Third date's a charm

The medical scheduling guru's have recalculated the most auspicious date for my surgery and have come up with Thursday, May 14 at 7:30 am. That also happens to be the time when Dr. Sugarbaker is next available. So it's a date. I for one am putting it in my calendar book in ink. That will mean that it certainly will happen.

The cold is a tiny bit better. The voice is still not working very well. I had a lay low day with some good napping and home made chicken soup.

Thanks for all your care and concern. Much love, Kate

Change of plans...again

There has been another change of plans. My surgery has been postponed because I have a rotten cold and laryngitis. I am hoping to be re-scheduled next week but won't know until at least tomorrow.

I am somewhat disappointed but also want to have the best chance of getting through the surgery with no complication. My white blood count was still low today so another week will give it time to improve. I'm guessing by next week this cold and all its symptoms will be gone. Obviously with no voice, I'm not making any phone calls. Nothing personal!

Thanks for all your love and prayers.

Much Love, Kate

Almost unbelievable

Actually, I can't believe it. I went all winter long, compromised immune system and all, and didn't get sick once. But last Thursday, 1 week before my surgery, I started to get a sore throat. I thought maybe it was allergies. Friday it was worse. Clearly it wasn't allergies. Saturday it was worse and my voice was almost gone. Sunday, the sore throat was gone but I had a raging head cold. It's subsiding somewhat today but there is no doubt that I have a cold. My friend Ilene asked what Freud would say about this!

My primary care doc said they wouldn't cancel the surgery due to a cold...thank goodness. I'm not sure I could handle that!!!

Rich and I sat on a beach yesterday afternoon and let the sun do it's magic. It had to have helped the cold. It really helped the attitude.

Currently the surgery is scheduled for 7:30 on Thursday. We have to arrive by 5:30 am. Hope someone will be there to check us in! We will have to confirm the time on Wed. and will let you know if it changes.

Pre-op visit tomorrow and one more visit with Dr. Sugarbaker. We will also meet his chief fellow, John Danials, who will help with the surgery. He is also the doc that will take care of me post-surgery. He is suppose to be a gifted surgeon as well, according to one of his colleague fellows.

Countdown continues

A week from today I will be going in for my surgery. That sounds strange. It is the truth though and I'm trying to grasp it. My Mother used told me to not wish my life away, but in this instance I do wish that my surgery was today. Time seems to be moving very slowly all of a sudden. I don't recall time ever moving so slowly on vacation or when I was having fun.

I am thrilled at the thought of a sunny, warm weekend. I can't wait to take my walk with the sun beating down on me and melting all those frozen cells from the long winter.

It has been so good for me to be back at the gym. Some of those elusive muscles have started to show themselves again. I really appreciate Rich's encouragement to try to regain some strength before the surgery. I'm sure it will help my recovery. I'm off to the gym now.

Much love, Kate

Counting down

Two weeks to go before my surgery. I'm having occasional moments of nervousness followed by longer periods of calm. Thanks to my friend Amelia, I've been listening to a pre-surgery meditation that is very helpful, especially if I wake up in the night. (A frequent occurrence.)

As is my way, I have been thinking of positive things. For example, it is likely I'll be back home in three weeks. It may sound silly but it is a goal.

I'm walking a lot. I even had to tell my walking buddies to pick up the pace yesterday. I've also been having a lot of fun playing ping pong at Susan and Kyle's house. It sounds crazy but it really is a workout. Especially having to bend down and pick up the ball all the time! The gym has been helping me rediscover my former muscles. They are slowing coming around, but I'm not ready to hoist a sail yet.

Much love, Kate

Bummer

I got some disappointing news today. My surgery has been postponed until April 30th. Apparently Dr. Sugarbaker was called out of town the week of the 20th and he didn't ask my opinion about it. I would have told him what was more important. But as Rich said, "that's what happens when you have a rock star as your surgeon."

It will give me another week to build up my strength. I've started back to the gym this week and have discovered some muscles that haven't been used for awhile. I'm sure I will put that extra week to good use.

Much love, Kate