Port Removal

The long awaited day finally arrived. My port was coming out.

The CARTI team continues to serve with great medical skill and personal care. Every single interaction I've had, whether with a nurse or a chaplain or a greeter or somebody doing intake before surgery, has been encouraging and helpful and informative.

Sarah gave me this book for Christmas, "The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine", because she said I've been walking in sunshine during my cancer journey. I cried. The port has been a mixed blessing. I'm so grateful for the ease of drawing blood and receiving chemo infusions and becoming radioactive for my many scans. The veins in my arms aren't amazing, and the amount of times my port has been accessed would have definitely caused strain on my veins.

My big girls sent me a thumbs up picture just before the nurse came in 45 minutes before I was expecting her and told me to find my bookmark because it was TIME!

At the same time, the catheter that traveled up from the port to just underneath my collar bone before it dove in between my muscles, well...let's just say it was irritating every single day. When the nurse handed me the hair net, I cheered, because the last time I was in this facility for surgery, I didn't have any hair. The whole nurses station laughed at me, but I didn't care.

I wasn't allowed to keep my port, but I was allowed a picture. This little thing is a brilliant invention, and I'm so grateful for it. The nurse in post-op was an absolute hoot. He kept me laughing as I shook off the groggy aftereffects of general anesthesia. And before I knew it, Aaron was back with me, handing me the iced coffee with protein powder I prepared before we left the house.

The doors opened with a wave instead of pushing a button, and the very kind nurse who pushed me out in the wheelchair allowed me to open the last door :)

If I have to go through something as hard and gross as cancer, I'm so grateful for the community at CARTI and for the people around me who have been my gym buddies and sent cards and shaved their heads to encourage me.

We were home by midday, and I finally enjoyed the breakfast I wasn't allowed to eat before surgery. I had my little bell to ring in case I needed anything and the sunlight pouring in the southern windows made me smile.

The ice pack will likely be my friend again, and I'll use this opportunity to slow down and catch up on reading while my body heals.