The final surgery.

Tomorrow July 27th, will be my 3rd and final surgery.  As usual, I am a little anxious to get #3 behind me, but feel good about it.  I'm ready to have this shit out of my neck.


When I say I am anxious, it's like the same feeling I would get the night before an exam at school, when I know I am prepared, and ready to collect that "A" grade that I earned through days, hours, and minutes of prep and study time. 


I asked the surgical team to take a picture of the damaged lymph nodes and email me a copy. I figure its the least they can do and I would like to know what it looks like for my own knowledge and piece of mind.


I'll remind them that the pain control needs to be given to Sheila to fill BEFORE WE LEAVE and not handed "paper" to drive all the way home with, to then fill.  Same with the "magic mouth wash" that I will need to keep the Thrush at bay. No more glucose-sugar based rinses for this guy to fuel any Thrush-fires. You have to ask for things in a certain way, or you won't get them....That's odd to me, but it's a process.


A friend of mine who lives in PA, mom has Cancer and has been fighting for years. She told me at the beginning of my journey, that I needed to be my own Advocate.  She couldn't have been more right. I hope I get to meet her one day. 


I talked to the Anesthesia nurse yesterday. I told her, I'm not 100% on swallowing, since the Thrush happend to me. Going through that mess, cost me about 5 days of recovery time.


Granted, my swallowing mechanics have improved, and my speech is getting better. It's unfortunate that I lost those days, but they've made me stronger none the less. 


I also informed her of the "pill choking" incident on July 11th in the short stay unit, and informed her, if they try to get me to "swallow'' any pills, and I don't feel safe about it at the time....


The answer will be a resounding, NO THANKS!  


You can give me an IV of antibiotics, or shove off! 


The nurse understood completely.  If I only had the foresight to have that option before, I would've exercised it...but there again,...We have to be our own Advocates!! 


(Thanks Michele for teaching me that important lesson!) 


As I might've mentioned before, I'll wake up in the ICU so they can monitor me closer, than being on the short stay unit. I appreciate the extra attention. 


My right arm might not work correctly once I come to.  This won't be due to any danger of a stroke, but because the nerves are going to take a beating from the node removal.  It will come back after some PT, no big deal there.  ;)


So, this will be my last blog entry until I am home again and ready to recant my further adventures under the care of the world-renowned specialists at UVA. 


One song that really gets me pumped up is by one of the most incredible bands our existence has ever come to know, love and appreciate. The music of Pink Floyd has touched, and continues to touch people all over the world.  


I've read comment after comment on youtube that speaks to the power and emotion of their compositions. Their music has a way of making people feel good about whatever they are facing, or have faced. I understand it. 


The one song in particular, is called "Fearless".  I am including the lyrics to it below. You really need to search out this song and listen to it, to appreciate what I am talking about here.


I think you'll come to agree, once you hear the music with the lyrics, you can then fathom, the power this song has inside of it. 


"Fearless" - Pink Floyd from the album "Meddle"

You say the hill's too steep to climb 
Climb it. 
You say you'd like to see me try 
Climbing. 

You pick the place and I'll choose the time 
And I'll climb 
That hill in my own way. 
Just wait a while for the right day. 
And as I rise above the tree lines and the clouds 
I look down, hearing the sound of the things you've said today. 

Fearlessly the idiot faced the crowd 
Smiling. 
Merciless the magistrate turns 'round 
Frowning. 

And who's the fool who wears the crown? 
And go down, 
in your own way 
And every day is the right day 
And as you rise above the fear-lines in his brow 
You look down, hearing the sound of the faces in the crowd. 
 


So, I'll see you on the other side then, friends. 


Yours and Fearless,


 Tony