Back in the Swing of Things

Surprise! I am in Aspen for a very much appreciated getaway with some of my favorite people.

I even drove here on my own! WHOA, right!? It was my first time driving myself to the mountains in eight months! After some reprimands from my surgeon and friends the first month of recovery, I'd like to think I've gotten smarter. Hopefully?

Thus, if I need to drive more than 20 minutes, I take ice packs and force myself to stop every 45-60 minutes for walking breaks - no more of the pushing through nonsense for now!

Overall, I am encouraged by the healing that has already taken place in six weeks! 

1. I'm in far less pain than I've been in for over a year. 
2. I'm already off prescription pain meds. 
3. After 13 months, I've been able to slowly and carefully get back to the gym. 

Those are BIG wins!

Surgery was a success with a lot of good news surrounding it. First, and foremost, THANK YOU to every person who was thinking of and praying for me, the surgeon, and the team caring for me throughout. 

My surgeon later told me two things I will forever remember:

1. "I'm glad we got you in when we did! You were a ticking time bomb." 
2. "The worst part of my Monday was opening you up and realizing we were going to have to work on your heart."  

It was far more of a serious surgery than anticipated, but also far better results because I will very likely no longer have to have a second lung surgery or a hysterectomy! The air pocket in my lung was massively larger than they expected, that is why my surgeon made the statement about my body being a ticking time bomb. Also, my lung had attached to my heart so they had to separate them as well as remove scar tissue from my lung, heart, and esophagus.

Wowzers, right!?

There are a lot of unanswered questions surrounding why there was scar tissue, why my lung had connected to my heart, and other things. However, my surgeon thinks things are fixed and I'll be able to get back to my normal life. I'm to keep an eye on my right side (aka if pain continues or worsens call him asap) but he is hopeful what was fixed on the left will help the right. Endometriosis is looking better as well, praise the Lord! There were a few spots on my diaphragm he removed, but otherwise things looked clear!

Please continue to pray for smooth healing, rebuilding, and no more surgeries!

My goals while in Aspen:

1. Enjoy time with good friends I don't see often.
2. Attempt a small, low elevation hike.
3. Soak in being surrounded by God's creation.
4. Continue rebuilding, balancing it with resting. 
5. BREATHE

Finally, because I will never be able to say it enough, THANK YOU once again to each and every person who has: prayed, checked in on me, visited, brought meals, shopped, tidied up my house, listened to my whining, made me laugh, and supported me in a myriad of ways.

YOU made these past six weeks far smoother than I could have imagined. THANK YOU.