Chapter 2

Wow, I can't believe it's been 1 1/2 months since we last posted anything.  As you probably have guessed, Mary really hasn't felt like writing anything, so that is why she hasn't posted anything.  As far as why I haven't, I guess I just haven't been sure what to post.  Anyone who wanted to know what was going on with her either called or emailed her, so I figured I didn't need to post.  However, I've been thinking that one of the main reasons we started doing this blog was so Mary could look back and remember how far she came from the beginning and when she thought she would never make it through some days.  So, I will give a short update on the last three Chemo treatments for her to look back on, and for anyone who is still checking in on this blog.

There were good days and bad days through the last three treatments.  Mostly they weren't great though.  She had major bone pain and just felt like s?!*.  She still has bad neuropathy in her hands and feet that the Docs are saying should go away eventually.  Most days were spent going from the chair to the couch to the bed and back again.  All very slowly.  We were very excited the day of her last treatment.  The nurses at the Treatment Center threw confetti and rang a bell in celebration.  It was a good day!

Fast forward to today.  3 1/2 weeks later and Surgery Day.  Mary was so ready for this day.  Couldn't even sleep last night she was so excited.  Oh yeah, maybe it was the hot flashes that kept waking her up. ;)  The day started with an 8:30am check in at the hospital to get a radioactive dye shot in to mark the cancerous cells.  Then the next appointment was to put a wire in to mark where the tumor was.  Last it was the check in at the surgery center at 11:00, but we were a bit early at 10:30.   We got her all signed in and then waited some more.  Her good friend Shauna Souza came to hang out with me and Rick and to see Mary through the day.  We all had some good laughs with Mary while we were waiting in the pre-op room.  I bet all those other patients were a bit jealous that we weren't sitting with them!  They probably didn't know what to do with all that quiet when they finally took her in and we had to go out to the Waiting Room.  Her surgery was scheduled for 1:30pm but I think they finally took her back around 1:50pm.  At about 4:15pm her surgeon came out with good news.  Only two of the lymph nodes were cancerous.  There was the one they already suspected with a lot, and there was another with a little.  They took 6 total to send to pathology. Her surgeon feels if there is any cancer left in the lymph nodes, it is such a small amount that when she has radiation, it will kill it.  She had to go pretty deep to get the lymph nodes, though, so Mary has a drain in and will probably be extra sore in that area.  As for the tumor, she took a lump about the size of a half dollar coin to get clear margins.  The great news was that she felt the tumor itself had shrunk about 90% from the size it was before Chemo.  The lump will also be sent to pathology.  The Plastic Surgeon came out around 5:00pm and said her part went well too.  All looks good.
We waited and waited in the Waiting Room.  Rick, me, and Mary's wonderful friend Shauna.  They were supposed to come out and get us when she woke up in Recovery.  Rick finally got a phone call from a nurse inside the recovery room a little before 7:00pm.  They said they were having trouble controlling her pain, and she was having a bit of an allergic reaction to one of the pain meds.  Itching horribly.  They decided to keep her overnight instead of letting her go home.  Finally got her moved up in to a room around 7:45pm.  Her blood pressure spiked a bit as well after they moved her.  (probably just because of being up)  We were very happy they decided to keep her overnight.  Better to be safe.   
It's just after 9:00 now, and they have her all settled in.  She is finally sleeping.  I will get some sleep now too, and try to post another update in the next few days.
Thank you to everyone for your prayers!