Surgery

April certainly turned out to be such a crazy month! We started off in El Paso the first week and it has been a whirlwird since we got home! I am happy it is May and a new month, a month full of promises and new beginnings in lots of ways! Anyways on to the point, the 25th of March I went into the Dermatologist to get a spot on my arm checked and one on my head. The doctor said he was really concerned about the one on my head and not to concerned with the one on my arm. So he cookie cut the one out on my head and scraped the one on my arm off. They told me if there was a problem they would call and if they didn't they gave me a number to call to check. Well while in Texas I got a number I didn't know and I don't usually answer if I don't know but I remembered that I needed to. It was the doctor and he said that the one on my head had come back as basal cell. He said he was really concerned mostly because the one on my arm had come back as melanoma. He said he had done all he could and was referring me to the Huntsman Cancer Hospital to handle the rest. I was a little worried at that point. Well the guy called me later that day and set up my appointment with me at Huntsman and said it was just for a consult and to schedule the surgery. I was a little taken back at the whole surgery thing I didn't even know that was what was happening! Well the next Wednesday April 10th we met with my doctor, Dr. Andtbaka and his team, and a few med students to discuss my arm and what would go on. It really had my head spinning! We then discussed dates and it was either the next Tuesday or yesterday the 30th. We decided to do the 16th so it wouldn't be so close to graduation. We set it all up and left. The next Monday the 15th I went up to Huntsman for a lymphoscintigraphy. My nurse Jen was so nice and made me very comfortable for it. My sister in law Deb was so nice to accompany up there on her day off so Andrew wouldn't have to take anymore days off then he was. The doctor came and inserted some dye in my arm at the sight and it travels to my lymph nodes and they have a special camera that shows exactly where the lymph nodes are. It was traveling very slow and after an hour and a half they knew where the ones in my elbow were and they marked them, the nurse told us to leave and come back in a couple hours. So we went down to City Creek and wandered and Deb treated me to a yummy breakfast at Kneaders! Thanks Deb! We then went back and they were able to finally trace the ones in my arm pit and mark them so we could leave. They had to find them so they could remove them during surgery. Also I can't forget my mom and sister who helped me that day with my kids. They got to sleep over Sunday night at Grandma's which was such a treat for them! Monday night we took the kids back over to my parents for another sleepover and then headed home. Andrew gave me a blessing and we went to bed early so we could be up early. Tuesday the 16th we were up at the Hospital at about 8 and check-in and surgery was set for 9:45 but as hospitals go it was about 11 before I was taken back! I was getting really bored and anxious. They came the anesthesiologist gave me my stuff and I was out about 30 seconds after I wheeled into the OR. The surgery took almost 2 hours and then it took me about an hour to wake up. I remember waking up in the post-op room with someone next to me in a bed and someone across the room. The guy next to me left right after but they really wanted me to wake up and they were trying to get my pain assessment but I was so sleepy still. They finally took me to a room and Andrew came in and I barely remember the next hour or two after that. We both fell asleep again and then the nurse came in and sat my bed up and insisted I be awake now, which would have been fine had they not given me sleeping pain meds (the same stuff they gave me right before I had Ella), hopefully I can now know that no matter what the dosage I don't want it because it will knock me out! Anyways finally about 6 they discharged me and the nurse asked if I had a newborn at home and I said no just a two and a three year old and she said oh that is much worse, Ha ha!! I went home and my mom brought my kids and some dinner. They were a little hesitant at first. The next day Andrew took the morning off and then my Grandma came and brought us lunch and stayed to help me with the kids for the afternoon. It was so nice to have her here to help, there is no way I could have lifted my kids or changed a diaper for the first week! I even got a nap in that afternoon, that never happens! My mom was so nice and brought us dinner for the next few nights and then we had some meals brought in from our ward. I really don't know what I would have done my mom! Thursday I finally got to take off the bandages and "shower." I still had to cover my arm so it really wasn't the best but nice to get clean. Andrew was so nice and patient and helped me in any way I needed even when he would get light headed from the sight of it all! Wednesday my Grandma came again and brought dinner for us and helped me clean my house and did some ironing for me, I am so thankful for her, thank you Grandma! I went in last Thursday the 25th for the pathology results and they said everything came back fine and they got all of the melanoma cancer! Also my lymph nodes (which they took 1 or 2 out of my elbow and 3 or 4 out of my armpit) came back perfect and it hadn't spread! It was great to hear that news so we didn't have to seek further treatment! I am now the eternal patient and have to rotate every four months with Huntsman Cancer and my dermatologist for the next two years and then every six months after that for a couple years and then once a year after that until forever! I get the outside stitches taken out tomorrow and I am excited! It will be a while before it is normal again and before part of my arm isn't numb but it seems to be healing really well! Not exactly what I had planned for the month of April but I am grateful for all the prayers in my behalf and am grateful that they are able to do get it all taken care of! I have had so many friends who have called or text concerned and I had a friend who lives across the country send me such a sweet card! It really makes me feel so blessed to not only have such great family but friends who are concerned and care! Thanks!

This was from the consult, he asked to draw on my arm to show the med students and resident and me what he wanted to do. The bigger circle is the amount they took off down to the muscle. The other lines were the ways he was thinking about cutting. He initially thought he would have to do a skin graft because my skin in so young but he made it work without having too!

This was the spot before they operated, I need to find my picture of the spot before it was initially removed.

This is during the lymphoscintigraphy.

Right after surgery all wrapped up!

This was two days post-op right after I took off the bandages. It was a little swollen but got worse. There was a big dip in my arm which is filling in. I wish I would have taken a side picture to see how crazy it was!

This was about 10 days post-op, it is looking better and filling in. The spots where they took my lymph nodes are healing up really well too and all the stitches are on the inside!

 

 After my follow up last week we went up to the Pointe Restaurant and shared a yummy sandwich while we looked out over the city! I was such a relief to have just gotten the news we did and I had done my hair for the second time in a week in a half!