Stan Here:
One of the hobbies that has never been in the hunt for Deb and I is the art of jogging. So I guess we will have to settle for a few laps around the hall and that in itself seems like our version of the 5K right now. That has happened about 4 times today. It amazes me how Deb is able to achieve quite a fast pace only one day after the surgery.
It seemed that right from the start of the day yesterday things wanted to go well. She had a good night of sleep the night before. Helped fix a fence over at Mieke's house yesterday morning. Then when we got to the hospital things went ahead pretty much on time. About 1 hour after the surgery the oncology doctor came out and reported that no visual signs of cancer were apparent. Then a little ahead of time the general surgeon came out and reported that everything went very well. It seemed that the time in the recovery room was a little longer than before but before very long Deb was being wheeled back to the room. She had a huge smile on her face and she did not seem to have the shaking problems or recovering problems that she has had on earlier surgeries It seemed like before she had what I call the Mac Truck being hit thereof look. This time it was all smiles, on her phone pretty quick and the like. Totally different than before.
Deb had no sleep last night and only a few winks today but she is still in a good mood. Hoping for a restful night tonight. So far the vital signs are right on target and all the other stuff seems on the right track. 2-3 days before food but no real hunger pains are with that. When I think about it, it has been 4 days now without food.
It is Ross's birthday today. So 31 years ago we were in a room like this and as I think about that Nov 28 somehow is just meant to be a good day. Alden and Mary are here now, and Deb's parents stayed most of the day. We have a nice set up here now with a TV with movie selections. Deb looks like she could come home now but the duration of the stay (around 5 days) is intended to assure that the digestive process is working well before being released. She still has the all time whopper of incisions right where the old one was, plus some bonus stiches to close where the ostomy incision was. She is very conversant, has good color, a little feisty, and lots of thanks for a good outcome so far. Ken and Shelly and Sarah just left after a nice visit.
All in all a happy day, and soon to be on the way home. We caught an angel this time.
Stan the Man:
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
YEAH! Good News!
Mieke here...sitting in the waiting room at Butterworth. Hallelujah for a great surgeon report after surgery. He told us there were no complications, no blood loss, and they were able to "hook her up" to normal. She will probably be here for a good 5-6 days to make sure that all of her functions start to work again. My grandpa and grandma (her parents) and my dad are all here to see her when she wakes up. The anesthesiologist just came out to tell us she is one happy lady. First thing she did when she woke up was felt to see if the bag was there. No, it was not! Yay. I will try and go in to see her now. Praise the Lord!!! GOOD NEWS!!!! We needed this....a good report. Answer to prayer.
-Mieke
-Mieke
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Redhead at Work
I finally figured out how to download my pictures from my I phone to my computer and then to change the picture on the blog.
People have wanted to see my new wig and I also wanted to share one of the best parts of my job. When I finished assisting with a delivery the other night, the new Dad asked my what was my favorite flavor of ice cream, I said, Mint chocolate chip. Soon he came back with my treat from Captain Sunday. So nice of him! I will miss my work and my co-workers while I am off for this next surgery. It has been a real blessing to be able to be back working, I know now why my Dr. encouraged me strongly to go back.
I have done pretty good with just clear liquids today, hope I can say the same thing for tomorrow. Thanks for all the messages of support and prayers for Tues. Love, Deb
People have wanted to see my new wig and I also wanted to share one of the best parts of my job. When I finished assisting with a delivery the other night, the new Dad asked my what was my favorite flavor of ice cream, I said, Mint chocolate chip. Soon he came back with my treat from Captain Sunday. So nice of him! I will miss my work and my co-workers while I am off for this next surgery. It has been a real blessing to be able to be back working, I know now why my Dr. encouraged me strongly to go back.
I have done pretty good with just clear liquids today, hope I can say the same thing for tomorrow. Thanks for all the messages of support and prayers for Tues. Love, Deb
Saturday, November 24, 2012
The Latest and Greatest
Stan Here:
Although the last month or so has not been filled with new posts we do have some things that might be worth writing down now and making them into another posting on this ongoing blog.
Many of you know that the surgery that Deb has looked forward to for some time is going to take place this coming Tuesday. It appears that the blood work is all good and we are a go. Right now it is set for sometime in the afternoon on Tuesday. At the pre-surgery meeting I asked this question. Lets say that the previous surgeries might be rated at around a 8 or a 9 on the scale of difficulty, recovery, potential complications etc. Where does this one stand? The doctor said it resided in the 3-4 range. He told us that a 4-5 day hospital stay could be expected. This doctor is a general surgeon but the oncology doctor will also be present to inspect for cancer issues while the process of this surgery is going on. 2 days of a liquid diet only will be needed before the surgery and that starts here after tonight. We have been whittling away on Thanksgiving leftovers and after the last of them are consumed this evening that's it for the eating. As told before before Deb has never had a high level of apprehension towards surgical procedures. I think this comes from her experience as a surgical nurse. Plus she really wants to get this one over with. Dealing with this ileostomy has been very difficult and she is ready to have it done with. Lets hope all goes well.
