Blessings Abound

Firstly, thank you to each and every one of you who said prayers or sent positive energy my way over the past week, heck the past months. Your ongoing support has given me (and Rob as well) strength and courage throughout this journey.

I'm doing well. I'm not too sore. I've been describing the pain as feeling like I've done too many arm exercises at the gym. If I move too quickly I get a twinge. I sometimes feel like I have electricity running down the back of my left arm...I think this is because the nerves are stressed/damaged from the surgery. I find I'm bothered most at night when I try to get comfortable to sleep. I'm a belly sleeper and trying to fall asleep on my back is next to impossible. I've finally figured out a way to sleep on my right side with a pillow supporting my left arm...it is workable. My biggest concern is getting tangled in the drains or blocking them inadvertently while I sleep. Hopefully they are removed on Thursday as expected.

The drains are attached to me by long, thin, clear tubes and they're a little bigger than a large egg. I have to empty them three times a day and record how much fluid they contain. I'm afraid of bending one of the tubes in my sleep and having the fluid back-up somewhere. I'm sure wherever that is, won't be good. I've been given a pouch to keep them in. I sling it across my body and for the most part it keeps them out of the way.

I'm bruised on my left arm; I assume this is due to the removal of the lymph nodes on that side. I've been doing my exercises. I have to be able to raise that arm and tuck it behind my head before I go to the radiation lab to get marked for the next course of treatment. That session is only a few weeks away.

Everyone has been amazing. I've received numerous notes through Facebook, the comment section on my blog, plus emails and phone calls. I went out to supper with some people from work on Wednesday night and Lucy gave me a big bunch of flowers. Rob's parents sent a second bunch to the house when I got out of hospital. I also received a card from Beth, Deb and Linda from work. Plus we've been eating extremely well. Debbie and Dianne brought boxes of food with them. Kelly gave us jars of her special Alfredo sauce and a casserole her dad made. Marion gave us an M&M Meat card.

Going back to the original analogy of the Hero's Journey, it is fair to say I've reached the cave and found the elixir. Now I just have to learn to understand it before I can move back to my own world. I still have a long way to go. Radiation will take five weeks this fall and I need to build up my strength again. In September I also meet with the gyne-oncologist to discuss the options surrounding my ovaries and the likelihood of developing ovarian cancer. But I know with the support Rob and I have behind us that we can get through all the remaining hurdles.