Teacher gets A+ Report

Diane is doing great and was transferred to a regular room yesterday. She’s eating a regular diet, walking around independently, and her pain is being well controlled.

Dr. McLean stopped by yesterday and gave her an A+ report. The surgery went as well as it could possibily go and her recovery is going smoothly.

The team has cleared her to go home tomorrow. Ron will take her home and Sarah will spend the night. Then Diane’s sister, Joanne, will come on Monday to spend the week.

Diane will soon be looking forward to visits and meals with her wonderful group of amazing friends!

HIPEC Hooray

Question: When does an oncology surgeon use the word excellent?

Answer: Today, when describing Diane

The surgery went exactly as planned today, and HIPEC went off without a hitch. Dr. McLean led the surgery team and was accompanied by another physician that specializes in HIPEC. She had a full hysterectomy, and her omentum was removed. All her lady bits looked normal. Her omentum still had some nodules, but was fully removed. No other nodules were noted. Per Dr. McLean after surgery, she did "excellent" and even noted that in her charting (per the ICU RN). Diane is currently in the surgical ICU, per HIPEC protocol, to more closely monitor her potassium and blood pressure. She will likely go to a regular room by sometime tomorrow.

Diane is doing great and is enjoying a delicious clear liquid dinner (including lemon ice, Vernors, and jello). She is chatting and enjoying a visit from both her kids before getting some much needed rest.

She has been completely overwhelmed with all the support, prayers, and kindness in preparation for her surgery. It takes a village....and she has the best one!

Prayer

Tomorrow I will be wearing a new pair of hiking boots. Tomorrow I will take an important step toward a future of health and happy unknowns. I retired my old pair in Colorado last year after 41 years of incredible journeys. This new pair will take me on many more.

I’ve asked a good friend, Tina Hodges, a lifelong companion from Valparaiso University to craft a prayer for me/us. Tina has a unique and beautiful talent of expressing the heart through words. May her words and our prayers be heard and answered by our Lord and Savior.

Dear Holy Father- here is this day you have made- we can rejoice and be glad because modern medicine is healing our Diane. Oh Lord, you know we are valley people who live in the shadow- we recall your invitations “be still”, “fear not”,”go in peace”! But our valley minds are not still, not always courageous and not always peaceful: oh Lord on this day grant the fullness of stillness, peace and courage to Diane, Ron, Sarah, Erik and the rest of their family and all of us who seek you first. Grant the promise by which you say, “Your faith has made you well.” We seek the wellness of Diane’s medical team in their care of her; we seek the wellness of all of her vital signed throughout and after her surgery; we seek wellness in her recovery with no complications. On this day we rejoice that Diane is securely in your care and encompassed with your protection. May we see with our eyes the ROD with which you comfort and sustain Diane; the STAFF with which you guide and lead her to rest and heal. We are your people here in the valley; hear our prayer, the cry of our hearts and anoint Diane with your sustaining grace that she would continue to be a living testimony of your abundant faithfulness and joy! AMEN