It has been over 3 weeks since Darilyn had surgery. All is going according the game plan that we were given. The plastic surgeon has begun the process of expanding the right side so that they will be able to insert an implant. The left side has been healing very nicely.
The only problem has been that my lady has not quite come to terms with the necessary down time for healing. They say that whenever the body is cut for surgery, it is a major systemic trauma. And your body takes all of the resources that it can to cause it to heal. Darilyn is finding out that this is very tiring. She wants to be able to do everything she did before surgery but is finding that she has to take naps. And she never took naps before. This causes her to be frustrated about things. She has gone back to work. As she works at a desk job, she is only working half days at this time. Fortunately the sheriff's department is very much a large family and they are doing their best to take care of her as well. She has many, many friends as well. The support system has become enormous. Thank you lord.
Now she has to see an oncologist. This is said to be just the course that has to be followed. He will determine if there is any need for further types of treatment. This will happen this week. As I said, The Saga Continues. But we will be standing at the end!!!!!!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
Friday after surgery
Well, we have been home for two days since surgery.
The doctors kept Darilyn overnight after the procedures so she came home Wednesday afternoon. Her friends from work stopped by to check on her and her step daughter from Ft Walton stopped over as well. With Barbara here, we had quite a housefull. I took our 2 dogs out to be boarded for a few days until we can get some semblance of order into the daily routine. Cindy, Darilyn's best friend, made dinner for us. It was great. Put my lady to bed and we spent the first night. She was up once during the night and when I got up in the morning, she was sleeping in a recliner in the living room. It was more comfortable. I know the feeling well. I spent the first month after heart surgery sleeping in a recliner.
Thursday was a day of getting things in order and checking on how she was doing. There were flowers from a number of places, including Wal-Mart. She was tired and we moved her into the spare room because the bed is lower and easier for her to navigate. She slept fitfully. Fed her lunch and dinner but she did not have much of an appetite. I fell asleep in the recliner and she woke me at 11 as she was up to take some meds. I helped her and then went to sleep. I woke up around 3 and she was in bed when I checked her.
As we had to go to see the plastic surgeon this morn, I set the alarm for 6. When I finally got up, I walked out into the kitchen and found her sleeping in a kitchen chair, sitting up. She looked very groggy. I got her moved to the recliner and let her sleep for about and hour. Got ready to go to the doctor and went. The doctor checked the incisions and pronounced them good. She removed one of the two drains in place from the surgery. Things are looking better now. Fed her when we got home and put her back to bed for now. She needs to sleep and get stronger. But all is looking much better than I had imagined it would. Thank you lord for watching out for my lady and thank you to all who have been praying for her and a quick recovery.
Tom
The doctors kept Darilyn overnight after the procedures so she came home Wednesday afternoon. Her friends from work stopped by to check on her and her step daughter from Ft Walton stopped over as well. With Barbara here, we had quite a housefull. I took our 2 dogs out to be boarded for a few days until we can get some semblance of order into the daily routine. Cindy, Darilyn's best friend, made dinner for us. It was great. Put my lady to bed and we spent the first night. She was up once during the night and when I got up in the morning, she was sleeping in a recliner in the living room. It was more comfortable. I know the feeling well. I spent the first month after heart surgery sleeping in a recliner.
Thursday was a day of getting things in order and checking on how she was doing. There were flowers from a number of places, including Wal-Mart. She was tired and we moved her into the spare room because the bed is lower and easier for her to navigate. She slept fitfully. Fed her lunch and dinner but she did not have much of an appetite. I fell asleep in the recliner and she woke me at 11 as she was up to take some meds. I helped her and then went to sleep. I woke up around 3 and she was in bed when I checked her.
As we had to go to see the plastic surgeon this morn, I set the alarm for 6. When I finally got up, I walked out into the kitchen and found her sleeping in a kitchen chair, sitting up. She looked very groggy. I got her moved to the recliner and let her sleep for about and hour. Got ready to go to the doctor and went. The doctor checked the incisions and pronounced them good. She removed one of the two drains in place from the surgery. Things are looking better now. Fed her when we got home and put her back to bed for now. She needs to sleep and get stronger. But all is looking much better than I had imagined it would. Thank you lord for watching out for my lady and thank you to all who have been praying for her and a quick recovery.
