Updates & Logistics

Things were moving forward at a snail pace up until yesterday.

Last week,  right before thanksgiving, I found out there were issues with the contract after they changed hospitals.  It has been yet another rollercoaster of stress for me as the surgery date might have had to move if they didn’t figure it out. There was a meeting Wed, and they said things went well,  I’m was told ‘we’re close.’

In addition,  the surgeon called me Tuesday while I was at les schwab getting winter tires put on my car. So, I awkwardly took the call from there cause hell if I wasn’t answering. Luckily, he was nice and answered all of my questions and the other tire patrons didn’t say anything.

Main notes from thoracic surgeon

• He feels good about the surgery and thinks it’s the safest way to move forward for me. (phew)

• He did warn me that there is a chance that he won’t be able to get to all of the infected (cancer-y) lymph nodes. That means there is a possibility that I will need another surgery in the future, but it would be a robotic surgery through my right abdomen. No more chests.

• He doesn’t anticipate any heart issues but this hospital has a robust cardiac unit in case (this is why we moved the surgery to a different hospital to begin with).

My work did not get the form that gives them all the information they need to book travel since the doctors were in surgery today, but they decided to approve booking the travel (I like to think for sanity sake). I have started to breathe slightly easier!

Logistics (as far as I know them):

Right now our flights to/from LAX are for Dec 5 in the morning and return Dec 19 in the afternoon. We can always adjust as needed. We are staying at residence inn close to the hospital. The surgery and my follow up stay will be at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena. Surgery is on Wed, Dec 6th and they will call me to confirm the time the day before, though one of the documents I received said 7:30am. I will post once I have confirmation and ask for some specific healing thoughts at that time.

I finished my last day of work yesterday as my FMLA starts Monday and took last evening to relax and decorate our tree. Today starts the torrent of chores and preparation.

I have been feeling too small to hold in all the feelings I am having. Jeremy said, ‘you can burst.’ Then, last evening, as we turned on our tree and lights, I looked around the house and at Jeremy and felt a moment of complete joy. This was life I never knew I wanted. I know that whatever is supposed to happen, will.

Thanks to yall we have incredibly upgraded our pillow game! In addition we’ve received so much love in terms of blankets, cards, socks, meals, care bears, tea, art, texts and love. Thank you all so much. I don’t feel like I deserve so much support, but I am letting my heart soak it in and expand!

I ask that if you want to keep up with my progress, please subscribe. You will only get emails when I publish an update (the email will have ads, I’m sorry don’t click them).

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