Saturday, January 14, 2012

Surgery #4 Update

On December 12, Sophie had her 4th surgery with Dr. Bauer, removing her second set of expanders.  She did great again, and we are so blessed.  Dr. Bauer was able to remove a significant amount of nevus.  Sophie had 4 drains, 2 on the front and 2 on the back.  She has healed remarkably well again, and we are scheduled for suture removal on Tuesday.  For the last surgeries, we were able to remove the sutures ourselves, but Sophie is more aware of what is going on now and is having no part of our removing anything.  That is fine with me because it takes a lot of stress off of me! 

Our next surgery is scheduled for April 23, so we get a much welcome break from all things nevus removal related.  We are very thankful for that!

Below is a photo that shows what Sophie's back looked like when we started (top left), after her first nevus removal surgery (bottom left), and after her last nevus removal surgery (right).  It's remarkable, isn't it?  We are so blessed!!

Thankful


Yes, I know that I have already done a Thanksgiving post, and yes, I know that it is mid-January, but I have to say that I am so thankful on so many levels. 

My sweet Mama won her battle with renal cell carcinoma and went to be with our Heavenly Father on December 10, 2011.  This was so unexpected, and the most difficult thing that I have ever experienced in my entire life, but I am thankful.  Thankful?  You wonder how I can be thankful when I just lost my mother? 

My mother was one of the sweetest, toughest, most precious women that I have ever known, and I am thankful that she is my mother.  I am thankful that Sophie got to know her Nana and spend so much time with her in the short year and 9 months that they had together.  I am thankful that God allowed us to have 6 years with our Mama after she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.  I am thankful that Mama used that time to glorify Him and was such a strong example for all of us, even when she was so sick.  I am thankful that we took advantage of the time we were given with our mama to make special memories that can never be erased. 

I am thankful to be part of a family that is so close and supportive of each other, even during the toughest of times.  I am thankful that when difficult decisions had to be made, we all knew what needed to be done, and we all wanted the same things.  I am thankful to have a family that can pick up and move forward during the most difficult times, even when all of us cannot be there to carry our weight.

Lastly, but certainly not least, I am thankful that I will see my mama again one day in heaven.  That, people, is a comfort that can only be found in Jesus Christ.

Thank you so much for your many prayers for us during this difficult time.  We have felt each and every one.