Monthly Archives:December 2007

This is Lessa, again. I know I’ve emailed most of you, but thought I’d pop a note here too. That and I have the CUTEST picture of Nana and Papa I snuck yesterday while I was there sitting with them.

Mom is doing really well. There was a marked difference between yesterday and the day before – improvement by leaps and bounds. She’s getting up and walking around, trying to get all her innards in working order. She’s having problems sleeping, of course – the Hospital has never been the best place to get rest. *L* But she was in good spirits, and feeling better all the time. Until we’d make her laugh. Then we’d get the GLARE. Something about incisions and pain and ow, darnit stoppit! WhatEVer… sheesh.

I’ll let mom tell the full story from her perspective when she feels able too, but here’s the skinny: They had gone in prepared to take the whole right kidney, but attempted to remove just the tumor first. They were successful, and very pleased with the partial kidney-ectomy, and were able to save the rest of the kidney and leave it right where it is. They tested the outskirts of the removed organ part right away and discovered completely clean lines – so are very confident they removed the entire tumor, and that there will be no chemo/radiation/extensive followup. He even said the C word – no, not cancer, but Cured. We won’t know if the tumor was cancerous until it gets back from pathology, most likely on Monday.

So mom is now the proud owner of 1.75 kidneys, and some awesome bandages. She’s hoping to come home today, but I’m thinking it’ll probably be tomorrow at the earliest. As of the time I left last night, she’d not been allowed to eat yet, and they’ll want to make sure everything is in working order before letting her out. I’ll be taking the kids over to say hello later tonight, most likely.

Thank you for all the emails, and the well wishes – she appreciates them, as do I. As a reward for being awesome – here’s the cute picture I promised:

Keep those well wishes coming! Thanks!

PS – Ladybug is doing well, also. She was remarkably chipper when I talked to her yesterday, both times. She even got up and fed the kids breakfast, and is doing really well! Thanks for the well wishing there too!

This one was an easy one! Mom (this is her daughter, posting at her request on her behalf) had surgery on Tuesday – so it made for a perfect body shot… so to speak. Ha!

This week’s theme is, of course, “Body”.

She’s doing well, up and walking around on occasion, and trying to rest. Thanks for the good thoughts – keep em coming!

Please, y’all. NO FLOWERS!

;)I know you love me and all that – you do, right? So . . . if you want to do something – a card is nice. Those of you who have my address, feel free to use it – not that you have to, understand. Just saying.

😉

Hello, friends . . .

I will probably be dropping off the grid (so to speak) for a week or so – as I am going in for surgery on Tuesday morning.
 
God has such a great sense of timing AND of humor!!!
 
I went to my regular doctor in October for a med-refill check up. Happens twice a year. I asked him to look at a hernia I’ve had for several years – had been told to have it checked whenever it “began to bother” me.
 
He sent me to a surgeon – the Kenai Peninsula’s own Dr. McDreamy. 😉 He sent me for a CT scan.
 
Two days later (the day after Thanksgiving) I received a call that they would NOT be taking care of the hernia until I saw a Urologist (nowhere near a Dr. McDreamy, btw) because of something on my left kidney – a cyst – and a prominent “something/anomaly” on my right kidney.
 
Saw the urologist the following week and he sent me for an MRI – which was botched because they did not do a contrast scan AND the machine (fondly known as Trixie) broke down in the middle. He could not read the scan – the radiologist could not read the scan – sooooooo
 
Last Tuesday I had another scan – this time with the contrast and this time without Trixie up to her old tricks – and gorgeous pictures came back . . .
 
of the prominent cysts on the left kidney (nothing to worry about – they look normal and people in their 50s develop cysts often) – BUT, when I saw the urologist on Thursday he was very blunt – there is a tumor embedded IN the right kidney and so it (the tumor) cannot just be taken off – the kidney has to come out. 😉
 
Off to the hospital I went for the pre-op blood work – only to be asked questions about which symptoms I’d had to make me go to the doctor and the resultant disbelief when I told them NONE – and shared that my God has a wondrous sense of humor and a great sense of timing.
 
By the by, Dr. McDreamy will assist the urologist and if at all possible will take care of the hernia at the same time. Yay!
 
So, I have a stack of books and one more knitting project to complete for Christmas standing by – and at least a week off work to relax and heal. I can take more time if I need it, but I am a “tough old bird” according to my friends so I hope to be back to work by the end of that first week.

Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated – for me and for the Ladybug who is also having surgery that morning. We asked for a family plan, but they laughed us out of the hospital. 😉 Okay, fine.

Oh – the timing thing? With the CT I met my deductible for the year, so I should not have to pay very much for this surgery – I think I’ve met my out of pocket expenses, too. Hopefully – Lord willing – this will all be covered.

And – the one thing I don’t like about all this is that they will, of course, be putting me under for the surgery – I don’t like the idea of that, but know that I will be in God’s hands during that time, too. I think it’s just that whole losing control thing that bothers me. It’s not like I have control over any of this anyway, so send me to Maui with the cabana pool boy, Raul and it’s all good. LOL

take care, everyone and give a hug to the one who’s closest to you.