Today marks 3 weeks since my surgery and I’m still happy as a clam to be cancer free. But I didn’t feel well over the weekend. It became clear I needed an ER eval so off we finally went to the hospital Sunday evening. They ran tests then moved me to a room in the surgery center for observation overnight. 

The CT scan I had around midnight proved valuable and reassuring. My own surgeon entered the room this morning practically gleeful with relief. No evidence of things they worried about seeing. We’re still waiting for cultures to come back (those take a couple days) but nobody expects infection surprises there, based on other labs. Even the drain placement appears on the CT scan to be stable and functioning as it should. 

The team reviewing my case believes the changes I was experiencing over the last few days (e.g., low-grade fevers, increased abdominal pain, some elevated drainage, fresh blood all day Saturday) are just reminders of how significant this surgery was. Dr. Sparkman said, “The pancreas does NOT like to be cut. So, when you cut half of it off the way we did, the whole body acts like it’s running to a 5-alarm fire for a while.” 

He admits the first 4 to 6 weeks aren’t comfortable and require close monitoring and patience. But he remains confident I’ll soon feel a lot better. So… more labs this Thursday then visit Dr Sparkman in clinic on Friday. 

Many thanks to everyone who started praying right away when I put out alerts. It was a comfort to receive that partnership in faith when I was fighting some fear.

Larry and I are also tremendously grateful Alex would sacrifice her own Sunday evening  to cover with Carly until Madison could get here. Madison stayed overnight which allowed Larry to stay with me until the CT result came in the wee hours of Monday morning.

Reading these verses also helped. 

 

Psalm 116:5-9
 How kind the Lord is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! The Lord protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and he saved me. Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me. He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. And so I walk in the Lord’s presence as I live here on earth!
 

Psalm 33:20-22 

We put our hope in the Lord.
   He is our help and our shield.
 In him our hearts rejoice,
   for we trust in his holy name.
 Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,
   for our hope is in you alone.