A New Normal

     So sorry to be so late getting this update out to you.  As you might suspect, it has been a very busy time and a roller coaster of emotions these past two weeks.  The long couple of months of diagnostic tests and biopsies finally ended when we wheeled Joy into surgery on August 28th.

   We arrived at the hospital at 5:55 a.m.   Elizabeth and I had Joy pause at the doors to the lobby to record the moment. She was proudly wearing the shirt provided for the Susan G. Komen cancer walk. The group of ladies at her bank provided the shirts and have been a tremendous support to Joy throughout this journey.

 
  KuMed is a huge hospital and we were stunned to find the surgical (they have more than 1) waiting room almost completely full.  At 6 a.m. we were all given stickers identifying us as the family for surgical patient #24.  They also gave us a private number that would link us to Joy's surgical status.  Thankfully, we weren't in the waiting room too long before they took us back to a holding room where we counted 9 different doctors, interns, or nurses prepping her for surgery and asking the same set of questions.  Before they took her away for to inject a dye to locate the sentinel lymph node, we took a picture of her getting a series of injections for a nerve block in her upper back. It was designed to reduce the pain and the need for additional pain meds later. As you can see, Joy maintained a smile and positive attitude as they rolled her away from us and into the surgical suite.

     I can't fully explain the range of emotions i felt seeing her move down the hallway and through the doors where we could no longer follow.  We'd been able to sit with her for 2 hours prior to her leaving us for surgery. It was the last time I'd see her until after 8:00 that evening in the recovery room.  It was a very long day of waiting. I was thankful to have the company of my daughter Liz,  Joy's sister Alice, and three friends, Paula French, Patti Alberts, and Pam Renner.  What a gift it was to have friends there to pass the time and support Joy.  We were able to use the number they gave us to track her progress throughout the day. That's Joy on the top of the list on the picture below.

   While Joy was in recovery, we were able to talk to the breast surgeon and the plastic surgeon. It was then we were told the news that an additional procedure was done because they did find cancer in the lymph nodes. I confess that this was the only time throughout this process where my courage wavered and I shed a few tears.  By the time I saw Joy in recovery my courage was renewed and I was hoping she would be too loopy to ask many questions.  Not my Joy.  The first question she asked was " what did they find?" I tried to divert the conversation but she stopped me and asked again.  When I told her they did find cancer in the nodes, her eyes filled with tears but they were gone as quickly as they'd arrived.  We kissed and she smiled and was back to the woman I've always known.  She grabbed the top of her gown and pulled it up and said, "Look, I've got boobs". We both laughed and I knew she would be just fine regardless of where we're headed. She's an amazing woman.

    This series of photos is a little bit of the week's progress for Joy.  She began the week sleeping most of the day and night in her new recliner. When she first came home she had almost no use of her arms due to the pain, stitching and the 3 drain tubes inserted into her chest.  As of this writing, she still has the drain tubes and some pain but she is up and around and looking for something to do.  The last picture is one of my favorites. Sitting out on the deck with her coffee and a big smile on her face.  We meet with the doctors again tomorrow and learn the full results of the pathology tests and what the future holds with regard to chemo and radiation.  Please continue to pray with us for good results and for the wisdom of the skilled medical team.  Looking at that last picture, is there any doubt she is ready for the next challenge?