9 days later

Okay - I must admit - I was fully expecting to have little or no recovery with the 2nd surgery.  Any of  you who have seen me since last Tuesday afternoon (surgery) know that I am very disappointed.  My expectations were unrealistic and I am having a hard time swallowing my recovery being slower than I'd hoped.  The plastic surgeon did his revision of my reconstruction which took about 2 hours (he had to give me 2 drains again) and the gynecologist did a full hysterectomy (ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus), which took about an hour.  I came home Wednesday evening after waiting all day for my plastic surgeon to come by.  Finally at about 3, the nurse called his office.  He said I could go ahead and go home, because he wouldn't be able to make it by.  Really??? Couldn't have told me a little sooner???  Oh well.
Once home, I began the recovery process.  It was once again hard to stand and sit (just not as hard as after the first surgery), hard to find a comfortable position to sleep, and just all around to move.  O JOY!  I went happily to my 8th grade daughter's band concert Thursday night - it was very painful but well worth it.  On Friday, the plastic surgeon's nurse was able to take out the drains which definitely added to a better  night's sleep.
Today is Thursday and it has been 9 days since surgery.  I saw the plastic surgeon on Tuesday.  He gave me a few options.  I could be completely done with the reconstruction or there are a few more things I could do (I guess plastic docs are never fully satisfied).  Since one of those options would include another surgery, I told him I am just not ready for that again.  Just say NO to surgery.  He assured me this particular surgery would be a day surgery, but I still said not right now.
After leaving his office, I stepped across the hall where my gynecologist's office is located.  I wanted to see if I could ask the nurses a quick question about some swelling I noticed.  Fortunately, another patient had cancelled and they were able to get me in to see the doctor (I didn't think it was necessary, but nevertheless...).  He quickly let me know that everything looked just like it was supposed to.  He also told me that he had gotten the pathology on my ovaries and they were cancer-free.  YEAH God!!
Now it is time to just give my body time to completely heal.  There is still quite a bit of swelling that may take as long as 3 months to resolve itself.  As far as inside, my lower abdominal organs are looking for a new home.  The rest of my torso is just trying to adjust to my new "normal".  I think it may take a while, so pray for patience for me.  I am ready to exercise again, drive again, and just overall, have a normal life again.  I can never thank you enough for your meals, rides, encouraging words, and most of all, your prayers.  God is good, all the time!

2nd Surgery Scheduled

After meeting with the gynecologist and coordinating with my plastic surgeon, my second surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, October 18, at 12:30 pm.  I will be at Memorial Hermann Memorial City again for the surgery and will have an overnight stay (hopefully just one).  My plastic surgeon will perform his part of the surgery first (approximately 2 hours) and then the gynecologist will perform the hysterectomy (approximately 1 hour).  The gynecologist told me last week that I was no longer a candidate for laproscopy.  He told me that since I had the abdominal surgery, he didn't feel like it would be best to do the hysterectomy laproscopically.  At first, I was disappointed, but he quickly told me that he would only have to make a 1-2 inch incision and that all of his work could be done through that incision.  He also told me that my recovery time would be much the same as if it had been done laproscopically.  I was happy with that news!!  I'm fairly certain this hospital stay will just be on a regular floor.
I also met with Dr. Holmes, my oncologist, yesterday.  She was "giddy" with the news from pathology.  She indicated that of the 0.5 cm mass that was left in the breast, the cells were so sickly and shriveled up that the pathology department couldn't do a complete study on them.  She was thrilled because that means the cancer cells responded extremely well to the chemotherapy.  Her excitement matched mine, so we were quite a sight!  She feels certain that the cancer is gone!  After three years, if nothing reappears, she told me I would be considered "CURED".  Those words were overwhelming!  What a gracious Lord we serve!  I don't think this has all sunk in to my thick skull yet, but I know it will soon!  I have to go back to the oncologist every 3 months for blood work and an exam for the next year.  The second year it will move to every 4 months, then the 3rd, 4th, and 5th year, every 6 months.   I will continue to rely on a great team of doctors throughout this time period.  More than that, I rely on the God of the universe, who made me fearfully and wonderfully!  Keep praying!!