Joppette Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 I wrote this in my journal early this moring...... Last night was the first night in five days that I slept completely, only interrupted briefly by nurses checking vitals, etc. It’s amazing what fresh perspective can happen when one is not sleep deprived. I’m still here in 5 North. My lung is stubbornly refusing to heal and allow me to go home. The positive side of this is that it has refreshed my memory of the “nice to haves” while in the hospital. I forgot about those tiny things that make it so much better. A sampling (husbands take note for the future) would be… • Sleeping on your own pillows. A biggie. Randy went home yesterday to get them for me and I slept like a baby with them. Thank you honey. • For us girls, hair product. I don’t need much. Until today didn’t even think about it, but the last two days found me taking sink baths, and washing my hair under the sink faucet, and then….what’s missing? Texturizing product! My cousin is bringing that to me today. • Another for us girls thing is moisturizing lips gloss with a hint of color! Guys need this too, but maybe without the hint of color, or maybe you should consider it. • Moisture cream for your face. They provide a fair one for the body, but our faces need our favorite one. Put that on the list. • Pajama’s versus hospital gowns is a big one. Because my chest tube is in front, button down tops were important. Anything fleece is always good. Add in a short, easy to put on robe. When they have you walking those hospital halls, it’s cold, but you don’t want to wrestle with a long clumsy robe. • Fuzzy socks! The ones with rubber runners that they give you at the hospital are “one size fits all” and not nice. You do not want to walk barefoot on these halls…trust me. Fuzzy socks. It kind of sounds like I’m making fun of this. I am not. The first two days here I didn’t care or think about these things. I was drugged up, and had so many machines hanging off of me that surviving and not suffering was all that mattered. Now that I’m feeling good enough to care, these things are very nice to have around. Where are we at? I’m still hopeful that the lung will repair itself, to allow me to go home and get things in order before the next step. I also am realistic that this may not happen. Which will stink, but life goes on no matter what. If I don’t get to go home, the next place is going to be the Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center for surgery. Randy and I have put hours interrogating every kind of doctor that exists, searching our hearts, trying to make tough decisions. Full lobe removal? Partial resection? Targeted radiation? Chemo? Do nothing at all? We’ve exhausted all of these options mentally a hundred times. Yesterday another associate of the lung surgeon stopped by to check on us. Yet again, we grilled him on all the options and asked his opinion. He was very direct in his comment that I’ll paraphrase. “If it were my Mom, I would tell her to have the lobe removed. Getting the cancer completely out is best. You need to consider quality of life. If the cancer is totally removed, you can recover from that and have good quality of life. If you opt for other options, your quality of life may not be for the best, and reality is that the cancer may not be gone.” He would not go on any further because he felt he’d be over-stepping his boss. But his message was very clear. After a good night’s rest, I was able to think clearly about the reality of this statement. Quality of life versus quantity of life is a question every single cancer survivor must deal with. We wrestled with the “what if’s” in having 2 lobes out of five being removed. Will I need to be on oxygen? Maybe at times he said. It’s most likely but not always. When doing things that require extra effort, maybe. Coming to these decisions has been exhausting for both of us. There were so many things to consider. There is no magical solution. Two doctors put it this way, however we want to treat this disease is a personal decision that they can’t and won’t try to influence us with. Thank you for those that have come to visit with me. The hours here are long. I hesitated on asking people to come because I just couldn’t predict how I’d be when you got here. I still can’t, but do enjoy the company. Always thank you for the prayers. There are times when I’m lying in bed along at night, and I can just feel them lifting me up. Ps. 118:24 “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Judy in MI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyW Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 Prayers continue to go up fr blessings to come down!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric byrne Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Good Evening Judy, I am so pleased to read from your post how well you are coping,I so enjoyed reading your home comforts list of items required when in hospital,pillows,thats a good one,wish I had thought of having these brought from home,when I was in hospital.Just thinking about your concerns about a lobotomy,Bud has had this procedure,as I have,I think Bud demonstrates how well his lungs function,riding his bike in Texas,in temps over 100 degrees,not that I would claim a fitness level to match Bud,but I am doing my gyming and swimming and it is making a difference to my breathing,at the outset of my swimming a couple of months ago,I was only doing a couple of consecutive lengths now I am regularly doing 40,and if it were'nt for the boredom of continuing, I could swim even more. I am so confident that you will choose the best of all the options that are available to you for a completely successful outcome.I like your hymn choice,I am singing in my head right now, This is the day,hey,This is the day that the lord has made,so rejoice and be glad in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dianew Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Have been thinking of you and glad you hear your spirits are much better. Diane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treebywater Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 (((Judy))) I know you don't know me real well, but you caught my eye your very first post. I just want you to know I'm pulling for you and praying for you. Coming to a decision is always a relief. I'll be checking in and following how things go. Val Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fillise Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Judy, Stopped by today and read your message. I hope you are continuing to heal. I hear you about the hospital stuff! Once you start feeling a little better you really begin to notice the dry skin and lips and the horrid hospital pillows. I hope you are home soon. Susan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolhg Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I sure like what the associate of your lung doctor had to say. Praying for you. Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shineladysue Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Judy, I saw your pic on facebook and decided I better check in here to see what's going on. Want you to know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers for a very successful surgery and a rapid and full recovery. I'll be checking back in for updates. Hugs, Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maryanne Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Sorry I havn't been on... really bumbed about all you have been through and being in the hospital. But I still love your humor through all of this. You are amazing.... I am sending mediatation prayers your way, and hope to hear some encouraging news.... Take care and heal... Maryanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jyoung20 Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 JUdy.. You inspire me!!! Many more prayers coming your way!! (((Hugs))) Jamie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D&TM Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 Oh darlin' my heart & prayers are with you. That's all I can think of to say because what else is there?! Hope all goes well regardless of what you decide & God be with you and yours. My mind goes to this thought, "what he leads us to he will lead us through." Much love, DTM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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