The Fun Begins

Tuesday, May 10th

Hello All - This is Bob signing in from K_R_H_M--that's the Russell Home on your dial. Just a brief update and a thank you for all the emails, comments and the facebook "likes." We "like" you too!

Mia is sleeping as I write this, and I'm very glad for it. I've noticed that doctors like to downplay the recovery process when promoting their surgery, and this is no exception. She's over the nausea, but the pain is increasing. So are the phone calls, and I don't mean to imply anything. Mia's needs are still pretty immediate, so I hope you'll understand that she hasn't had a chance to read the emails or take calls. I'm planning to read all those lovely comments to her tonight.

Now that the bandage is off, the incision on her neck is obvious, and shows some expected swelling. She's my little zipper neck now (Young Frankenstein), but they promise it will heal so well you'll never see a scar. More obvious is the yellowish-orange stained skin from the antiseptic used during the surgery. I'd take a picture and post it here while she's sleeping, but...well, you know. Sleeping with the dog gets old after a while. So pictures will have to wait until after her first shower and we apply the isopropyl alcohol to remove the stain from her skin.

We still need your prayers for healing, for the pain, that no infection sets in, and that it was all worth it. Mia feels the improvement in her hands, but there's some tingling in them. She's says that it's different than before, though, and may just be poor circulation from lying in bed so much. The site of all the surgery is the most sore today. We have muscle relaxers and pain killers and she took something before sleeping, but was at the edge of tears from the pain before nodding off.

So far she can swallow with little pain, and came home very hungry. We added noodles to that chicken broth at lunch, aka chicken noodle soup. Within an hour she wanted oat meal, then a second cup followed.

That's all we have for today. I'll keep you posted until Mia can do it herself. Meanwhile, I can safely predict that Mia would like me to share this Psalm: "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." (Ps 28:7)

Bob