Tuesday, November 13, 2012

One down. One to go.

We arrived bright and early for Dena's feeding tube insertion. She behaved well and came through like a champ. All morning the doctors used words like extraordinary, amazing and gumption.

The nurses called me back to wake her and either I or the nurse would say, "Dena, it's time to wake up." She would reply, "I'm ready. Can we go now?" and try to get up before falling right back to sleep. As the fog cleared and I got instructions on how to use the Peg line and keep all clean and healthy she told me that had to get to January, she needed fruit, and it would cost $1000 a month. Ah, the joys of anesthesia.
Needless to say she got progressively better during the day and is comparing the pain to a broken rib in the wrong spot.

We had to go back to the hospital in the afternoon for her pre-op. We loved, loved, loved the doctor there who was completely intrigued that Dena is a freight conductor and asked to hear her story. She shared with us how she was so proud of her lawn mowing business as a child because everyone told her girls couldn't do it and then about her win against breast cancer.  We talked about her fight, the stuff no one tells you and how you get to graduate to yearly check-ups in time. We all agreed that surgery will get clean margins and we'll save chemo and radiation for someone else. I'm standing on faith. We all agree she "doesn't have time for this" and she needs to stick around. ;)

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous11/14/2012

    I love your attitude through this. Dena seems ready for this fight. :)

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  2. Thinking about you guys...things are going to go juuuusssstttt fine!! XOXO

    ReplyDelete