Our Drama

Timeline of the recent drama in our life.

Feb 3rd Friday- went to work and experienced increasing abdominal pain throughout the day. I had experienced it occasionally throughout the month but thought it was indigestion.

4^th Saturday- headed into the instacare where I was then sent to the ER. In the ER Drs. were feeling that appendicitis was the culprit. Ct scan was taken and Drs. informed me that my appendix would have to come out. When the surgeon got to the hospital he took a look at the CT scan and along with the radiologist determined that there was some unusual looking growth on the scan in the mid right abdomen. At that time the surgeon does some research and refers me to an oncologist (cancer specialist), my heart sinks. I receive antibiotics and pain meds in case of a bacterial infection.

5^th Sunday- I experience a high fever and head in for another round of antibiotics and pain meds. Jeff also takes Corbin to the instacare for an ear infection when we noticed blood on the outer rim of his ear.

7^th Tuesday- Oncologist calls and tells me that surgery is needed and it is scheduled for Thursday the 16^th.

10^th Friday- At the appointment with the Oncologist I get to see the mass. It is very irregular, has calcified spots and HAS to come out. A blood test determines that it is not cancerous but Dr. says that it still could be. He really has no clue at what it is. He does know that he most likely need to remove some of my colon.

In the meantime, lots of tears, questions, heartache, and mental anguish occur. Am I doing the right thing? Have I asked the right questions, have I got the right Dr.? This really sucks!! Corbin needs another antibiotic because the first one is not helping and another trip to the ER after he falls off a ladder in our garage.

15^th Wednesday- Corbin heads to Idaho to live with my parents and I begin the dreaded colon cleanse. I still shiver when I recall that evil drink mixed with antibiotics that landed me in the bathroom until 4am spewing in both directions. YUCK!

16^th Thursday- Headed in for surgery at 6:30am with lots of poking and sleepy juice. The surgery lasts 3 hours and they remove a baseball sized mass along with 10 inches of my small bowel and 4 inches of my colon. When I finally come to it is about 5pm and I am in an intense amount of pain for the next several hours while they try to manage my pain meds and my allergic reactions to them.

17^th Friday- Dr. informs us that the mass is from a ruptured aneurism that was luckily encapsulated in the tissue and fat surrounding the affected artery. He feels that it had happened in the area before and then recently acted up again. I wonder if this is related to the experience I had when I was a child that landed me in the ER several times with stomach pain and no diagnosis??

Wonderful Jeff is by my side on the road to recovery as he sleeps on the little couch and reads the first book of The Hunger Games to me. Thanks to everyone for your love and support via phone calls, flowers, texts, and facebook.

20^th Monday- Dr. gives me the okay to head home, but we return later that night when I feel very nauseated, dizzy, and am passing a lot of blood in my stool.

Now I am on the 4-6 week road to recovery and very grateful for life; it is amazing how quickly it can change. At the moments where I thought I could possibly die from all of this I was granted a very peaceful feeling that everything would turn out how it is supposed to. Also, while evaluating my life I was so happy to have the feeling of fulfillment that I have and have had a wonderful life and wouldn't change a thing. So everyone give your spouse and kids an extra hug and kiss tonight for me. Call an old friend, or do something that you have always wanted to do because life is too precious to waste!