Surgeon's Report

Today at 3:30 Dr. Babiera reported on the surgery. She said this was the longest lumpectomy she’s performed. Judy had a big hematoma from the previous lumpectomy that had to be removed. She also removed the remaining cancer and enlarged the margins from the first surgery. We’ll have to wait for the report from the pathologists before we can officially declare her “cancer free.” (The report should be back no later than next Tuesday.) The doctor thinks she got it all, but cancer cells can be microscopic, totally undetectable by the human eye. Once again we wait. One week doesn’t seem like a long time—unless you’re trying to hold your breath OR wait for a pathology report.
At the moment we’re waiting for Judy to “wake up” from the anesthesia. (Didn’t think I could spell that did you? Neither did I but the spell check accepted it. Whoo-hoo!) We’ll go back to her brother and sister-in-law’s house and spend the next couple of days recuperating. I think it’s going to take a long time for her to awaken. She was having some pain from the surgery and the nurse gave her a pain shot. The nurse told her to “remember to breathe” because the pain killer causes the patient to go into a deep sleep and the oxygen regulating machine will beep if she breathes to shallow. At the moment, it’s the machine 17, Judy 3. My job is to awaken her every couple of minutes and tell her to breathe. (Finally a job that I’m qualified for. Oh wait, I’m more qualified to be the one sleeping, not the frequent waker.)
She had to stop taking anything by mouth at midnight last night. Her surgery wasn’t until 1:00. It’s now 4:30 and she’s finally getting a fake “Lord’s supper” (cranberry juice and saltines). She thinks it’s a gourmet meal—bless her heart.
Keep checking the blog. I’ll update it as I can. Occasionally I’ll have some real information.

Written at 4:00