Home from the hospital

Yesterday, at the crack of dawn, I was preparing for my surgery. Today, I am home resting with the help of pain medication, a loving husband, and a doting daughter. I am so thankful to be alive! My surgeon said she thinks she got all of the Cancer in my breast but we have to wait for the report on the 6 lymph nodes she removed. I'm hoping we get good news when we go to her office next Friday.

If you've ever had a hospital stay, you know it's best to have a family member or friend stay with you to help care for your needs. Usually the medical facilities are short staffed and it's not possible for the nurses to give each patient the attention they deserve. I had prayed before going into surgery that God would provide a kind, dedicated nurse to help me even though my husband would be there too. He heard and answered my prayer through a young patient care tech named Darci. The patient care techs aren't registered nurses or even considered nurses of any kind. They are the ones who come to take your vitals several times a day (blood pressure, pulse and temp). But Darci went above and beyond the call of duty in caring for me. She bent over backwards to make sure all of my needs were met especially when my nurse was unable to be in the room to help me.

I had the opportunity to talk with Darci about God and she shared with me that she was a Christian too. I told her that she must have the gift of mercy to serve in the hospital with such joy and enthusiasm as she did. She blushed and said she loved her work and wanted to go to school for a nursing degree but didn't have the money to do so. I encouraged her to talk with Piedmont and see if they offer any scholarships for employees who might sign on with them permanently after completing their degree. Darci didn't even know this might be a possibility and you should have seen her smile when I told her about it. She was just as surprised as I was when the doctor said I could go home this afternoon. She told me goodbye and wished me all the best. I told her that I believed that God allowed us to meet to encourage each other and she agreed. Don't you just love it when God does things like that? I know I sure do!

Before leaving the hospital, the physician's assistant came in to check my sutures and drains. When she opened up my compression vest to check the incisions, she asked if I wanted to take a peek. I told her that I wasn't ready to see the scars just yet and I turned my head away as she was dressing the wounds.

My husband, Phil, and my daughter, Jamie, helped me get ready to leave the hospital. It felt good to be unhooked from all the IVs, tubes and wires. When we walked out into the sunshine, I just had to praise God for what He'd done. He had supplied the best breast surgeon in this area to work on me, He'd given me a kind and caring patient tech, and I was getting to go home earlier than I expected!

The ride home was a little uncomfortable. Why is it that we don't really notice bumps in the road until we're injured? I think I felt every nook and cranny from Fayetteville to Newnan. I was so thankful to get out of the car when we pulled into our driveway.

Once inside, I changed into more comfortable clothing with the help of Phil and Jamie. I was thankful that I had some big, loose tops that buttoned all the way down the front. Since I can't raise my arms yet because of the lymph node removal, button down shirts are the best way to access the drains that are attached to me. As I went into my walk in closet to find the biggest, softest top, Phil followed me in there. He said "you know honey, I'm always going to love you." As soon as he said that, I burst into tears. One of my biggest fears was that my surgery would be detrimental to our relationship. I think Phil knew what I was feeling because he took my hands, got down on one knee and said "Bonnie will you marry me?" I looked at him funny and said "but we're already married." He said, "Will you marry me all over again? Let's let this be the first day of our new life together." Oh my! We looked at each other with tears in our eyes and kissed. I told Phil that I would marry him a million times over. I am so blessed to have such a tender, caring man in my life. Just knowing that he loves me no matter what means more to me than anything. His love is genuine for me and what he did tonight took away all the fear of looking down at my scars and worrying he won't love me any more. I am so thankful for a godly husband who sees me for my heart and soul instead of just my body. I am so very blessed and thankful to be home.

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