Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

 

Yesterday I really had to test my patience. My mom went in for her surgery. I felt nauseous the entire day. My dad and my sister, “Jenna Renna”, were both at the hospital with her. It was really hard for me to be stuck in Nashville at work (Talk about a distraction!) I received a text from her at 12:46 central time. She said, “Hi Jaime, I’m ready for my surgery. Don’t worry! I know everything will be just fine. I love you! Mom XXOO

I am so glad she is getting a hang of the whole texting thing. Her message was very comforting. My dad said she was calm, smiling, and watching her soaps (Haha) before her surgery started. It is pretty remarkable to see how positive she is staying throughout this whole process. Right before she went in, she sent me one more message, “I love you so much too. Did you mail out the Christmas cards yet? (She is going in for a Laryngectomy and is asking about the Christmas cards!!!) Wish me luck but I don’t need it. I will do great!” I think prayer and staying positive and optimistic is 75% of the battle. My mom has defiantly has that part down pat.

It felt like an eternity while I waiting for updates from my dad and sister. Unfortunately a few hours into the surgery, they doctor found the cancer had spread to the upper part of my mom’s esophagus. They thought they were going to have to do a skin graft to help reconstruct that portion of her esophagus. This was bad news. It shook me up a bit. I mean, she is already going through so much right now. It was hard to imagine that she was going to have to suffer even more. I started to pray.

I had to go to work for the Mercy Ministries Christmas party. But for the first few hours, my mind was only thinking about one thing, my mom. My dad would keep me updated through texts and assured me that everything was going to be ok, “The doctor will do everything he needs to. As soon as I hear more, I will let you know. Love you!”

I was sitting in the home, waiting to her the results of the surgery and wishing everything would turn out ok!  Then my dad finally called. My mom’s surgery was complete and she was going to stay in ICU for the night. Even better, the doctor did not have to perform the skin graft for her esophagus. The doctor was able to remove the cancer without having to perform that procedure. God is good.

We are not sure how long my mom will have to stay at the hospital. She could be there through Christmas. But hopefully she will have a speedy recovery and can go home before then. We still have a long battle ahead of us, (radiation and chemotherapy will start in a few months) but we are ready to fight. I saw this quote by Lance Armstrong and I thought it sums up things perfectly:

“If children have the ability to ignore all odds and percentages, then maybe we can all learn from them.  When you think about it, what other choice is there but to hope?  We have two options, medically and emotionally:  give up, or fight like hell.”  -Lance Armstrong