Chapter 3 (Volume 1)

Monday, May 23rd- I was up early getting ready for my big day. I got the boys off to school and cleaned up waiting on John. We left the house at 8:22 and then had to run by his shop. I was serious and a little bit miffed that I would probably be late getting to Cone Hospital. I was deep in my own thoughts about surgery and didn't talk much. I was worried about getting there late. We arrived at Cone Hospital about 9:05am then proceeded up to the 2nd floor. We wandered around, but finally found the surgery admitting desk. Mom, Dad, Cindy and their minister, Darrell Bodie were waiting on us. I walked up to the desk and gave them my name. Mom was holding onto me saying "Here she is", and I suddenly felt like I was 3 years old and told mom to get her arms off of me. I was just so nervous- I didn't want to be smothered.

After giving them my name, I was handed a sack of clothes and slipper socks to put on and escorted to the bathroom. The lady said to take off everything, but I just couldn't bear parting with my underpants so I left them on. After dressing, I went back in with the entourage and Darrell Bodie said a prayer for me. Then I was taken back where a nurse checked my vital signs and asked me if I had any questions. Then I was taken into a waiting room area. I looked at a magazine and watched some of Jackie Kennedy Onasis' funeral.

At about 1010 hours, a nurse came to get me- I was wheeled over to the pre-opp area. I was put on a gurney and an IV- was put into my right arm. The nurse asked me if I was "naked" underneath and I said I still had on my underpants and she gave me a plastic bag to put them in. She also said that while I was waiting, she would track down my husband to come see me before surgery.

Karen came and introduced herself as my anesthesia nurse. I was anxious to meet her as she was Larry James fiancee. She was really nice and was very helpful in answering questions. They tracked down John and he came to visit me while I was waiting for surgery.

While waiting I felt like an airplane waiting to get the signal from the tower for takeoff! Karen came and told me that Dr. Leone was delayed due to surgery he was performing at Wesley Long Hospital.

John stayed with me about a half an hour then they chased him off, because they said a real critical patient was due out of surgery. They shut the drapes around my bed until the patient was taken away. Charles from church stopped in briefly and said he was praying for me.

Finally Karen brought me a magazine to read while I waited on Dr. Leone. Finally, Dr. Leone showed up- he apologized for the delay- although he couldn't have helped it. I just felt bad that he had to do back to back surgery.

Karen along with another nurse wheeled me into operating room #7. I noticed passing a clock- it was 12noon- the time I would have been coming out of surgery. I remember getting onto the operating table and then Karen said she had put something in my IV that would make me sleepy. I remember feeling fuzzy and then I was out like a light.

The next thing I remember I was in the recovery room. I was kind of tossing and turning and was very uncomfortable. I noticed the clock and it was 1:30pm. Finally the nurse gave me a shot of some pain medicine and that calmed me down.

After a short time, they wheeled me up to my room. I was still very groggy and just kind of dozed. Mom and John came up.

When I woke up, I felt like my mouth was like cotton- I was so dried out. I also had the urge to urinate- so I got up a couple times, but just couldn't go. Finally, John gave me some coke- it really tasted great, but when I got up to go to the bathroom I got sick to my stomach and threw up.

The nurse came in and gave me a shot of anti-nausea medicine which made me real sleepy. I dozed off for awhile. When I woke up I really had the urge to go to the bathroom, but I still couldn't go- so the nurse had to catherize me. I felt some relief, but for the next day urination was painful.

Darrell Brodie came back in and prayed with me again. Later Wofford Boyd, our Police Chaplain came to visit.

John took a break and met with Sarah in the hospital cafeteria for dinner.

I wasn't at all hungry- so I just had jello and juice for dinner. My mouth was still like cotton.

John came up and stayed with me and we watched the Barbara Walter's Special. He finally left around 9pm. I felt sorry for John, because sitting around is not his thing- so he had a trying day just waiting. Cindy had picked up Spencer from school, fed them and put them to bed- so John could stay with me.

Late that night, Candi Lombardo called me and we talked awhile. Then some customer of John's called me to wish me well.

With the ringer's solution constantly being pumped into my IV- I had to go to the bathroom constantly- which was a real pain as I had to unplug the IV machine and push it into the bathroom with me. But at least I didn't have any more trouble going. I fell asleep around 10pm, but around 11pm, the nurse came in and asked if I didn't want something for pain. I really wasn't in a lot of pain, but thought if I took something I would sleep better. So the nurse came in and gave me a shot in my hip. I then went to the bathroom and on the way back to my bed, I was getting dizzy so I knew the medicine was kicking in. I slept like the dead that night- so I was glad I got that shot.

May 24th- I woke up and ate a light breakfast- mostly jello and juice. My mouth was still dry and cottony- so I tried to drink some ice water. Dr. Leone came in around 9am. He said he ended up taking more tissue than he expected, but he wanted to be safe. He said everything looked o.k., but he wouldn't officially have the pathology report back for 2 days. He told me he wanted to see me on Friday and he would probably take out the lymph drain at that time. I also will find out what the pathology report shows- I hope for good news!

John got to the hospital around 11:00am. He went down to the hospital cafeteria for coffee and he brought me some cookies- which were very good!

Dr. Goodchild from Radiation/Oncology came to see me before I could be discharged. He said he would see me again on June 10th for an initial consultation.

John got me home around 1:00pm- I slept for a couple hours that afternoon. Cindy came around 4pm and picked up the kids. Dot fixed us country style steak for dinner. After dinner, the boys got in a fight over the scrabble game. They were their usual self (never mind being good for mom!).

I received an azalea plant from Doug. I also got calls from several friends including Larry Thompson.

