MY MOST RECENT TRIP TO SEE DR. XIONG
I saw Dr. Xiong today and asked him about the blood clot(s) on my right side. He did inform me there was more than one. In fact, there are three: in my jugular vein, in the axillary vein and in the subclavian vein (where the port-o-cath is located). I have to continue giving myself two injections per day of the clot-dissolving drug.
He noted that I have also developed anemia and need to take Iron supplements three times a day. He also wants to have a PET scan done to make sure there are no cancerous growths anywhere in my torso. I will have that done in three weeks.
Still having trouble with pain and sleep. Dr. Xiong gave me something to help until I can see the pain management specialist at the end of the month. Dr. Rutledge suggested I see one since I really can’t take any of the opiate pain meds anymore without side effects.
Dr. Xiong was pleased with my progress thus far and that is good news!
That’s the latest! I’ll keep you posted!
Mary
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
ALL TESTS CONFIRM I AM CANCER-FREE!!!
ENDING THE LONG SILENCE…
I am sorry that it has been more than a month since my last posting. A lot has happened in that time.
All the post-operative testing confirms that I am completely cancer-free! I am excited but haven’t really been able to celebrate due to all the complications. I am getting stronger, but still feel very tired most of the time.
I did undergo the final hepatic resection operation on 03/26/08. We had a great deal of difficulty getting the pain management doctors to cooperate and reduce the amounts of pain meds they were giving me. One made me so weak that I could not stand. Another one gave me a palsy which made it impossible for me to feed myself. It was frightening and frustrating at the same time.
INCORRECTLY BALANCED BED
We discovered that there was a problem with the pitch of the hospital bed I was in. My liver is on the right side of my body. The epidural works with gravity, so to get both sides of my torso numb, the bed has to be completely level.
I began to have increasing pain in the incision and the area of the operation and additional doses of the epidural pain meds did not help. Finally, I noticed that when the mattress inflated, cycled, then deflated, the bed kept my right side at least 6” higher than my left. The pain management doctor came and confirmed that I was numb where I did not need to be and could feel in the areas where I needed to be numb.
Because no one knew how to operate the bed and change the pitch to make the mattress completely level, they stuffed pillows under the left side of my mattress. It worked, but not as fast as it would have if they had corrected the bed. The pillows made me uncomfortable in the bed. I could not win for losing!
ABRAHAM WAS A GREAT ADVOCATE!
Thank God Abraham was there with me. On many occasions he fought to keep them from giving me too much of those meds. He also ran the nurses aids out several times when they showed up to take my vital signs only moments after I had finally fallen asleep.
By 03/31/08, I had demanded that epidural pain meds be disconnected because of the adverse effects. As soon as those were out of my system, I was clear-headed, steady and able to stand and walk. I took only oral pain meds.
DISCHARGED!
Because I was off the epidural pain meds and able to get around, they finally released me 04/02/08 and scheduled an office post-op visit for Friday. I looked forward to going home Friday after the appointment.
Resting in the hotel, I was not able to keep my feet elevated enough, I guess. Also had problems keeping things “regular,” shall we say. There was so much pressure in my abdomen. If I ate, I felt bloated. By the time my appointment arrived Friday, I did not feel well at all. I had to have Abraham take me over in a wheel chair.
POST-OP APPOINTMENT
Dr. Abdalla and his staff were not happy to see my condition. The nurse said the incision did not look right. When Dr. A arrived, he had me recline on the exam table. Using a long Q-tip, he pressed in the center of the section of incision that did not look right. Pink fluid began to spurt from the newly opened hole. Immediately, I felt relief from the pressure.
The two fellows working with him began rushing to grab gauze to absorb the surprisingly large amount of fluid pouring from the incision. Dr. A opened pair of sterile scissors and clipped stitches continuing to open the incision and drain the fluid that had collected.
When it was over, he had drained more that one liter of fluid from the wound and reopened a gaping hole in my abdomen that was fully 9” long, 5” wide and 4” inches deep. I asked what his plan was.
THE WOUND VAC
He told me that he could not take a chance closing the wound again because the fluid would only build up again. He said that he wanted to use a wound vac to keep the fluid drained and pull the wound together so it could heal. The wound vac is a small, portable vacuum unit attached to a hose with a round disc at the end which has small openings with which to vacuum the fluid.
To use the vac, the nurse stuffed sterile foam mesh down into the entire wound, then taped that in place. Then she placed the disc on top of the foam and taped it into position. After everything was securely in place, she turned the unit on. It was pretty strong and actually was uncomfortable for a few minutes. It has to be worn no less than 22 hours daily. If it is off for more than two hours, the patient is supposed to remove the foam dressing and use regular sterile gauze and tape until the next appointment with the wound care nurse who would clean the wound, measure it, take photographs and place a new vac dressing.
BACK TO THE HOSPITAL
I still was ready to leave for Fort Worth. If I am going to be uncomfortable, I want to at least be at home. But, that was not Dr. A’s plan. Because the swelling was so bad, he wanted to admit me and treat with Lasix to drain off the excess fluid. At the same time, he wanted to watch the incision and treat with antibiotics to prevent infection. Also, my nutritional lab reports showed several of the key components were way off, so he wanted to administer supplements to get those number back in normal ranges. And there was the “regularity” issue that had to be addressed. So, back to the hospital I went.
I think it took two days of Lasix, but finally all the fluid was gone and everything was working like it was supposed to. Except for the lab results.
DISCHARGED…AGAIN!
Part of the discharge process was getting the portable wound vac, arranging for Dr. Rutledge to supervise the wound care, getting an appointment at the approved wound care facility and get some of the vac supplies to take home. Getting all that arranged was no small feat. I am glad the hospital assigned a nurse caseworker to take care of it!
Finally, 04/11/08, I was released to go home! It was late in the day, so we decided we would stay over night to rest. Saturday, we would get a good breakfast, pack and then leave. The discharge nurse was supposed to give me a stack of prescriptions to be filled. She filed them in the chart! It took 2 hours and intervention by Dr. Chang (Dr. A’s associate who had been following my progress) to get the prescriptions so we could take them to Walgreen’s. Unbelievable!
IT FELT SO GOOD TO BE OUT OF THE HOSPITAL!
Seventeen days in the hospital is entirely too long! I was so glad to be in the hotel. I slept in four or five hour stretches. It was wonderful to sleep without having someone wake me up to poke me and give me a sleeping pill! I think that was the best thing!
