I have been more absorbed in being with my family over the past few weeks. The weather has been really good, and I have been feeling so well. We have been soaking up the warm of summer with water table, pools, rivers, walks, bike rides, yard sales, ice cream, and the boys mountain biking. I almost get to the point of forgetting the looming surgery and that cancer has been such a prominent part of our lives for the past 6, almost 7, months.

Yesterday was a big day of pre-op discussions and planning with my surgeon. I am grateful for the time and patience that she has offered me. We spoke in depth about the surgery. Prep begins today with a “liver diet” that aims to reduce extra fats and sugars from hanging out in the liver (a 1000 calorie die/day; in act of starving). This “special” diet has been proven to reduce issues with bleeding during surgery as well as other complications. To me, the diet is completely counterintuitive and potentially witchcraft, but heck, I will do my best if it has an evidence base and improves my outcomes.

Today is CT scan, then I will also have a colonoscopy later this week.

On the day of surgery, I will be the only case on my surgeons day. She will move slow with precision to mitigate the high risks of surgical hepatic resection. She will re-attach my colon (good bye colostomy!), and hunt down a lymph node in my lower abdomen. Surgery will take all day, 6-10 hours. Recovery will start in the ICU with an assortment of tubes and possible drains; pain control and getting moving ASAP will be the main focus. I will spare you the risks of everything, because honestly, this is the only path offering possible disease free and cure.

Tough things will be not seeing the boys until I am on the oncology floor and out of ICU; focusing on my own healing; being away from home.

However, I am SO blessed by the sisterhoods with some amazing spirits that will be coming in from MA, CA, and NH to assist Jon and I with juggling the demands of major surgery and extreme physical and spiritual healing in the coming months. Our support system of meal trains and those stepping in to check on us is paramount for the charge forward.
All this being said, I am not sure at what point in my recovery I will be up for giving an update. Know that I will be balancing fighting and resting to the best of my ability. Please keep the love pouring in; for the boys, Jon and myself.

Mantras:

Trust the Universe. Go straight for the liver (and colon and lymph node). Precision.

Music:

Mumford & Sons featuring Jon Batiste, “Awake My Soul”