Mastectomy & follow up

Last Thursday (Sept. 3rd), Dr. Reading removed 13 lymph nodes and performed a modified mastectomy. Then Dr. Chen took over and attached the tissue expanders. I was released from the hospital on Friday and went home for a long weekend.

If anyone wonders if God hears and answers prayers, they can just look at me and see that the answer is a definitive YES! I haven't experienced overwhelming pain, but the pain medication that was prescribed has helped. I was allowed 2 pills every 6 hours, but have only taken 1-- and am now down to taking just one pill every 10 hours or so. I finished off the antibiotics yesterday.

Part of what amazes me is that I am feeling pretty good. I would have gone to church on Sunday, but I wasn't exactly sure how to hide the drains. I've got two thin tubes inserted in my underarm to drain fluid. The other end of each tube is attached to what looks like a clear plastic hand grenade. Periodically throughout the day, I have to empty the drains and "strip" the tubes (clear them of any fluid or debris). Since I couldn't go to church, I spent the day napping, reading the newspaper and my Scriptures and watching BYU-TV. I also took my first shower on Sunday with Mom's help.

I rested again on Monday, but decided on Monday evening that I could see no reason to stay home from work the next day. Fortunately I have an office to myself so I can be somewhat unobtrusive. I wear dark pants that are slightly baggy and loose shirt. I pin the drains to the waistband of my slacks and let the shirt cover it. The tubing still hangs down a bit, so I either tuck the tubes onto the inside of my pants, or I unpin the drains and hide them in a decorative bag that I'm carrying instead of a purse.

Because I'm kind of a wimp when it comes to being sick, believe me, I would stay home if I felt the need. I'm not allowed to do any lifting/carrying, pulling or pushing-- and, worse yet, I'm not allowed to drive a car for 2 weeks, so Mom has to drive me to work and pick me up at the end of the day. When she dropped me off on Monday, I told her that I might be calling her in an hour to come pick me up. As it was, I did overdo it a bit. About 4:10 p.m., I realized that I was tired and really needed to be home. In fact, I probably should have gone home at 3 p.m. But it's a 30-minute drive between my house and my office. Calling Mom and asking her to pick me up early wouldn't make much difference-- she'd only arrive about 10 minutes before our arranged pick up time anyway. So, I closed my door and laid down on the floor for the last 20 minutes.

I've probably shocked more than one medical person who has called to check up on me, only to be told that they would have to call my office. All I can keep repeating, is that I can see no reason to stay home. If I were home, I would want to be doing something, not just lie around the house-- so I might as well be at work doing something. I have to rely on others to be my arms and legs-- the books in a university library aren't always lightweight, and trying to maneuver book trucks is beyond what I am allowed to do. I don't stress out over arriving at 8 a.m., in fact, some mornings I don't arrive until 10-- but I get there and each day I feel a little stronger.

Superheroes aren't afraid to test their limits of their strength. While they may not overdo, they are at least willing to do. They understand that we lose what we don't use-- it's called atrophy. But, superheroes also understand that, when we are doing everything within our power, there is a higher power available to us who can help us go beyond our own strength-- We can look to Our Father in Heaven. When people of faith unite themselves to pray for a common goal, miracles truly take place!

I stand in awe at the way in which my life has been blessed! Who would have thought that I would be back to full days at work just 5 days after my surgery? How can I thank the many friends and family who have prayed in my behalf? I don't even know where to begin when it comes to thanking my Heavenly Father for the little daily miracles-- the tender mercies-- that are taking place in my life. I just keep repeating to those who know, "I'm feeling amazingly well-- and just can't think of a reason to stay home!"