Monday, January 28, 2008

Post-Surgery Update

Hi everyone – Carrie here (Laura’s daughter). Mom asked me to write an update while she’s in the hospital.


She came through the surgery very well this morning. It lasted around 2 ½ hours. No transfusions or other complications. The procedure went as planned. It was a modified radical hysterectomy, and as expected some lymph nodes were also removed. She’s in recovery now.


Based on the physical exam today, the cancer seems to be more complex than we had hoped. Pathology tests will be performed on the removed tissue, and the results should come back in about 3-5 days. We are waiting for those reports before any conclusions or follow-up recommendations will be made.


I also want to thank you for the love, support and prayers you have given. It means more than you can know.

I Have Called You

Laura... Laura
What time is it?
2:30.
(Oh good, I did not oversleep the alarm)
This is my time.
I have called you by name;
you are mine...
I have loved you with an everlasting love.

Holy God
Great is your faithfulness.
Morning by morning new mercies I see.

Many years ago
when my dad had cancer
I told him I was thankful for all the healthy cells.

Today, I am thankful for all my healthy cells
and for all the ones that used to be.
And for Dr. Hakim who said they need to come out
And for Dr. Malviya who said they need to come out today.

This uterus, these Fallopian tubes, these ovaries...
Through them came my babies
My wonderful amazing babies
This womb that carried them
Time to say good-bye
Good-bye

I am thankful for all the healthy cells
And I thankful for my mother's womb
That carried me and my brother and my sister

I am thankful for this morning
for this time with you.

Come see what the Otts gave you
Yes, Lord...
Come...
Ah, my bed feels so good
Here next to my husband..
A-hem. Did you just call me Lord?
When Dr. Malviya ordered the rectal contrast
did you not say you would do whatever he said?
Oh, yes...
A psalm gift...

Psalm 27:4-5
"One thing I asked of the Lord,
that I will seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his temple.

For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock."



I have called you by name
You are mine
I have loved you with an everylasting love
I have called you by name
You are mine