May 25th- slept late since Cindy was here to get the kids up. Before Cindy left she helped me wash and dry my hair. I then took a bath and began feeling like a human being again. I even put on some make-up. I got a lot of phone calls today: mom, Dot, Capt Payne, Larry James, Jim Gunn, Lt Lunsford, Doyle Batten, Tammy Pardue, Kathy Flock and more- I tried to sleep some in the afternoon, but I mainly just dozed.

I received a flower arrangement from Clarke from Plants and Answers, along with some get well cards.

At around 6pm, Peggy Graham brought a ham by from her and Loretta. Shortly after Lisa Horne, Diana Reed and Diedre Everhart brought a bunch of food by. Then Nancy Rice and her daughter brought some more food by.

I went ahead and fed the boys then John drove Joel to his birthday party at Skateland. Spencer took a bath. John and I ate supper on the front porch. Right after we ate, Debbie Masula dropped by and I visited with her. Then she and John went to pick up Joel and Morgan at the skating rink.

May 26th- Cindy and Kathleen came over about 0930am. We watched TV and then while eating lunch Larry James and his fiancee, Karen, came over to the house. Larry brought me a big fruit basket from Captain Payne, Lt Lunsford and Lt James. I visited with Larry and Karen for about an hour. After they left, Cindy and I watched the movie "MY BREASTS". I fell asleep about half way through and slept in my chair all afternoon. Doug Russ called today along with Julie Parks and Paul Thurmond. Dot stopped by and brought me a box of chocolates from Carolyn Duncan (from her office). Tammy Pardue stopped by and visited for a few minutes. I received several cards from church members and co-workers. I am quite anxious to see Dr. Leone tomorrow as I want to find out what the pathology report will show.

May 27th- I slept on the couch last night because the bed had been so hard and uncomfortable the night before. Also, John had such a hard day-that he really needed a good night sleep and so felt that my tossing and turning may keep him from getting his rest. So- I slept downstairs on the couch. I had a very fitful sleep- i kept dreaming about the pathology report.

I got up around 5:15am and took a quick bath and put on my make-up in preparation for my doctor's appointment. I got everyone else up at around 6am.

Cindy, Kathleen and I left right after 8am for Dr. Leone's office. I got there about 8:45am, nervous and very anxious to talk to Dr. Leone. I had to urinate a lot, but thought that it was just nerves. I was hoping to get "Lynn" the nurse that had been so nice to me the day I found out about the cancer, but I got another nurse instead. I went in and took off my top- the nurse then proceeded to "rip" off the bandages and then messed with the lymph drain trying to get it unclogged.

Looking down at my breast was encouraging, because it looked the same as before, but from my angle I couldn't see the part that had been operated on.

Dr. Leone was about 45 minutes late- again he was in surgery- so he couldn't help himself. The waiting was agonizing- I was so anxious to find out the results of surgery.

Finally, he arrived- cheerful as ever. He immediately looked at my file and produced a typed pathology report. He brought it over and I anxiously scanned it- to my relief the magic words were:

FINAL DIAGNOSIS:
I. FEMALE BREAST-NO RESIDUAL CARCINOMA IDENTIFIED; MARGINS FREE OF TUMOR; FINDINGS CONSISTENT WITH PREVIOUS BIOPSY SITE

II. LYMPH NODES (20) NEGATIVE FOR TUMOR

That was truly music to my eyes and ears!!

Dr. Leone then examined my breast. His poking and feeling were not comforting, as I was very bruised, but I knew he had to. He decided to take out the lymph drain and as I laid on my right side- it felt like he "ripped" it out- he also took out the stitches around it. Then he said there was some fluid in my breast as it was slightly swollen- so he got a syringe and aspirated some blood and fluid.

Oh, while waiting for Dr. Leone to arrive- I decided to look at my breast for the first time since surgery. It wasn't bad looking at all- in fact I was pleasantly surprised that most of it was still there. There were staples under my left arm where he had cut to take the lymph nodes out. But all in all- I was pleased, because I still had a breast- I was so thankful I had decided on the lumpectomy!

Dr. Leone said that I needed to come back on Tuesday or Wednesday, he wouldn't be there- I needed to get the staples removed. He also said he needed to see me in a month. He asked about my appointment with Dr. Goodchild and I told him it was on June 10th. He also said he wanted me to get a consult with an oncologist.

When I checked out- I was given a copy of the pathology report (a real souvenir!). I made an appointment for Tuesday, May 31st for my staple removal and June 22nd to see Dr. Leone again. I also paid $37.75 for charges my insurance did not cover.

Cindy, Cathleen and I then drove to my parent's house and broke the good news to mom and dad. I also called the office- CPT Payne was not in, but I talked to LT Lunsford. He was glad to hear my good news. I also found out that Ronny Slaughter got promoted to sergeant and Bill Barnes got promoted to Lieutenant! That was kind of a surprise. Later that day, I talked to Jim Gunn- I figured he would really be down with the promotions, but he was surprisingly taking it well.

Mom took me, Bruce, Cindy and Kathleen out to lunch to celebrate my good news. We went to Spring Garden Brewing Company at Guilford College. After lunch, Cindy took Kathleen to her mom's, then drove me back to Thomasville- Bruce followed her so he could take her back and leave me my car.

Cindy took Spencer and Joel to Greensboro. Joel went to my mom's and Spencer went to John's mom's.

Just to back up- by the time I got home from Greensboro- I realized I had developed a bladder infection- so I called Dr. Leone's office and got a prescription phoned into the Medicine Shoppe- which Cindy picked up for me before she left.

The bladder infection was really bothering me- it was more uncomfortable than the surgery had been.

Charles from church came by and I shared the good news with him. He visited for a few minutes then prayed with me.

Mom gave me a present from Martha Mitchell and some of her friends- it was a book called "CANCER BATTLE PLAN"- it was really good.