After the Surgery...

September 16, 2014

I wrote these blogs and then promptly forgot about them and I'm finally getting around to posting them now! 

August 16, 2014:

I’m Home!! The surgery went really well. I was in surgery for almost 5 hours and the surgeon came out to tell David that at my C2 vertebrae, my spinal cord was almost completely pinched off. He was extremely confident that surgery would alleviate all of my symptoms and was very pleased with how the surgery had gone. I spent one night in the Neuro-ICU where I had a closed off room with one entire wall made of glass for the nurses to keep an eye on me. I don’t remember too much about that first night but I am told that I provided some great entertainment now and again. David says that at one point, I decided I was too warm and the obvious solution to me was to remove my clothes. I’m very grateful that David was there to stop me from disrobing in front of the very kind MALE nurse caring for me and anyone else who might have been passing by the glass wall. I spent the next two days in a normal hospital room and worked on walking like a drunk person. I felt very much like a ping pong ball bouncing off of my dad and then into David and then back into my dad as I attempted walking down a hospital hallway with their assistance. I was released from the hospital with 15 staples up the back of my neck and we were on our way home! One of the best moments of my life was seeing my kids again. Emilia ran to me and gave me the longest hug and was thrilled to see me. “You came home mommy! Daddy, you and mommy came home! You’re home!!”  I have to note here that I was really concerned about leaving the kids. I haven’t left either of them for that long and I was worried that at Oskar’s young age, he would be upset with me for leaving him. Maybe pretty silly to worry about but, I worried nonetheless. To my greatest joy, Oskar saw me and grinned. He gave me the biggest smile I’ve ever seen and wanted nothing more than to sit in my lap and cuddle. I’m so grateful for my family. My parents came and stayed a few days to help with the kids and then we relocated to David’s parent’s house where my amazing mother-in-law has been caring for the kiddos and letting me rest and recover. Here’s to recovering!

August 22, 2014:

We’ve just past the two weeks post-op mark! YAY!!!! Washing my hair felt like the best gift of my life! It was an extra long shower and I may have washed my hair three times just for good measure. I go in for a final checkup with the surgeon in Salt Lake on the 9^th. I’m still moving really slowly but I am capable of walking a semi-straight line unassisted, and am able to help a little more with the kids. Still no lifting, pulling, pushing, or straining in any way but seeing so much improvement. NO MIGRAINES SINCE THE SURGERY!!!! Headaches from the tension in those muscles that were cut through and soreness, yes, but not a single migraine! I am still resting A LOT but I am trying to contribute to daily activities as much as my body will allow. We have been the recipients of so much service from loved ones, friends, and the ward family. My gratitude is immeasurable to those who have helped and will continue to help us. David starts back to school this Monday so we’ll be staying with my in-laws during the week so I have help with the kids while David is at work until I am cleared at my check up in Salt Lake to resume my life! I imagine I will still have to gradually ease into all of the chores but I am thrilled to think I will be doing this without migraines, ears ringing, blacking out, or any number of other symptoms this surgery has alleviated. Thank you all for your love and support and your prayers. I have felt the love and support and I know that my surgery went so well because of your prayers and fasting.

September 10,2014:

While I’ve had only two migraines in the last month, I’ve been having pretty constant and intense headaches. I was so worried that the surgery hadn’t worked and that all of my family had given so much, and it had been for nothing. Yesterday, I had my first post-op appointment with the surgeon and he said that everything checked out and that I was healing nicely. When he felt along the incision on my neck I was able to pinpoint two very tender areas. He said they were nerves that were trying to heal and that they were causing the headaches I’d been having. He gave me a cortisone shot at both tender spots on my neck and said they would help with the headaches and also help those nerves heal faster. Sure enough about an hour later I am so happy to say that I didn’t have a headache of any kind. The surgery worked! The surgeon also cleared me to gradually start getting back to my life! All I can say is thank you for your prayers, service, and fasting. I feel so blessed.