Clean living pays

This will be my last post for the evening! I just wanted to write and say that we got to see Mom tonight after surgery, and it was a joy. Here's the story from tonight. It contains several answers to all of the prayers being offered up today on Mom's behalf.

After Mom was sewed up at the conclusion of her surgery, we were instructed to wait in a new waiting area in the ICU. There we waited. And waited some more. Two hours passed. We fidgeted, checked our watches, sighed theatrically. I even attempted unsuccessfully to extract a bag of pretzels from the hospital vending machine.

Finally we were greeted by a nurse with an update. The nurse told us that Mom was doing well, and that she was being transferred to her ICU room. She said that we would be able to see her soon. She mentioned casually that Mom's ventilation tube had been removed.

This was a huge surprise, and not a pleasant one. We wondered if it was incorrect information, or if it was a medical mistake. "Are you sure?" Dad asked her. The nurse insisted. Yes, yes. "She has been extubated."

We immediately felt concerned about this. The surgeon had been very clear with Dad, mentioning several times: her ventilation tube will be in for at least one night, possibly two nights. Surgical teams are very cautious about extubation. Wisdom says you should never, ever remove a tube prematurely. Removing the tube causes the patient's throat to swell. Once you've taken it out and created that swelling, it's very painful to try to re-insert it.

Dad paged Mom's surgeon. We sat in the waiting room a while longer. We sighed theatrically a few more times.

While we were waiting for a call back from the surgeon, a nurse directed us to the room where Mom was recovering. Oh, my, it was good to see her. It was so good to see her! She could see us and speak to us. Her ventilation tube was gone. Her vital statistics were absolutely perfect. Blood pressure was spot-on.

After a 10-hour surgery in which she picked up the most awesomely Frankensteiny scar this side of Halloween, she had the clarity of mind to give the nurse Dad's cell phone number as soon as the tube was removed and she was able to speak. Wow. Good morning, Miss Lucid.

She was very weary, and she was in a lot of pain. But Dad got to give her some kisses, and we got to hold her hand and tell her how amazing she was.

Dr. Horton called us back shortly after we reunited with Mom. Dad explained that his concern about the ventilation tube was no longer an issue. Mom's initial recovery was all the reassurance Dad needed to support the decision to remove the tube. Dr. Horton explained that in 95% of his patients, the ventilation tube stays in overnight. But Mom was different. She was beating the odds.

So — Mom's initial recovery has been better than that of 95% of her surgical counterparts.

Mom has always been one of the healthiest people I know. All that stuff that Dr. Oz wants us to do? Mom actually does it. Smoothies with fresh fruit, flax seeds on green salads, steamed veggies for dinner, gym appointments never broken.

I remember once she told me about one of her guilty food pleasures. She lowered her voice to a whisper before she told me, "Sometimes I sneak into the cupboard after lunch and steal an almond or two."

That's right, folks. Mom's favorite forbidden snack just happens to be loaded with heart-healthy Omega-3's.

The simple fact that Mom has already recovered this beautifully in the wake of an absolutely brutal surgery shows me a couple of things: (1) prayer works; and (2) clean living pays.

Mom is spending the night in ICU. We will be re-joining her at the hospital tomorrow. I'll post another update then. Thanks to everyone for your prayers, phone calls, and visits. We are feeling very blessed tonight.