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