Still Dancing In The Rain

Last Friday morning was skin graft day.  (I realize that almost every picture I post below is not flattering in any way.  And, some of them may make you sick or queasy because they do it to me too.  Just know, I am posting this so that you know what I am going through, and in hopes that you will take better care of your skin and your children's skin when you are out in the sun.  WEAR SUNSCREEN.  WEAR A HAT.  Find a shady place.)  I woke up very early so that I could shower and wash my hair.  I already had been told that I would not be able to wash my hair or get anything above my neck wet for about a week after the skin graft.  I know, YUCK.  

Below is the last picture that Eric took of the hole in my face before we headed to the plastic surgeon's office that morning.  Notice that with a little help from the Doctor, Eric had gotten almost all of the black debris off of my wound.  If you read the previous post about Dancing in the Rain you will recall why the debris was there and why it needed to be all gone before we could proceed with the skin graft.  If you missed that post Click HERE to read "Dance In The Rain".  At this point, I was, and still am, getting very tired and gripey about doctors, nurses, and my husband touching my face, and inflicting pain with each touch.  I am ready for healing and less pain.  In fact, I told Eric that that morning, and I asked him if he was ready to be done with cleaning and rebandaging my face....He said, "no".  Thank you God, for my patient husband, and for his extra patience that he has been giving me when I gripe and complain about how the gauze and tape look each time he tries his hardest to make it look just like he thinks I want it to look.

When Eric and I arrived at the plastic surgeon's office at 7:00am, Eric was directed to the surgery waiting area, and I was taken back to begin the pre-op process.  I first had to change into a gown, take all jewelry off, including my wedding ring, give a urine sample, and put my hair up into a not so attractive paper hat thingy.  Next, I climbed onto the rolling bed for a blood pressure check (my blood pressure was elevated, but not high enough to be overly concerned) and let the nurse get my IV in.  By now you should know that needles poked anywhere into my body are making me very anxious and feel sick.  So when the nurse poked the right side of my wrist and wiggled the needle around for what seemed like twenty seconds, I began by saying, "WOWSERS, that really hurts".  Then, I may have done a little bit of an audible whimper.  The nurse pulled the needle out, inspected it, and then let me and the anesthetist, Sharon, know that the needle was dull and she would get a different one and try a different spot.  Oh great I thought to myself, just one more needle poke, that's what I need.  And with that she poked the back side of my right hand and began wiggling that sharper needle around trying to find a vein.  Finally the anesthetist, Sharon, could see that my blood pressure was going up higher and I had just about had enough of the wiggling needle and she helped the nurse out.  Thank you Sharon!  Next, I was told to lay back.  The nurse started an antibiotic in the IV line and Sharon put some type of medicine into my IV line to help me relax.  She told me it might make me feel like I drank a glass of wine.  Okay, that would be good, I thought to myself, and maybe said out loud to Sharon.  Next, Eric was asked to come back with me.  We went over some paperwork and talked a minute.  Sharon told Eric that I would not be able to do housework or cooking for at least 6 weeks.  I verbally added, no sex either, at the end of Sharon's housework and cooking statement.  (Remember I had been given that medicine in my IV that was like a glass of wine, I could've said just about anything then.)  Everyone laughed and Sharon said that the medicine must be working.  Indeed it was because my details start to get a little fuzzy at this point.  I know Eric went back out to the surgery waiting area and I was wheeled into the surgery room.

In the surgery room I remember moving from one bed to another and being covered with a warm blanket.  I also remember two things being put onto my legs.  These things took turns squeezing each one of my legs which was supposed to help prevent blood clots in my legs.  I also had an arm blood pressure cuff on to help monitor my blood pressure while I was in surgery.  Then, I must have been given more medicine in my IV because the next thing I remember is waking up suddenly, but still feeling very sleepy.  My face was being sewn up on both sides.  I could tell this by the pulling and tugging.  I could hear the doctors and nurses talking around me and to me some.  Something was over my eyes so that I could not open them and look around.  Details are still fuzzy because I felt so sleepy.  A nurse cleaned my face up and rebandaged my face, then wheeled me into post-op.  

In post-op I continued to try to wake up. Eric was called back again to be with me.  He helped me get dressed.  At some point while in the surgery room someone had put my hair into a lovely bun on top of my head.  Eric told me that the bun on top of my head was hot, but I did not believe him.  The nurse went over the post-op instructions again with Eric and I and then I was walked out to our van.  (In all we were at the surgery center for about three hours.  7am check-in and pre-op, 8am surgery and then recovery/post-op)  I was still just so sleepy.  Eric drove us to the pharmacy to pick up some prescriptions that had been called in for me.  I slept in the van while I waited for him to go in and get the prescriptions.  Then, I tried to sleep on the drive home too.  (Below is a picture Eric took of me in post-op after helping me get dressed.)

When we got back home I went to our bed and laid down to sleep some more.  The next thing I knew a little arm was gently around me giving me what could probably qualify as one of the sweetest little hugs ever.  When I started to wake up from the sleepiness, I was hungry and my face was starting to hurt...bad.  Eric went and got me some soft foods, mashed potatoes and mac and cheese from Kentucky Fried Chicken.  (I was told I should eat soft foods for a couple days after surgery.  This was because the movement from chewing affects your whole face.  It made my face hurt even more when I was chewing.)  I took some pain medicine and an antibiotic, ate my lunch, and then went to sleep again when Eric returned to work for the afternoon.  Here is where I should give a big SHOUT OUT of THANKS to my parents...THANK YOU DAD and MOM for helping take care of our children and me, and for helping to keep our home running smoothly while I had both of these surgeries on my face.  It would have been more difficult and stressful for both Eric and I if it weren't for you both stepping in so willingly and helping us out in our times of need.  THANK YOU!