Tom
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Hooray
The surgery is over and that is the reason for the title. The procedure was that they would remove the breast and then he would remove a lymph gland and have a frozen section taken. If there was cancer in the section than the next one would be removed and checked until one was found without sign of cancer. Well, that is what he did and guess what? NOTHING found in the first, the best of all possible answers. Darilyn then spent the next four hours under the control of the plastic surgeon who was to reconstruct the breast and reduce the other. Oh, this surgeon is the best in the area. They say her work is art. I will be the judge of that eventually, but for now I will give her the benefit of the advertising by others.
Darilyn was admitted and spent the night at the hospital. I got over there at about 9 this morning and she was bright eyed and bushy tailed. Tired and such, but ready to go home. The doctors agreed and we left after lunch. We got home and got her settled in. Friends and family came over this PM. Darilyn's girl friend from work wanted to make dinner for us and it was great. After that, Darilyn laid down and she is sleeping right now. All is good with the world. Just have to get her healed and then it will all be back to normal. So that is the status of the day.
Darilyn was admitted and spent the night at the hospital. I got over there at about 9 this morning and she was bright eyed and bushy tailed. Tired and such, but ready to go home. The doctors agreed and we left after lunch. We got home and got her settled in. Friends and family came over this PM. Darilyn's girl friend from work wanted to make dinner for us and it was great. After that, Darilyn laid down and she is sleeping right now. All is good with the world. Just have to get her healed and then it will all be back to normal. So that is the status of the day.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Waiting
The title says it. We are waiting. The surgery will be done tuesday. It is hard to believe but it is outpatient surgery, or so it seems. How things have changed. I have taken two weeks off from working at wally world to stay home and care for Darilyn.
The last few days have been very good. There has been emotional release, but mostly because it seems to take forever to get on with the surgery. We are asking why do we have to wait so long? A friend who did this 6 years ago has been of great help and solace, for both of us. I must admit to frustration and worry about what could happen if things go the wrong way. I have this picture of myself that says I am always in control and able to handle everything that comes my way. Yeah. Right. Lo and behold, I am human. I will be spending the day waiting for my lady to come out of surgery and to find out if I will be taking her home or if she stays overnight.
We have had a great few days together. We have tried to live everyday to the fullest and it is a good feeling. Now we need to live the rest of our lives that way.
The last few days have been very good. There has been emotional release, but mostly because it seems to take forever to get on with the surgery. We are asking why do we have to wait so long? A friend who did this 6 years ago has been of great help and solace, for both of us. I must admit to frustration and worry about what could happen if things go the wrong way. I have this picture of myself that says I am always in control and able to handle everything that comes my way. Yeah. Right. Lo and behold, I am human. I will be spending the day waiting for my lady to come out of surgery and to find out if I will be taking her home or if she stays overnight.
We have had a great few days together. We have tried to live everyday to the fullest and it is a good feeling. Now we need to live the rest of our lives that way.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Time again
Well, we now have a date when Darilyn will go in for surgery. It is May 6. The oncologist will remove the right breast and some lymph nodes to check to see if there has been any spread there. The MRI she had showed that there is nothing in the left side and there really has been no spread beyond the immediate area. So the prognosis is good. After that is done, the plastic surgeon will begin the reconstruction of the breast using muscle and tissue from her abdomen. So there will be a tummy tuck in the process!!!! The surgeon will also finish the process of breast reduction which was the original plan that turned up the cancer. Thank good for small favors!! A device of some type will be inserted in the right side that will be increased in size weekly by injections of saline solution until enough space has been created in about 6 weeks so that an implant can be inserted. This is the plan. She will be at home for a while. I have taken time off from Wal-Mart to take care of her. I have only been allowed 2 weeks of this by my lady. We will see. She wants to get back to work as soon as she is ready. More power to her. It gives her something to fight for and a goal to focus on while recovering.
How is she taking it? She is meeting it head on and with a "stiff upper lip". But all is not always rosy. Tonight she dissolved into tears for the first time. She is afraid and who would not be. I am. But we will still be standing when this is done.