Saturday, we packed and had a late breakfast before getting on the road. We had to stop a couple of times so I could stretch, so it took a while for us to get home. Once we arrived, Abraham unloaded the van while I unpacked the necessities we needed for the night.
It was difficult to get comfortable in the bed, but once I did, I was out! My legs began to swell on the trip, so I slept with my feet elevated as much as possible. Sunday and Monday, I kept my feet elevated and ate grapefruit as a diuretic. By Monday night, the swelling was gone.
WOUND CARE
The following Tuesday was the first appointment with the wound care nurse. Friday 04/18/08 was my next appointment. I noticed that my face was swelling like it did when I was young and having an allergic reaction to different kinds of pollen. The nurse mentioned it. I told her about my childhood history and she dismissed it. I started taking Benedryl and seemed okay.
The next week, I went to my next appointments on Monday and Wednesday. The swelling was worsening. I had begun to have trouble breathing and was having to sleep sitting almost straight up. I also had a rash that was itching badly. I was so swollen from my chest up, My arms felt so heavy, my face looked like a moon. My neck was so thick it looked like a tree stump! I couldn’t imagine why I was having such a hard time. The weather man didn’t indicate that the pollen counts were unusually elevated.
ALLERGIC REACTION
On the morning of Thursday, 04/24/08, I needed to call the company which was leasing the wound vac to me, so I had to look in the instruction manual for the number. While looking for the number, I came across the allergy warning:
“Allergic reactions are possible in people who may be allergic to certain kinds of glue. If you develop a rash, itching, swelling or trouble breathing, please call 911.”
Wasn’t that special? None of the professionals working with the vac had any knowledge of potential allergic reactions; so consequently, they could not warn me. It is a good thing that I happened upon the warning or things could have gone really wrong.
I disconnected myself, placed a regular sterile dressing on the wound and began making my phone calls. Leigh Samp, Dr. A’s Physician’s Assistant. Kathy Parker, his nurse. Dr. Xiong and his nurse. The wound care nurses.
I was able to see Dr. Xiong’s nurse practitioner who gave me steroids to help me breathe.
Even though I had been eating the grapefruit trying to clear the fluid, I was still very, very swollen Monday, 02/28/08. Dr. X’s office worked me in Tuesday morning. While he was glad to see me, he was distressed by my condition. He gave me Lasix to get rid of the fluid and scheduled me for an Ultrasound/Doppler study looking for blood clots. He said with the amount and location of the swelling, he thought there might be a blood clot somewhere.
Since I wasn’t using the vac, I only had to see the would care nurse once each week, so we left Dr. X’s and went to the wound care facility and had the dressing changed and the wound measured, photographed, etc.
TESTING FOR BLOOD CLOTS
On Monday, 05/05/08, I had the ultrasound/Doppler study performed. They got the results to Dr. X early enough that he called to make an appointment for me Tuesday. He informed me that there is at least one blood clot. He put me back on the clot-buster therapy I was on last May when I had a clot in the port-o-cath. I am giving myself two injections each day.
Around this time, I spoke to Leigh Samp, Dr. Abdalla’s Physician’s Assistant. She informed me that he wanted me to return to Houston so that he could debride the wound. “Debride” (pronounced “dee-breed) means to remove dead tissue or matter that would slow the healing of the wound. It only takes about 15 minutes. I told Leigh I would have to call her back with an answer.
Traveling to Houston right now would be a tremendous financial burden for us. We used that last of our resources for the extra 8 days in the hospital April 4-11. However, I found a solution that will achieve everyone's goals.
OUTPATIENT SURGERY PERFORMED 05/15/08
I contacted my local thoracic surgeon, Dr. David Rutledge, and explained the situation to him. He saw me here in his office yesterday to debride the wound. After examining the wound, he recommended an outpatient procedure.
The mesh at the bottom of the wound is holding dead tissue behind it preventing the wound from healing from the bottom up the way it is supposed to heal. The sides of the wound are coming together on top of the mesh and gunk.
Dr. Rutledge cut out the mesh and stitches which were visible through the opening to expose fresh, healthy tissue. Then he trimmed the scar tissue from the sides to expose fresh tissue. He said he could have done it in the office but he wanted to be safe. He wanted to be in OR in case he found something other than healthy tissue behind the mesh. If he had found another hernia, he wanted to be in OR where he could deal with it instead of being in the office and not be able to address it right away.
He did not close the wound, so I will continue to change the dressings and see the wound care nurses.
When he removed the scar tissue, Dr. R exposed some nerve endings that are not happy when I move. Consequently, it has been hard to sleep. The slightest move can feel like a stabbing pain that will wake me from sleep.
So, now you are up to date! I will keep you informed.
I am sorry that it has been more than a month since my last posting. A lot has happened in that time.
All the post-operative testing confirms that I am completely cancer-free! I am excited but haven’t really been able to celebrate due to all the complications. I am getting stronger, but still feel very tired most of the time.
I did undergo the final hepatic resection operation on 03/26/08. We had a great deal of difficulty getting the pain management doctors to cooperate and reduce the amounts of pain meds they were giving me. One made me so weak that I could not stand. Another one gave me a palsy which made it impossible for me to feed myself. It was frightening and frustrating at the same time.
INCORRECTLY BALANCED BED
We discovered that there was a problem with the pitch of the hospital bed I was in. My liver is on the right side of my body. The epidural works with gravity, so to get both sides of my torso numb, the bed has to be completely level.
I began to have increasing pain in the incision and the area of the operation and additional doses of the epidural pain meds did not help. Finally, I noticed that when the mattress inflated, cycled, then deflated, the bed kept my right side at least 6” higher than my left. The pain management doctor came and confirmed that I was numb where I did not need to be and could feel in the areas where I needed to be numb.
Because no one knew how to operate the bed and change the pitch to make the mattress completely level, they stuffed pillows under the left side of my mattress. It worked, but not as fast as it would have if they had corrected the bed. The pillows made me uncomfortable in the bed. I could not win for losing!
ABRAHAM WAS A GREAT ADVOCATE!
Thank God Abraham was there with me. On many occasions he fought to keep them from giving me too much of those meds. He also ran the nurses aids out several times when they showed up to take my vital signs only moments after I had finally fallen asleep.
By 03/31/08, I had demanded that epidural pain meds be disconnected because of the adverse effects. As soon as those were out of my system, I was clear-headed, steady and able to stand and walk. I took only oral pain meds.
DISCHARGED!
