Detailed Update

I haven't been able to update much, due to the roller-coaster of events beginning with an important surgery on February 16th. Unfortunately, there are been five more surgeries since that time, one of which was an emergency. Here is a small medical summary of events, and how we have arrived at another year of Chris being incomplete, and possibly inoperable.

Christopher was admitted for a planned surgery on February 16th. This was anticipated by all as his "final surgery" and he would be able to heal, and we could move on after an extensive hospital stay. A few days after the surgery on 2/16, he started trying to walk and even ate a little food. Six days after the surgery, there were dangerous complications and he was sick (toxic) again from a leak. He was taken to the OR and they left him in a medically induced coma for about a week with the understanding that he would be going back to the OR multiple times the following week to clean out the wound. The pain and anxiety of being awake would have been too much for Chris to endure.

Friday, February 27, they attempted to patch the leak and Chris was woken up again from his coma. He struggled once again to get back on his feet, but kept fighting. It was harder the second time around. He began walking, trying to eat solid food, and kept pushing through his pain.

The surgeons told us they hoped there were no more planned surgeries after Feb. 27. Chris kept doing what the doctors ordered and kept moving forward. That following Friday, March 6th, it was determined that the same troublesome area of the colon was leaking again. Chris was taken back to the OR, his 32nd surgery. When he came out of surgery, the surgeons told us that there was nothing else they could do - he was "inoperable" again for another year. The leak happened again, and Chris will now be sent home with some of the same woundcare as before, until they can operate again. The pain he has endured over and over is unimaginable, and watching him go through it again has taken a toll on our families. Pray for the "village" that it takes to get Chris back on his feet every time he's knocked back down. We are heartbroken and feeling so crushed because our expectations of Chris being healthy again have been shattered.

We now face an important decision for Chris' health over the next year. He can either stay in the hospital on his TPN diet, and eat nothing by mouth or he can begin to eat and come home to manage woundcare for the year until he is ready for surgery again.

The next chapter of our lives is intimidating. Physically, mentally, and financially we have been leaning on the community alone, since April 29, 2014. We have kept this particular part of our lives private, and now there has come a time when we must have transparency with you all in order to survive day to day and month to month. It's quite honestly very difficult, and embarrassing for us to ask for help. I had to leave my job to care for Chris. He has been denied disability from the government twice. Our only source of income has been small weekly benefits of workman's comp from Allied Barton, and the benevolent gifts you all have given.

Many people have asked what they can do for us during this time - and we simply answer that prayers and financial assistance are the only options right now. With possible litigation in the future, we know that our lives are going to continue to be stressed in all areas, and we thank you all for the support that you all give to us daily.

Thank you everyone for your support in ALL areas, we appreciate every bit of it.

Jamie Lynn Sparkman

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Attn: Chris Sparkman

Levenson & Associates

125 Broad Street S.W. 

Atlanta, GA 30393

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