One of the nice things about Swedish is they let the spouse stay in the room over night, if they want. Mark stayed with me the whole time on a roll-away bed. He helped monitor all the medicines they came in and gave me during the dark hours, he held my hand while they gave me hepperin shots in the abdomen at midnight every night, and his calm reassuring presence made everything way more bearable. I am not sure how much sleep he got and I feel bad about that, but I am sure grateful he was there!
I had the have my head elevated at 30 - 45 degrees as all times. I slept at this angle, as well as sat that way all day. Dr. Aye put up signs on my door and on my bed to make everyone aware. When some-ne asked if I wouldn't like to lie flatter and get some rest, Mark quickly stepped in the tell them the scoop.
The extra bed you see beside me in the room came every morning to take me down a few floors for x-rays. I did not know this before but, when you have something removed in your body (like half a lung) and it leaves an empty spot - a cavity, your body works to fill up that space. In cases like mine a viscous liquid, almost like a gel, forms and slowly fills the empty spot. They would x-ray every morning to check on the progress of the liquid and see how the fill was progressing.
I go see Dr. Lu on March 9th and go back to see Dr. Aye at Swedish March 29th. After that we will know definitively how things went and what what our next steps are.
We thank everyone who has come to visit and brought such good cheer! We continue to be thankful for all the food (and dessert :)), and all your prayers. Stay in touch, please. After this tough winter I hope spring will be easy and beautiful for all of you.