Because I was off the epidural pain meds and able to get around, they finally released me 04/02/08 and scheduled an office post-op visit for Friday. I looked forward to going home Friday after the appointment.
Resting in the hotel, I was not able to keep my feet elevated enough, I guess. Also had problems keeping things “regular,” shall we say. There was so much pressure in my abdomen. If I ate, I felt bloated. By the time my appointment arrived Friday, I did not feel well at all. I had to have Abraham take me over in a wheel chair.
POST-OP APPOINTMENT
Dr. Abdalla and his staff were not happy to see my condition. The nurse said the incision did not look right. When Dr. A arrived, he had me recline on the exam table. Using a long Q-tip, he pressed in the center of the section of incision that did not look right. Pink fluid began to spurt from the newly opened hole. Immediately, I felt relief from the pressure.
The two fellows working with him began rushing to grab gauze to absorb the surprisingly large amount of fluid pouring from the incision. Dr. A opened pair of sterile scissors and clipped stitches continuing to open the incision and drain the fluid that had collected.
When it was over, he had drained more that one liter of fluid from the wound and reopened a gaping hole in my abdomen that was fully 9” long, 5” wide and 4” inches deep. I asked what his plan was.
THE WOUND VAC
He told me that he could not take a chance closing the wound again because the fluid would only build up again. He said that he wanted to use a wound vac to keep the fluid drained and pull the wound together so it could heal. The wound vac is a small, portable vacuum unit attached to a hose with a round disc at the end which has small openings with which to vacuum the fluid.
To use the vac, the nurse stuffed sterile foam mesh down into the entire wound, then taped that in place. Then she placed the disc on top of the foam and taped it into position. After everything was securely in place, she turned the unit on. It was pretty strong and actually was uncomfortable for a few minutes. It has to be worn no less than 22 hours daily. If it is off for more than two hours, the patient is supposed to remove the foam dressing and use regular sterile gauze and tape until the next appointment with the wound care nurse who would clean the wound, measure it, take photographs and place a new vac dressing.
BACK TO THE HOSPITAL
I still was ready to leave for Fort Worth. If I am going to be uncomfortable, I want to at least be at home. But, that was not Dr. A’s plan. Because the swelling was so bad, he wanted to admit me and treat with Lasix to drain off the excess fluid. At the same time, he wanted to watch the incision and treat with antibiotics to prevent infection. Also, my nutritional lab reports showed several of the key components were way off, so he wanted to administer supplements to get those number back in normal ranges. And there was the “regularity” issue that had to be addressed. So, back to the hospital I went.
I think it took two days of Lasix, but finally all the fluid was gone and everything was working like it was supposed to. Except for the lab results.
DISCHARGED…AGAIN!
Part of the discharge process was getting the portable wound vac, arranging for Dr. Rutledge to supervise the wound care, getting an appointment at the approved wound care facility and get some of the vac supplies to take home. Getting all that arranged was no small feat. I am glad the hospital assigned a nurse caseworker to take care of it!
Finally, 04/11/08, I was released to go home! It was late in the day, so we decided we would stay over night to rest. Saturday, we would get a good breakfast, pack and then leave. The discharge nurse was supposed to give me a stack of prescriptions to be filled. She filed them in the chart! It took 2 hours and intervention by Dr. Chang (Dr. A’s associate who had been following my progress) to get the prescriptions so we could take them to Walgreen’s. Unbelievable!
IT FELT SO GOOD TO BE OUT OF THE HOSPITAL!
Seventeen days in the hospital is entirely too long! I was so glad to be in the hotel. I slept in four or five hour stretches. It was wonderful to sleep without having someone wake me up to poke me and give me a sleeping pill! I think that was the best thing!
Saturday, we packed and had a late breakfast before getting on the road. We had to stop a couple of times so I could stretch, so it took a while for us to get home. Once we arrived, Abraham unloaded the van while I unpacked the necessities we needed for the night.
It was difficult to get comfortable in the bed, but once I did, I was out! My legs began to swell on the trip, so I slept with my feet elevated as much as possible. Sunday and Monday, I kept my feet elevated and ate grapefruit as a diuretic. By Monday night, the swelling was gone.
WOUND CARE
The following Tuesday was the first appointment with the wound care nurse. Friday 04/18/08 was my next appointment. I noticed that my face was swelling like it did when I was young and having an allergic reaction to different kinds of pollen. The nurse mentioned it. I told her about my childhood history and she dismissed it. I started taking Benedryl and seemed okay.
The next week, I went to my next appointments on Monday and Wednesday. The swelling was worsening. I had begun to have trouble breathing and was having to sleep sitting almost straight up. I also had a rash that was itching badly. I was so swollen from my chest up, My arms felt so heavy, my face looked like a moon. My neck was so thick it looked like a tree stump! I couldn’t imagine why I was having such a hard time. The weather man didn’t indicate that the pollen counts were unusually elevated.
ALLERGIC REACTION
On the morning of Thursday, 04/24/08, I needed to call the company which was leasing the wound vac to me, so I had to look in the instruction manual for the number. While looking for the number, I came across the allergy warning:
“Allergic reactions are possible in people who may be allergic to certain kinds of glue. If you develop a rash, itching, swelling or trouble breathing, please call 911.”
Wasn’t that special? None of the professionals working with the vac had any knowledge of potential allergic reactions; so consequently, they could not warn me. It is a good thing that I happened upon the warning or things could have gone really wrong.
I disconnected myself, placed a regular sterile dressing on the wound and began making my phone calls. Leigh Samp, Dr. A’s Physician’s Assistant. Kathy Parker, his nurse. Dr. Xiong and his nurse. The wound care nurses.
I was able to see Dr. Xiong’s nurse practitioner who gave me steroids to help me breathe.
Even though I had been eating the grapefruit trying to clear the fluid, I was still very, very swollen Monday, 02/28/08. Dr. X’s office worked me in Tuesday morning. While he was glad to see me, he was distressed by my condition. He gave me Lasix to get rid of the fluid and scheduled me for an Ultrasound/Doppler study looking for blood clots. He said with the amount and location of the swelling, he thought there might be a blood clot somewhere.
Since I wasn’t using the vac, I only had to see the would care nurse once each week, so we left Dr. X’s and went to the wound care facility and had the dressing changed and the wound measured, photographed, etc.
TESTING FOR BLOOD CLOTS
On Monday, 05/05/08, I had the ultrasound/Doppler study performed. They got the results to Dr. X early enough that he called to make an appointment for me Tuesday. He informed me that there is at least one blood clot. He put me back on the clot-buster therapy I was on last May when I had a clot in the port-o-cath. I am giving myself two injections each day.
