Surgery.

 The biggest thing that I think we all took away from surgery day was LOVE.  It was a super overwhelming day...obviously for our patient...but for all of us.  I don't think any of us will ever forget the love that enveloped us that day.

As the surgery date approached, I felt myself getting more and more anxious about it.  It wasn't that I didn't think God had it under control...I KNEW He did...it was just the finality of what a double mastectomy meant for Auntie.  Auntie had dealt with the reality far longer than I had...because it was not happening to me; I had my kids and life to escape to so that it wasn't always weighing on me.  But as it got closer, it got really hard for my heart to take.  My worldly self just kept going back to the finality of surgery.  What God taught me was that what I kept viewing as an end was really just a new beginning for Auntie that He graciously gave her.  Auntie already "got it"...I was slower to figure it out!  Thankfully He is patient with me!!

We were so blessed to get to spend the evening before surgery at the house together, eating dessert and just enjoying each other.  It was a precious evening that I am so grateful we had.  I can't believe we didn't take a picture...but it was a joyous evening.  We let the kids stay up past their bedtimes because no one wanted to leave...leaving meant going home to bed...to wake to the reality of surgery day.

Wednesday morning, as I was pulling into the school parking lot to drop Cal and Gray off, I received a text with pictures of Mrs. Owens' prayer warriors turquoised out!!  It was instant tear-inducing.  Humbled.  Overwhelmed.  Loved.  Grateful.  Scared.  Nervous.  All of those emotions left me a bawling mess as I dropped Cal off at her class.  I will never forget the hugs from each of the teachers throughout the hall...and the shared tears and precious words of encouragement.  Mrs. Owens is SO loved.  There was SO. MUCH. TURQUOISE!!!  It was such a neat thing to see....kids, teachers, signs, wow!!!

I left the school to run back home so I could pick up Josi LaRu and head to the hospital.  I had been so overwhelmed with emotions and had cried a lot and it was on the drive home that I felt God speak to me.  It finally hit my heart that this was NOT the end...this is her new beginning!!  God knew that I needed that right then and I am thankful for His grace.  It was definitely the lift that I needed so I wouldn't go and cry in the waiting room all day!!  That SO would not have been what my Bud Ter needed!!

Little Miss Jo Ru kept us very entertained...she was a great distraction from reality in the waiting room!  And can I just say what an honor it is to have my Bud Ter as my uncle.  He's been my Bud Ter since I was a tiny little thing and he has ALWAYS been the best guy.  I've loved him so much my whole life and watching him walk through this with Auntie has given me so much absolute respect and adoration for him.  He has been such a rock for Auntie...constant support and encouragement.  Even when things have totally sucked...you will not hear him complain.  He was such a trooper in the waiting room...I know he was a nervous wreck, but he played with Josi, visited, and in the end would not let me go get him lunch because he didn't want me to have to bother with it since I had Josi.  I want to be like my Bud Ter when I grow up.    Love him!!!

 Praise God, everything with surgery went flawlessly.  HUGE relief is an understatement.  The surgeon is such an amazing lady and came and introduced herself and visited with ALL of us.  She was pleased with how the surgery went, ended up taking fewer lymph nodes than they thought they might have to, and thought everything looked great.  We were so happy to see our patient.  I never want to forget how much love was squished into that tiny hospital room that evening.

 One of the FUNNIEST moments that happened after surgery (and Auntie is going to KILL me for telling this, but I have to) was when Terry had gone to get dinner and left Mom and I with Kelli.  Auntie had finally been able to get up to use the potty...and they had told her that something to do with the dye that was used during surgery, etc. could cause her urine to look "funny" for a bit.  I think the poor nurse was completely confused because of Auntie's "OH. MY. GAWWWWSH!" that was shouted after going potty. Totally not kidding-her potty was TURQUOISE!!!!!!!  How funny is God?! We have laughed and laughed at this.

Auntie was released to come home the next morning and has healed like a total rockstar.  Her pathology reports came back the next week and showed NO CANCER!!!!  They could see where the tumor had been in the breast, but it had no cancer cells.  Lymph nodes were clear.  PRAISE GOD!!!!

She went this week for a re-check of everything and they took both drains out...we are told this is RARE.  We were prepared for those pesky things to have to stick around longer than this...so it was a wonderful surprise that she is now free from all of that extra "stuff"!  

So, now it's time to finish healing.  They are still recommending that she do radiation as a precautionary measure...that will take six weeks.  But, overall, she's on the road to getting back to "normal" life!  She was up and around this morning at 9am out in the freezing cold to watch a riveting soccer match of sharks vs. ladybugs (Grady's 1st game of the season!)....it was such a blessing to see her back in the swing of life.  

I say this every post, but there are truly not adequate words to express our appreciation to each and every person who has prayed us through this, offered sweet encouragement, prepared meals, sent cards and goodies...the list goes on and on.  Like I said earlier, the biggest thing that I have felt from this is LOVE.  Love for Auntie, love for my family, LOVED on by such an enormous amount of people.  We are humbled and grateful.  Thank you.

"Don't be afraid, for I am with you.  Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will hold you up with My victorious right hand."  Isaiah 41:10