Last Tuesday, while Ben was at the seminary in St. Louis, I woke up with some abdominal pain that I interpreted as a pulled muscle. A friend pointed out that the "pulled muscle" was in the same area as my appendix. I spent several hours trying to decide what I should do about this and eventually was in too much pain to think clearly. Thankfully, my friend took charge: made arrangements for the kids and drove me to the emergency room.
I went into surgery Tues. evening -- while Ben was driving home from St. Louis -- expecting an appendectomy, and woke up the next morning to hear that the surgeon had removed my appendix and a tumor from my colon. It seems the tumor was pressing on the appendix. Thank God for pain.
My recovery has gone smoothly so far. I am so relieved to be home. I am sleeping pretty well and eating well in small amounts. I appreciate your notes, phone calls, and short visits. My replies may be slow because I'm tired.
++++++++++++++
I don't know much about the cancer situation yet. An oncologist visited me briefly in the hospital and I will see him again at the end of the week. Apparently 35 is very young to develop colon cancer. I have a family history of this -- including my older sister, who is undergoing chemotherapy right now -- so just cutting out the tumor is not going to be enough. It sounds like I will have a six-month course of chemo, beginning in about a month.
+++++++++++++
Ben is back at the seminary for two more weeks of class. His mom is here with Owen and me, and the big boys are in Kentucky with my parents. The kids are all very happy and this is an excellent arrangement for my recovery time.
Your prayers and compassion are priceless gifts to me. My life feels like a mess but I also feel very loved.
2 comments:
Oh, Susan. Somehow I missed all of this on your facebook page. The last one I read, you were just looking for a break.
I will be praying for you, for your strength and healing. You really are in His Hands.
Susan... in 1999 I had my appendix out. It turned out that my appendix was not the problem. They never found out the problem, actually. But the surgeon said there was a tumor ON my appendix. I'm grateful for it to be gone as well.
Please keep writing on your blog through this time as it helps me to pray for you. Do you know yet if you are going to Gurnee?
Post a Comment