July 2009

You are currently browsing the monthly archive for July 2009.

A smile like that after a 6 hour surgery. Inspiring!

A smile like that after a 6 hour surgery. Inspiring!

For a rather verbose start as guest blogger here “Under a Red Roof”, until Colleen is back at the helm, I will just post some status on Colleen as she is easily my favorite topic.   I love her very much and am certainly inspired by her love of life.  As you can read from previous posts, Tuesday was a day of surgery for my wife Colleen.

The surgery started out as a laparoscopic procedure that would last about 3 hours or less.  As the Dr. was working it became apparent that there was going to be more to do and Colleen had to be opened up. I believe it became a laparotomic procedure with a single horizontal incision, but I can only play doctor so please forgive the terminology. It ended up being quite a long day with a surgery from about 10:00 am to 4:30 pm and then recovery until about 6:00 pm or so. Her doctor said that the reason a transfusion wasn’t necessary in surgery was, in large part, due to the good care Colleen has taken of her blood (which isn’t easy with the heavy monthly blood loss).

I am grateful that my best friend in the world was sleeping through this ordeal! I am also very grateful that the most excellent doctors took their time and patience to really do things correctly and safely.

Today, the day after the surgery, was a good day.   Colleen is in a good deal of pain but her vitals are good and her body is healthy.  Fluids are passing normally, lungs are clear, and there isn’t any blood loss.  Naturally I wish she was feeling better, but I am happy her body is working well!

Legacy Emanuel hospital in Portland Oregon has been absolutely wonderful.  The doctors are first class and the nurses are very capable and helpful.

I would like to also apologize if you feel slighted for not having been notified more personally.  Please feel free to give me a call or send an email as I’m trying to connect Colleen with the outside world as much as possible.  I think Colleen is remembering more than I am right now and I don’t even have any Dilaudid in me!  (The morphine didn’t do much for her.)

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Dilaudid or Drugstore Cowboy here’s a lighter view of the drug… Much lighter:

What is Dilaudid? (Warning: Rated R perhaps, take with grain of salt)

(PG-13 (PG-13 perhaps)perhaps)

Tags:

Infinite goodness has wide arms.

Dante Alighieri

Dear Buddy –

I feel so grateful for you, especially today.  That you were excited for my surgery to be on your birthday, saying that “It will be a birthday for both of us.”  That you are soooo good to me.  That you fill our house with love.  That you are a wonderful provider of all that is smart, generous, funny, handsome, ticklish, and everything else that this girl could ask for.  Happy Birthday!

I love you –

CoCo

I peer out the window as the car pulls up in front of the house, five humans tumbling out, tired and travel weary.  I am weary, too.  I wonder what might become of this weekend.  Mere days before insides will literally be taken out, via three small incisions.  That point continues to be emphasized.  Three small incisions.  No one has to know.  But they do.  I am a truth teller, truth sharer.  I can’t help myself – the girl can’t help it.  Well, mostly.

I keep from my friends that I am terrified of three young things in my house, onto my furniture and floors.  They laugh and smile and one cries, uncertain of this under a red roof house.  It’s okay; sometimes fear lives here, too.  The bear is broken, and the fear is replaced by something softer, lighter: joy.

The trio makes eager, thumping sounds as they descend stairs.  Their voices carry, and they like the television loud.  I see their small bodies, clothed in character jammies.  I remember Underoos.  They happily munch cereal and watch the birds and bees.  One night under a red roof under their belts, a beautiful, hot day ahead of them.

The day whirls and twirls, a burger at the outside diner, an old friend and a boy whom I once knew crawling, not talking.  Now his words and thoughts roll and rock as steady as a boat at sea.   His hair is long, nearly covering his eyes, though his mother’s eyes, too, that brilliant, beautiful blue.  They both look at me, but, for the eyes, it’s really just like one.  Oh no, I’m late!  I’m late, for a very important date!

My mush mind is home again, and we dash to THE appointment.  The one that spells s-u-r-g-e-r-y.  There is a lot that will happen and other bits we sincerely hope not.  I take a tissue, but only squish it in my hand.  I  d o  n o t  c r y.   I am not afraid.  It is almost here, and I am not afraid.  There are marvelously beautiful people that surround me: doctors, nurses, family, and friends.  They make phone calls, send beautiful cards, give giant bear hugs, write sweet comments, all brands of love to keep me afloat in appreciation and wonder.

Milestones.  Triplets frolic in a fountain.  A sweet boy sits on my lap.  Dinner at the Country Cat.  A tooth is lost.  My heart is broken apart by the love of small children.  We sip cocktails and eat splendid food.  Drowsy adults talk until there are no words left.

Morning comes.  We eat and scurry.  Our caravan climbs the hill to Forest Park, vistas and trails await us.  Green and lush, filled with voices of excitement and a hush that is wonder.  A giant banana slug.  Spiders. Ferns. Birds.  We search for the letter “K.”

More hugs and a departure.  The house is quiet, and we wait.  Tomorrow is the day.

A new inner-scape…

Lots of rest…

Peace and beauty all around.

My surgery is on Tuesday.  Please think good thoughts!

Love and kisses –

Colleen

Summer

Summer –

time of perfect days,

long and joyous,

sun high over the horizon,

heady scents on the breeze,

a smile of contentment on my lips.

Colleen Sohn

Tags:

« Older entries § Newer entries »