Surgery Update

Sorry for not posting sooner, but I've been very busy since Thanksgiving.

Mom, had to be taken off her blood thinners one week prior to her surgery. So every night we had to go in and give her an injection in her hip. Me being a little not sure of giving one shots, I delegated Dean to this duty and he gladly took it on. We had to go to the hospital 5 days prior to her surgery to get her registered for surgery and in patient care. So, we sat and got all the paperwork, bloodwork, and took x-rays to the radiology department. On Monday, November 29th we had to be at Brandon Regional Hospital @ 5:15 am. YAWN, that was a rough one. But we made it and got her in her room. The nurse had a heck of a time getting a vein for my mama. She has small, rolling veins and they always have a hard time. It took all three of us to get one going, but finally got one. They took her up to the radiology department and inserted the wires around the tumors so that the doctor would know where to go and they brought her back to her room to wait for the anesthesiologist (sp?). He came in at 8:15, talked to her about the procedure and then wheeled her back to the OR. At 11:30 we finally got the call that she was out of surgery.

They kept her in the hospital until Thursday and then sent her home. She was still extremely weak and was almost unable to walk. She has had a rough time gaining her strength back. She is finally able to get up and down out of bed by herself but is not able to walk a long distance without help.

We went back to the surgeon this week and we got the biopsy report. It looks like there is still more cancer in her right breast and they are going to have to go back and take more. The doctors recommendation is that he do a mastectomy. Right now mom is waivering back and forth about what to do. We just need prayers that she make the decision she is going to be most comfortable with. I know God has it all in his hands and I continue to pray for the strenth to get through this. I'm blessed to be able to walk beside my mother during this tough time and be her support system.

I'm scared about what's to come next. I had already moved my mind past surgery and onto radiation and now I must get back into the surgery mode. Just pray for us as we endure more tough decisions.