Laura was stuck in the chaos of the surgery post-op stations for over six hours after her surgery because there were no beds available in the neuro wing. But she didn’t seem to care. She’s been in good spirits and looks terrific.
When Laura had the heart surgery in August she was completely wiped out, in horrible pain, drugged up like mad, and she stayed in intensive care for 4 days. I figured neurosurgery would have to be worse. But today was completely different. Her parents and I visited with her about two hours after surgery and she was wide awake, in no serious pain, and looking much better than 36 hours ago when she and I arrived. The neurosurgeon said the surgery went without a hitch. He noted that during the surgery he observed that removing a relatively small amount of spinal fluid caused the pressure to decrease significantly. This explains why her headaches had already started to return only hours after the spinal tap as her body produces more fluid in a relatively small volume system and the excess is poorly absorbed because cancer cells are gunking up the works. It gives us hope that relief will be significant and long-lasting. And hopefully the other symptoms (passing out, loss of muscle control, fatigue, etc.) will also be relieved. Time will tell. As far as I know, she hasn’t had a headache since before surgery.
Natalie and Joe stayed with Laura until she got a room late in the afternoon, but I decided to go home and sleep. Laura is doing really well, I’m feeling beat, and she wanted me to go rest. Maybe it was the mild euphoria from sleep deprivation, but I was blasting the radio, drumming on the steering wheel, looking out at the gorgeous fresh snow fall as I drove up the mountain and thinking what a beautiful world we live in. I’m feeling maybe naively optimistic right now. It seems like Laura has a new lease on life.
On Monday Laura was feeling so awful, the pain so bad and long and frequent, the vomiting, seizures, weakness and falls so depressing that we sat in the oncologist office and asked aloud whether all the effort to get to the hospital every day was worth the effort if Laura were dying. We didn’t know what exactly it would be like if she were dying, but we really worried that the train had already left the station.
To see her today after surgery was to see a woman transformed. I’m hoping she stays that way for a long time.
New lease
Sat, Feb 9th, 2008 12:15am by dkulp
Tags: Uncategorized
13 responses so far ↓
1 Elena // Feb 9, 2008 at 5:39 am
Me, too! Thank you, David, for showing us such love in all of this. You both are truly remarkable people.
2 Stanley Karel, Terri and family // Feb 9, 2008 at 8:20 am
How wonderful it is to hear that Luara is feeling better. We are so thankful that the surgery is working and we pray that the days ahead will continue to to see her get stronger.
Thanks again David for all you are doing. Please tell Joe and Natalie we hold them close in our thoughts and prayers as well.
We send our love to all of you….
3 donna casey // Feb 9, 2008 at 8:39 am
Enjoy your more than well-deserved euphoria…naive or not! Glad to hear that Laura is doing well. Continuing to hold you all in prayer.
4 Aunt Cathy // Feb 9, 2008 at 8:42 am
Your words were words we’ve all been longing to hear!May this “new lease” be a long one without any new tenants taking up residence!
Cathy
5 Justin // Feb 9, 2008 at 8:43 am
That’s good to hear! The next time you see Laura, tousle her hair like a little kid from a 50s movie for me. Lots of love!
6 Heather // Feb 9, 2008 at 9:15 am
Very good news, indeed! I hope this proceedure has gotten rid of her symptoms once and for all.
Ditto to Justin’s “hair tousle” request. For a fine example, see Tommy Rettig in “The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T.”
7 Rocky // Feb 9, 2008 at 9:25 am
Hey,
You’re a really “good egg”! You need sleep and lots of rest when and where you can get them. Enjoy the euphoria when it presents itself; God’s giving you a respite.
Constant prayers are with you.
Love ya,
Rocky
8 Rocky // Feb 9, 2008 at 9:27 am
A big “HOORAY” to Laura!
Love,
Rocky
9 Mark Taggart // Feb 9, 2008 at 10:11 am
YES! You guys absolutely deserve some good news after the trials of the past few weeks. A dramatic improvement in quality of LIFE– what fantastic news! Way to persevere & hang tough, Laura!
10 Tom & Mary Beth // Feb 9, 2008 at 10:29 am
David,
What great news! Laura was due for a break. We are thrilled she is feeling so well. It’s also good to hear you got some much needed rest — and a long overdue jolt of euphoria.
Your words are a constant reminder of how fragile, difficult, painful, but ultimately triumphant and beautiful life really is. We read each entry with tears in our eyes, sometimes from sadness, sometimes from the beauty of the dignity with which you and Laura have handled each twist and turn of this difficult journey. Thank you for sharing. You, Laura and the girls are in our thoughts constantly.
11 Rommy // Feb 9, 2008 at 12:21 pm
YAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!! This time, I cried tears of JOY!!! I’m doing a happy shimmy dance as we speak!!! I’m so happy for you guys. Lots of big hugs and kisses for everyone!!
12 Karuna // Feb 9, 2008 at 1:04 pm
David & Laura,
Much joy and gratitude for this great news!!! I am delighted (along with others) that some relief is here for you both. I am also glad to hear that you honored yourself by rejoicing in the beauty around you, and then let your body do what it needed – sleep. You are an amazing, generous and beautiful man!! Laura’s blessings are multiplied by your Love!
Blessings & Joy,
Karuna
13 Donna Chastain // Feb 9, 2008 at 6:03 pm
David and Laura, ditto all the messages so far!! I’m not good with words but I agree whole heartedly with what everyone else said. I keep Cal and Robin posted on all the news and they send their love too. Sometimes we need to be reminded that when our troubles mount and our worries grow large just remind me Lord of who’s in charge.Love to Joe and Natalie, Laura, the girls and you too.