How is she taking it? She is meeting it head on and with a "stiff upper lip". But all is not always rosy. Tonight she dissolved into tears for the first time. She is afraid and who would not be. I am. But we will still be standing when this is done.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Sunday PM
Time for another cut at this thing.
It has been an almost perfect day here in Pensacola. The sky was clear blue and sunny. The temp was upper 60's. Eat your heart out. Darilyn and I went for a long ride in the country and enjoyed the day immensely. We are taking as much time as we can to enjoy each and every day. Friday night we went to the auto races here. I have not done much of this in the past, but I will be doing it more from now on. The son of one of Darilyn's stepdaughters is racing his own car on a dirt track not to far away and we will go and support him. It should be a blast.
Baseball will be starting here in May. We have an American Association team here in Pensacola. They are not real great but who cares. They are our boys. We have watched them for the last couple of years. Now that the hockey season is over, we need something to do. Oh, we have a professional hockey team here as well. They are a farm team for the Blackhawks. And as we are in the south, there is always football around in the fall.
All else is going forward. We have some idea about what is going to happen with the surgery but more will be learned from pr-op visits to the doctors. No idea if chemo or radiation is going to be needed yet.
On another note, I have been thinking about a lot of things and pondering the imponderables. During some of my ruminations (is that the word??) it came to me that my dear sister Santini reminds me very strongly of our mother. Her ways and reactions to things are the image that I have when I think of mom. Maybe it is something genetic, but whatever it is, I felt it as my duty being the eldest and holder of the longest memory to bring it to light. (Yeah right)
Enough for now.
It has been an almost perfect day here in Pensacola. The sky was clear blue and sunny. The temp was upper 60's. Eat your heart out. Darilyn and I went for a long ride in the country and enjoyed the day immensely. We are taking as much time as we can to enjoy each and every day. Friday night we went to the auto races here. I have not done much of this in the past, but I will be doing it more from now on. The son of one of Darilyn's stepdaughters is racing his own car on a dirt track not to far away and we will go and support him. It should be a blast.
Baseball will be starting here in May. We have an American Association team here in Pensacola. They are not real great but who cares. They are our boys. We have watched them for the last couple of years. Now that the hockey season is over, we need something to do. Oh, we have a professional hockey team here as well. They are a farm team for the Blackhawks. And as we are in the south, there is always football around in the fall.
All else is going forward. We have some idea about what is going to happen with the surgery but more will be learned from pr-op visits to the doctors. No idea if chemo or radiation is going to be needed yet.
On another note, I have been thinking about a lot of things and pondering the imponderables. During some of my ruminations (is that the word??) it came to me that my dear sister Santini reminds me very strongly of our mother. Her ways and reactions to things are the image that I have when I think of mom. Maybe it is something genetic, but whatever it is, I felt it as my duty being the eldest and holder of the longest memory to bring it to light. (Yeah right)
Enough for now.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Finally, a date has been set.
As the title says, a date has been finally set for the procedure. May 6, 2008. The results of the MRI have been processed and there is no cancer in the left breast. The right side has to go. We report to the hospital at 0630 on May 6.
After hearing this, I went to work and began the process of getting time off to be with Darilyn. I found that I had anger and fear building in me during the process of my day. When I finally was able to figure out what was happening, it became quite evident that I was confronting the reality of what is going to be happening. And coming to grips with the reality that there is a chance, albeit very small, that I could lose my darling wife. And it was very frightening. I have gotten past the fear but the reality is still there and always will be. But this will not be the reason. NOT THIS TIME. And this will not beat me. Not now that I know what has tried to bite me in the backside.
As a very good man once told me, the one who wins is the one who is still standing at the end. And I am still standing up for us, Darilyn and I.
After hearing this, I went to work and began the process of getting time off to be with Darilyn. I found that I had anger and fear building in me during the process of my day. When I finally was able to figure out what was happening, it became quite evident that I was confronting the reality of what is going to be happening. And coming to grips with the reality that there is a chance, albeit very small, that I could lose my darling wife. And it was very frightening. I have gotten past the fear but the reality is still there and always will be. But this will not be the reason. NOT THIS TIME. And this will not beat me. Not now that I know what has tried to bite me in the backside.
As a very good man once told me, the one who wins is the one who is still standing at the end. And I am still standing up for us, Darilyn and I.
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