Around this time, I spoke to Leigh Samp, Dr. Abdalla’s Physician’s Assistant. She informed me that he wanted me to return to Houston so that he could debride the wound. “Debride” (pronounced “dee-breed) means to remove dead tissue or matter that would slow the healing of the wound. It only takes about 15 minutes. I told Leigh I would have to call her back with an answer.
Traveling to Houston right now would be a tremendous financial burden for us. We used that last of our resources for the extra 8 days in the hospital April 4-11. However, I found a solution that will achieve everyone's goals.
OUTPATIENT SURGERY PERFORMED 05/15/08
I contacted my local thoracic surgeon, Dr. David Rutledge, and explained the situation to him. He saw me here in his office yesterday to debride the wound. After examining the wound, he recommended an outpatient procedure.
The mesh at the bottom of the wound is holding dead tissue behind it preventing the wound from healing from the bottom up the way it is supposed to heal. The sides of the wound are coming together on top of the mesh and gunk.
Dr. Rutledge cut out the mesh and stitches which were visible through the opening to expose fresh, healthy tissue. Then he trimmed the scar tissue from the sides to expose fresh tissue. He said he could have done it in the office but he wanted to be safe. He wanted to be in OR in case he found something other than healthy tissue behind the mesh. If he had found another hernia, he wanted to be in OR where he could deal with it instead of being in the office and not be able to address it right away.
He did not close the wound, so I will continue to change the dressings and see the wound care nurses.
When he removed the scar tissue, Dr. R exposed some nerve endings that are not happy when I move. Consequently, it has been hard to sleep. The slightest move can feel like a stabbing pain that will wake me from sleep.
So, now you are up to date! I will keep you informed.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
FIRST ON THE SCHEDULE TOMORROW
PRAYER FOCUS
I am the first case of the day tomorrow. I report at 6 am for the 8:30 procedure time.
Tomorrow is the day and I will need your prayers, just the same as before:
Abraham and I thank you so much for your prayers. I will update as soon as possible!
Mary and Abraham
I am the first case of the day tomorrow. I report at 6 am for the 8:30 procedure time.
Tomorrow is the day and I will need your prayers, just the same as before:
• It can be very hard to find my veins for the first IV, so please pray that the person doing it gets it the first time, no digging around.
• Please pray specifically that Jesus guides Dr. Abdalla's hands during surgery,
• Pease pray that the Holy Spirit tangibly fills the operating room and keeps the entire surgical team focused and sharp.
• Please pray that all the surgical equipment functions properly.
• Pease pray that the Holy Spirit tangibly fills the recovery room and keeps the entire recovery team focused and sharp.
• Please pray that all the recovery equipment functions properly.
• Pease pray that the Holy Spirit tangibly fills my hospital room and keeps the entire nursing team focused and sharp.
• Please pray that all the monitoring and IV equipment functions properly.
• Please pray that I have a painless, infection-free recovery.
• Please pray that Abraham is able to rest and stays well and strong because I will definitely need his help!
Abraham and I thank you so much for your prayers. I will update as soon as possible!
Mary and Abraham
Saturday, March 22, 2008
ALMOST CANCER-FREE!
ALMOST CANCER-FREE!
NO COINCIDENCE
That we are leaving town on Resurrection Day headed for Houston and my last operation to be cancer-free has not escaped my notice. I know that it is no coincidence because -- with God -- there is no such thing!
AN INDELLIBLE MEMORY
A few days ago I meditated on the passage from Isaiah 53. I remember the 1977 Franco Zeffirelli mini-series “Jesus of Nazareth.” Lawrence Olivier played the role of Nicodemus. I’m sure you remember it. For many years, it was shown each year during week before Easter.
Zeffirelli used that character to recite this passage from Isaiah as a soliloquy set against the backdrop of the Passion and Crucifixion as it unfolded. It was indelibly etched into my memory from the first time I saw and heard it. I believe the Holy Spirit gave Olivier inspiration and insight, then anointed the performance because He had a message to convey. From that brief part of the series, I gained an understanding of the verse which I did not have prior to seeing it. (And that was five years before I was filled with the Holy Spirit!)
Even now as I describe it to you I feel the same sense of awe and reverence that I felt 31 years ago! I watched each year and each year the Lord deepened my insight into this verse. In the summer of 1982, I invited the Holy Spirit to dwell in my heart. Consequently, the next spring -- when the mini-series ran again -- I got even more insight into not only this verse, but every part of the Bible I read!
Although I have not seen the mini-series in several years, I still remember that soliloquy. In fact, anytime I read that passage, I hear it in Olivier’s voice!
Anyway, I was drawn to meditate on this verse again this week. Having lived through the personal challenges of the last 2 years, I read with a new eyes.
OUR COLON CANCER TIMELINE
Just to refresh your memory of my timeline, it was Wednesday, March 23, 2006, I left work because I felt so bad. The next day was my appointment with the GI doctor who sent me to ER. The ER doctor sent me home with laxatives. Friday, the laxatives did not work, so I returned to ER and was admitted. March 29, the GI performed an emergency colonoscopy and discovered the blockage. March 30 was the day Dr. Rutledge operated and saved my life. That was also the day we all learned that the blockage was cancerous and had spread to my liver.
March 23, 2006, was the beginning of our colon cancer odyssey. March 23, 2008 begins the last phase of our odyssey of defeating cancer.
SHARING INSIGHTS
With all that in mind, I would like to share the passage from Isaiah 53 with you.
“He is despised and rejected of men … we hid … [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
I remember at the beginning of 2007, I had just started seeing Dr. Xiong and taking the Camptosar. It upset my stomach terribly and made my hair thin. During that time, I frequently wore ball caps when I left the apartment. I couldn’t get out very much, but when I did, not everyone was welcoming. Many times I could feel people staring at me and judging my appearance without any clue regarding the reason. I could relate a little more to how Jesus must have felt as He was being despised and rejected.
“a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief … ”
I remember vividly the waves of sorrow and grief that crashed on me when the results of each test showed that Jesus had not healed me outright. I remember several times when Abraham and I just held each other and wept. The prospect of not being together…let’s just say, neither of us was ready to be without the other.
