Round 3: Here we go again!

 I’ve been exploring this ‘Blogger’ site and there are 2 people in the Netherlands who are following. I’m wondering if they would be comfortable identifying themselves or communicating. Also curious if either are PMP survivors. Please do not feel obligated, only if you’re comfortable.

 A more challenging day. The Tylenol is not as strong as the meds from the epidural and Lin is experiencing some nausea, but nausea meds are on the way. We expected this. She has still managed another short walk and a sit up on the side of the bed. Also, a decision has been made to leave the NG tube in for another day which we think is wise. She’s sleeping a lot which is good; there have even been some gentle snores!!

 A busy day already!! The Foley (catheter) is out and Lin has successfully emptied her bladder. The epidural has been removed, now on Tylenol for pain management. One of her 3 drains has been pulled out (quite spectacularly!). And we’ve been for a big walk around the floor. She’s snoozing now. We’re hoping to get outside this aft, via wheelchair, of course. She’s wanting sunshine!!

 A very busy day! Two big walks around the floor, an ultrasound of her kidneys (the team wants a clear baseline of her kidney function, GFR, etc), and the PIC line in her neck removed. Yes, she was a tired Miracle Girl when I left about 5:30. Tomorrow the NG tube (going up her nostril, down the esophagus to just past her stomach) will be removed which is always cause for celebration because that tube really irritates her throat and of course, once that tube is gone, some liquids and light food can be introduced. She has 2 more days in the Step Down unit with 1 nurse per 2 patients. She’s being treated royally and the nurses have been outstanding!

 At the hospital, watching the Miracle Girl snooze. We went for a long walk, all the way around this floor! They have started reducing the pain meds coming from the epidural so she is feeling a bit more discomfort but the bridging with Tylenol is helping. She’s such a trooper!!

 Good morning! Just got a text from Lin and she went for a walk this morning (physio didn’t come yesterday, I hit a wall, came ‘home’ and slept for hours). Last night Judi and I popped up for a wee visit. And yes, Judi was VERY impressed with how coherent and funny Lin was and how well she looked. Dr. McNeill stopped in yesterday (on her way to the airport, she’s off to London for some big Doctor dinner) and told Lin that the operation could not have gone better! Granted, it was very long but again for the Miracle Girl, the stars were aligned. As the docs made their way through Lin’s prodigious accumulation of adhesions, the liver was nicked. And who was in the next OR…a liver specialist who came and fixed it! The epidural is still in place, keeping pain at bay and it will come out tomorrow. Also, the NG tube is scheduled to come out today, then there may be some jello in Lin’s future! Please pretend there is a photo of Lin right here, she’s smiling, thumbs up! My feeble brain cann...

 At the hospital with the miracle girl! She sat up on the side of the bed this morning and even stood for a few minutes! The physio is coming this aft and then we’ll go for a WALK! Yes, the day after surgery!!! She’s got a wee bit of a fever but that is the after effects of the chemo wash and should subside over the next few days. 

 Just talked to a nurse in the inpatient unit where Lin was moved earlier this morning. She’s still in and out of it, dopey cause the epidural is still in to combat the pain, but her blood pressure has stabilized (hurray!!). Will keep you posted as the day progresses.

 Wonderful news from Dr. McNeill just now!! They didn’t have to take any of Lin’s stomach. Where the wretched PMP had lodged in the epithelial layers of her stomach had formed almost a kind of bubble which was completely removed along with mucin. Looong operation!! But she getting the chemo wash now and will be sewn up soon! I can see her later this evening. All you wonderful people need to form some kind of group, look at what your combined thoughts and prayers have accomplished! She’s a Miracle Woman😍👍🤩🤗👏🏻😘😘😘😘😘😘

 Admission went very smoothly this morning. We had a wonderful nurse who regaled us with stories about  her 3 year old and her husband who is a teacher 👏🏻. More pre-op tests, bloodwork, insertion of IV, then wheeled away to the OR about 7:30. No liaison nurse here to give me updates so it will be a few hours before Dr. McNeil calls with results. I’ll let you know promptly.

 Tomorrow’s the day! Linda got the final preop bloodwork done this morning at an ungodly hour (practise for tomorrow - 5:30 am check in at the hospital!) and then we had a very good meeting with our oncologist, Dr. MacNeill. She was lovely and calm as she went over various iterations of the surgery and we came away feeling positive and optimistic.  This tends to be a rather long operation to remove all the visible tumours and about a further 90 minute heated chemotherapy wash in the abdominal cavity. We are a bit overwhelmed today and this evening by all the good wishes coming our way. Thank you 🤗🤗. We feel blessed by the love and support we’ve been shown. We are so fortunate to have ALL of you in our lives! I will be blogging tomorrow as I hear what’s happening in the OR.  Stay tuned……

 We flew from Toronto to Van today and are now bedded and cosy at our most favourite hotel. Tomorrow we’re going with Judi and Patti to a raucous (we hope) musical here on Granville Island and after, Lin will get the fish and chips she’s been craving for what seems like weeks! Monday is more preop stuff and a meeting with our oncologist, Dr. McNeil. Then Lin’s surgery is first thing on Tuesday morning. We remain optimistic. And we are very, very thankful that we had the time in Ontario with our family. I keep calling the visit a distraction, but I’ve come to believe it was more than that…it was a filling-up of our buckets with laughter and love, just what we needed!

 This has been a lovely month (as well as a distraction from our upcoming battle with the beasty) for us - June, the grown up grandkids, the bunkies, new neighbours, new grocery stores to explore. The Huntsville area is really quite beautiful this time of year.  Alas, phone calls with medical professionals  this past week brought reality back. Just 3 weeks until we fly back to Vancouver and begin our next adventure.  We fly from TO to Van on the 24th and surgery on the 27th. We’re hoping we’ll be back in Vernon mid July for a couple of weeks and when Linda is well enough, flying back to Ontario to spend the rest of the summer and fall.  But until then, we have charming northern Ontario towns and lakes to explore, birthdays to celebrate, and grandkids to cuddle.  Life is good!