From Markey Cancer Center - posted and drafted by Rose Ann
Day 1 - October 10
We met with one of the world' s best gyneclogical oncologists today at his office with part of his team, headed by an red headed irishman, a senior resident fellow. This doctor is very competent, very kind and caring and said he would operate the next day. Two hours later, Ruth had a room at the Cancer Center in Lexington. This is the best place anyone could be if they are sick with ovarian cancer. Ruthie has such good care and they are so responsive. Residents from the team visit often, and the head surgeon comes twice a day, nurses come within a minute of a call, a nurse technician comes every hour and checks on Ruthie. What a great crew she has to take care of her!
Day 2 - October 11
This is surgery day. I thought we were going to do it 6:30 am, but an emergency bumped us from the operating room. At 3 pm we went down and got the epidural and prepped for surgery. The anesthesiologist had the personality of Attila the Hun, and she scared Ruthie. I told me, her big sister before surgery that "she made me cry". {Dr. Great Guy said she was the best and he apologized later for her bad behavior toward Ruthie. He chastised her also. She may have no personality, but the drugs are working fine and Ruthie can get a jolt when she needs it.}
In the next two and half hours, 5 liters (11 pounds) of fluid was taken off her stomach (see, she wasn't really that fat), and all the tumors were taken out except two tiny spots, the size of a baby fingernail, were left because they were too close to the liver blood supply. Ruthie was lucky that she didn't have to have her colon cut or the bladder, liver or spleen. She is so grataeful that she was able to get the very best so very fast and that she got a free appendectomy too.
At 9 o'clock Ruthie was back in her room and ready to talk. She felt so much better already. The epidural was left in so she can have pain killer at will. Hubbie and Big Sister slept in the room with her. We all feel so much better. Hubbie got the lazy boy and Big Sister got the couch. Their snores harmonized and Ruthie watched penguins on the nature channel.
Day 3 - October 12.
Ruthie still feels so much better than when she came in. Her mantra today has been that "I feel great". She sat up in chair for 2 1/2 hours and then took a walk down the hall and back. See my pictures (aren't cell phones great?). The balls are her drain tubes. After a nap, she got to eat ice chips. It may not sound like much to you, but ice was the first thing she had to eat or drink in 36 hours. The clear liquids weren't too enticing, but she did enjoy part of a cherry popsicle.
The cancer center takes emails for patients and brings them to the room like mail. Ruthie loved the emails from friends and family. Lawyer Niece figured it out and got the troops to work on sending those emails. Hubbie was able to go home, take a nap, check the mail and bring Ruthie's house plants in. We were having a frost last night and we didn't want the house plants that were outside to freeze.
Baby brother and other sisters and their families have burned up the phone lines (thank god for so many minutes on our cell phone plans) and Hubbie's family has been equally helpful in calling with words of support and good cheer.
Day 4 - October 13
She had a great breakfast of bullion and a little apple juice. The bandages came off and Hubbie and Big Sister inspected the scar. They avoided the navel with the incision (didn't want her to look like an alien). Ruthie doesn't do scabs so she is taking our word for it. After a morning of talking on the phone, visitng with Hubbie and watching Ellen and reading the paper, she decided to sit in the chair and then walk. No nap was a bad idea.
Ruthie had been dreaming of lemon sherbert with 7up on it. She finally got orange sherbert for lunch, but it didn't seem so appetizing.
The staff told us that day 2 would be not as good as day 1. Darn, they were right. She felt a bit woosy today, but got up and sat in my chair anyway. No walking today and back to ice chips until the stomach settles down.
Day 5 - October 14
Great night! Ruthie slept well and so did poor Hubbie. She had three walks by 10:30. California Sister arrived and she got to see the great progress. The clear liquid diet is going better. She is starting on oral meds and the epidural willl go sometime today.
Hubbie and Big Sister went out for lunch and to visit a friend's horse farm. He needed a break. Big Sister has been staying with a friend in Lexington, but had gone back home to meet California Sister last night.
A nap seems to be in order this afternoon.
