Sunday, February 16, 2014

Surgery Tomorrow

Tomorrow morning we'll get up before dawn, take our sweet foster girl to a respite home (of dear friends), pick up my dad, and head to Cleveland for my surgery. First I will have blue radioactive dye injected into the melanoma site (which I am secretly hoping gives me some kind of super power) and they will watch where the dye drains to. They will make note of which lymph node basin and which is the sentinel node and I will head to a different part of the hospital to have a node or two removed and sent for biopsy (we are believing and trusting God that the results will be good), after the lymph nodes are on their way, my melanoma, which a friend has appropriately named "assmole" will be evicted with two centimeter margins in all directions leaving me with a gnarly scar, which I will proudly wear.

Overall, I am not sure if I feel overwhelming peace, or just numb, but I feel positive and hopeful and truthfully I've been taking such good care of myself that I haven't physically felt this well in quite some time. The plan is to get some rest tonight, rock this surgery tomorrow and be home by dinner. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous about the pain, the possible drain for lymphatic fluid and the idea of letting other people take care of my sweet kids, but I'd also be lying if I said I didn't have a list of books, TEDTalks, and Netflix movies all ready. In the past few weeks I've seen quite a bit of growth in myself. It sounds a little crazy but I am grateful. I am grateful for the perspective this cancer has brought.

I am enjoying my days, my family and my friends, I am eating well, exercising and spending time in my bible. I am healthy and I have EVERY confidence with Him, I can BEAT this cancer. I'd appreciate your continued prayers on this journey because I can truly FEEL every one and it has done MUCH for my heart. The outpouring of love has been amazing. I am a blessed woman.



3 comments:

Liz said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Liz said...

My Mom had a very similar surgery at the Cleveland Clinic last April and you are in great hands. Her mole was on the back of her hand. She had the sentinel lymph node testing done (all negative) and her melanoma staging was downgraded after surgery when all of the pathology came back. Yes, you can see the where the skin grafting (by Dr. Gastman) was done on her hand but it is a scar she wears proudly to each follow-up visit with dermatology every three months. You will all be in my prayers as you undergo surgery and throughout the days and weeks ahead. *Sorry for the first post being deleted. I can't think too clearly at this hour and wanted to edit it so it made sense.

Rachel said...

I have followed your blog for a long time. Just caught up on this news. All I can say is wow. I'm calling my derm now because of you!

I know the results are going to come out negative. Everything is going to be fine. I trust in this for you.

I have no great words to offer. I can only say you are in my thoughts and prayers.