Team Tami

Last post for operation day 1

Hi All......Dr. Lambert walked into the waiting room precisely at 9:00 P.M. and had turned Tami over to the ICU for care for the night.  She told us that Tami had received 1 litre of blood and 12-13 litres of fluid.  She also said that Tami did wonderfully and that Tami's particular cancer was one of the easier to remove..;...I guess its liquidity and the fact that it wasn't too hard to chip away at....She said every surgery is different.  Having said that, 13 hours of surgery doesn't sound too easy, does it?
Dr. Lambert walked us down to the ICU and we waited over an hour just to walk in to see her.  They were doing x-rays and making sure she was hooked up to eveything.  Tim and I felt bad after we had seen her because we think we agitated her a bit because she was trying to talk.....She acted like she didn't want Tim to leave.  She couldn't talk because she still had her breathing tube in and her hands were tied down so she couldn't pull it out.  She wanted to write something for us, but she was too out of it to write letters.  They were going to make sure she slept the night so she wouldn't be upset with her surroundings.  The nurse told us she was still sedated from surgery so Tim and I left.....She never opened her eyes wide and will probaby not remember that we were even there.  Her face was puffy along with her neck and hands......the amount of fluid was evident.....We just had to take for granted that Dr. Lambert said she was doing very well.  They told us we could be there between 8 and 9 tomorrow morning so we'll plan on that.  Tim bought her a new pair of running shoes so she could see them and fight like she always does.....that will have to wait until she's more alert, plus the ICU is a no nonsense place.  maybe when she gets to her room.  I just hope and pray she can rest through this night.  There she lay in all her beauty....nose tube, mouth tube, hands covered.....her hair was still curly, her eyes still on except smudged a bit, fingernails polished.....I love that sister of mine and Tim and I have wept for joy for the tender mercies that she is still with us and her struggle for health is on the horizon.

Nate and Natalie walked down to the waiting room and visited with us.....We were amazed that Nate could walk that far in just the 1st week.  They are the sweetest couple.  Nate's progress has been an inspiration for Tim.....He hopes Tami will make progress like Nathan has....but knowing Nathan is several years younger and of course dealing with different issues.
Well....Goodnight..It's 12:30 AM...It's been a very long day.
Love, Judy