Prayer Request for Debbie Brisk Updated

Dear Moriel Ministry Team and Supporters,

Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for hearing our prayers and thank you so much for your prayers and support. I give all credit to our Lord and for your faithful prayers that Debbie’s shoulder surgery date has been pushed back from Friday November 12 to Tuesday November 16 for the very reasons and concerns stated below in our original prayer request.

That concern is the additional in-patient hospital time needed for the particularly intricate anesthesis involved with treating a patient that has Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. The new date and time remedies the concern we stated in the original prayer request about the mixed communication between all the parties involved, hospital admissions, various doctors and specialists, et.al.

Debbie and I request that you please continue to pray for the specifics listed below as the plan is the same other than the change in day and time and the information bolded*.

As stated already, your prayers have been a blessing helping Debbie tremendously and Jesus is faithful even spite of my own weakness, which I know is great.

The plan is to scrape the AC (acromioclavicular joint ), repair a SLAP tear in the shoulder and put in a shoulder repair kit if necessary. Debbie’s doctor is the chief of surgery for shoulders and arms so we have one of the best in our area.

Although extremely important, this is not our main concern.

Debbie also suffers from a condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (also known as RSD Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy ). Due to this, she will need to undergo extensive sedation and local anesthesia 24 hrs before and 24hrs after the actual surgery to prevent the spread of the RSD. The cause of the RSD is believed to be from her shoulder injury never healing properly and she has been in pain ever since the accident that caused it.

The anesthesiologist will need to perform a scalene nerve block , which causes extreme pressure and pain in the neck where Debbie already suffers from much pain from the injury and RSD. The nerve block is needed to numb all the nerves in the region. However, the process of administering the nerve block is a very delicate procedure and the doctor must be careful not to cause undo anxiety to the patient or additional damage to the nerve while administering, or inflame the area in any way that would make the condition worse.

If the procedure works as intended, Debbie’s entire neck and shoulder area will be relaxed and pain free for 24hrs prior to the surgery and continue for at least 24hrs after the surgery or as long as needed.

Debbie has already suffered some peripheral nerve damage from a Stellate Ganglion nerve block and so there is real concern and added anxiety.

Typically, this is an operation where a person stays less than a full day in the hospital, but RSD extremely complicates matters. As usual, the bureaucracy of insurance companies, hospital administration and poor communication has sent mixed signals showing they do not fully comprehend what the doctors have already directed about Debbie’s care.

Please pray as the Holy Spirit leads and please pray that the surgery will successful and the pain management will work as planned with no increase to the current RSD condition. As well, pray that the doctors, administrators and others involved all have clear communication so that no roadblocks pop-up before or during the treatment process.

Please also pray that the Lord will lead me in caring for Debbie once she comes home and that I will not run into any problems with taking days off from work as this is one of the busiest times of year.

Thank you, and may the Lord bless you and keep you,

Scott Brisk