Surgery Update and Many Thanks

I'm sorry I didn't get this posted yesterday, especially since I know that so many of you have been praying for me. Here's an update and a list of God's many blessings...

Mountain Man and I left for my appointment around 7:45, and the ride was already becoming stressful. I made sure I ate breakfast, but the closer we got to town, the fainter I felt. As we pulled up to the doctor's office, I told my Beloved I felt like I was going to pass out. He so kindly prayed with me, that God would calm me and give me a sense of peace. (And I know that's what everyone else had been praying, too.) I took a deep breath, and we went inside, did all the paperwork, and waited for the nurse to call me. She soon took me back to the surgery room and said my doctor would be in to talk with me.

As I'm sitting in this freezing room waiting for the doctor to come in, my eyes just start wandering. I see the big overhead light, the surgical instruments on the table, and I immediately clue in to the fact that, unlike their other examining rooms, there is no mirror in this one! That's all it takes for this Queen Mom to start shedding tears. I keep telling myself to calm down, but when the doctor comes in, the tears flow even more. In His kindness, God gives my doctor compassion for me, and instead of the "This is no big deal" talk, I get as much encouragement as one can before having pieces of flesh cut from my nose without any idea how much or how my nose will be put back together.

After an initial mildly painful numbing, the surgery begins. Praise God I didn't feel a thing on that first round, and just a bit later, the doctor came in to tell me that there was only a little of the cancer left. Of course, I have to be numbed again, and the nurse mentioned that she was giving me extra numbing medicine for the suturing that would be done at the end. They finish
the cutting, and I sit there and patiently wait, trying to concentrate on the final pages of Oliver Twist, which by the way is quite depressing....murder, betrayal, etc.

About 30 minutes pass by, and I start to feel burning and stinging, and I'm thinking that there's no way they won't have to numb me again before closing me up! Sure enough, the final numbing was the worst....six injections around my nose, and the initial ones made me want to get off that table. The doctor decides that the best way to close up the wound is to do a skin graft, so she takes skin from the upper area of my nose (can't imagine what kind of puzzle my nose is going to look like!). Things are going fine until I start to feel the pulling of my skin...that is so disturbing...and then the numbing wears off a bit, and I feel one of the cuts. My only thought is, "Please, Lord, let them be done soon!"

Everything is closed up, and now the nurse has to apply a "pressure-point" bandage, which is quite large and bulky. The goal is to make sure the graft takes, and the wound starts to heal. The bandage is put on very tightly, and the nurse gives me a mirror. Surely influenced by the fact that this book is one we're currently listening to on audio, I immediately think I look like Pinocchio.

This bandage will have to stay on until Monday when I return to have them change it out for a new one. I'm still not planning on looking....even then! I'll go back next Friday to have the stitches removed and return the following Friday for another check-up to make sure the graft is doing well.

I know pain. I've been through quite a bit of it with complications from Crohn's, including a surgery for it, and I've had 5 c-sections, several of which had their own complications, including a torn bladder with last one, so I'm really perplexed with why this seemingly "simple" procedure has gotten me so worked up. Yet, it has reminded me of the great compassion that God has on me and my sinful flesh. I've had to cling to Him every moment, and He's blessed me with family and friends who have so faithfully been praying for me and ministering to me in very practical ways. So, let me get on to the wonderful blessings from God!

~My Beloved was with me yesterday, praying with me and for me, and holding my hand. I can't imagine having gone through this without him, and I'm so thankful God has given me a husband who takes care of me so faithfully.

~I had so many family and friends praying for me, and letting me know they were praying for me, either sending me an e-mail or calling me. It is such a comfort and blessing to have others bless you with words of encouragement and kindness!

~My Beloved and another friend take turns preparing the sermons at our church right now. This weekend was My Beloved's turn, but our good friend so kindly offered to take that over this weekend while offering help for anything else we might need. What a priceless gift that is! Thank you!

~Sweet Marissa convinced me to let them bring over dinner last night (it didn't take too much arm twisting), and the Spencer family blessed us with 2 delicious homemade pizzas and even made a coffee cake to enjoy this morning! They have their own large and busy family, and yet, they made time to bless us in a such a big way!

~We came home yesterday to smiling children,who immediately showed compassion for their Mama and presented to us a clean and tidy home as well as love notes for Daddy left on our bed (that was their Advent activity). I'm blessed with so much more than I deserve, and I do think I have the world's greatest children!

I'll end here by asking for prayer for the following:

~that the graft would take and everything would heal nicely

~that I would be able to manage the pain...I never could quite get it under control yesterday and didn't get any relief until early this morning. Of course, it doesn't help that anytime you move any part of your face, your nose is affected! :)

And, please, be sure to praise God for His goodness and mercy, which never cease to amaze me.

Love to you all and many thanks,
Queen Mom