6 May 2023
I feel as though I am making progress on several fronts. I’ve finished my pre-op tests (x-ray, blood, EKG) and received final approval for the mastectomy. It was a little tense there for a while trying to get the oncologist’s office to send the request to the GP who then had to schedule the tests but couldn’t for several days because of a missing request. In any case, it got resolved.
The surgery is scheduled for 9 am on Tuesday, May 23rd. Actually, they want me there at 9 so that can pre-admit to the hospital in case that is needed. However, if all goes well, I should be home by the afternoon of the 23rd. If they have to do more surgery than anticipated, then it will be a two to three day stay at Holy Cross Hospital. I’m still waiting on the FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) report of the surface markers of the cancer cells to determine which treatment after surgery but they should be in before the surgeon operates.
I’m so lucky to have so many good friends. Michel will go with me on May 10th for a pre-op meeting, Barbara will take me to surgery, Tom will pick me up after surgery, and John will stay over two nights that I am home after the surgery. Many others have volunteered to help out during the 3-6 weeks for me to get back to my routine. When you start to think about it, mundane household chores become difficult – like changing sheets on the bed.
When I was a kid, there was no such thing as fitted sheets. You had two sheets, one you tucked into the mattress on three sides and one that sat on top and tucked in at the bottom. Fitted sheets are great until you get arthritis in your hands and try to put one on the bed. I can’t imagine trying to put a fitted sheet after a mastectomy. They don’t want me to even vacuum the floor after surgery.
Since I was able to complete the pre-op tests prior to my trip, I’ll be able to make the trip to Snoqualmie Falls after all. I fly out on United on the 16th of May at 7:46 am, stop at Denver for a short layover and then fly into SeaTac (Seattle/Tacoma) airport at 1:30 pm. From there, I get a rental car and drive 48 minutes to Snoqualmie Falls and check into the Salish Lodge. I have a 3 pm massage scheduled the next day to get over the flight and dinner reservations at 6:30 pm at The Dining Room. On the 18th, I intend to do Lower Snoqualmie Falls trail – all of 0.4 miles downhill from the lodge. After that, there are several waterfalls in the area I want to visit.
I’ll spend four nights at the lodge and then drive back to Seattle. I’ll be staying at the Paramount Hotel for one “night.” Actually, my flight leaves on the 20th at 11:41 pm. I have to be out of the lodge at 2 pm so I figured to leave early and tour Seattle, get a room, have a nap and then drive to the airport from the hotel. It’s a red-eye flight back through Houston to Fort Lauderdale and I land in Fort Lauderdale at 10:51 am on the 21st.
I plan to visit Pike Place Market and I already have a ticket for the Space Needle. I can’t wait!
I splurged on the plane ticket and purchased first class seats for the entire trip. I’m getting too old to squeeze into economy and the difference between economy plus and first class isn’t too daunting to opt for first class.
That leaves me one day to recuperate from the trip before the surgery. I figure I’ll get plenty of sleep during the surgery.
Stay tuned!