So that is the the latest and now for the greatest. We found out recently that if all goes well Alden and Mary will have a baby around June of next year. So Stan Jr. is in the womb and the title of parents and grandparents looks like it will just be a matter of time. Actually I am not sure if I asked them if it was going to be a boy or a girl. I will have to ask them that but I am not even sure they will tell me. I wonder when you find that out? Anyway it seems to us that this news came just at the right time. Plus it would appear at this point that we can all look forward to this day in contrast to a time when we did not expect that it would be possible for that to happen. There sure was some hooting and hollering when we received this news. Kind of made our day and helped with Thanksgiving season as well.
Mieke and Aaron bought a house. They closed on it yesterday and moved most of their stuff the same day. Deb is over their right now helping them get it set up. When she and Mieke have a project such as this they keep on working till it is done. So the norm of a bunch of boxes and stuff all over is not in the cards. This place is on a nice lot about a mile from here. It is a refurbished home (flipped) and the guy who did this did a nice job. Everything looks new and it is very clean. New paint, new floors, new windows, new appliances all make it the kind of place that seems to fit them and their taste. They looked at a lot of places and this one seemed to hit them just right and was in their price range. They closed the deal quickly.
Karen ran a 5 K today for Deb and took some pictures at the finish. I did not even know she was a runner. She remembers when Deb Took her first walk with her walker she said "Run Forrest,run". That is when she decided to run for Deb. She has done so many nice things for all of us. Last night when everyone was tired from moving she showed up with some pizza to feed the tired crew.
So if you can think of it Tuesday send a thought and a prayer our way. I must tell you I am a little apprehensive after all of the adventures from last time. In a way that I cannot totally explain I think that Deb senses that people are with her in a way that she would not have been able to explain before the cancer diagnosis. She feels people pulling for her. I will post something about the results on Tuesday night. Thank you to everyone again for staying with us.
Stan the Man
Although the last month or so has not been filled with new posts we do have some things that might be worth writing down now and making them into another posting on this ongoing blog.
Many of you know that the surgery that Deb has looked forward to for some time is going to take place this coming Tuesday. It appears that the blood work is all good and we are a go. Right now it is set for sometime in the afternoon on Tuesday. At the pre-surgery meeting I asked this question. Lets say that the previous surgeries might be rated at around a 8 or a 9 on the scale of difficulty, recovery, potential complications etc. Where does this one stand? The doctor said it resided in the 3-4 range. He told us that a 4-5 day hospital stay could be expected. This doctor is a general surgeon but the oncology doctor will also be present to inspect for cancer issues while the process of this surgery is going on. 2 days of a liquid diet only will be needed before the surgery and that starts here after tonight. We have been whittling away on Thanksgiving leftovers and after the last of them are consumed this evening that's it for the eating. As told before before Deb has never had a high level of apprehension towards surgical procedures. I think this comes from her experience as a surgical nurse. Plus she really wants to get this one over with. Dealing with this ileostomy has been very difficult and she is ready to have it done with. Lets hope all goes well.
So that is the the latest and now for the greatest. We found out recently that if all goes well Alden and Mary will have a baby around June of next year. So Stan Jr. is in the womb and the title of parents and grandparents looks like it will just be a matter of time. Actually I am not sure if I asked them if it was going to be a boy or a girl. I will have to ask them that but I am not even sure they will tell me. I wonder when you find that out? Anyway it seems to us that this news came just at the right time. Plus it would appear at this point that we can all look forward to this day in contrast to a time when we did not expect that it would be possible for that to happen. There sure was some hooting and hollering when we received this news. Kind of made our day and helped with Thanksgiving season as well.
Mieke and Aaron bought a house. They closed on it yesterday and moved most of their stuff the same day. Deb is over their right now helping them get it set up. When she and Mieke have a project such as this they keep on working till it is done. So the norm of a bunch of boxes and stuff all over is not in the cards. This place is on a nice lot about a mile from here. It is a refurbished home (flipped) and the guy who did this did a nice job. Everything looks new and it is very clean. New paint, new floors, new windows, new appliances all make it the kind of place that seems to fit them and their taste. They looked at a lot of places and this one seemed to hit them just right and was in their price range. They closed the deal quickly.
Karen ran a 5 K today for Deb and took some pictures at the finish. I did not even know she was a runner. She remembers when Deb Took her first walk with her walker she said "Run Forrest,run". That is when she decided to run for Deb. She has done so many nice things for all of us. Last night when everyone was tired from moving she showed up with some pizza to feed the tired crew.
So if you can think of it Tuesday send a thought and a prayer our way. I must tell you I am a little apprehensive after all of the adventures from last time. In a way that I cannot totally explain I think that Deb senses that people are with her in a way that she would not have been able to explain before the cancer diagnosis. She feels people pulling for her. I will post something about the results on Tuesday night. Thank you to everyone again for staying with us.
Stan the Man
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Surgery Scheduled!!