I remember my very first appointment with Dr. Abdalla. I remember looking at the CT images on the computer screen. I remember the feeling in the pit of my stomach when I saw the “bubble gum machine” locations of all the many tumors, not just the three large ones. Even before he said anything, I new I was not a surgical candidate. I remember walking across the sky bridge back to the hotel. I said to my mother, “Instead of delivering me out of this, I guess God is going to deliver me through it.” I wanted to curl up into a ball and cry. Somehow, I knew that if I gave in to that feeling, it was over. Instead, I chose to hold my head high, keep walking … and keep trusting.
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”
I drew comfort from that fact that Jesus had already carried that grief and sorrow. He had already experienced everything that I was feeling … and he pressed on, mindful of but not surrendering to the disdain of those who looked upon Him and only saw a loser on his way to death.
“But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities … ”
It was comforting to realize that God did not give me cancer to punish or teach me or to get my attention. Any parent who would make their child sick to discipline or teach them or get their attention would be arrested for child abuse. No matter what mistakes I have made in my life, Jesus was wounded and bruised for them all. He took my punishment so I could receive his inheritance. That was a regular source of comfort and encouragement.
“ … the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him … ”
The word “peace” in this verse comes from the Hebrew word, “shalom” which means “nothing missing, nothing broken.” Everything that could keep me from being whole, Jesus has already addressed. He made is possible for me to be whole in my body, soul and spirit.
“ … and with his stripes we are healed.”
This verse has been in my arsenal for many years. There have been many times when the only way I could get relief from pain of some kind was by declaring this verse over myself. The “stripes” mentioned are the wounds caused by the Cat-o’-Nine-Tails. This was a favorite tool used by the Romans to torture people. It was a whip, but unlike a bullwhip, or other whips with a single strand of leather. Instead, it was made with several strands of leather measuring between two and three feet long. The end of each strand is knotted to create greater impact. In many cases, bits of bone or metal were tied into the knots. This way, the strands did not just lash the back of the transgressor, the bone or metal would dig into the flesh. When the soldier drew the whip back to inflict another lash, the bits would tear the flesh. Any more than just a few lashes with one of these would literally tear the recipient’s flesh to ribbons. (I have linked to a photo of a replica on display in a British museum.)
Jesus was beaten with one of those. And because he was wounded, I am healed. I was healed. I am healed. Because he was tortured mercilessly, I am healed of cancer.
A PARADOX
I know. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to a natural mind. It seems such a paradox. How can I be healed by a beating someone else took? It’s because the someone wasn’t just anyone. He was the Only One who could do it. He was the perfect man. And only the perfect man could take on all the imperfection of a fallen world and give peace, healing, wholeness and forgiveness in return.
If you have never experienced Jesus in the way I have described, you can. All you have to do is talk to him the way you would talk to a friend. Just say, “Jesus, I want to experience you and know you the way Mary does.” That’s all it takes. He is really not as complicated as many people try to make him!
You all have given so much to Abraham and to me during this ordeal. It is our hope that this update has given something back to you, that this has given you something to ponder this Resurrection Day … and each day.
May this Resurrection Day be the most powerful one ever for you!
Mary and Abraham
NO COINCIDENCE
That we are leaving town on Resurrection Day headed for Houston and my last operation to be cancer-free has not escaped my notice. I know that it is no coincidence because -- with God -- there is no such thing!
AN INDELLIBLE MEMORY
A few days ago I meditated on the passage from Isaiah 53. I remember the 1977 Franco Zeffirelli mini-series “Jesus of Nazareth.” Lawrence Olivier played the role of Nicodemus. I’m sure you remember it. For many years, it was shown each year during week before Easter.
Zeffirelli used that character to recite this passage from Isaiah as a soliloquy set against the backdrop of the Passion and Crucifixion as it unfolded. It was indelibly etched into my memory from the first time I saw and heard it. I believe the Holy Spirit gave Olivier inspiration and insight, then anointed the performance because He had a message to convey. From that brief part of the series, I gained an understanding of the verse which I did not have prior to seeing it. (And that was five years before I was filled with the Holy Spirit!)
Even now as I describe it to you I feel the same sense of awe and reverence that I felt 31 years ago! I watched each year and each year the Lord deepened my insight into this verse. In the summer of 1982, I invited the Holy Spirit to dwell in my heart. Consequently, the next spring -- when the mini-series ran again -- I got even more insight into not only this verse, but every part of the Bible I read!
Although I have not seen the mini-series in several years, I still remember that soliloquy. In fact, anytime I read that passage, I hear it in Olivier’s voice!
Anyway, I was drawn to meditate on this verse again this week. Having lived through the personal challenges of the last 2 years, I read with a new eyes.
OUR COLON CANCER TIMELINE
Just to refresh your memory of my timeline, it was Wednesday, March 23, 2006, I left work because I felt so bad. The next day was my appointment with the GI doctor who sent me to ER. The ER doctor sent me home with laxatives. Friday, the laxatives did not work, so I returned to ER and was admitted. March 29, the GI performed an emergency colonoscopy and discovered the blockage. March 30 was the day Dr. Rutledge operated and saved my life. That was also the day we all learned that the blockage was cancerous and had spread to my liver.
March 23, 2006, was the beginning of our colon cancer odyssey. March 23, 2008 begins the last phase of our odyssey of defeating cancer.
SHARING INSIGHTS
With all that in mind, I would like to share the passage from Isaiah 53 with you.
3He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid … [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
“He is despised and rejected of men … we hid … [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
I remember at the beginning of 2007, I had just started seeing Dr. Xiong and taking the Camptosar. It upset my stomach terribly and made my hair thin. During that time, I frequently wore ball caps when I left the apartment. I couldn’t get out very much, but when I did, not everyone was welcoming. Many times I could feel people staring at me and judging my appearance without any clue regarding the reason. I could relate a little more to how Jesus must have felt as He was being despised and rejected.
“a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief … ”
I remember vividly the waves of sorrow and grief that crashed on me when the results of each test showed that Jesus had not healed me outright. I remember several times when Abraham and I just held each other and wept. The prospect of not being together…let’s just say, neither of us was ready to be without the other.
I remember my very first appointment with Dr. Abdalla. I remember looking at the CT images on the computer screen. I remember the feeling in the pit of my stomach when I saw the “bubble gum machine” locations of all the many tumors, not just the three large ones. Even before he said anything, I new I was not a surgical candidate. I remember walking across the sky bridge back to the hotel. I said to my mother, “Instead of delivering me out of this, I guess God is going to deliver me through it.” I wanted to curl up into a ball and cry. Somehow, I knew that if I gave in to that feeling, it was over. Instead, I chose to hold my head high, keep walking … and keep trusting.
