A Sandi Update

First and foremost, I want to say thank you to all the people who have commented here and elsewhere, as well as in e-mails to me expressing their thoughts and prayers for Sandi and her health as well as us in general. It means so much--- you have no idea. We both are very grateful for the support.


Sandi had surgery yesterday morning and it was hard day for her, me, and everyone involved. This third time  the thing they have been chasing was easily found because it has undergone "explosive growth." It currently is in her heart sac and goes over to the bottom of her right lung where it is in the bottom of the lung along with severe and extensive scar tissue from her pleurisy back in November 2011 that started her down the cancer highway. It extends into and through her esophagus and goes downward into and through her diaphragm and down into her liver. The thing has grown considerably and has branched out extensively.

Because of the way it is, the thing can' be removed. It is inoperable though if it is cancer--as everyone expects--they would not try to remove it anyway surgically as that would spread it and cause new issues. Samples of the thing were obtained and at this point, they can rule out one of the two cancers she had before. They don't think it is the other cancer she had either, but that quickie test result in the OR for that was not conclusive like the first one. The results from pathology probably will not be back for a week to ten days.

She also had some sort of atrial fibrillation during surgery that was finally stopped with enough medicines.  Apparently it was fairly severe and clearly concerned the surgeon when he told me about it afterwards. Whether it happed becuase he had to press on her heart or for some other reason he did not know. But, with her history of heart attack and stroke, it was a major concern.

She remains in ICU tonight where they were trying earlier today to gradually wean her off the machines and oxygen. I just talked to her minutes ago before they turned off her phone and all that has now stopped. Apparently, just after dinner, her oxygen level started dropping a little bit. When it continued to slide, they decided to put her back all the way on oxygen to get her numbers back up. Her BP remains steady according to her  and I have been told not to panic and to stay home. Apparently this sort of thing happens from time to time. She is doing better now that they bumped the oxygen back up to where it was right after surgery.

They were going to give her pain meds when I called so we didn't talk long. They were going to do that and then change several of her bandages as it was time again for that.

So, that is where we are this Saturday evening. I apologize for not being able to update everyone sooner. I was absolutely exhausted by the time I got home last night. I am so unstable on my feet these days I don't dare run the risk of trying to take my laptop with me to the hospital as I did last year. I don't have the money to replace it if I were to fall and break it. When the valet guy offers to walk me to my car, or one of the patient transport people offers to walk me to her room, both happen everyday, you know I am not projecting the best image walking wise.


Again, thank you one and all for your prayers, thoughts, best wishes and support. Sandi says thank you as well and to make sure I tell everyone that she is not beaten yet.