Created and sent via e-mail JULY 6th......
To All,
These 8 days since coming home from the hospital until now have seemed liked 8 months. Once all went well with the first surgery and I checked out last Monday, all I wanted to do was get back for the 2nd surgery, get the other poison in my neck out and then move on ASAP to he next steps therapy.
My week, last week started out on a tremendous high that I didn't go home with a feeding tube. From the second I got into the hospital, I had no intention of taking that tube home with me and beating the odds. Which I did. BUT.....that didn't make matters go as shangri-lai. I rode a roller coaster of pain and trouble swallowing most of the week. My diet was basically 5 Ensures and throw in some yogurt and Jello pudding along the way. I think I saw Bill Cosby in my sleep between the pain and eating so much pudding.
On Friday I went back for a follow up with the Speech Pathologist and had very good results there. From day #1 after surgery everyone said how good my speech was.....and insert all the Dave D talking jokes here. I'll insert mine if you like.....by late Friday into Sunday my jaws ached and ached. I felt my mouth had a perpetual frown to it, because the muscles in my jaw and face were sagging. Actually I think it was from the "tongue therapy"......now how exciting does that sound.....and please no jokes here!!! Actually the therapy disrupted some scar tissue and made a few days not so fun.
The doctor on Friday let me advance to pureed foods which are SO disgusting to look out I really could have used a blindfold. But the problem I immediately developed was I bit my tongue and inside of mouth repeatedly.....and all of you know how that feels. I guess one thing I learned real quick after this surgery is how much goes on in ones mouth and when it gets f'd up, it can get really, really tedious and annoying to even drink a bottle a water.
So tomorrow we leave at 4:30AM and check into HUP (Hospital at The University of Pennsylvania) at 6:00AM. Not sure how long surgery will be, but it is amazing how all the docs on staff and the nurses paint it like you're just plucking an apple from a bucket. They all reinforce what a big deal it is not. "Ahhhh, you come in they cut you, take out the tumor sew you up and then we let you sleep the rest of the day and go home. Easy right?........But I'm still trying to grapple with being cut from my ear to my throat and that "not being a big deal". So by this time tomorrow even if all goes well, I'm sure I'll have one doozy of a scar. Once I get back and settled, I'll send out another update, but surely you can e-mail or text me if you like. You don't know how all of those get well wishes, positive thoughts and prayers sent my way boosted up my confidence.
Also there are too many people to note by name, but all the people who have chipped in my calling me, e-mailing to see how I was feeling, I got my grass cut, my sprinklers fixed, my garbage taken out, my kids watched, rides wherever and whenever I needed them.. I even had mass---this is the one e-mail I got that made me cry) said last Sunday in my honor by a man that I've never met. You all are a special group of people and give me great strength and I will never, every forget that.
So the 2 things I heard most over and over in your e-mails and texts were.....continuous jokes of eating and talking and the irony that the cancer would hit me in an area that impacts my 2 favorite things......talking and eating. One of the other common questions I got most was.........
"You Know Vince Lombardi"?
As humor will get me thru this and God knows I needed it this week with pain, lack of eating and an overall sluggish feeling, I give you the line of the week from my dear niece Celeste. She sent me this after I texted folks that I passed my "Speech and Swallow" test last Monday and I would not be going home with a feeding tube........
"Uncle Dave, I'm not surprised you passed a test involving talking and eating. You've been studying for that test your whole life"
PRICELESS!!!
Thanks all and God Bless You,
David D
No comments:
Post a Comment