Surgery Day
March 13-14, 2020
We didn’t get much sleep the night before surgery. We woke up at 5am in order to prepare for the surgery at 8am. Alisa had to shower with a Chlorohexadine wash (the same stuff I prescribe for patients who have severe gum disease) and drink a protein drink all before 6am. We arrived to the hospital not just on time BUT early! Go Alisa, that alone was a big task.
While waiting in pre-op, Alisa’s surgeon came in to touch base with us and review the game plan. He reassured us, especially Alisa, that what she was doing was the best decision she can make for her future. Especially given her genetic diagnosis, her current development of this mass and her family history. It was comforting to hear this from an individual who is renowned in the profession. Both docs said if Alisa was their sister, daughter or wife, they would have them do this surgery too.
By the time they wheeled Alisa back it was 9:30 am. Earlier surgeries were running over their scheduled times. I would get a phone call from one of the nurses in the operating room every way2 hours. Our friend Jason flew down here to New Orlean; meanwhile, his wife and dear friend of mine Brittney was getting packed the next day to fly to watch our kids. When I got the first phone call it was 10:17 am. My heart sank and I felt a knot form in my throat. It hadn’t been 2 hours since they pulled Alisa back! What was going on? It’s really easy for the mind to naturally travel down a path where you think something bad is happening. Especially when your under the stresses of a loved one who is undergoing an invasive surgery. This wasn’t the case. The nurse reported that they started the surgery and everything was going according to plan. Far too often, I think we create a world of anxiety and distortion instead of recognizing the truth. The truth in this situation was that they were calling to inform me that things were good and that Alisa was tolerating the surgery well. I received four more phone calls throughout the day saying the things were going well for Alisa and that the surgery was going according to plans.
Alisa’s Surgical Oncologists came up to the room a little after 1 pm to report that the mastectomy was completed. His initial evaluation of the breast tissue was good in the sense that he didn’t believe that there were any malignancies. However, he said that the definitive pathology report will be back sometime next week. In that report we’ll learn about the true nature of the most recent mass. The Surgical Oncologist mentioned that he did remove some of the lymph in the left side as a precautionary treatment. Alisa was still in surgery for another four hours for the reconstruction phases and then another two hours in recovery before she was brought up to the room.
When they brought her in the room I was overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude. In that moment I knew that the road of recovery is going to be a huge challenge, dealing with drainage tubes and
pain and incisions all over the place. But I also knew that what Alisa was going through was what she needed to do in order to enjoy life life without worry and fear. That is what we look forward to. This surgery is just moment in her life that’s going to refine her into an even more spectacular person. She’s already an amazing individual-can you imagine what she’s going to offer to others when she climbs this mountain too?
She is eating and drinking now (7pm) and has walked the halls twice already. Pain control was quite horrific at the beginning, but a little better as we continue on...Her incisions are from one hip across the whole abdomen, with a total of 4 drains. This flap, including blood vessels, was transferred under the incisions in both breasts. Unbelievable! These surgeons pioneered this technique called Diep (extended diep for Alisa). The staff and facilities is amazing too. Overall, we hurdled over some big milestones today and hope to keep going one day and one hour at a time.
Thank you all for your love and prayers, flowers, texts and gifts. We feel the support of a loving, caring and very present Father in Heaven. If we would have waited for this surgery on the original due date of April 22nd it very likely could have been postponed because of coronavirus. We are in a safe clean place, I hope you are too.
Loves and sanitizer.
Check for the next blog update tomorrow.
We didn’t get much sleep the night before surgery. We woke up at 5am in order to prepare for the surgery at 8am. Alisa had to shower with a Chlorohexadine wash (the same stuff I prescribe for patients who have severe gum disease) and drink a protein drink all before 6am. We arrived to the hospital not just on time BUT early! Go Alisa, that alone was a big task.
While waiting in pre-op, Alisa’s surgeon came in to touch base with us and review the game plan. He reassured us, especially Alisa, that what she was doing was the best decision she can make for her future. Especially given her genetic diagnosis, her current development of this mass and her family history. It was comforting to hear this from an individual who is renowned in the profession. Both docs said if Alisa was their sister, daughter or wife, they would have them do this surgery too.
By the time they wheeled Alisa back it was 9:30 am. Earlier surgeries were running over their scheduled times. I would get a phone call from one of the nurses in the operating room every way2 hours. Our friend Jason flew down here to New Orlean; meanwhile, his wife and dear friend of mine Brittney was getting packed the next day to fly to watch our kids. When I got the first phone call it was 10:17 am. My heart sank and I felt a knot form in my throat. It hadn’t been 2 hours since they pulled Alisa back! What was going on? It’s really easy for the mind to naturally travel down a path where you think something bad is happening. Especially when your under the stresses of a loved one who is undergoing an invasive surgery. This wasn’t the case. The nurse reported that they started the surgery and everything was going according to plan. Far too often, I think we create a world of anxiety and distortion instead of recognizing the truth. The truth in this situation was that they were calling to inform me that things were good and that Alisa was tolerating the surgery well. I received four more phone calls throughout the day saying the things were going well for Alisa and that the surgery was going according to plans.
Alisa’s Surgical Oncologists came up to the room a little after 1 pm to report that the mastectomy was completed. His initial evaluation of the breast tissue was good in the sense that he didn’t believe that there were any malignancies. However, he said that the definitive pathology report will be back sometime next week. In that report we’ll learn about the true nature of the most recent mass. The Surgical Oncologist mentioned that he did remove some of the lymph in the left side as a precautionary treatment. Alisa was still in surgery for another four hours for the reconstruction phases and then another two hours in recovery before she was brought up to the room.
When they brought her in the room I was overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude. In that moment I knew that the road of recovery is going to be a huge challenge, dealing with drainage tubes and
pain and incisions all over the place. But I also knew that what Alisa was going through was what she needed to do in order to enjoy life life without worry and fear. That is what we look forward to. This surgery is just moment in her life that’s going to refine her into an even more spectacular person. She’s already an amazing individual-can you imagine what she’s going to offer to others when she climbs this mountain too?
She is eating and drinking now (7pm) and has walked the halls twice already. Pain control was quite horrific at the beginning, but a little better as we continue on...Her incisions are from one hip across the whole abdomen, with a total of 4 drains. This flap, including blood vessels, was transferred under the incisions in both breasts. Unbelievable! These surgeons pioneered this technique called Diep (extended diep for Alisa). The staff and facilities is amazing too. Overall, we hurdled over some big milestones today and hope to keep going one day and one hour at a time.
Thank you all for your love and prayers, flowers, texts and gifts. We feel the support of a loving, caring and very present Father in Heaven. If we would have waited for this surgery on the original due date of April 22nd it very likely could have been postponed because of coronavirus. We are in a safe clean place, I hope you are too.
Loves and sanitizer.
Check for the next blog update tomorrow.
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