My Latest Adventure; The Hospital Stay and Back Home

The Lewis County Herald - 10/18/22

The cards continue to arrive in the mailbox and the kind words of well-wishes from every direction haven’t slowed down.

I can’t find the adequate words to express my appreciation to everyone who has said a prayer, sent a card, prepared a meal, run an errand, sent a message, or in any other way uplifted Tammy and me in the month since my birthday. The day we received the initial diagnosis of colon cancer.

Much has happened in those 30 days.

One thing we will always remember is the kindness shown us through the outpouring of prayers and other loving actions of friends, family, and community.

During one of the first follow-up visits after my surgery, the doctor said the cancer was diagnosed early and it appears the surgeon was successful in removing the entirety of it during the procedure.

As I had mentioned in an earlier installment, I hadn’t encountered any symptoms I would associate with colon cancer.

I went to my family doctor just before my 60th birthday and asked for any tests pertinent to my age along with a review of shots/vaccines  and to bring me up to date.

The cancerous mass was found during a colonoscopy when a biopsy taken. From there we were referred to the surgeon who excised the mass and enough surrounding tissue to ensure complete removal of the cancer.

I decided to write about about my experience with the hope my story will underscore the need that we should all take advantage of preventive care screenings. Sometimes there are no symptoms.

The decision to tell my story was made before the surgery. Before we received the good prognosis. We didn’t know in what directions we would be taken or how long our journey would be.

At this point, we are on the road we had prayed for. We are humbled and thankful.

Last week I promised some of my take-aways from the hospital stay and return home.

I remember the nurses taking me back to the surgical suite and then slowly opening my eyes as a nurse in recovery asked if I was ready to go to my room.

At the time, I didn’t know it had been about eight hours since that ride back to the surgical suite. I also didn’t know there were potholes in the hospital hallways between the recovery area and my room. Or that it would seem like the trip was about four miles long.

It was during that trip that I became acutely aware of a type of pain in my mid-section that I had never before encountered.

The nursing team soon initiated pain management procedures and my situation soon greatly improved.

I don’t recall much else from that first night.

On my eventual arrival to my room, I do remember seeing Tammy and the dedicated support team that had waited with her throughout the entire duration of my absence. I could tell they were smiling behind the masks. I was too, sans mask.

They had received regular updates from nurses and a visit from the surgeon on completion of the procedure. He provided them a brief description of the extent of the steps he had taken in the OR.

She relayed that information to me after the nursing team got me settled in, although I don’t recall it.

She has since replayed some videos captured that first evening and relayed some other interactions that have only reinforced to me that I am able to maintain my sharp wit and wry humor in just about any situation.

One such encounter she recounted was as a lab technician was drawing some blood samples from my arm for testing.

I (reportedly) asked what premium I would receive in exchange for my blood donation, adding that it is generally a tee-shirt, to which the tech dryly replied there were no prized to be issued.

While I have little personal experience with post-surgical hospital stays and the associated care, Tammy and I are well pleased with the care and attention we received during the brief time we were there.

I was released from the hospital three short days following my surgery. The surgeon and other doctors assigned to me were well pleased with my recovery and sent us home with the standard admonishments to rest and not rush the healing process.

Tammy has done her best to keep me adhered to those directives.

While I am continuing to heal, I am also counting my many blessings. Prayers have been answered and we are thankful. Thankful for those who uttered them and for God’s grace and touch of His healing hand.

We’re scheduled to meet with the surgeon in the coming days and develop a plan for the next step we’ll be taking in this journey.

I continue to ask for prayers and kind thoughts

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Tammy ordered more bracelets. We never thought there would be so many requests for them. They are available at the newspaper office and radio station, no charge. (Or message us.)

 

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