Where Oh Where?

Where has the time gone since my last post? Well for those of you that have been following on FACEBOOK know...that I was off on a luxurious vacation. I had the opportunity to stay 10 days at an all inclusive hotel-meals/drinks provided, got to stay on the 10th floor of this beautiful resort. Had my own personal care-takers, oh and not to mention the night lights of the city were phenomenal when not under the influence.  HA! Who am I joking. 1111 E McDowell was where the vacation took place. The resort aka Good Samaritan Hospital was where I would hang my IV bags each night...met a lot of wonderful medical staff...where I shed a lot of tears...and where I had 45% of my pancreas removed-along with part of my stomach and small intestine-otherwise known as the whipple procedure.
Before I even had "the" surgery I truly wouldn't even dare go on the Internet to research the process or procedure. Instead I would hear other stories of survival and hope and would lean towards that instead of the doom and gloom of what this procedure was all about.  I truly had no idea that I would wake up with an NG tube-feeling like a garden hose out of my nose...that having a bowel movement would be like winning the lottery for some...or just how weak I would be and it would take my "cheer-leaders" being there to support me in order for me to get out of bed and do a simple walk around the RN station. 

Well I feel I have overcome a lot this past almost 2 weeks.  I don't want to go another day without thanking my special friends at GOOD SAM and what they did for me and sharing a little more of my story...

First of all: My Doctors-Dr. Koep: from the first day that I walked into his office...he reminded me of a dear grandpa.  A man that truly cared for his patients and knew exactly what he was doing.  It was his calm demeanor and his will to help me that I knew I was in good hands.

Then onto Dr. Brink I had always seen his pictures on his sisters page...but never put 2 and 2 together until I was told-Oh-you're going to meet with Dr Koep and Dr Brink.  His smile can turn any one's bad day into a good day. I knew Dr.K was the main one in charge come surgery day...but having Dr.Smiley there too-I knew that it couldn't get much better. As they met with me in pre-op it was there that my worries were fading and I soon knew they would be the ones removing this cancer out of my body.

Then onto surgery...I said my good byes to my family and prayed-they turned left to go to surgery waiting...I was wheeled to the right-crying like a woman out of control-my anesthesiologist said, "Oh sweet heart-I've got something for you-here's some Versed"-I can only remember responding with-"Oh Thank you-yes!"...then off to over 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep-surgery time.

I woke up that night in ICU with a sweet RN-wish I could remember her name.  All I know is that she said now when the time is right-we will get you up to walk.  I asked when is the right time...she said well when you are ready. Well gosh its been 2 hours post-op...lets do this! I remember her getting me up out of bed and all the other RNs literally cheering for me because they couldn't believe I was up. I was quite funny I am told...I kept telling my aunts and mama to tell me  story...then would lean over to my mom and say," Hey come here!...You are my ROCK!" I remember my aunts and mama trying to sing to me as they were doing everything I asked them to...they began to sing "We Are Family"...only to be told by my RN that they should stick to their day time roles.  But hey at 1:30am anyone sounds good-especially under the influence of great medications from surgery :) I even had my Auntie taking pictures of me.  She still thinks I am crazy...but I wanted to document everything about this fight...so she was sitting there with her I-Pad clicking pics of me.

The next morning I woke up to a crazy RN=not going to lie.  You just know when they know their skills/have compassion and those that are there just swiping their badges and waiting for next pay day. After she took my central line (out of my neck) without covering it...it was off to the 10th floor...there it was like this special camp spot...where only special VIPs were allowed. Those VIPs were patients that were there for transplants or crazy people like me that had undergone the whipple. 
It was on the 10th floor that I would stay the remainder of my time and meet many wonderful RNs. 
I had many...but have to give credit where credit is due...
Nikki...looks like Halle Berry-but so much prettier.  Her heart was much bigger than her petite stature.  She was there for me, encouraged me and took great care of me.
Laurie...she was there for me when I got my pathology report back.  Yes the obvious is there but to hear it again...its never easy.  She listened as I cried and told my story and then so graciously shared her story with life as well.  I am forever grateful that on that day she was assigned as my RN.
Jessica...she took great care of me on my last 2 days there and made me comfortable and gave me great directions and what I would be or could be expecting.
Marvin...oh my! This guy cracks me up just thinking of him.  His sweet accent made me smile...but it was his cool hair, his good smelling cologne, or perhaps his bling in his ears that I knew I was in for a great night with a good RN. He got to calling me "JamieJames"...as I responded-yes Marvin Martian. He truly was a great RN even though I still think he is only 14 even though he told me 30.
Last but certainly not least...Nate the great! This guy was beyond any "male" nurse-or murse as they are often called. He was so gentle, and compassionate.  He was my RN for a few days and finally on the final day that I knew I would be seeing him...it was like I was telling a family member good-bye.  He would come and check on me literally hourly and often would kneel to my level-rub my arm and ask seriously..."Are you ok?"  His genuineness will NEVER be forgotten...I can't wait to hear if this Daddy to Denver is going to have another precious little boy or a little princess.  His love for life showed through his work and his excitement of getting to paint his future babies room was priceless. 

Nurses often go unrecognized and being a block 3 student up until diagnosis day makes me appreciate RNs even more!!!

Of course...I can't forget Mariella...she was the CNA that went over and beyond and even would visit me when she wasn't on my unit. She has a heart of gold.

So with all this being said and all my wonderful medical team that took exceptional care of me...I close with this.  A few days back I posted on FB a picture with my "Angel" Kiersten. She was the sweet volunteer that checked me into preop the day of my surgery.  She quickly and professionally asked what brought me to the hospital-I replied...Pancreatic Cancer. She paused for a minute and took a breath before she replied-"My Mom was here for her stuff-she had Leukemia"...well not being in the right mood set-I thought oh wow! Not realizing that her Mama was her angel and had been for 3 years already.  I sat on my bed and she walked by several times as I would catch her smile and try to have small talk with her.  It was then that the charge RN had told Kiersten that I had a support page and a blog. It gave her the opportunity to come talk to me-which I am forever thankful for.  Before I was taken to surgery-I already had a new friend on my personal FB page-saw pictures of her beautiful mama and had made plans that one week from my surgery date-on that next Friday that she would be up to visit me.  Sure enough-a week later I was graced by Kiersten's presence and her beautiful smile.  It was then that she told me...You remind me so much of my Mom.  I knew from only meeting this precious girl just one week prior that I now have an "adoptive" older daughter that I can't seriously wait for my girls to meet.  She has so much going for her and I know that world better watch out cause this one's got so much to share with others. 

So now its back to my HOME...where I don't hear IV alarms, call lights, or RNs telling me its time to give me Lactulose down my feeding tube.  I now reflect on what a few weeks can change and I am forever grateful for my "vacation"...I met many people that have affected my life and made such a positive difference. Thank you!!!