April 8, 2022

Hi, y’all,

I am finally able to take some time to write and let you all know how the surgery went and how recovery is going. I went into my surgery procedure on Tuesday with no anxiety at all and I mean none.  I was not able to take my blood pressure medicine on the day of surgery and through all BP checks prior to surgery, my blood pressure was so low, especially for me.  I knew that I was being covered in prayers by all of you and I could tell that I was going to be just fine. (PRAISES!). I know that Mano gave y’all updates the day of surgery which means you already know the good news that there was no cancer found in the tissue or lymph nodes that were tested in the operating room, however, we are still waiting for the final pathology report to come back to us.  We do expect to have a Pathological Complete Response (PCR) which will mean there is no cancer in the tissue. (Prayers please).

The night before my surgery, Nicky was supposed to be flying into Houston after her flight on Sunday had been canceled. She was caught in all of the Southwest Airlines canceled flight mess and once again her Monday night flight was canceled after she had gotten all the way to the gate.  Sadly, we felt with all the craziness that had happened with Nicky hurting her back and being in the Emergency Room a week before, having to put her dog, Fergie down, and then two canceled flights, it was clear that the writing was on the wall that she was not meant to be coming to Houston to be with me for my surgery so she did not end up coming into town. 

The evening of my surgery just as Mano and I were coming back to the hotel room to settle in for the night, we received a call from Christian’s Lacrosse coach that he had an incident during his game and he had been hit in the head and had symptoms of a mild concussion.  Mano and I just sat back and laughed thinking what type of black cloud did we have over our heads?  We honestly felt that Satan was working overtime with us – between Nicky’s canceled flights and then Christian’s concussion.   Christian’s coach is also a neighbor of ours and he allowed Christian to stay the night with him that night so he and his wife could keep an eye on him.  (What great neighbors we have – PRAISES!). The next morning, Mano was able to get an appointment with our doctor and we had another friend pick Christian up and take him to the doctor’s where it was confirmed that he did have a mild concussion.   (PRAISES for great friends).  With all that was going on at home, Mano and I decided to power back home on Wednesday, the day after my surgery, because we all knew that we would feel better if we could all be home together.  So we did and we arrived home safely on Wednesday afternoon.  (Praises!)

It takes a village, truly it does and we are so thankful for our village.  We’ve had neighbors provide meals for us since we arrived home and we have been watching Christian and he says he’s feeling much better.  He’s out of Lacrosse for a week or so, which is to be expected, but he’s rolling with the punches (literally).

Mano and I believe this experience has been a lesson from God for us to know that it’s okay to ask/need help for others, which we are NOT good at doing.  We are thankful and blessed that we have such amazing support from our village during this time.  We appreciate everything more than you will all know.

Now on to me.  How am I doing you ask?  Well, for the most part, I am doing well.  I am tired and sore, but doing well.  I have been staying on top of my pain medicine and resting where I can.  I was able to get a shower today and just the task of getting a shower – wore me out and that was with Mano’s help.  I am so thankful that I am off work and can truly take this time to rest and heal.  I have said through this whole process, I feel mentally exhausted probably more than the physical part of this.  Fighting cancer and all the things that come with this disease is often more a mental game than a physical game.   The physical part will heal with time.  The mental part – that may take a bit longer.  I am prepared to give myself as much of a mental health break as I need.  I believe if I take the time now, then when I come back I will be a better and healthier version of myself.  It’s amazing what we learn about ourselves during the trials we go through. 

Thank you all for the prayers, text messages, calls, meals, etc.  We feel the love and know that we are being carried.  I will write more soon but for now, it’s back to resting on the couch with my fluffy puppies.  I can tell you, they are taking their job of taking care of Mom seriously.  They have not left my side since I have gotten home.   I believe that my angels are covered in fur.

Xo,

Tracy