Andy and Katrina Hogg

Just a minor life update, for those that might not know yet. In early March, Andy’s back was hurting him so badly that we took a trip to the ER in McPherson. He’s been struggling with back pain for a couple of years, but this was nearly unbearable. He was a little dehydrated from the stomach bug the day prior but this pain was miserable to see him in. Chronic back pain was something he had just been trying to manage on his own and tough out and hadn’t been willing to visit the doctor. They took an X-ray that day, gave him a shot and some medicine to manage the pain for a few days. The on call Doctor wasn’t very impressed with Andy not having gone to a doctor in over 5 years and pretty much weren’t going to let us leave without finding a primary and making a follow up appointment.

A week or two later Andy went to an appointment with a primary doctor. He wanted him to have an MRI done on Andys back to see if their was even anything going on that would be causing this pain or if it was something we needed just to figure out how to manage. Andy went in a week after that and had an MRI done.

He had another follow up appointment a few days later. Expecting that there was probably nothing to serious going on or we’d just find out that back surgery might be recommended down the road I didn’t go with him. He called me while I was at Ansleigh’s ballet practice with the girls and asked if the doctor could talk to me. The results were not what we were expecting at all and the MRI showed that he had a 2.0x2.5cm tumor between T12 and L1, most likely a Schwannoma, a tumor that forms in the nervous system and are most often benign. It’s filling the entire neural foramen pressing on the nerves. It was recommended that we go for a consultation with a spine surgeon as soon as possible and were referred to Abay Neuroscience in Wichita. A couple weeks later we had an appointment with a surgeon who said our best option would be to have surgery as soon as we could. So, after waiting a month for insurance to clear the surgery and then finally getting it scheduled, Andy goes in next Monday the 20th of June to have the tumor removed. It’s most likely pressing on the spinal cord so he’ll have to stay in the hospital a few extra days to monitor that there is not a CSF leak or infection and then a long patient recovery process at home.

It’s been a crazy couple of months trying to figure all of this out. We’re very thankful for our family and friends that have been there for us the last couple of months before surgery. They have prayed for us, listened to our fears, and encouraged us through our concerns. For those that have heard through the grapevine we appreciate all of you who have reached out to check on Andy. I’ve personally been a little overwhelmed with it all and I know I’ve been a little worse about getting back to some of our friends, more so than usual. As next Monday gets closer and with a long recovery ahead we ask for continued prayers. We serve an Awesome and Almighty God who has already provided so much for us through this time.

I will try to keep everyone updated next Monday best I can. The rest of this week we want to focus on keeping it as normal as we can around here.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:4-7‬ ‭