Friday the 13th-Not the horror film
The hospital was very quiet that morning. It was 2 weeks to the day that I'd had my last surgery and was laying in the room just next door to where I was the morning of the 30th. It was 6:30 in the morning and I was the only patient in the surgical area. Lamar was sweet and stayed with me until his stomach couldn't take it anymore and it needed to be fed. He was very excited about eating a full hot breakfast, so he grabbed Katie and my dad and they hit the cafeteria.
Mom stayed with me and shortly after my friend Tammy came in to stay with me as well.
The next big step was my IV. My veins play hide and seek all of the time and this morning looking at my arms and hands it looked as if I didn't have any at all. My nurse spent some time looking, flicking, tightening the tourniquet more, and then she did something that I've never experienced and she placed warm towels around my arms. She said that the warmth of the towels can pull out the veins to the surface. It seemed like a good idea and not that I minded looking like the stay puff marshmallow man, but unfortunately, it didn't work. She brought her A game though and in one poke she got the IV in my left hand pointer finger. That was another first for me and for her, as I've never had an IV in the finger before!
Mom and Tammy walked with me as they wheeled me to radiology around 7:15. I was happily greeted by the sweet tech, John, who much to my surprise, remembered me. He got me situated and Dr. Roberts from the Radiology Group came in to give me the radioactive injections.
I had to have the 6 injections where my large scar is, that was extremely pleasant!
My mom, lovingly hovered as closely as possible, always interested in watching everything that's being done. She describes the films as watching a starburst with hundreds of stars all around. It's like an explosion of the universe in my abdomen.
It did what it was supposed to do and the dye went directly to my sentinel node, on my right side, laying on the edge under my right breast.
I finished with injections and films and was ready to move on to CT.
They were not ready for me so I passed the time sitting in my wheel chair, in the hallway on display, but had the company of my mom and Tammy. It was nice not being there alone.
CT was ready and the next procedure was the wire localization. The radiologist followed the dye on my films to guide him and he then numbed the area, inserted a long, thin needle and then inserted a long wire into the side of my breast and went into my sentinel node. My surgeon then used this wire to locate and remove the node. The wire will be removed during surgery.
This procedure is very common with breast and melanoma cancer patients.
I had been fine emotionally all morning but when I was in the machine, all alone in the CT room, I had myself a bit of a weep! (That was for Katie and my mom). In all seriousness, I did cry. I get emotionally and physically tired of being poked and prodded. I was trying to prepare myself for another scar, enduring yet another painstaking test, and another surgery!
The wire was in, the tears were dried and I was ready to face the world again.
They wheeled me back to my room and I got to see Lamar, Katie, Victoria, Bob and my parents! The Anesthesiologist came early and said that the surgical team was ready.
Ok God, here we go, 3rd biopsy, 2nd major surgery, and 3rd scar. The only thing running through my mind was "Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10.
Backing up just a bit. The surgery on May 30th was rough. I had choked on my breathing tube during surgery and the doctor was forced to sedate me even more. Because of the amount of medication in me, I couldn't and just wouldn't wake up from surgery. Needless to say, it was a very long night. I finally found my way back to the land of the living around midnight. Due to the difficulty of the surgery on the 30th, we were not sure what to expect this time, but Lamar was jumping up and down with excitement that I was awake in the recovery room. Praise God! I was up eating ice chips, and talking some when they got me back into my room. The Demerol was still working and I felt I could conquer the world in my glorious green gown, sexy green non skid socks and leg compressions. I was feeling good!! This was so much better then last time.
Then the Demerol wore off and my super powers quickly faded. Its amazing how quickly things can change, but they did, I lived and they discharged me around 3:30 that afternoon.
I settled in at home, into my favorite chair, in time for Uncle Jack to bring me my favorite cheese pizza from Pizza and Subs. I ate a slice and it tasted so good!
Thursday, June 19th, I find out the results of the biopsy and everyone is praying for no cancer cells in the lymph nodes.
"Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer, from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings." Psalm 61:1-4
"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him, He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress, I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; My mighty rock, my refuge is God" Psalm 62:5-7
In the meantime, I remain home healing from yet another scar and continuing to adjust to this life. I am so very thankful to Heather, who brought me a small pillow that I keep against my right arm and my incision. It has really been working.
I continue to be grateful for the cards, texts, visits, books, ice cream, flowers, prayers, and the abundance of meals from all of our family and friends.
My friend Tammy, gave me a card that I keep on my end table next to my chair and look at it everyday because it is 100% my life.
