OOPS!

I sent the last update before proofing..........sorry for all the typos!

More Surgery...........Ugh!

Mom did not get the New Year's news that we wanted.  Her surgeon called this afternoon and wanted her back at Mayo's on Monday for a complete hysterectomy.  Mom was able to put him off for two weeks.  She is really sore and weak right now.......not feeling up to the trip after just getting home late last night.  The surgeon stated that four of his colleages are currently reviewing her results.  As of now, he expained that this is a different kind of cancer.  However, he still considers it in the precancerous stage and feels confident that a complete hysterectomy will result in a positive outcome for her.  A different surgeon will take over from here.  She will meet with him on January 18th......the earliest that the surgeon could get her to agree to.  I think she is getting more assertive at this point.  Please keep her in your prayers.  I know it has only been a couple of days, but she is not bouncing back as quickly as she did the last time.  However, I know her strenghth and I know God will  prepare her for the challenges ahead.

 

As you are learning, the Bryant's tend to face difficult situations with humor.  Here is the fun update:  After surgery, mom stated that she felt like Chevy Chase's aunt-in-law on National Lampoon's Vacation.  To refresh your memory, after she died they tied her on the roof of the vehicle to cart her to her son's house.  Mom said that she felt like death after surgery and dad followed Clark Grizzwald's lead in how to get her home.  As soon as she came to and was able to set up, dad put her in the car and said hold on!  Regarless of her pleas to stop, he drove straight home. 

 

I think I mentioned on the last post that mom got her prosthesis.  Well, after surgery mom has been walking a little slumped over.  In her defense, I thinks she is just giving into the pain of having half her torso removed, but my loving father keeps reminding her to, "stand up straight!"  Dad picked up mom's prosthesis and reported that they are pretty heavy.  He instantly declared, "Great! You need to wear these backwards.  The weight will help you stand up straight!"  I think mom had a few choice words for dad, but she was laughing too hard.... but she did add that she knows how a horse feels when you put a saddle on it!  I don't know if she'll wear her new boobs or not.  We'll keep you posted, have a Happy New Year!!  We're praying for health in 2010!

Surgery Complete

 Mom and dad left for Rochester last Sunday (December 27th).  It was a snowy trip for them, especially around the Champaign area, but thankfully they had safe travel.  They stopped for the night in Wisconsin and stayed at a new Marriott so day one was a success!  On Monday, they arrived in Rochester and mom was able to start shopping for her prosthesis.  On Tuesday morning they fitted her with her prosthesis and that task is now complete.  At noon on Tuesday, mom entered the hospital for her surgery.  The doctor completed a hysteroscopy biopsy........basically he removed one large polyp and two regular sized polyps from her uterus.  Then he completed a dilation & cyrettage of the uterus.  The surgery lasted exactly one hour and was more involved than mom was anticipating.  She came out of recovery around 5 p.m.  Thankfully the surgeon feels that everything looks good.  A complete pathology report will be ready Friday to verify his findings.  Unfortunately, mom was very sick after surgery (worse than the first surgery).  I think it was a combination of the anesthesia and medicine.  However, this morning she is feeling much better and is going to try to eat something.  Depending on how she feels, they may start the journey home today.  She is the toughest person I know.  Knowing dad, he will load her up and head this way ASAP!!  Thanks again for all of your prayers, we know God is good and has taken care of us through this journey.  Keep praying for a clean pathology report!

Come Celebrate with Mom & Dad!

Together they have found a friendship, raised a family and built a beautiful marriage.  You are most warmly invited by the children of Lynda and John Bryant to participate in the celebration of our parents’ 50^th Wedding Anniversary.  A come and go reception will be held on Saturday, the 19^th of December between the hours of one and four o’clock in the afternoon.

 

Emmanuel United Methodist Church

700 3^rd Street

Carmi, IL

 

Your love is a treasured gift, we request no other.

 

After all of our answered prayers, we look forward to sharing a day with you in honor of our parents.  Hope to see you then.

 

On the Road Again!

As you know, our schedules have taken some twists and turns the last six weeks.  Some have asked about an update on my health situation.  John says I’m falling apart and wonders if I’m still under warranty?

 

After returning home from having the double mastectomy, I developed a cold and a terrible cough.  I coughed and coughed.  Nevertheless, I made a remarkable recovery.  (Don’t get me wrong—I’m still a bit sore).  It was heartwarming to receive so many beautiful cards.  Everyone was so nice to bring me food, flowers, and gifts.  Thank you so much for your many acts of kindness and especially your prayers.

 

About the same time I learned of my breast cancer, I also learned about some possible polyps in the uterus.  When I left the hospital at Mayo’s, the doctor emphasized the importance of me keeping an appointment on December 1^st.  Now that would make three trips to Mayo’s.  Eric had to take us the first time and Amy had to stay with us and help drive us home after surgery.  I decided to cancel but being the good patient I am, I decided John and I would try to get to the big city by ourselves (all 600 miles).  After opening an early Christmas present, we knew we could do it.  He received a GPS that was sure to get us to our destination.  Oops!  You mean the thing has to be programmed!  Thanks to Eric we were on our way – Destination—Mayo Clinic.  Ours is a TOMTOM and it really works.  We highly recommend it.  It’s hard to believe but it told (yes, actually talked) us every turn to make.

 

December 1^st I had a hysteroscopy at the Rochester Methodist Hospital.  Basically, they look inside your uterus with a hysteroscope.  Since they don’t give anesthetic, I was able to watch on a screen, but didn’t know what I was seeing.  The gynecologist told me I had a polyp just inside the uterus that extended all the way to the back of the uterus.  There were also two other “things” of some kind that didn’t belong.  The gynecologist said they all need to come out.  I guess we’ll make trip number four before the year is out.  They have scheduled me for surgery on December 29^th. 

 

They have asked me to participate in a research study at the Mayo Clinic.  The research is being done to look at both the cause and the outcome of breast cancer.  I am happy to consent to giving blood and tissue to be used.  I also have to fill out questionnaires from time to time and release a lot of past medical records to them.  This is a long term study and I hope they gain information to help others in the future.  I met with one of the team members to get the process started while at Mayo’s.

 

John had to go around and visit with some friends he met on the first two visits.  He ask the man at the Dairy Queen if he could apply for a job.  He said he’s at Mayo’s enough to help out if they are short handed.

 

I did not experience any of the side effects that they said I might have so we started home earlier than planned.  Guess what – I figured out how to program that thing to Carmi, IL.  In fact, I got so good at running that new fangled thing that I asked it where to sleep.  It said to stop at 4.2 miles and stay at the Comfort Inn.  It was a rather new and very nice place to stay.  John said he wouldn’t trade his present for a farm in Georgia.  We might take to traveling after all these years.

 

I plan to get some extra rest and enjoy Christmas.  Two sisters were out playing.  One girl came in and cried, “Oh, Mommy, I’ve made a terrible discovery.  All of the roses have thorns!”  The second daughter came running and her face was beaming.  “Oh Mommy” she said, “Come and see!  All of the thorns have beautiful roses!”  Whether our roses have thorns or our thorns have roses depends largely on us.  Let’s look for the roses and give God the thanks this Christmas season.  Merry Christmas and remember me in your prayers on December 29^th.  I’ll update the blog on December 30^th.