I got this card today and wanted to share. It says inside: I picked the healthiest card I could find ~ Hope it works!
It's been quite awhile, and now there's tons to type about...where to begin???
Surgery day (way back when) Bill and I got there early...Brian stopped by the house to pray before we left. Brad, who has shown up many times in my many trips to the hospital for tests shows up...sits with me for awhile till he heads off to push someone else around! Bob & Jean Wille are there just a few minutes, when off I go to start getting ready. I have always wanted to get that makeover...have you ever seen "How Do I Look?" I know it's gotta really be embarrassing when they first start out, but then, they do miracles! Well, I got a make over at the hospital. New dress and socks! So stylish!! It was such a popular outfit there were tons of people there with the same great style!
Just before I'm scheduled to get into surgery they let your family in to see you. I had Bill, Bob & Jean & Patty Pachta! Bob said a great prayer...thanks tons Bob! Then my Mom showed up to see me off to surgery. William was with Angi and they were going to come up later with Toni too.
I know there were many people who called and came by the hospital while I was in surgery, and I definitely want to thank you all for all your prayers and support for me, Bill and William throughout the day! I am very blessed to have such HUGE & WONDERFUL family! There were some crazy problems to make surgery last much longer than expected, but when I finally came to and was moved back to my room~there was a PAR-TAY goin on!!! Wooo Hoo!! It was FANTASTIC to see everyone...I'm not sure how crazy I might have been, since I was kinda drugged up...maybe a little wacky? (Probably not any more than usual!)With Heidi around who could be wackier???? (Love ya girl!!)
That was the beginning...I have had tooooooo slow of a recoop...it's driving me crazy! I have been back to the "baby stage" eating and sleeping but I am getting better. But I do notice that when I try to do too much I am back on the pain pills and sitting in my chair! I have weened myself off the stronger stuff except sleeping after a full day, then I must regress to those again to get some rest. It feels really weird inside...kind of like someone is putting pressure on my chest and when I move they tighten their hold. Pulling and pushing is difficult, which means no laundry (darn!) and still no sleeping in the bed yet. I have a wonderful chair that my friend Sharon gave me. Bill and William can't wait till I am out of it so they can lounge there!
I did have a reaction to the tape they had on my back...it looks like I had a bike accident and skidded along the road on my back. It is healing slowly and feeling better each day!
Surgery found a 2.5 cm (2 inch)square...my doctor said like a big ravioli (Bill thought the canned size, but found out it was much bigger!)It was a fungus (yuck!) that is called Histioplasmosis. Apparently it is a spore very prevelent here in the Ohio Valley and we all have probably breathed it in at some point & time in our lives here in Loveland. Your immune system will fight it off if it decides to stay in you, unless your immune system is low, which I have been told, mine was. So, this thing imbedded into my right lung and began to grow. When I first heard the size back last December it was 1.4 cm and I'm not sure what it was in October, so it was growing pretty quickly. How did we find it? God! I went to the emergency room back in October with shortness of breath and chest pains...they couldn't find anything...but after xrays and a cat scan (because they thought I had a blood clot in my lung) the dr in the emergency room said I "might want to get the nodule they found in my lung checked out" He didn't say it like it was any big deal...so really December was when we started many more tests, and they gave the nodule the new name of "mass". Each new test and biopsy came out inconclusive so the only thing to do was surgery. What a crazy ride it has been!
During the testing time I really didn't tell anyone...Bill & Brian (since I had to rearrange some work time) I kept thinking that I would get a result and let people know what was happening and to join me in prayer. With every test it came apparent that I needed to let more people know to start praying with me! What a great group of prayer warriors we have...I couldn't have made it without all the prayers and support from everyone. As each test was inconclusive more and more people were told...so...if you had not heard till later, don't feel bad at all. I just really didn't have anything conclusive to tell and didn't want lots of people worrying.
So, here it is...tooooo much type! Thanks for checking in with me. Thanks to everyone for all the cards, phone calls, gifts, candy, visits and FOOD! Thank you to Darren & Geneva for arranging the food deliveries...they have been a godsend for our whole family! My small group and all the others that have made some really delicious meals have helped us tremendously~we have some really fantastic cooks! It's always great to see or hear from you all! I surely do miss everyone and can't wait to get back to church!
Love and miss you! Type to you again SOON!