In hard times she learned three things. 1. She was stronger than she ever imagined
2. Jesus was closer than she ever realized 3. She was loved more than she ever knew!
Phil 1:4-5
"I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints."
Thank you all for loving me through this!
Mom stayed with me and shortly after my friend Tammy came in to stay with me as well.
The next big step was my IV. My veins play hide and seek all of the time and this morning looking at my arms and hands it looked as if I didn't have any at all. My nurse spent some time looking, flicking, tightening the tourniquet more, and then she did something that I've never experienced and she placed warm towels around my arms. She said that the warmth of the towels can pull out the veins to the surface. It seemed like a good idea and not that I minded looking like the stay puff marshmallow man, but unfortunately, it didn't work. She brought her A game though and in one poke she got the IV in my left hand pointer finger. That was another first for me and for her, as I've never had an IV in the finger before!
Mom and Tammy walked with me as they wheeled me to radiology around 7:15. I was happily greeted by the sweet tech, John, who much to my surprise, remembered me. He got me situated and Dr. Roberts from the Radiology Group came in to give me the radioactive injections.
I had to have the 6 injections where my large scar is, that was extremely pleasant!
My mom, lovingly hovered as closely as possible, always interested in watching everything that's being done. She describes the films as watching a starburst with hundreds of stars all around. It's like an explosion of the universe in my abdomen.
I finished with injections and films and was ready to move on to CT.
They were not ready for me so I passed the time sitting in my wheel chair, in the hallway on display, but had the company of my mom and Tammy. It was nice not being there alone.
CT was ready and the next procedure was the wire localization. The radiologist followed the dye on my films to guide him and he then numbed the area, inserted a long, thin needle and then inserted a long wire into the side of my breast and went into my sentinel node. My surgeon then used this wire to locate and remove the node. The wire will be removed during surgery.
This procedure is very common with breast and melanoma cancer patients.
The wire was in, the tears were dried and I was ready to face the world again.
They wheeled me back to my room and I got to see Lamar, Katie, Victoria, Bob and my parents! The Anesthesiologist came early and said that the surgical team was ready.
Ok God, here we go, 3rd biopsy, 2nd major surgery, and 3rd scar. The only thing running through my mind was "Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10.
Backing up just a bit. The surgery on May 30th was rough. I had choked on my breathing tube during surgery and the doctor was forced to sedate me even more. Because of the amount of medication in me, I couldn't and just wouldn't wake up from surgery. Needless to say, it was a very long night. I finally found my way back to the land of the living around midnight. Due to the difficulty of the surgery on the 30th, we were not sure what to expect this time, but Lamar was jumping up and down with excitement that I was awake in the recovery room. Praise God! I was up eating ice chips, and talking some when they got me back into my room. The Demerol was still working and I felt I could conquer the world in my glorious green gown, sexy green non skid socks and leg compressions. I was feeling good!! This was so much better then last time.
Then the Demerol wore off and my super powers quickly faded. Its amazing how quickly things can change, but they did, I lived and they discharged me around 3:30 that afternoon.
I settled in at home, into my favorite chair, in time for Uncle Jack to bring me my favorite cheese pizza from Pizza and Subs. I ate a slice and it tasted so good!
Thursday, June 19th, I find out the results of the biopsy and everyone is praying for no cancer cells in the lymph nodes.
"Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer, from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings." Psalm 61:1-4
"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him, He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress, I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; My mighty rock, my refuge is God" Psalm 62:5-7
In the meantime, I remain home healing from yet another scar and continuing to adjust to this life. I am so very thankful to Heather, who brought me a small pillow that I keep against my right arm and my incision. It has really been working.
I continue to be grateful for the cards, texts, visits, books, ice cream, flowers, prayers, and the abundance of meals from all of our family and friends.
My friend Tammy, gave me a card that I keep on my end table next to my chair and look at it everyday because it is 100% my life.
In hard times she learned three things. 1. She was stronger than she ever imagined
2. Jesus was closer than she ever realized 3. She was loved more than she ever knew!
Phil 1:4-5
"I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints."
Thank you all for loving me through this!
Thanks for sharing this proof that God is ever watching over His own.
ReplyDeleteApril, all of the food has been so delicious and we are so thankful for it all. Thanks love 💗
DeleteOh, Heather! Praying for you!!!! It makes me weak in the stomach just reading this, can't imagine going through it!
ReplyDeleteCilicia, thank you and Bob so very much for all of the prayers. It is a tough journey but am so grateful for God's amazing grace & mercy! He is so loving. My support team is a huge blessing!
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