I am two weeks past my surgery and resting comfortably at home. I’ve been wanting to write but it just hasn’t seemed like the right time until now. Since I’ve shared everything, and have been very transparent, I felt like a little wrap up after the surgery, was in order. I want to share what they did and how the recovery is coming along as well as how all of the prayers have truly been answered.

First the surgery, (December 1st) took longer than expected. The doctor was very meticulous to make sure he got it all. In the end, he removed the middle lobe of my right lung, a sliver off the top lobe and 3/4 of the lower. The top lobe is the biggest so I’m actually left with more lung than he thought I would have, which is outstanding! The initial night in ICU was rough, but they took great care of me. I don’t handle medication well and now I’ve been pumped full of various medicines, so nausea and such was expected. Tuesday morning while waiting to be transferred to a regular room, they made me sit in a chair. UGH! No fun, but I guess it’s needed to begin the recovery process. I’m not one for bucking the system so I’ll do what they tell me if it will help in my healing. I was moved to a private room and had a tremendous amount of pain in my right shoulder. Considering my arm was probably up over my head for 7 hours, that only stands to reason. I had no other pain. Let me say that again, I had no other pain. There was discomfort, due to a huge drainage tube sticking out of my side, but no pain. God is soooo Good!

The next thing I had to do was walk. Ummm, ok. That sounds like a bad idea, but again, they’re the experts and I’m here to do what I need to do, to get well. So with 2 tubes out of my side, 3 various IV type things, my EKG cords, and oxygen….off I went. I managed to walk down the hall to the nurse’s station and back to my room, and was told that was excellent. YAY ME!  You are also given a little breathing tool, called a pickle, in which you take as deep a breath as you can then blow into this little contraption so it makes a flutter sound. 10 times every hour. Get those lungs working and do you what is needed, so pneumonia doesn’t set in.  By dinner Tuesday night I was on regular diet which was also a good sign.

Things got a little interesting mid-week. During the night my heart rate would drop down in the 40’s and then shoot back up in the 90’s. I also would have, what they called “pauses”, where my heart would stop for 2-3 beats. It’s an interesting experience being woken up to the nurse telling you they are attaching defibrillator pads to you just as a precaution. Say what?! Ok, I’m awake now and not even thinking about closing my eyes! That will get your heart pumping again! So that continued for the next three nights and the reason I stayed a bit longer in the hospital. Thank you to Bethel music for wonderful worship to bring me peace. Focusing on Jesus and worshiping definitely brought a sense of calm.

I was cleared by my doctor as well as a cardiologist on Saturday (December 6th) and went home to my own bed(well my recliner anyway). Since I’ve been home I have really been feeling quite well. It’s a process, and of course there is discomfort, but I feel like my breathing is good. The incision looks like a big scratch, and I’ll have very little scarring. I have been so blessed by the cards, flowers, phone calls, texts, food and visitors, I know that has helped my healing process tremendously!

Today I went back for my follow up appointment and have them remove a stitch from where the tube was located. I am happy to say I was given a gold star for my recovery progress! Lung looks good (different but good), incision is healing well, my breathing sounds good….I am so happy!

I truly feel like the overwhelming amount of prayer is the reason. At one point I believe God said “Ok, enough already, I hear you!” There is so much power in prayer. I have no regrets in sharing this experience with all of you and I hope you can look back over my posts and be encouraged when challenges come your way. Remember that nothing takes God by surprise. He is never taken off guard like I was when I first heard “you have cancer tumors in your lung”. In John 16:33 Jesus tells us that in this world we will have trouble but to take heart, HE has overcome the world!! The hope lies in Jesus.