Nurse: Anya/Miriam
Surgery Day
Today you were on the waiting list to get you into surgery and therefore you were fasting. You needed to have your CVC (Central Venous Catheter) put in and a LP (Spinal Tap) in order to get a sample and to inject your first chemo treatment, through the spinal fluid. The type of CVC you will get is called a Broviac line and it has two ports. The reason for the Broviac catheter is to allow entry into the large veins for IV's fluids and allow drugs to be put directly into your heart where they are rapidly diluted and spread throughout the body. It also allows for blood transfusions and blood samples; therefore, no more pokes! The picture below show your new Broviac catheter.
We were given news that there was an opening at 1:30. Again, a porter came and got you from the room. We rolled you to the third floor, surgical suite. Dad and I had to gown up when we took you into the operating room. The room was very bright and there many doctors and nurses in the room. Dad was able to carry you into the room. I continued to give you kisses and reassure you as they put the medicine into your IV, but you wince in pain. Tears begin to flow and I don't want you to see. They finally put the sleepy medicine in and you lay peaceful in Daddy's arms. He gently lays you down on the table and that is our cue to leave. We are able to sneak in one last kiss and then we must leave you there. You cannot believe how gut wrenching it is to just leave you there knowing what is going to happen. Your Dad and I are escorted out and I can't stop crying. I feel like I am going to get sick. Your Dad comforts me in the hallway and we eventually leave. Your surgery will be a few hours so we try to have lunch and wait.
While we wait for your return, we talk to Dr. Anderson, your Oncologist, and Wendy, our social worker. They go over what to expect in the next few days. You will go through Reduction, which is receiving the three medications by IV once and then carry on with the steroid twice, daily. The medication you will be receiving is Vincristine, Cyclophosphamide and Prednisone (steroid). It will be intense and you will be closely monitored. We will start Reduction tomorrow. You will have a Lumbar Puncture (LP) on day 0, 2 and 4. Dr. Anderson will bring us a "road map" for us in the next couple of days to help us plan out our future. Dr. Anderson also wanted to hear about you today. I showed him pictures of you and your sisters. Dad described your love for hockey and your energetic personality. We talked about who you were before cancer decided to take over your body.
After surgery you are pretty tired and sleep most of the evening, catching up on some much needed rest. After talking with Dr. Anderson and the social worker me, Mom and I start to realize the effect this could have on how we operate as a family. Your first treatment they describe as light to moderate, they want to make sure they don't kill off the more sensitive mature cells too fast and plug or do damage to your kidneys. But, as the cells begin to die off the treatments will become more aggressive; for us this means total treatment should be 6 to 9 months, but most likely all that time will be spent in Calgary with little chance to go back to Medicine Hat. As your Mom said we are starting to plan how to manage the coming weeks and months, it will no doubt be filled by challenging decisions that must balance "home life" in Medicine Hat and your battle with cancer in Calgary.
I just talked to Dad on the phone and he said you finally ate some apple sauce tonight. This is a good sign as you have not ate much, by mouth, in a long time. Dad says you still don't want to watch hockey but you allowed him to watch as long as he mute the game, its didn't matter, the Canucks won anyways.
Here is a picture right after surgery. You can see your Broviac in your chest.
Love you to the moon and back,
Mom and Dad
"We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us."
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