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”
I drew comfort from that fact that Jesus had already carried that grief and sorrow. He had already experienced everything that I was feeling … and he pressed on, mindful of but not surrendering to the disdain of those who looked upon Him and only saw a loser on his way to death.
“But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities … ”
It was comforting to realize that God did not give me cancer to punish or teach me or to get my attention. Any parent who would make their child sick to discipline or teach them or get their attention would be arrested for child abuse. No matter what mistakes I have made in my life, Jesus was wounded and bruised for them all. He took my punishment so I could receive his inheritance. That was a regular source of comfort and encouragement.
“ … the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him … ”
The word “peace” in this verse comes from the Hebrew word, “shalom” which means “nothing missing, nothing broken.” Everything that could keep me from being whole, Jesus has already addressed. He made is possible for me to be whole in my body, soul and spirit.
“ … and with his stripes we are healed.”
This verse has been in my arsenal for many years. There have been many times when the only way I could get relief from pain of some kind was by declaring this verse over myself. The “stripes” mentioned are the wounds caused by the Cat-o’-Nine-Tails. This was a favorite tool used by the Romans to torture people. It was a whip, but unlike a bullwhip, or other whips with a single strand of leather. Instead, it was made with several strands of leather measuring between two and three feet long. The end of each strand is knotted to create greater impact. In many cases, bits of bone or metal were tied into the knots. This way, the strands did not just lash the back of the transgressor, the bone or metal would dig into the flesh. When the soldier drew the whip back to inflict another lash, the bits would tear the flesh. Any more than just a few lashes with one of these would literally tear the recipient’s flesh to ribbons. (I have linked to a photo of a replica on display in a British museum.)
Jesus was beaten with one of those. And because he was wounded, I am healed. I was healed. I am healed. Because he was tortured mercilessly, I am healed of cancer.
A PARADOX
I know. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to a natural mind. It seems such a paradox. How can I be healed by a beating someone else took? It’s because the someone wasn’t just anyone. He was the Only One who could do it. He was the perfect man. And only the perfect man could take on all the imperfection of a fallen world and give peace, healing, wholeness and forgiveness in return.
If you have never experienced Jesus in the way I have described, you can. All you have to do is talk to him the way you would talk to a friend. Just say, “Jesus, I want to experience you and know you the way Mary does.” That’s all it takes. He is really not as complicated as many people try to make him!
You all have given so much to Abraham and to me during this ordeal. It is our hope that this update has given something back to you, that this has given you something to ponder this Resurrection Day … and each day.
May this Resurrection Day be the most powerful one ever for you!
Mary and Abraham
Sunday, March 16, 2008
LAST TRIP TO HOUSTON!
FINAL OPERATION TO BE CANCER-FREE!
One week from today, we will leave Fort Worth for what we hope will be our last visit to Houston. I will have the last operation in the series of procedures I have undergone to be cancer-free. That goal has kept me going!
A MONTH OF SILENCE…
It has been one month since I updated this blog because it has been that long since I felt strong enough to do it! The radiologist who performed the procedure said I “might have a few flu-like symptoms” resulting from that part of the liver “getting angry” because the blood supply had been cut off.
PVE HARDER ON ME THAN THE FIRST BIG OPERATION!
The PVE was not a big procedure, but it has been harder for me to recover from it, than it was for me to recover from removing 80% of my liver. Imagine that! Even before we left the hospital, I was having trouble. I had begun to have muscle spasms in my back where the puncture wound was (where they inserted the needle). They gave me Valium to relax those muscles so I could sleep overnight in the hospital.
We spent one night in the hospital, then spent the second night in the hotel, hoping that we could sleep and be more rested for the trip home the next day. I had a really hard time finding a position that was comfortable enough for sleep. We had a mountain of pillows stacked on my side of the bed so I could sit slightly reclined. It was a rough night.
The trip home was rather uncomfortable for the same reasons. It was difficult to find a comfortable position. Upon arrival home, we unpacked the necessities only, showered and tried to get some sleep. I was taking medication for the pain and Valium trying to prevent the muscles spasms in my back. Abraham said I got sick to my stomach. I don’t remember that happening.
FINALLY STARTING TO FEEL BETTER
I have had a few brief energy spurts this week and took care of things that must be addressed promptly. Monday, I reconciled our bank statement. I did our taxes Tuesday and Wednesday during my energy spurts. Today was the first day that I have felt good enough to do much of anything for more than just an hour.
A PLEA FOR ADDITIONAL HELP
I am pleased to tell you that my insurance company has reimbursed us for some of the expenses incurred on the previous trips. We used the reimbursement from the Jan-Feb trip to pay for the PVE trip. But—even with the reimbursements—we still need about $1000 toward the hotel bill, copays, gas and food for the trip next week.
It pains me to have to ask for your help, but we have nowhere else to turn. If you thought about helping us before but, for some reason didn’t, please take a moment to do it now. You can click the “Chip In” link on the right to make a donation using a debit or credit card. Or you can mail your check payable to Mary L. Weeks-Ayala Medical Donations Account to:
Mary L. Weeks-Ayala Medical Donations Account
c/o Frost Bank
5561 Bryant Irvin Road
Fort Worth, TX 76132
There is no way to thank you for helping to save my life. Your help is deeply appreciated!
SCHEDULE FOR THE NEXT TRIP…
We will leave Fort Worth Sunday morning (3/23) to give us time to get settled into our room at the Rotary House. Monday (3/24), I have appointments for all the diagnostic tests: blood work, x-rays and another CT scan. Tuesday (3/25), we will see Dr. Abdalla and the anesthesiologist. Wednesday (3/26), is the day of the operation, but I won’t know what time exactly until Tuesday afternoon. I will email everyone to let them know. Now that we know what to expect and have worked out some of the issues with the medications, I expect this hospital stay to be shorter than after the first operation. I hope to be home around April 7 or 8.
Without your prayers and financial assistance, I would not be here. Abraham and I thank you.
Mary and Abraham
One week from today, we will leave Fort Worth for what we hope will be our last visit to Houston. I will have the last operation in the series of procedures I have undergone to be cancer-free. That goal has kept me going!
A MONTH OF SILENCE…
It has been one month since I updated this blog because it has been that long since I felt strong enough to do it! The radiologist who performed the procedure said I “might have a few flu-like symptoms” resulting from that part of the liver “getting angry” because the blood supply had been cut off.
