Surgery day came around fast, and I was dreading the surgery. I wasn't ready to go, I still wanted more children, and the fact that it would no longer be an option, was devastating. I knew I needed the procedure, I wanted the cancer gone, and I just wanted to get healthy for my husband and kids.
We left early morning on July 17th, 2013, to arrive at the hospital by 6ish. My oncologist came in to talk and pray with us. When the staff came in to wheel me back to the o.r., I started crying. This was really happening, and I just wanted to wake up from this nightmare. I said bye to Steve, and told him I loved him. I really don't remember being wheeled down the hall, but I remember hopping from my bed to the operating room, and getting positioned into the stirrups. I tried looking around the room, and that was the last thing I remember before waking up in the recovery room. I was super groggy when they first attempted to wake me, I was in pain, and just wanted to go back to sleep, which I did. Next time I woke up, I was back in my room, and Steve, my dad and step-mom were there with me. What was meant to be a 4-5 hour surgery ended up being almost 7. I felt so bad for them, having to sit and wait all that time, I know I would have gone nuts! I slept most of the day in that room, I was in a fair amount of pain, and whatever they gave me didn't really do much. Finally, around 8 p.m. or so, I had the nurse get my discharge papers ready, there was no way I was going to stay overnight!! I missed my kids, and I needed to see them. They are the best medicine in the world, and I needed some cuddles.
When I got home, I was able to sneak upstairs without the kids knowing, made it easier to get comfy before they saw me. Plus, I still needed to pump out all the breast milk to get the drugs out of my system before my daughter saw me and wanted to nurse. My son came in at some point, saw me laying down, and he just smiled at me. I explained I had a boo-boo belly, and he had to be super gentle. He carefully crawled onto the bed and sat next to me, leaned in and gave me a hug. He told me he was happy I was home, and promised to help take care of me. Not long after, it was bedtime, and my sweet little girl came in, and snuggled up next to me. Neither of us moved that night, she was happy to have her mommy home, and between being in pain, and still having a catheter in, I couldn't really get comfy anyway.
The next two weeks were spent sleeping, and taking it easy. I really wasn't allowed to do much else.
I anxiously awaited the phone call from the doctor's office with the results of the biopsy from some lymph nodes that they took, and also the picture of the cancer that was removed. First the picture came, I had asked the doctor for it. I wanted to see it, what robbed me of so much, I needed to put a picture with the diagnosis. It really took me by surprise when I looked at it for the fist time. It looked so big, and it was also growing up towards my uterus. I cried, I couldn't believe that was inside of me, it was disgusting! I thanked God that it was found and removed before it got any worse. A few days later, I got the call that the biopsy results were in, and there were no signs of cancer! That was the first time in a long time, that I cried tears of joy. Arabella looked at me, and asked why I was crying. I went over and just held her, knowing I was going to be around to be around to watch my kids grow up, and be there for them, was an amazing feeling! It also meant many more years of driving my husband crazy too! Life was amazing, and I was so grateful to be alive.
We left early morning on July 17th, 2013, to arrive at the hospital by 6ish. My oncologist came in to talk and pray with us. When the staff came in to wheel me back to the o.r., I started crying. This was really happening, and I just wanted to wake up from this nightmare. I said bye to Steve, and told him I loved him. I really don't remember being wheeled down the hall, but I remember hopping from my bed to the operating room, and getting positioned into the stirrups. I tried looking around the room, and that was the last thing I remember before waking up in the recovery room. I was super groggy when they first attempted to wake me, I was in pain, and just wanted to go back to sleep, which I did. Next time I woke up, I was back in my room, and Steve, my dad and step-mom were there with me. What was meant to be a 4-5 hour surgery ended up being almost 7. I felt so bad for them, having to sit and wait all that time, I know I would have gone nuts! I slept most of the day in that room, I was in a fair amount of pain, and whatever they gave me didn't really do much. Finally, around 8 p.m. or so, I had the nurse get my discharge papers ready, there was no way I was going to stay overnight!! I missed my kids, and I needed to see them. They are the best medicine in the world, and I needed some cuddles.
When I got home, I was able to sneak upstairs without the kids knowing, made it easier to get comfy before they saw me. Plus, I still needed to pump out all the breast milk to get the drugs out of my system before my daughter saw me and wanted to nurse. My son came in at some point, saw me laying down, and he just smiled at me. I explained I had a boo-boo belly, and he had to be super gentle. He carefully crawled onto the bed and sat next to me, leaned in and gave me a hug. He told me he was happy I was home, and promised to help take care of me. Not long after, it was bedtime, and my sweet little girl came in, and snuggled up next to me. Neither of us moved that night, she was happy to have her mommy home, and between being in pain, and still having a catheter in, I couldn't really get comfy anyway.
The next two weeks were spent sleeping, and taking it easy. I really wasn't allowed to do much else.
I anxiously awaited the phone call from the doctor's office with the results of the biopsy from some lymph nodes that they took, and also the picture of the cancer that was removed. First the picture came, I had asked the doctor for it. I wanted to see it, what robbed me of so much, I needed to put a picture with the diagnosis. It really took me by surprise when I looked at it for the fist time. It looked so big, and it was also growing up towards my uterus. I cried, I couldn't believe that was inside of me, it was disgusting! I thanked God that it was found and removed before it got any worse. A few days later, I got the call that the biopsy results were in, and there were no signs of cancer! That was the first time in a long time, that I cried tears of joy. Arabella looked at me, and asked why I was crying. I went over and just held her, knowing I was going to be around to be around to watch my kids grow up, and be there for them, was an amazing feeling! It also meant many more years of driving my husband crazy too! Life was amazing, and I was so grateful to be alive.