I totally rock!

I survived the port installation!  Once again it wasn't as bad as I imagined.  I think the biggest reason for that is that everyone was so nice and they let me do it my way.  I was more worried about being sedated than I was about the surgery.  I have this weird phobia about that and I think it should be for major surgery.  Doctors intend for you not to feel pain and suffer but that can mean a lot to different people.  They have your best interest at heart which is why it's so cool that the nurse let me decide not to take the Fentanyl and Versed.  Anne, the RN that was going to keep me comfortable, instead held the needles like Edward Scissorhands and made eye contact with me the whole time.  This was awesome because my head was under a tent and Steve and Melissa (Doc and Nurse) implanted the HUGE thing in my chest and made the cuts in my neck and upper breast area to put in the POWER PORT.  I love the sound of that.  It sounds like I have a video game in me or at the very least you can plug into it and do some fabulous things.  This is going to totally save me from needles in my arms all the time which if you know me well you know I HATE!!  I know everyone hates that but I'm phobic about it so the yoga breathing and visualization is really really helping me out with this whole cancer thing so far.

Another cool thing about today was that my nurse was Debby and had been at St. Marks for 18 years.  That made me feel better too and she was super smart and nice and experienced.  She put in the iv in my wrist where they took a couple of pre-op vials of blood to make sure I clot okay.  I guess it must have been fine because I got the surgery and didn't bleed profusely.  It all worked out.

Now for the best part of all......  after leaving the hospital around 12:30, I got to leave soon because I wasn't sedated, my mom "my driver" met my friend Sherry at the Olive Garden for lunch.  It was great to visit and eat because once again I keep having these procedures that require you not to eat or drink for 24 hours or 12 hours or starting at midnight, whatever!  No wonder I'm losing weight.  It's not from worrying, it's from not eating and drinking all the time.  Sherry gave me a beautiful pink Carribean scented candle and a card that makes me smile.  She is such a great longtime friend and I smile thinking that she called me her "light".  :-)

Anyway, back to the rest of the story of today......  We drove home and I was greeted with so many beautiful things from everywhere.  The doorbell rang and I got flowers from Debbie and Joe.  OMG!  They were absolutely amazing.  I can not believe how gorgeous they are.  And, then it rang again.  I got a beautiful, amazing, wonderful, bright Coach backpack/purse and matching wallet and sunglasses from Cindy and Kevin.  Cindy knows me so well and once again picked out the most phenomenal thing to totally brighten my day!  I also got two cd's from Marita to help relax me and the best part of that was her funny sticky notes..."out out damn spot".  That reminds me of my wonderful gramma.  And, there was a beautiful, thoughtful gift from Walt and Janet who stopped by.  I totally love it (bracelet and matching earrings with a meaning).  I got a loving card from Peg.

It has been so nice to have the amount of support that I have gotten from everyone.  It has been absolutely great to have visitors, love, prayers and good thoughts coming my way in bulk.  I truly want everyone to know how much this has meant to me.  Thank you so much!  Today, in my heart, I am truly grateful.  More grateful than I have ever felt.  And.........I did it!  I conquered the POWER PORT!! What next?

This is me with my bandages :-)  YAY ME! 

I got a Power Port!  I go back Friday to check it and 6/8 to take out the stitches.