OK, I hope she's not mad at me for tracking this board down but she's talked so much about the support she got here I figured I'd borrow some if you didn't mind.
The surgery went well, they had to take out 2 lobes instead of one because he said the middle lobe would have died anyway but it's done, it's over with. But it was cancer. We will find out what kind and if it was contained on Thursday, the waiting is hard. Her breathing tubes are in a real uncomfortable spot for her and she is HATING the catheter IV in her neck but other than that she doesn't have *too* much pain. She got up twice today while I was there and seemed to feel a little better sitting up.
My mom is a VERY strong, stubborn, independent woman. I'm trying to get her to just RELAX and let them drug her but she holds out as long as she can and then is practically in tears from the pain (the bolus takes about 15min to kick in). I wish she would just take it more often but today she started to a little bit. I don't think she likes the drugged state but I know I would prefer that over pain! Last night she held off on the meds so she could stay awake to watch her favorite show on TV...LOL She's too much!
She also hasn't been asking for help as much as she should. She is hesitant to call the nurses for little things and I'm constantly after her about that's what they are paid to do. Everyone is WONDERFUL there at CTCA and I feel confident she's in good hands. I hated leaving her today but my husband has school and I have 3 (soon to be 4) little ones at home. I hate thinking about her by herself, especially since she is hesitant to ask for help and a little incoherent at times. I think I will take a day trip tomorrow, I'll print out your words of support and bring them to her if you'd like. I'm sure she'd love that.
Mom is amazing, amazingly stubborn but amazing. Last night was very sleepless but I got to bond with her in a way I haven't in years. She let me take care of her, my mother, superwoman - and that was nice. I felt like we were healing to each other.
So, please keep her in your prayers. She is doing better by the minute but she does have a tiny air leak in her lungs and we're still waiting to hear about the cancer. I don't like the waiting! This is just a whole new world for her and it's hard seeing her like this. It's harder for her of course! She tends to be on the paranoid side of life and is convinced something will happen from the machine breaking, her tube clogging, to the fan blowing on her and making her sick! I know later on she'll laugh at herself but right now she needs to be taken seriously and it's helping me to learn a lot in the medical field! lol
I wish I could invent something so cancer wouldn't exist anymore, it just doesn't seem fair.
Thanks for listening to me babble with relatively no point but to tell you mom is OK and to thank you for giving her support, she doesn't ask for it in real life very often. What have people done during your recovery to make you feel more comfortable? I stayed all night with her comforting and helping her but I just wish I could do more.
Love, hugs, & prayers,
Jessica
PS. Mrs. Mike - I saw your post about Mike being back in the hospital. I'm very sorry to hear that he's in pain. If you do go back to CTCA please e-mail me as I'm sure my mom would love to meet with you, she was disappointed she missed you guys. blessedmom2k@yahoo.com
