This week is Thanksgiving, and I have not updated in Quite some time.....it's been so crazy, I'm doing this in bullet points....please forgive me....this year has been CRAY CRAY!
October 2018
We discovered tumors wrapped around T's spine in 3 places. Cervical spine (top of spin) all the way down to mid thoracic (just below middle of back). Untreated it would result in paralysis, so no choice but surgery.
Crazy part...we thought she had a pinched nerve, complained to oncologist for awhile until he finally recommended we see an Ortho. PA....as luch would have it she was out and the best freaking Neurosurgeon in the hospital (my opinion), with 10 years as an Attending under her belt, had that morning started to do "clinic" in that office once a week.
THE SURGEON.....We loved her instantly.....the 1st words out of her mouth when we got down to business were, lets do some tests, because I don't like to change anatomy unless we have too, but if we do have to, I'm who you want. She was Confident but no arrogant, compassionate and kind....4 hour surgery had to be booked fast. Other's gave up their also important but not so urgent surgeries for us. It was booked at the Hospital I started my career at and so I was glad as I felt quite comfortable there. I still work for same Hospital System (we got bought out) and I knew most everyone in that hospital. This surgeon has since become a friend who I have insisted stay on T's care team. She is brilliant and caught what everyone else missed right away and saved my girl.
THE SURGERY.....so many fears.....would she live?.....would she be paralyzed?......how would I be able to care for her and keep my job? how would I get her up to out 3rd floor, 3 room walk up? The surgery was 4 hours with a nurse texting me progress updates from the OR.....I walked the entire hospital more times than I can count, never stopping to eat or drink or anything......mind racing the whole time.
FINALLY....I get the text that the surgery is over and to come to the desk as the doctor will be out shortly. They took me to this glass room with curtains a table and chairs and told me to wait there for the surgeon who would be out to speak to me herself. I was terrified....back in the day, they only put you in the fish bowl (glass room) if the news was bad......as it turns out, they now do this for everyone, for privacy. I sat head in hands waiting....I heard the door slide open and the doctor stepped inside.....before she could speak, I jumped up and asked....
ME: Is she alive?
DR: Yes!
ME: Is she paralyzed?
DR: No
She was so kind and compassionate and explained everything, and that we would keep her in the hospital for about a week (a few days longer than usual) knowing we live on a 3rd floor walk up and wanting to make sure she was ready for that
THE WEEK: I moved into her hospital room with her, going home for a few hours a day to care for the dog, shower, change and come back to sleep in the chair next to her. She made slow progress, but it was comforting having a whole spine team looking after her and out doc no matter how late, came to see us herself because she promised she would....we told her to stop that and we were ok with waiting until morning on long days.....the woman has integrity.....besides, if we needed her, I had her cell phone and the staff would check with her for orders.
DISCHARGE DAY: Scariest day of my life!
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