Dancing and playing in the rain, sort of ~ That evening Sarah had her first baseball game.  I wanted to go to watch my little slugger, so I got dressed, took the "hot" bun off the top of my head, and went to her game.  It was a little bit rainy outside, so I watched from the van with Silas, Phoebe, and my parents.  Sarah played right field in the rain.  They let the teams play for two and a half innings, then with two outs and Sarah up to bat, they called the game off because of the rain.  REALLY?!?  Boo to them.  They had already let the kids play two full innings in the rain, so why not let them at least bat through each of their line-ups before calling off the game in the middle of the third inning. And, REALLY?!? There were two outs, at least end on the third out.  REALLY?!?  We're about dancing in the rain in this family, and playing baseball in the rain too apparently.... come on people, I just wanted to see my daughter slam one into the outfield.  Now, I was getting a little grumpy/mad, my face was hurting again - time for some more pain meds, and I was just SO tired, again.

When Eric uncovered my new wound area on the left side of my face the next morning (Saturday) to clean and rebandage it, we got our first look at what had actually been done, and more tears from me.  I thought this incision would be more on my cheek and smaller, but it actually started a bit above my ear, in my hair/scalp area, and runs the length of my left ear, and down below it just a bit. It is about 6cm long or about 2 and a half to 3 inches long.  There are approximately 26 stitches there.  This is the place that the skin was taken from for the skin graft.

I handed my camera to Sarah and asked her to take a few pictures of her Daddy cleaning my new wound and bandaging it back up.  I close my eyes every time he does this for me.  I think it helps me to not feel pain...not really, but I don't know any other reason that I do it.

Keep dancing in the rain ~ I am SO THANKFUL for Eric.  He has patience beyond measure with me.  I am OBVIOUSLY ready for everyone to stop touching my face NOW.  But, he, and I, know he has to keep cleaning, applying medicine, and rebandaging my face until it starts to heal and the doctors give us different instructions.  So, for putting up with my tears, my sighs of discontent and impatience, and my complaints about how the gauze is taped onto my face, I am nominating him for HUSBAND OF THE YEAR.  There are many other reasons he should get this award, but hands down this year, the award is his.  God sure gave me a good one with him.  He was and will always be the perfect match for me.

More dancing in the rain ~ My parents got me a new phone.  A FANCY phone.  I did have an old flip phone.  It worked just fine for me.  It made calls.  I knew how to use it and my girls knew how to use it.  But, about three weeks ago my parents upgraded their phones and mine at the same time.  They gave me my new phone on the day of my first surgery.  Now, I can make calls, text, take pictures, and get on the internet all on my NEW phone.  It is actually pretty fun and handy to have.  I wasted about two hours one night sitting on our couch with my parents listening to and picking out new ringtones.  We shared a lot of belly laughs about ringtones and which ones should be assigned to certain people on our contact lists in our new phones.  I also have used it to look up things on the internet, below I am looking up one of my medicines that Eric is supposed to put on the wound by my ear... Bacitracin...what was it for?  Was it the same thing as Neosporin?  Where could I buy it?  I found all the answers on my new phone.

Dancing in the rain ~ Flowers and candy!  On Friday my Dad took Phoebe with him and they picked Sarah up from school. It took them an extra long time to get home... That was because they were picking out cheer up and get better flowers and chocolates for me!  How thoughtful!  The flowers could brighten up anyone's day and I do LOVE chocolate.

Still dancing in the rain ~ Because I haven't been able to wash my hair now for a few days, my children have been kind enough to help me brush and comb it.  It is actually very relaxing to sit and have someone else brush my hair.  Thank you to my children for being thoughtful, understanding, and kind during a hard time for me.  I love you each so much.

Did you know that May is SKIN CANCER AWARENESS and DETECTION month?  It is, and my HOPE for you is that you will read my story and be more aware of the sun and UV rays/light and the damage it can and will do to your skin and your children's skin.  Protect yourself and those precious babies.  WEAR SUNSCREEN.  WEAR A HAT.  Find a shady place.  Remember there is always HOPE in all situations.  God gives us HOPE.  We can cling to it and His promises.  One of my best friends, and owner of the The Rusted Chain Jewelry, designed a bracelet for skin cancer survivors, but it is fitting for everyone. 

 "HOPE shines brighter than the sun". 

(Click HERE to see and order one for yourself or someone you love today.) 

"The Lord has promised good to me.

His word my HOPE secures.

He will my shield and portion be,

As long as life endures."

~ 4th verse, AMAZING GRACE

I will return with HOPE to my plastic surgeon on Friday afternoon (May 23rd) to have the bandage removed over the skin graft.  At that time my doctor will evaluate how the skin graft looks and if it is taking or not, and give Eric and I new instructions for home care.  Please continue to pray for me, that the graft will take and that both wounds will heal nicely.  THANK YOU ALL for your prayers, cards, food and meals for my family, words of encouragement, and support!