Thank you everyone for your prayers, comments, and encouraging texts! They buoyed my spirits and made me feel heard and seen.
My mom’s surgery was successful. It was a two hour procedure and the anesthesiologist was full aware of her heart condition and pacemaker. During the surgery, the surgeon removed a 12 cm. mass from her pelvic area and from the looks of it, it didn’t look cancerous. A sample will still be sent to a pathologist for further testing. I can’t recall specifically what he said how a cancerous tumor looked, but all I know is that it wasn’t perilous to her health. Whew! Relieved.
I had a weird request that he take a picture of it and send it to me. I chuckled when I asked, because I didn’t want him to think I was a weirdo or anything. But he said that about 30% of patients and their families ask for photos. Ok, off the hook. I’m not that weird.
After the surgery, I was in a blissful mood! It was a long time waiting for this surgery. She started with symptoms in March and it progressed this much. In the beginning, i often wondered why it was postponed these many months, but her heart had to get fixed first. Her cardiologist said that she could’ve had a heart attack on the operating table if her clogged and calcified arteries were not addressed. All those nights of wondering what would happen and having to be the hearer of all my mom’s complaints, moans, and fears. She would have few days of relief when her voice would sound healthy and before I knew it, her voice would get weak and I’d pick up the phone to a paramedic telling me they were at my parent’s house and wanted a medical history.
I’ve had to dig inside myself and find strength to live my life without it outwardly affecting my family. God showed up in many ways and gave me many joyful moments. They were joyful and memorable yet I had to give myself permission to accept it.
God’s timing is impeccable. My mom was in the throes of getting super sick in early June and that’s when our summer started. And tomorrow our summer vacation ends and so did the waiting for my mom’s surgery. I’ll never forget this summer of medical emergencies and making it through the unknowns. Like two bookends to a wild and tempestuous summer.
Looking forward to what God has in store for us this semester. Love God for who He is and how He never fails those who trust in Him.
Leave a Reply