Latest on Sherri's progress
Hello Everyone,
First off, let me say thank you so much for the beautiful thoughts and kind words you have sent. They have made a big difference in the quality and pace of Sherri’s recovery to date.
Second, let me apologize to you all for not updating you more frequently, but I have spent the last 72 hours in the hospital with Sherri. I am proud to be her 24 hour advocate but it has kept me from reporting back and I know this has been difficult at times so please forgive me.
WELL, Howard?? What about Sherri, already?!?!?!?
Sherri is doing very well. She is out of ICU and in a room in the cardiac unit where she gets a lot of good attention. She has already had some major tubes removed (a good thing) and she is meeting her challenges with the fighting spirit and good will which defines her. She does have some big challenges to deal with for now. She is very weak and drowsy and the breathing exercises she undertakes to stave off pneumonia (her primary task for now) are extremely painful. Her doctors and nurses are walking a tightrope to keep her sufficiently doped up to stand the pain but not so much that she can’t do the exercises. It’s a very difficult predicament. It was looking rough yesterday but today she rebounded and things are improving. The prognosis is consistently “two steps forward and one step back.”
In the coming days, they will do the first tests to examine the integrity of the surgical intervention (did it work), and then they will examine how likely it is the surgery achieved its actual goal. Interestingly these are two different things.
If the surgery worked, Sherri’s chic new downsized esophagus and matching stomach will be seamlessly integrated (literally). There will be no leaks or lesions and she will resume taking nutrients orally for the first time in a week. That would be great. There is still a tremendous amount more healing to do, but the main event will have been accomplished. That’s the surgery working.
The bigger question is this: Did the surgery achieve its goal? Remember, the goal of this procedure was not the remodeling of Sherri’s thoracic cavity but rather the eradication of the cancer. In a few days time we should get the first lab results which may answer that question. Naturally, the real answer to this question can only be proved out by Sherri’s longevity, but these lab results are an important indicator.
Regardless of what these reports say, fear not. Being the skillful nurse that she is, Sherri knows how to do what she needs to regardless of doctors’ orders (as we all saw from the first set of opinions she got four years ago)… but she will listen to the orders nonetheless.
This has been, and continues to be a very tough time for both of us. Your support, love, thoughts, wishes and prayers enable us to persevere. We are deeply moved and energized by this awesome display. This is an amazing gift to give, one we are sincerely grateful to receive. Though we may not respond in word or voice, please know our hearts are responding to you vociferously! We continue down this road and I will update you as I can. Thank you all for joining us as you have, easing our way.
Yours in love and gratitude,
H&SW
First off, let me say thank you so much for the beautiful thoughts and kind words you have sent. They have made a big difference in the quality and pace of Sherri’s recovery to date.
Second, let me apologize to you all for not updating you more frequently, but I have spent the last 72 hours in the hospital with Sherri. I am proud to be her 24 hour advocate but it has kept me from reporting back and I know this has been difficult at times so please forgive me.
WELL, Howard?? What about Sherri, already?!?!?!?
Sherri is doing very well. She is out of ICU and in a room in the cardiac unit where she gets a lot of good attention. She has already had some major tubes removed (a good thing) and she is meeting her challenges with the fighting spirit and good will which defines her. She does have some big challenges to deal with for now. She is very weak and drowsy and the breathing exercises she undertakes to stave off pneumonia (her primary task for now) are extremely painful. Her doctors and nurses are walking a tightrope to keep her sufficiently doped up to stand the pain but not so much that she can’t do the exercises. It’s a very difficult predicament. It was looking rough yesterday but today she rebounded and things are improving. The prognosis is consistently “two steps forward and one step back.”
In the coming days, they will do the first tests to examine the integrity of the surgical intervention (did it work), and then they will examine how likely it is the surgery achieved its actual goal. Interestingly these are two different things.
If the surgery worked, Sherri’s chic new downsized esophagus and matching stomach will be seamlessly integrated (literally). There will be no leaks or lesions and she will resume taking nutrients orally for the first time in a week. That would be great. There is still a tremendous amount more healing to do, but the main event will have been accomplished. That’s the surgery working.
The bigger question is this: Did the surgery achieve its goal? Remember, the goal of this procedure was not the remodeling of Sherri’s thoracic cavity but rather the eradication of the cancer. In a few days time we should get the first lab results which may answer that question. Naturally, the real answer to this question can only be proved out by Sherri’s longevity, but these lab results are an important indicator.
Regardless of what these reports say, fear not. Being the skillful nurse that she is, Sherri knows how to do what she needs to regardless of doctors’ orders (as we all saw from the first set of opinions she got four years ago)… but she will listen to the orders nonetheless.
This has been, and continues to be a very tough time for both of us. Your support, love, thoughts, wishes and prayers enable us to persevere. We are deeply moved and energized by this awesome display. This is an amazing gift to give, one we are sincerely grateful to receive. Though we may not respond in word or voice, please know our hearts are responding to you vociferously! We continue down this road and I will update you as I can. Thank you all for joining us as you have, easing our way.
Yours in love and gratitude,
H&SW
Replies
Don\'t you hate when you type a long response and the computer locks up & you lose it and hadn\'t saved it...grrr. So, let me start again :-) I\'m so happy that Sherri is progressing well enough to move from ICU to a regular room. The leak test is an a welcomed & important step. Once that comes back ok, they will probably give her, her first liquid food. When they introduce food to her, my gastro advised me \"slow small bites.\"
I\'m sure she loves each time something is removed - it\'s like a real YEH moment! It\'s important to keep using that lung thing & some walking once they give her the ok for that. She sounds like someone who is going to do whatever they ask of her, as long as it\'s possible & feels right to her. Being a nurse has it\'s advantages, I would think, in knowing more of what they\'ll want her to do.
Here\'s hoping her pathology report comes back clear. Mine didn\'t quite, but 4 years later since diagnosis, I\'m still coming back cancer free from my scan & scope biopsies - yeh :-)
If you don\'t get many replies from the regulars on her \"journal\", it may be that Sherri set her journal up for \"friends only\" to view. Posting on the esophageal board can be seen by anyone that goes there. Just FYI. Tell Sherri she\'s in my prayers and sounds like she\'s on board with her recovery! Hang in there - both of you :-) Brenda
Hi Howard and Sherri:
Sherri, your progress sounds great. Each day should bring more strength and endurance. When they allow you to walk, walk as much as you can. It really helps!!!!
Howard:
You are doing all you can. And that\'s fantastic. This is not always the case. In many ways, Sherri is blessed to have you.
Try to keep your focus on a day by day, or even hour by hour basis. Otherwise, it can be overwhelming, even with Sherri being a nurse. Also, take care of yourself. It is SO easy to overdo, and that won\'t help Sherri as much as pacing yourself will.
You are going to have a lot of questions about what comes next. Try to friend everyone you can. They have been there, and, while each recovery is different, there are many similarities. Look back thru old posts and journals. There is some great stuff there. I hope you can use it.
Continued good luck to you both. We\'ll keep praying for you.
All the best,
Fred
No need to apologize for not being on here when you\'re busy. Thanks for the update. I\'m praying for both of you.