PVE HARDER ON ME THAN THE FIRST BIG OPERATION!
The PVE was not a big procedure, but it has been harder for me to recover from it, than it was for me to recover from removing 80% of my liver. Imagine that! Even before we left the hospital, I was having trouble. I had begun to have muscle spasms in my back where the puncture wound was (where they inserted the needle). They gave me Valium to relax those muscles so I could sleep overnight in the hospital.
We spent one night in the hospital, then spent the second night in the hotel, hoping that we could sleep and be more rested for the trip home the next day. I had a really hard time finding a position that was comfortable enough for sleep. We had a mountain of pillows stacked on my side of the bed so I could sit slightly reclined. It was a rough night.
The trip home was rather uncomfortable for the same reasons. It was difficult to find a comfortable position. Upon arrival home, we unpacked the necessities only, showered and tried to get some sleep. I was taking medication for the pain and Valium trying to prevent the muscles spasms in my back. Abraham said I got sick to my stomach. I don’t remember that happening.
FINALLY STARTING TO FEEL BETTER
I have had a few brief energy spurts this week and took care of things that must be addressed promptly. Monday, I reconciled our bank statement. I did our taxes Tuesday and Wednesday during my energy spurts. Today was the first day that I have felt good enough to do much of anything for more than just an hour.
A PLEA FOR ADDITIONAL HELP
I am pleased to tell you that my insurance company has reimbursed us for some of the expenses incurred on the previous trips. We used the reimbursement from the Jan-Feb trip to pay for the PVE trip. But—even with the reimbursements—we still need about $1000 toward the hotel bill, copays, gas and food for the trip next week.
It pains me to have to ask for your help, but we have nowhere else to turn. If you thought about helping us before but, for some reason didn’t, please take a moment to do it now. You can click the “Chip In” link on the right to make a donation using a debit or credit card. Or you can mail your check payable to Mary L. Weeks-Ayala Medical Donations Account to:
Mary L. Weeks-Ayala Medical Donations Account
c/o Frost Bank
5561 Bryant Irvin Road
Fort Worth, TX 76132
There is no way to thank you for helping to save my life. Your help is deeply appreciated!
SCHEDULE FOR THE NEXT TRIP…
We will leave Fort Worth Sunday morning (3/23) to give us time to get settled into our room at the Rotary House. Monday (3/24), I have appointments for all the diagnostic tests: blood work, x-rays and another CT scan. Tuesday (3/25), we will see Dr. Abdalla and the anesthesiologist. Wednesday (3/26), is the day of the operation, but I won’t know what time exactly until Tuesday afternoon. I will email everyone to let them know. Now that we know what to expect and have worked out some of the issues with the medications, I expect this hospital stay to be shorter than after the first operation. I hope to be home around April 7 or 8.
Without your prayers and financial assistance, I would not be here. Abraham and I thank you.
Mary and Abraham
Saturday, February 16, 2008
HALFWAY THROUGH THE HOME STRETCH!
RETURN TO HOUSTON
We are leaving tomorrow returning to Houston for the Portal Vein Embolization procedure on Tuesday.
I have to have the lab work done before the CT scan, so I have to have that done Sunday afternoon following our arrival. Why Sunday? Because I am schedule to begin the CT prep at 6:30 a.m. Monday morning! The scan itself is scheduled for 8 a.m., followed by an assessment appointment in Radiology at 9 a.m., anesthesia assessment at 9:45 a.m. and finally, a follow-up visit in the GI center at 1:30 p.m.
According to the schedule, I have to check-in Tuesday at 8 a.m. for the procedure at 10 a.m. I will have to spend the night at the hospital Tuesday night. We expect to be released sometime Wednesday. And since, I know better than to expect to sleep Tuesday night, we will stay in the hotel Wednesday night to make sure we are rested for the return trip Thursday.
We are staying at the Hampton Inn & Suites on Old Spanish Trail. We inspected the rooms there before reserving on to make sure that they were clean. (It is operated by Holiday Inn.)
The following information is from M. D. Anderson’s website:
PORTAL VEIN EMBOLIZATION
Major resections of the liver can be performed provided the post-operative residual liver is adequate in size and function. Portal vein embolization involves the insertion of a catheter into the portal vein through the liver. Contrast material ("dye") is injected to define the anatomy of the portal venous system. Selective branches of the portal vein are then blocked with small particles and metal coils until the flow of blood is stopped.
Growth of the non-embolized portion of the liver usually takes 3-4 weeks and CT is used to document the change. You can expect to remain in the hospital for 1-2 days following the procedure.
According to what Dr. Abdalla told us before we left, the procedure takes about three hours, and because I have to be still all that time, I will be knocked out. When it’s over, I will be admitted for overnight observation.
BACK HOME THURSDAY
We expect to return to Fort Worth Thursday. We will keep you posted.
Mary and Abraham
We are leaving tomorrow returning to Houston for the Portal Vein Embolization procedure on Tuesday.
I have to have the lab work done before the CT scan, so I have to have that done Sunday afternoon following our arrival. Why Sunday? Because I am schedule to begin the CT prep at 6:30 a.m. Monday morning! The scan itself is scheduled for 8 a.m., followed by an assessment appointment in Radiology at 9 a.m., anesthesia assessment at 9:45 a.m. and finally, a follow-up visit in the GI center at 1:30 p.m.
According to the schedule, I have to check-in Tuesday at 8 a.m. for the procedure at 10 a.m. I will have to spend the night at the hospital Tuesday night. We expect to be released sometime Wednesday. And since, I know better than to expect to sleep Tuesday night, we will stay in the hotel Wednesday night to make sure we are rested for the return trip Thursday.
We are staying at the Hampton Inn & Suites on Old Spanish Trail. We inspected the rooms there before reserving on to make sure that they were clean. (It is operated by Holiday Inn.)
The following information is from M. D. Anderson’s website:
PORTAL VEIN EMBOLIZATION
Major resections of the liver can be performed provided the post-operative residual liver is adequate in size and function. Portal vein embolization involves the insertion of a catheter into the portal vein through the liver. Contrast material ("dye") is injected to define the anatomy of the portal venous system. Selective branches of the portal vein are then blocked with small particles and metal coils until the flow of blood is stopped.
Growth of the non-embolized portion of the liver usually takes 3-4 weeks and CT is used to document the change. You can expect to remain in the hospital for 1-2 days following the procedure.
