one long day muddling through the medical world

I have been trying to replace the lamb with a photo of me but I can't seem to do it. Christopher will be able to when he arrives on the 20th.

Rigdon and I left the house at 9:30 a.m. yesterday and returned 7:30 p.m. for my pre-op appointments. There was a lack of coordination between the surgeon and the plastic surgeon and it looked like I might have to wait a week for them to get their calendars together. However, after writing an e-mail stating all our frustrations at Stanford yesterday and sending it at midnight last night to the patient relations person  (who had given us two free parking passes to quiet us down), I received a call from the plastic surgeon's assistant, Meghan, early this morning and the surgery is on for Monday morning. I am pleased I don't have to wait any longer than planned. I am sorry Christopher can't be here for the hospitalization (I am down for two days in the hospital), I asked them if I were having three boobs removed could I stay for three?) and Chris will be a huge help at home. He is thoughtful and doesn't let me get away with whining very much so he will be the perfect person to supervise my first days at home. Rigdon is quite relieved to have Christopher here because Chris is a good cook and knows a lot about recuperation. I don't know what else to say about him, except he is the BEST! And Anne lives close by the hospital so she will be around to supervise the hospital experience.

Rigdon likes to be in control and he wasn't able to control the mix-up yesterday. He was frustrated, but has calmed down today now that all is resolved. The surgery, my cancer, everything around this affects Rigdon and he has been wonderful about being nothing but supportive and ready to hug me at any time I need a hug, but yesterday he lost his cool. I took 5mg. of Valium in the middle of all the chaos and I was able to hold myself in. I didn't even complain after two vials of blood were taken downstairs, and then four huge vials of blood were taken from me upstairs, for research (I think). Rigdon was shouting, don't take any more blood from her, and I said it is my body and I am willing to have more blood taken if they want it. I figured if I was cooperative, there was a better chance of the surgeries being coordinated

The first guy, Dr. Dirbas, will take 180 minutes removing the breasts and the reconstruction part (Dr. Gurtner) may take two hours, so that is a long time to be under anesthesia and a long time for Rigdon to cool his heels. He does play solitaire games on his i-phone but that activity isn't going to occupy five hours. I think I will now stop worrying about other folks and concentrate on myself. My physical therapist is giving me a gift of a massage today before she goes on a trip. Great gift from someone who has seen me through many body insults and injuries.

I am really sorry to miss Bindy's celebration tomorrow, but I can't be around crowds. This is what I put in the memory book for Bindy:

Sweet Bindy,

Filling stockings, Easter baskets, Valentine bags for her beloved grandchildren

Fixing soup and making cookies for the masses

Loving all her children and grandchildren and adoring their blonde hair

Working to copyright her beautiful tiles that have endless possibilities

Pleased to assist budding ceramicists

Proud she was a marathoner before Mike

Happy to be a wife, mother, grandmother

Enthusiastic, compassionate, considerate

A wonderful friend, I will miss Bindy a lot.

Love,  trishj

Christopher will be able to post to this site next week. Thanks for all your messages and good vibes, prayers, good wishes, etc. I will put them all to work for me.