, MI (Aug. 3). There will be x-rays and a CT scan to insure that there is proper healing in the bone graft. To date, God has enabled me to raise over $8,000 in the fight against poverty! Thanks so much for your financial and prayerful support. If you would like to know more about the bike tour you can checkm it out at seatosea.org  


Pastor Ken Prol
There is still a little time left for those who wish to donate.
http://www.seatosea.kintera.org/pastorkenprol

A new day has dawned!

My neck brace is gone!! I still have no voice and will see a specialist on July 9. It has been 8 weeks without a voice now and it is rather frustrating and disappointing. The relative silence has taught me to listen more and speak (squeak) less. We are on vacation in Gilroy, CA by our daughter, Rachel, along with her hubby, Sam and our Grandson Max. I brought my helmet, gloves, and speed/odometer. I am using a borrowed bike and I sure miss my clipless pedals. Today, was my first ride since early Nov. 2012. I rode 11 miles through the neighborhood, but it was hot. I should have gone earlier:(

I am thrilled to start riding/training again and look forward to my portion of the Sea to Sea bike ride. If you haven't checked out seatosea.org check it out! Cyclists from all over the US and Canada after taking part in this ride to raise awareness and money to relieve poverty. Some are doing the full ride of 3,900 miles over 9 weeks from CA to NY. Others, like me, will take part in different legs of the tour.I am so thankful for the support, encouragement, and prayers I have received during my two recent neck surgeries. The first was on March 25, and I was looking forward to getting back on my bike in four weeks. However, the fusion broke apart and on May 3rd I had to have surgery once again to fuse the cervical spine. My bike ride prospects were not looking so good, and many advised me to just give up on my dream.

God has provided and I am so grateful to begin training! If you would like to donate to this important cause click my link: http://tinyurl.com/revken-c2c  and use a credit card.
Time is running out, so please take a moment and donate today. You can also make a check to "
Sea to Sea" with my name in the comment section and mail to 2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49560. You will receive a tax-deductible receipt for all donations over $10.00
Please pray for the cyclists, staff, and volunteers as they deal with the extreme heat (110 deg.) of the desert while traveling into and through Arizona.
Ken Prol

May 27... POST SURGERY_#2_24 Days... Still no Voice:(

     The days and weeks are going by rather slowly. The nerve pain is finally gone and I have very little pain now. One thing I have learned from wearing this brace is that as the weather gets warmer, I get warmer under this brace (read sweat). I am getting used to sponge baths as well as a few showers a week (with brace on). Diane changes the liner after my shower and I get about 45 seconds of relief. Shaving is still impossible, so we will see what what my beard looks like at the end of eight weeks.
     I could tolerate the brace much easier if I could return to preaching. Not having a voice is difficult for someone like me, with the gift to gab. I have just a little idea of what Zechariah went through (Luke 1:19ff). There is so much I want to say, so many sermons running through my mind, and many notes on my computer. I will need a timer to make me stop preaching when I do get my voice back! I had truly hoped and prayed that I would be able to preach this coming Sunday (June 2nd), but that can no longer happen. From June 7-15, I will be in Grand Rapids, MI for the General Synod of the Christian Reformed Church NA. I was elected to go as a delegate back in September 2012. We tried to get either of the alternate delegates to take my place, but on such short notice, they were unable to attend. There is a good possibility that I will have enough of a voice by then to hold a conversation. The Lord willing, I will return to the pulpit on June 16.
    This has definitely been a test of my patient endurance. Am I done yet? Today I am able to squeak out a few words at a time in a very high pitch. Not enough words to carry on a conversation, just simple answers to questions. Whether Diane is at work or, in another part of the house or yard, we communicate by text messages. Pretty sad, eh?
     I lost one week of preaching after my first surgery and have lost five weeks (counting June 2nd) since my second surgery. For this reason, I have decided to give up one week of my Sea to Sea bike ride/vacation as a means of giving back to my church. They have been so patient and I am encouraged by their prayers and support. I will make up the 400+ miles by riding in WI and logging my rides and pictures here on my blog. I originally set out to ride from Grand Rapids, MI to Montreal, Canada. I will likely end my ride in Hamilton, Ontario instead. I hope and pray that I will be back to preaching soon and that this time of waiting will produce something beyond my current understanding. My faith remains strong, despite the setbacks and trials. Psalm 46:10 is that ever-present reminder that God is in charge of the present as well as the future. "Be still,and know that I am God"   Thanks so much for your prayers and encouragement as I wait on the Lord's timing and purpose!

