5/27 – Met with Dr. Yoon whom went over the surgery and recovery. She discussed that she’ll draw the surgical lines pre-surgery. She will install the expander with saline and alloderm with drains.
Picked up Amy’s mom. She missed her connecting flight in San Francisco. The arrival was delayed 3 hours.
5/28 – Had dinner with Ya-shian and Julien.
5/29 – Ya-shian came over around 6:20 to take care of the kids.
7:00am Amy, Amy’s mom, chu-chi arrived at the hospital to register.
Amy was taken into the the pre-operation room. This was in the new outpatient wing which is greatly improved where she was monitored.
She came out for the sentinel biopsy where she was injected with a blue dye, iodine and gamma dye around 8am.
She went into the gamma machine around 11am to see how the injections have travelled.
Around 11:45 we met with Dr Yoon who drew the surgical lines. We also met the Anesthethiologist.
Dr Marcus was a bit behind for lunch.
Amy went into surgery at 12:45.
Dr Marcus came out at 2:08 announcing a successful mastectomy and a negative sentinel biopsy. The news is good so far.
Dr Yoon came out at around 3:45pm announcing the initial reconstruction was complete and amy moved to the recovery room. amy is awake and smiled. We couldn’t see Amy until 5:45 after she went into the short stay room.
The short stay room is a private room and brand new. it has a TV and restroom.
When we arrived, they just moved Amy into the room.
The nurses did very good job of moving Amy. However, they missed a few things like the foot circulator. amy noticed her foot became numb.
also, the nurse was measure blood pressure on her right arm (the affected arm). this was not recommended because it could cause lymphadema. an alert nurse informed us.
we are amazed how hard the nurse work. the shift may be more than 12 hours. most of the nurse seems reactionary because they have so much to do.
Initially Amy spent most of her time in bed and only had liquid diet. she had a low-grade fever.
the doctor recommended she used her breathing apparatus more often.
By the second day, she started having solid food for lunch. Amy was tired because she didnt have good sleep all night. The charge nurse asked Amy to walk more to avoid blood clot.
She started walking more in the morning.
Amy started getting a fever late morning.
She took a refreshing nap for a few hours. Dr Yoon was held up in traffic. She came after 5:30pm.
By then Amy was well rested and ready to leave.
Before leaving, Dr Yoon instructed us what to do prior to Monday when she will see us again to check up on Amy.
We arrived at home on 5/30 at 8. A successful surgery!
June 5, 2008 at 6:34 am |
I’m so glad to hear the surgery went well. Heidy, Felipe, Gareth and I will keep praying for Amy and the family. You’re all so brave.