Out of the hospital!!

Hi!

I am writing this update from my bedroom back in the apartment here at my Mexico home away from home!

I know. I still can’t believe it either…After only spending 8 days in the hospital! With my first stay at Hospital San Jose being 10 months and my second stay lasting nearly 3… this is definitely a personal best! The past few days seem like a big blur to me. I am physically and emotionally exhausted but I am so happy to once again be out of the hospital!

I had my surgery Wednesday evening. I was wheeled downstairs to the operating room at 4:30 pm and got to see the doctors, residents, nurses and technicians before going into the OR. Everything with my surgery went very well.

Thursday morning Dr. Balli came up to my room and entertained me with the ‘story’ of my surgery in colorful, vivid and lively description—as only he can.

I got to hear every detail of how he cut through the layers of my skin, muscles and nerves, carefully moving each out of the way as he went down deeper, following the ‘tract’ that this granuloma had formed, while trying to both find and remove the source of it as well. He ended up having to go deeper than he had wanted or anticipated, down to my small intestine, but we are very thankful that he did not have to actually cut out any of my intestine to fully remove this thing- which would have turned this into a completely different surgery and recovery altogether.

What is even cooler is that none of these ‘images’ were left for me to picture with my own imagination because Dr. Cantu took several pictures during the surgery with his Iphone! I wish I could post them on here for everyone to see, but however cool these photos are to me, I’m not so sure everyone else would think so. I have never had pictures of any of my procedures before and I’m really thankful that Dr. Cantu did this for me. Well, actually, I’m really thankful for everything that he has done, continues to do and will do for me. But I could write a novel about all of that and this is already getting long… so anway…

Thursday afternoon I had another Ketamine booster to help control my pain. I than started running a low grade fever. We believe it was either due to the iron infusion I had earlier in the day, or from the blood and plasma transfusion I had before surgery (yes… I am now even more Mexican!).

Yesterday morning the fever was gone and I was feeling better, so It was decided at that point that I needed to get out of the hospital before any infections could develop. I will continue on IV antibiotics and medications here at home as I rest and recuperate.

It’s still unbelievable that all of this happened only 3 days ago. More unbelievable still is how well I am doing post this surgery. In the past, after any type of procedure, I have woken up down in the recovery room screaming and in explosive RSD pain burning through my entire body... the type of pain that is un-extinguishable even with the strongest medications.

This time was different. Yes, obviously, I am in pain, as I was cut open. But the difference is that this pain is is localized in the general area of my surgery and not igniting a lightening storm of RSD pain in the rest of my body. A ‘normal’ person would probably consider the pain I am feeling post surgery to be a high level, but when you have been through the horrible pain of RSD, this pain seems minimal and manageable.

Having an RSD flare up was my biggest fear about the surgery and this is huge relief and answer to prayer! It is proof to me of just how much healing has taken place in my nervous system and body as a whole because of the treatment that I have had here.

I definitely think that the five days of Ketamine infusion I received prior to surgery, along with using it during the surgery, along with the heavy amount of local and general anesthetics and surgical technique that were used… all played an important role in the outcome. Dr. Cantu and his team are learning more and more about how to handle an RSD surgery case and I am grateful for the doctors here who are willing to listen and to learn from their patients.

I know that God placed me in the best hands possible having this done here. We praise God for the healing that has taken place in my body. For the skill and wisdom of my doctors. For the amazing people he has placed into our lives to cater to our needs and help us through this. For being who He is—a God who continually does more than we can ever ask or even imagine.

I ask for continued prayers for my Dad, who will hopefully be leaving his hospital in NY sometime today. For continued healing in my GI system, that the removal of this granuloma will now allow my system to heal and work normally again. For strength and patience as I recuperate from my hospital stay.

Please also continue to keep all who are suffering with illness and pain in your thoughts and prayers too.

I will update again in a few days. Thank you all for the continued support and prayers.

Love, Jessica

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