Here we go again!

It is Saturday night and it has been just over a week since my second surgery. The first surgery to fuse my neck on March 25 did not go well. During my second surgery on May 3 they found that the previous fusion had collapsed, crushing the nerves in my neck. The end result was that the Dr. had to cut away part of the vertebrae to level it off again. This made it impossible to put screws in the top of the titanium plate used to secure it. I now have a large neck brace that I must wear 24/7 for eight weeks. Sleeping is difficult and must be accomplished without a pillow. Showering is done with the brace on. My wife dries the plastic and installs the dry liner while I remain absolutely still. My voice box had to be moved out of the way for surgery and that is still presenting a problem. I have lost my voice and there is no sign of improvement yet. I sure hope and pray I will get my voice back soon and be able to return to preaching again. This is all a real set-back to my training for my Sea to Sea ride in August. I don't get the brace off until the end of June, leaving me about a month to train. Still praying that I will be strong enough to ride. Through all of the struggles, pain and set-backs, God's presence remains powerful and I am encouraged to press on.I am also thankful for the patient endurance God has given me. Thanks for all of your prayers and encouragement as I travel this journey back to health and wholeness! To my congregation, friends and family... Keep praying, your prayers have carried me along through all of this.... Pastor Ken

Surgery #2

It has been one long month since my neck surgery and cervical spine fusion on March 25. I woke up the day after surgery with extreme pain in my shoulder, neck, and all the way down my right arm. After weeks of taking high doses of pain killers (Oxycontin and Oxycodone). it was determined that my body had built up an immunity to the drugs. I have now weaned myself down to where I will be completely off in a few days. Some long days and even longer nights with lots of ice and a whole lot of prayer as I wait for surgery #2. It has been determined that my nerves are pinched so badly, that I must have the surgery redone (steel plate and bone graft removed) and start over again. Surgery is scheduled for May 3rd, and I can hardly wait!!
Fortunately, my portion of the ride begins in Grand Rapids, so, I do have a little extra time to get some compressed training time in. I was originally planning to be back on my bike by May 1, but now it looks like early June:( Praying for a quick recovery!  <kp> 4/24/13

Set-back_Surgery

Everything was going along fine. I made plans to take part in a segment of the "Sea to Sea Bike Ride" for Poverty. Somewhere along the way I inherited a "pain in the neck"... literally! That pain turned out to be a ruptured disc (C6-C7) that left the bones rubbing together and causing my neck to lock in place at times. I began with an epidural injection on February 25. The shot gave no relief and so, on March 25th I had surgery at UW Hospital in Madison, WI to fuse the bones. With some donated bone and a titanium plate, I was put back together in hopes of going home the next day. Well, it was 4 days before I went home, due to nerve pain. I was back in the ER on Saturday March 30 for almost 5 hours. Today is April 6 and I am still on high doses of pain medication and still have no relief. In had another epidural nerve block injection on Wednesday, but that shot takes 3-5 days to kick in. Today is day 3 and I am still waiting...

On Thursday May 4, we had a Soup and Chili Supper to raise money for my ride. The attendance was fantastic and the profit was $ 1,255.00!! I am humbled by the outpouring of support. My church (1st CRC) also took an offering which amounted to $ 419.00. 2nd CRC also took an offering, but I haven't heard how much was received yet. I was also informed that the Reformed Church of Friesland will be taking an offering for my ride in May. I have reset my fundraising goal to $ 10,000.00,a figure that I never thought possible, but now am confident that I will attain (by God's grace).

I hope to be back on the road to resume training on May 1 (D.V.). Fundraising will continue till August 1. You can still make a donation to help end poverty.   http://tinyurl.com/revken-c2c

 Jan 19. My Ride today http://www.dailymile.com/people/revkenprol/entries/20331359

My Personal Journey

Join me in the effort to end poverty and raise awareness. www.sea to sea.org
I need your support and prayers as I take this step of faith. click here to read about why I am cycling.
http://seatosea.org/stories/my-personal-journey-rev-ken-prol