We met with one of the world' s best gyneclogical oncologists today at his office with part of his team, headed by an red headed irishman, a senior resident fellow. This doctor is very competent, very kind and caring and said he would operate the next day. Two hours later, Ruth had a room at the Cancer Center in Lexington. This is the best place anyone could be if they are sick with ovarian cancer. Ruthie has such good care and they are so responsive. Residents from the team visit often, and the head surgeon comes twice a day, nurses come within a minute of a call, a nurse technician comes every hour and checks on Ruthie. What a great crew she has to take care of her!
Day 2 - October 11
This is surgery day. I thought we were going to do it 6:30 am, but an emergency bumped us from the operating room. At 3 pm we went down and got the epidural and prepped for surgery. The anesthesiologist had the personality of Attila the Hun, and she scared Ruthie. I told me, her big sister before surgery that "she made me cry". {Dr. Great Guy said she was the best and he apologized later for her bad behavior toward Ruthie. He chastised her also. She may have no personality, but the drugs are working fine and Ruthie can get a jolt when she needs it.}
In the next two and half hours, 5 liters (11 pounds) of fluid was taken off her stomach (see, she wasn't really that fat), and all the tumors were taken out except two tiny spots, the size of a baby fingernail, were left because they were too close to the liver blood supply. Ruthie was lucky that she didn't have to have her colon cut or the bladder, liver or spleen. She is so grataeful that she was able to get the very best so very fast and that she got a free appendectomy too.
At 9 o'clock Ruthie was back in her room and ready to talk. She felt so much better already. The epidural was left in so she can have pain killer at will. Hubbie and Big Sister slept in the room with her. We all feel so much better. Hubbie got the lazy boy and Big Sister got the couch. Their snores harmonized and Ruthie watched penguins on the nature channel.
Day 3 - October 12.
Ruthie still feels so much better than when she came in. Her mantra today has been that "I feel great". She sat up in chair for 2 1/2 hours and then took a walk down the hall and back. See my pictures (aren't cell phones great?). The balls are her drain tubes. After a nap, she got to eat ice chips. It may not sound like much to you, but ice was the first thing she had to eat or drink in 36 hours. The clear liquids weren't too enticing, but she did enjoy part of a cherry popsicle.
The cancer center takes emails for patients and brings them to the room like mail. Ruthie loved the emails from friends and family. Lawyer Niece figured it out and got the troops to work on sending those emails. Hubbie was able to go home, take a nap, check the mail and bring Ruthie's house plants in. We were having a frost last night and we didn't want the house plants that were outside to freeze.
Baby brother and other sisters and their families have burned up the phone lines (thank god for so many minutes on our cell phone plans) and Hubbie's family has been equally helpful in calling with words of support and good cheer.
Day 4 - October 13
She had a great breakfast of bullion and a little apple juice. The bandages came off and Hubbie and Big Sister inspected the scar. They avoided the navel with the incision (didn't want her to look like an alien). Ruthie doesn't do scabs so she is taking our word for it. After a morning of talking on the phone, visitng with Hubbie and watching Ellen and reading the paper, she decided to sit in the chair and then walk. No nap was a bad idea.
Ruthie had been dreaming of lemon sherbert with 7up on it. She finally got orange sherbert for lunch, but it didn't seem so appetizing.
The staff told us that day 2 would be not as good as day 1. Darn, they were right. She felt a bit woosy today, but got up and sat in my chair anyway. No walking today and back to ice chips until the stomach settles down.
Day 5 - October 14
Great night! Ruthie slept well and so did poor Hubbie. She had three walks by 10:30. California Sister arrived and she got to see the great progress. The clear liquid diet is going better. She is starting on oral meds and the epidural willl go sometime today.
Hubbie and Big Sister went out for lunch and to visit a friend's horse farm. He needed a break. Big Sister has been staying with a friend in Lexington, but had gone back home to meet California Sister last night.
A nap seems to be in order this afternoon.
posted by Ruthie at 12:43 PM
1 Comments:
Ruthie's color is good. She has a great spirit. She was told that walking was good for her. We walked so much, she broke into a sweat.
Rosie and Ray are doing a great job of taking care of her.
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