Another new day..

My apologies for not updating this sooner, the hospital internet wasn't letting me get on the webpage. Mom is doing alright - she has good moments and bad moments. Her pain medication has been updated so that she is able to receive it every 3 hours instead of every 4 which makes a big difference and helps overlap so it doesn't wear off. She gets up and moves occassionally but is taking it easy today so that she can gauge whether she plans to go home or not - her doctor is leaving it entirely up to her. She wanted to update the blog herself but we decided to let her sleep instead, any sleep she can get that is uninterrupted is a blessing.

Mom continues to think of things to be thankful for: amazing staff at Paoli hospital, family surrounding her, her own pajamas, foot rubs, a shower, her own pillow, pain medication, and of course a good cup of coffee in the morning.

Her plastic surgeon came in last night and was very impressed with all she accomplished yesterday and says she is far ahead of most women after this kind of surgery. She is determined to get well and is doing her stretches and excercises despite hating them. She pushed herself a little far yesterday and wore herself out so she is taking today easy and asking for no visitors again so that she can gain some strength, get some rest and get home. She loves to read all of her messages and notes from all of you, they keep her encouraged and brighten her day. Thank you so much to all of you who continue to be faithful in pursuing prayers and support. From our family to all of you..we are eternally grateful.

Megan

Time for bed...

Well Mom is safe and sound in her lovely and quiet room in Paoli Hospital where she was welcomed by a host of people who love her. She is sleepy, worn out, uncomfortable and in pain but it's over and she was happy to see us. Her first concerns were making sure we called Bobby and that I was able to get to class on time. And now, with Kristen and Dad holding her hands and feeding her ice chips we begin the long road to recovery. Her nurse is a dear friend Wendy Fulbright who worked things out to be on her floor all night and she'll have a host of family and support here all day tomorrow (Bobby is coming home!). Thank you again to all of you who have been providing encouragement, there is no way to put into words how much you all mean to us. Our God continues to be good, no matter what the situation.


Megan


1 Peter 1:6-9


"In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

And we're done.

The surgery is OVER. Mommy's plastic surgeon came out around 5:30 and said all went well on his end and that mom will not be happy with him when she wakes up because she'll be quite uncomfortable. But we're to keep her encouraged and moving so that her muscles don't get stiff and even more difficult to move. He seems to think that with mom's particular kind of cancer and with the fact that one lymph node was infected that some form of chemo may be required to make sure all of their bases are covered but we still won't know for sure until later next week. Thank you so much to all of you who have visited, called, prayed, and been so supportive in so many ways these past few weeks and today. You are all such a blessing!

Love,
Buddy, Megan, Bobby, Kristen, Padge, Bill, Marge, and company...

Good news...

Soooo....the surgeon just came out to update us on Mommy. Her surgery has gone beautifully well, it does not  look like she'll need additional chemo or radiation but they won't confirm that until some reports come at the end of next week or so. There was one portion of a lymph node that was diseased but the surgeon does not seem to think it will affect the staging which would determine all of the additional treatment - but we can't make any calls for sure yet. Now we're on to the plastic surgery portion for the next two hours, then an hour and a half of post-op and she'll be in recovery by 6 or so and in her room by 8 or 9. That's our schedule for the rest of the day...praise the Lord that it is going so well...

And so we begin...

Hello all, I'm not nearly as good at this as my mom is but she was quite adamant about making sure everyone was updated and quite honestly - it saves me a ton of phone calls! The surgery was scheduled for 11:45 this morning and she finally went back around 1:15 and was drifting off into la-la land as they wheeled her down the hallway. The surgeon should be coming out in about 2 hours to let us know if any additional treatment will be needed such as chemo or radiation depending on what they find. We'll keep you all posted and thank you so much for the encouragement that we've all already received...our God is such a good God and we know this is all a small part of his glorious plan.

Megan

I love my family...

What a gift to be raised by Godly parents - not perfect, mind you - but precious and Godly.  Hearing Dad read Psalm 91 tonight was so sweet, having Mom read as well, being surrounded by the majority of my family just to pray for me?  Very humbling and comforting.  Then to sing "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" was the icing on the cake.  Thank you to each and every one of you for being there, loving me and taking the time.  What an example you have set.

Psalm 91

¹ Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
² I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” ³ Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.⁴ He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.⁵ You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, ⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. ⁷ A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. ⁸ You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. ⁹ If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling,¹⁰ no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; ¹² they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. ¹⁴ “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. ¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. ¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Here's where the rubber meets the road...

So, I am supposed to be at Paoli Hospital by 9:45, with surgery scheduled for 11:45 am.  Finally...the last 2 weeks have been long ones.  Everyone has been so loving and I can't tell you how much that means.  I think what has me most anxious is the 'coming after' stuff.  God knows all about it, and I will soon, too. Just right now, when I think about tomorrow, I'm okay...just jittery and very aware of the nature of the surgery.  I am very eager to have cancer OUT of my body.  I am also eager to be able to move ahead.  Thanks for your prayers.  My girls will be updating tomorrow when they can...don't know what I would do without my family...all of them!