March 2008 Archives

This past week has been so smooth.  Luc has been doing amazingly well.  I was trimming some of the steri-strips from his incision and I couldn't believe how good it looks.  There is just a very thin line that is skin color, no redness or rawness to it.  We know it is due to so many faithful people, friends and family, who are remembering him in their prayers.

Last Sunday his deacon advisor came to administer the sacrament for him.  (Just a little background about Brother Huish; about a week before Luc's surgery their family found out that his 5-year-old daughter has a brain stem glioma which is the worst type of brain tumor there is.)  He shared with us a scripture that Pres. Monson had quoted in a blessing he gave to Sadie Huish.  It is the scripture in D&C 84:88 that says the Lord will go before us and be on our right hand and on our left and angels will be round about us to bear us up.  He talked about all the people who had served as "angels" to bear them up during this difficult time in their life.  I certainly can say "amen" to his message.  We feel so loved and so taken care of.  We know that all of you are the Lord's angels on this side of the veil ministering to us.  There are not words to describe our appreciation and love for each of you.

We will meet with Dr. Randall on Tuesday for Luc's post-op and he will let us know when Luc is okay to go back to school.  Luc is excited to get back.  He gets very bored and hates being "out of the loop" with his friends.

If you wouldn't mind adding beautiful, little Sadie Huish and my cousin Stewart Olsen to your prayers, we would be so grateful.  My cousin, Stew, was recently diagnosed with stage 3 Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  There are so many opportunities for growth and drawing closer to the Lord being given to so many right now.  We are grateful for our privilege to feel the thinness of the veil and the love of the Lord in our lives.

--Marley

Sorry I haven't updated since we've been home.  It always feels good to come home.  Everyone always sleeps so much better.  Before we left the hospital Luc was saying, "It won't be so bad having the drain and picc line.  I know I'll have it out in a few days."  And he planned how it was going to go.  This was what he planned:  The day he was to have his dressings changed and shower, the drainage output would be under 30mls and he would be able to have his last dose of i.v. antibiotic (because it would be at the time he would be due for another dose), the picc line would be removed, the dressings would come off, the drain would come out, and he would be able to shower.  Well, guess what?!  That's exactly how it went today.  It was little painful and a little bloody, but worth it.  He was so excited to have his extra "appendages" out that he was had a perma-grin for a while after.  I took pictures of the dressing and the incision with the drain in.  They are in the photo gallery below and to the right. (You can click on a picture to enlarge it.)  He is excited to be able to move about a little more freely.  He even wants to try to put together a big Star Wars Lego set we got him ( there are over 1,000 pieces).

Luc has done so well again this time around. It is interesting that this time has been very different from last surgery, i.e. coming home with a drain and picc line, more pain and discomfort, lightheadedness.  You would expect the same type of surgery to be the same after.  Even though it has been different, Luc has adjusted very well.  Once he can think about things, he easily accepts them even if he doesn't like it.  He then moves forward with such determination to make the best of the situation.  I learn so much from him each day.

We have been spoiled by yummy dinners each night, calls of concern, and we even had a future neighbor (when we build our new home) bring us a bunch of movies to keep Luc entertained.  We are surrounded by so many thoughtful and service-oriented people. We feel very blessed to live where we do and have the great friends we have.  A HUGE thank-you to all of you!!

Luc never ceases to amaze me.  He is progressing even better and faster than last time.  His doctors and nurses can't believe how well he is moving around and that he doesn't require the heavy duty pain meds. They say he may be able to come home as early as tomorrow.  Luc was flying high when they told him that.  He was so happy and excited for about 2 hours, until Dr. Randall told him he would most likely have to go home with the drain in and a pic line for i.v. antibiotics. (The drain was put in the void where the tumor was and there is a long tube attached that comes out of the incision and has a little bulb type thing on the end which collects the drainage. It is very uncomfortable and Luc feels very inhibited by it.)  We are focusing now on Luc being home without any attachments, just Luc and his dressings.  We would greatly appreciate any prayers offered on his behalf that his desire will be fulfilled.  Thank you for all the calls and offers of support and for the outpouring of love.  We feel so much stronger knowing that we have so many behind us to buoy us up!

Marley

Deja vu!  The surgery went really well and Luc is resting in his room. They came and got us to go to recovery at about 4 this afternoon.  Dr. Randall said that he was able to get all but a thin strip that was intertwined with blood vessels and nerves.  He felt really good about what the amount he was able to get.  So far so good with pain.  They are giving him something different from the morphine and he has had very little nausea so far. He is so brave and such a great kid.  We are so blessed to have him as our son.

Marley