According to what Dr. Abdalla told us before we left, the procedure takes about three hours, and because I have to be still all that time, I will be knocked out. When it’s over, I will be admitted for overnight observation.
BACK HOME THURSDAY
We expect to return to Fort Worth Thursday. We will keep you posted.
Mary and Abraham
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
THE LATEST NEWS…
SURGICAL DETAILS
I realized that I incorrectly dated my last update because I was tired. I forgot that it was January when we left, so when I checked the date on my calendar, I looked at January, not February. That’s why I put 02/11/08 instead of 02/08/08. I decided to get some sleep before sending another update! So, now that I have gotten caught up on my rest, so it’s time to get you caught up on the details of our most recent trip to Houston.
On January 26, I told you that Dr. Abdalla listed three options for surgery. Once he got me opened up (kind of like open heart surgery, only without breaking my breastbone), he decided on a fourth option: remove the entire left lobe first! He did say my liver was gorgeous! That’s not something you hear everyday!
To remove the liver tissue yet leave the circulatory structures, Dr. Abdalla used a water scalpel that is normally used in brain surgery. It dissolves the tissue without destroying the veins to facilitate regeneration. He said he performed brain surgery on my liver!
He also said that I had developed a hernia at the site of one of my other scars where the muscles had become separated. He repaired that and used a sheet of mesh to have something to anchor all the stitches to.
NEXT TRIP IN JUST A FEW DAYS
We are preparing to return to Houston in just a few days. We leave Sunday. I will have all new tests and see the doctors Monday, undergo the portal vein embolization Tuesday, spend the night in the hospital Tuesday night and be released Wednesday. Since I am certain that they won’t let us sleep much, we are planning to stay in town Wednesday night and leave Thursday morning after we have gotten some rest.
Before we left Houston last time, we checked out several hotels. We discovered that any place charging less that $100 per night was a roach motel. Rotary House is booked for the month of February, so we will stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites. This chain is operated by Holiday Inn. We inspected a room and found it to be quite clean and fresh. They have daily housekeeping, hot breakfast and high-speed internet. It will end up costing the same as the Rotary House room we had last time, but we are relieved that we don’t have to stay in Hotel Hell!
FINAL TRIP...HOPEFULLY!
Before we left, Dr. Abdalla talked about possibly two more trips after the PVE trip next week. Yesterday, I learned that we may have only one more trip. We will return, hopefully the last time, on Sunday, March 23. I will have all new tests Monday, see the doctors Tuesday and be admitted for the second operation Wednesday. We hope to be home again by April 9.
Now that I know which drugs work and to which ones I am allergic, I think I will have a better post-op experience. It is also good to know what to expect this time. We will be more prepared.
The good news for that trip is that we have a reservation at Rotary House! That means we can walk to all my appointments and not have to deal with traffic or parking or bad weather. It will make everything much easier and more comfortable.
STOP THE INSANITY!
The people in the parking buildings are nuts! Patients and employees share limited facilities. When the employees are late and trying to find a quick parking place, they got vicious! One man wanted to fist-fight Abraham for a parking place. Insane! And they drive around the parking building like it’s the Gran Prix. Our van was actually damaged by these crazy people!
Overall, I am feeling pretty well, However, I am having some gastric distress when I eat. The last couple of days, it seems that no matter what I eat or how little I eat, I have sharp stomach cramps. Have to call the nurse about that!
Thanks for your continued prayers. We’ll be in touch again soon!
Mary and Abraham
I realized that I incorrectly dated my last update because I was tired. I forgot that it was January when we left, so when I checked the date on my calendar, I looked at January, not February. That’s why I put 02/11/08 instead of 02/08/08. I decided to get some sleep before sending another update! So, now that I have gotten caught up on my rest, so it’s time to get you caught up on the details of our most recent trip to Houston.
On January 26, I told you that Dr. Abdalla listed three options for surgery. Once he got me opened up (kind of like open heart surgery, only without breaking my breastbone), he decided on a fourth option: remove the entire left lobe first! He did say my liver was gorgeous! That’s not something you hear everyday!
To remove the liver tissue yet leave the circulatory structures, Dr. Abdalla used a water scalpel that is normally used in brain surgery. It dissolves the tissue without destroying the veins to facilitate regeneration. He said he performed brain surgery on my liver!
He also said that I had developed a hernia at the site of one of my other scars where the muscles had become separated. He repaired that and used a sheet of mesh to have something to anchor all the stitches to.
NEXT TRIP IN JUST A FEW DAYS
We are preparing to return to Houston in just a few days. We leave Sunday. I will have all new tests and see the doctors Monday, undergo the portal vein embolization Tuesday, spend the night in the hospital Tuesday night and be released Wednesday. Since I am certain that they won’t let us sleep much, we are planning to stay in town Wednesday night and leave Thursday morning after we have gotten some rest.
Before we left Houston last time, we checked out several hotels. We discovered that any place charging less that $100 per night was a roach motel. Rotary House is booked for the month of February, so we will stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites. This chain is operated by Holiday Inn. We inspected a room and found it to be quite clean and fresh. They have daily housekeeping, hot breakfast and high-speed internet. It will end up costing the same as the Rotary House room we had last time, but we are relieved that we don’t have to stay in Hotel Hell!
FINAL TRIP...HOPEFULLY!
Before we left, Dr. Abdalla talked about possibly two more trips after the PVE trip next week. Yesterday, I learned that we may have only one more trip. We will return, hopefully the last time, on Sunday, March 23. I will have all new tests Monday, see the doctors Tuesday and be admitted for the second operation Wednesday. We hope to be home again by April 9.
Now that I know which drugs work and to which ones I am allergic, I think I will have a better post-op experience. It is also good to know what to expect this time. We will be more prepared.
The good news for that trip is that we have a reservation at Rotary House! That means we can walk to all my appointments and not have to deal with traffic or parking or bad weather. It will make everything much easier and more comfortable.
STOP THE INSANITY!
The people in the parking buildings are nuts! Patients and employees share limited facilities. When the employees are late and trying to find a quick parking place, they got vicious! One man wanted to fist-fight Abraham for a parking place. Insane! And they drive around the parking building like it’s the Gran Prix. Our van was actually damaged by these crazy people!
Overall, I am feeling pretty well, However, I am having some gastric distress when I eat. The last couple of days, it seems that no matter what I eat or how little I eat, I have sharp stomach cramps. Have to call the nurse about that!
Thanks for your continued prayers. We’ll be in touch again soon!
Mary and Abraham
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