April 7, 2015 ~ Remembering the last 2 weeks
Well today was 2 weeks since the surgery and finding out the good news that the cancer was contained in the uterus...it had not broken through the wall of the uterus so when the uterus came out so did the cancer I had! For added precautions the surgeon removed 21 lymph nodes in the pelvic area and none of them had any cancer cells in them. So it was in deed good news. My only instructions were to see my Gyn doctor ever 4 months for blood work for the next 2 years...and then every 6 months for the following 3 years to make sure there are no recurrences.
A little surprised how I'm still feeling weak and wear out so quickly.... and though I'm getting up and down without Harold's help... I still feel everything heading South when I stand and it is still painful. Getting better everyday.... but I guess I thought I was going to feel really better than this by 2 weeks.... the few pics you may have seen of me at our Easter Sunday gathering with our family was about all the time I was able to spend outside with the family....for the most part I was feeling exhausted and weak and layed inside on my bed...only getting up to tell them all good bye at the end of the day. Glad they all came and I got to see them all.... but was so sorry I wasn't able to enjoy the day with them.
It's been very difficult to sit at my desk to write what was happening over the last 2 weeks because I couldn't sit upright for long periods of time.... but I'll try now to fill in some of the gaps.
March 24, 2015
We just got to the hospital and waiting to go to the back to be prep for surgery.
Feeling a little sleepy. . . Had to get up for 5:00 am to get to the hospital for 7:00 am
Shouldn't have any problem being knocked out!
It's surgery day! "This is the day the Lord has made . . . I will rejoice and be glad in it!" Psalm 118:24
I woke up feeling ready and fully prepared to get this surgery done today!
Rory and Dawn drove us into New Orleans for the surgery and Breck, Martha Ann and Maddy met us at the hospital. The morning was really different than what I'm use to under trying conditions.... I need silence so my mind can stay fixed on God and I gave Breck strict orders to tell Rory not to be goofing off and laughing in the room with me .... and for her also tell anyone who wanted to come and sit and wait for me to be taken to surgery, not to talk.... I wanted quiet.
It wasn't that way at all..... But it was good... we laughed and Rory goofed off saying he was gonna take pics of me and put on Face Book.... it was all very light hearted and well..... joyful..... I'm so sorry we didn't take a group pic....there were strong positive vibes in the prep room as the nurse one step at a time prepared me for surgery....and the last thing I remember. . .was hearing Breck say....Shhhhh.... she's falling to sleep. No fear...No anxiousness.... it all went off perfect and as the surgeon had planned.
I was taken to the back at 11:09. . . . and my family didn't hear from the doctor till almost 4:00 pm
The next thing I remembered was a young and unattentive nursing assistant rolling me out of recovery to my room.... I was like in a fog.... but I distinctly remember her rolling me over the elevator door runners that made me yell out in pain..... and when she got me to my room.... she was telling me to help her move myself over into my bed as she pulled the sheet I was lying on... it felt so violating to me that when my family came in ...all I could do was cry.... then Breck tried to explain to me that the doctor gave them good news and though I couldn't fully understand what she was telling me...I remember hearing the word "good" ...which made me cry uncontrollably. . . .
Yeah I don't remember a thing about the surgery (Praise God) but the Post - OP events that evening were a bit unexpected and overwhelming....but nothing could have prepared me for the first time they nurse got me up the next morning at 9:00 am after being discharged only 18 hours after surgery!
March 25, 2015 ~ 9:00 am
Harold didn't sleep at all through the night and kept his eyes glued on me....I woke up every hour, when they would come into to check my blood pressure or take blood. And Harold would still be in the same position sitting next to my bed. Thank You Lord for Him and His love that will surely play a great role in my healing. I was so glad Breck made the decision to drive back over to us that morning to help me get up for the first time and help freshen me up and put me into a gown and robe.
Before standing me up we had to go through the ordeal of removing the catheter. Oh my heavens.... I thought I would faint! A dose of Tylenol would have been a good idea before removing the catheter and sending me on an hour and half ride home! With the nurse on one side of me and Breck on the other, I attempted to stand up. . . . I couldn't believe what it felt like.... like everything from my chest fell down to my bottom.... and I couldn't put one foot in front of the other.... my ears were ringing and I felt so weak....I started to cry and told the nurse ....they should never send anyone home in this condition. . . . Sympathetically she agreed. But it's the insurance companies that make them send people home with tubes in them and really not ready to care for themselves. Thank God I have a husband who gave 120 % in making sure my every need was being met in these last 2 weeks . . . .
He has taken such great care of me .... Never getting too far away ...and always keeping his eyes on my every move.... he's done the laundry, cooked our meals... helped me in and out of the shower...in and out of bed....He's been wonderful, loving and attentive!!!
UPDATE From Rena
Home now .....the ride from the hospital in New Orleans was horrendous and had me in tears by the time we reached home ...... But after some sleep ..... I wanted to give you faithful praying partners the preliminary findings from the path lab about the Cancer I had ! It was Stage one and Grade one and it had not gotten through the wall of the uterus.... So it was contained with in the uterus! Very good news! The Best it could have been. Now we just have to find out if the lymph nodes are clear ....if they are clear of any cancer cells, then the journey will end here .... if they're not, then I will need further treatment. . . . but all in all it was a very good report concerning the surgery! Please continue to pray for me it's a very painful surgery to recover from and I'm very weak !!!!
March 25, 2015 ~ Note to the Praying Partner's:
Thank you all who were praying for me .... I know yawl were wondering why yawl were not getting updates during the surgery. . . but my family had not gotten any word from the doctor or even an assistant the whole 3 & 1/2 hours I was in surgery ... They took me back at 11:09 and the Doctor didn't talk with them until 4:00......I know yawl must have been concerned.... My family was getting besides themselves as they saw other doctors come out to talk with other family members that had loved ones having surgery. And then they had to wait 2 more hours before they could get to see me. Sorry yawl weren't able to be kept informed along the day.... But thank you for your continued praying!