The news from Houston is mostly favorable — a successful surgery followed by consuming thirst and a healthy appetite and supper in the evening.
Earlier in the day, Dr. Gombos and team took a little longer than they expected, but they removed the eye without any rupture. That means the tumor was contained within the eye, the best case scenario for my situation. Pending confirmation from the pathology report, that means I should escape the need for radiation therapy.
The bad news is that the curse of Corvallis claimed the Trojans once again. Except for the third quarter, USC did not look like championship material Thursday night.
USC’s loss notwithstanding, I spent a reasonably comfortable night in “P8,” had a nice visit with Dr. Gombos on Friday, and have two appointments for next week. With luck, we should be able to spend most of the second week of recovery in Lubbock.
We reported early to surgery check-in, and shortly after our arrival, little Rachel, the 5-year-old with leukemia whom we met the day before arrived to check in for her bone marrow transplant. This time, Rachel had a sizeable retinue that included her parents, an elegant woman wearing a headshawl and angle-length dress (grandmother?) and two other children about her age. The three children walk-skipped into the waiting area hand-in-hand, smiling broad as a summer day, eyes all sparkles. Rachel had brought her own angels to the party, and there was enough joy to share with all the company.
Prep for the operation went smoothly. They found a vein on the backof my left hand on first try, and got the i.v. going. (Nancy discreetly turned the other way.) The last thing I remember is that she was heading out to do a few errands, and I had at least two attendants and an anesthesiologist.
Recovery is a fascinating place, if you just listen to all the things going on. There was an older woman in the partition next to me whose name was Hilda. As her daughter coaxed Hilda toward awareness, she threatened to “go get daddy,” and that seemed to do the trick. Hilda began answering all kinds of questions. Then there was this other fellow who had just had a brain tumor removed. He was a rather testy individual who used strong language in responding to those trying to bring him around. Nancy later observed “how far we’ve come” that someone fresh out of brain surgery could be “so responsive.”
Someone once said, “You can’t direct the wind, but you can adjust your sails.” It’s a great day for sailing and adjusting our course.