I just got home from the General Surgeon's appt. and we are set to have the "Take-down Ileostomy" for Tues. Nov. 27 at 2pm. My oncologist will be at the hospital that afternoon, in case they see something when they are "in there" and want him to take a look.
I have to be on clear liquids for two days before surgery. I get to enjoy my turkey dinner and have a couple of days of left overs and then what a shock to my system, only clear liquids. He says I will be in the hospital for 4-5 days. I should be almost completely recovered to enjoy Christmas and I should be able to attend Mieke's kids Christmas musical which is Dec. 19. Plus there are a few symphony Christmas concerts which I will hopefully get to enjoy too.
I thank all those who have offered their sympathy because of my friend Karol. It has not been easy for us, I can't imagine how Stewart and the family are doing. Mieke and I are delivering a meal tonight to the Hicks family on behalf of our PEO chapter.
Karol's memorial service is this Sat. at 2 pm. It is going to be a celebration of her life and will be full of colorful flowers, just like her colorful personality!
I have to be on clear liquids for two days before surgery. I get to enjoy my turkey dinner and have a couple of days of left overs and then what a shock to my system, only clear liquids. He says I will be in the hospital for 4-5 days. I should be almost completely recovered to enjoy Christmas and I should be able to attend Mieke's kids Christmas musical which is Dec. 19. Plus there are a few symphony Christmas concerts which I will hopefully get to enjoy too.
I thank all those who have offered their sympathy because of my friend Karol. It has not been easy for us, I can't imagine how Stewart and the family are doing. Mieke and I are delivering a meal tonight to the Hicks family on behalf of our PEO chapter.
Karol's memorial service is this Sat. at 2 pm. It is going to be a celebration of her life and will be full of colorful flowers, just like her colorful personality!
Monday, November 5, 2012
Good Dr. Visit
I saw Dr. Downey today to review the results of my CT-scan. He says it looks normal. What a blessing and answer to many prayers. He said I can have my reversal surgery. He wants Dr. Scholten to perform the surgery because he does many more of them and he is the one who did the ileostomy in the first place. Downey will assist if possible. I see Dr. Scholten this Thurs. at 1:45pm and I am hoping that we can schedule it for the week after Thanksgiving.
The Dr. explained that I would see him every 3 months and have my CA-125 and CT-scans frequently. 75% of women have a reoccurance of the cancer in the first 2 years. He said you need to pray that I am in the 25% that the remission lasts longer. If there are signs that the cancer returns
then we start chemo again.
I want to thank all of you who have been praying for me since last Aug.1, about 15 months ago. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to have so many people helping me through this journey. I am so glad to be alive, but I am having a hard time coming to grips with loosing my friend Karol. I have had over a year to think about the possibility of dying. She was so full of life, I can hardly believe I will never see her again.
The Dr. explained that I would see him every 3 months and have my CA-125 and CT-scans frequently. 75% of women have a reoccurance of the cancer in the first 2 years. He said you need to pray that I am in the 25% that the remission lasts longer. If there are signs that the cancer returns
then we start chemo again.
I want to thank all of you who have been praying for me since last Aug.1, about 15 months ago. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to have so many people helping me through this journey. I am so glad to be alive, but I am having a hard time coming to grips with loosing my friend Karol. I have had over a year to think about the possibility of dying. She was so full of life, I can hardly believe I will never see her again.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Sad Times.
Stan Here:
We had one of the saddest events we have had in a very long time. One of Deb's good friends, Karol Hicks, suffered a severe event which led to her death. She was found in her garage after complaining for a few weeks of severe headaches. After a short time they performed surgery and found no chance for life. Turns out that a aneurysm had occurred and in a very short time life had gone from thriving to decisions on donating organs. How sudden and how drastic. Karol was one of the people who supported Deb so closely throughout this entire cancer ordeal and was a kindred soul to her in the likes and dislikes area. This morning in church they had a fine tribute to her work and her spirit. She was a fine musician and a fine person and her spirit and presence will be missed in every way. Deb spent some time in tears over this week and we are both very sad in this event. That is all I feel like posting right now. Anything else would fall far short of the sadness and sudden nature of Karol's very sudden passing.
Stan
We had one of the saddest events we have had in a very long time. One of Deb's good friends, Karol Hicks, suffered a severe event which led to her death. She was found in her garage after complaining for a few weeks of severe headaches. After a short time they performed surgery and found no chance for life. Turns out that a aneurysm had occurred and in a very short time life had gone from thriving to decisions on donating organs. How sudden and how drastic. Karol was one of the people who supported Deb so closely throughout this entire cancer ordeal and was a kindred soul to her in the likes and dislikes area. This morning in church they had a fine tribute to her work and her spirit. She was a fine musician and a fine person and her spirit and presence will be missed in every way. Deb spent some time in tears over this week and we are both very sad in this event. That is all I feel like posting right now. Anything else would fall far short of the sadness and sudden nature of Karol's very sudden passing.
Stan
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