Let's Have Another Round Tonight

"Keep loving. Keep trying. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep growing. Heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow, and forever."

- Jeffrey R. Holland

That beautiful lady in the picture below listened to her "Hamilton" soundtrack yesterday while prepping for surgery. Fitting song in the photo: "Stay Alive."

The mastectomy and reconstruction surgeries went just as expected, or so said the doctors. Last night was rough though: the pain and the pain meds increased her nausea, which increased the pain, and so on. Nurses weren't particularly helpful overnight. Then this morning the doctors took charge with new medicines and finally started getting the pain and nausea under control. She's finally sleeping now.

I'm keeping busy during the napping moments by managing the business and helping students in the online classes I'm teaching. Both are pleasant distractions from the hospital drama.

Unfortunately, we'll be here one more night. But we're eager to get back home and see Mama's Warriors again soon. So glad to have Grandma with them. And I'm so glad to have found a new series for Netflix binge-watching in the hospital room.

Now we get real about recovery. Here's what I posted on Facebook yesterday at 2:52 pm:

"Liz's surgery is done after about 2.5 hours with the doctors. Things went well, no surprises, and she responded well to the anesthesia. I'm going to go see her when she gets back to holding and starts waking up. We won't have any pathology reports for at least a week, and we have the first post-op appointments beginning mid-week next week. Then regular treatment for the first cancer (the one whose can she already kicked) on Thursday of next week. And weekly appointments for a couple of months until the second reconstruction surgery can get scheduled. Woah. Thank you for your prayers, comments, and help with the kids. Note that Liz won't be able to drive for a few weeks, and she won't be able to lift her right arm (she's right-handed!) for a while as she recovers, so be patient with her texting and messages for now. But don't stop talking to her and don't hold back in an effort to protect her. Be present for and with her. And pray that pathology comes back clean so there won't be any new chemo or radiation treatments, just focusing on surgery recovery and continuing to punch the original cancer in the face. Go Team Liz. BATTLE ON."