And love
Chapter 91 Eddie's surgery
ON THE ISLAND, 2 DAYS LATER
TUESDAY EVENING
"Girls, I now have a date for my surgery. It is Friday of next week. Daddy will be with me at the hospital-
"And us, we will attend to Pat and AJ," Cassie pipes up. "So, daddy will be free to support you, mommy."
"Well, we thought that would be a good time for Nicky-
"NO, please." Mal exclaims. "We love Nicky, but we want to be with mommy and daddy!" She covers her face with her hands and starts to cry.
"MOMMY!" Mary Rose throws her arms around Eddie's neck and cries.
Eddie disintegrates into tears, looking to Jamie for support. He joins the family pile as they sink to the floor.
He asks, "Would it be OK if Nicky is at the hospital with us?"
"Yes," Mal chokes out as Cassie and Mary Rose nod.
888888888888
Nicky joins them for Sunday dinner, the afternoon and evening. They all know her well, so it's a matter of just spending time with Pat, AJ and the girls.
They talk about the upcoming time at the hospital, logistics and more. Eddie's surgery is scheduled for 11:00. Nicky will meet them there at 08:00.
It has been requested that the family not visit until Saturday afternoon, at the earliest. Jamie has told everyone that he will TXT individuals when they are cleared to visit Eddie; he intends strict traffic control. This will severely try his patience and organizational skill. Some family members are not happy that their freedom of movement (As some put it) will be restricted. Success is questionable.
04:30 FRIDAY AM
Phone alarms sound in the MBR and upstairs in the girl's bedroom. Occupants slide out of bed and head for the bathrooms. Jamie, the girls, Pat & AJ all bathed or showered the evening before. So, they had minimal morning routines to accomplish. Eddie's pre-surgery protocol required her to shower the morning of surgery.
They gathered in the kitchen for a quick breakfast before the 05:00 departure. Eddie, of course, had been NPO* since 10 PM. So, she served while they ate. Her tummy rumbled, causing some chuckles; not from mommy!
05:05 AM
The Honda pulls out of the driveway. They get to Stony Brook Medical Center at 06:00, right on time. They meet Nicky in the lobby, she takes AJ who is soon fast asleep on her shoulder.
The family is allowed to accompany mommy into the pre-op area until her nurse is ready to begin prepping her. They then say final prayers and tearful good-byes. They then retreat to the surgery waiting room, where the surgeons will talk with them after surgery is completed.
"Eddie! How are you doing?" Dr's Young and Nelson sweep the curtains aside and enter her cubicle. "We see that the anesthetist was here. Any questions?"
"No, thanks for stopping by. Are we on track, as we talked about?" Eddie is nervous, as expected.
"Yes, I told you that the ultrasound showed nothing of concern." Casey reassured her patient.
"Yes, all looks good," Dr Young added his assurance. "Are you still NOT wanting your ovaries removed?"
"Well, can I change my mind at this late hour?" Eddie smirks. Something is niggling at her.
"You certainly can," Dr Young answers.
"It's primarily to prevent possible ovarian cancer, correct?" She frowns.
"Yes, and as we discussed you would take oral estrogen to replace the natural hormones." He looks at her, questioningly.
Eddie furrows her brow. "Ovarian cancer is a beast, yes?"
"Unfortunately," Casey starts. "It produces no or negligible symptoms, so it rarely is detected until it is untreatable." She looks to Dr Young who nods in agreement.
Eddie ponders for another moment. "May I call Jamie for just a moment?"
"Surely, may we return in 2 minutes? Our time is short."
"Yes." Eddie reaches for her cell and calls her husband. They talk for 1 minute; she then calls for the doctors to return. When they do, she speaks to the issue.
"Yes, let's remove the ovaries." She feels relieved.
"Robert, I'll tell the nurses." Casey says and ducks out.
"Eddie, this means we may need a slightly larger incision (They had already decided on an abdominal hysterectomy vs. vaginal). The recovery should not be affected. Any other questions?"
"No, where did Casey go?"
"She needed to inform the nurses; we need some extra instruments for the oophorectomy."
"Ok, let's go."
888888888888
SURGERY WAITING ROOM
Jamie's crew has commandeered an entire corner of the room. Using their GO-BAGS and three chairs, they have cordoned off an area where Pat & AJ can have a bit of freedom to move. Sitting still, even on a lap is difficult. Nicky, Cassie or Jamie takes turns taking one of the brothers for a walk.
After 1-hour dad sends out a group TXT assuring the family that the waiting throng is stable. They have heard nothing from the surgical team.
At 2.5 hours doctor Young appears. "Jamie and family. Eddie's surgery is completed; Dr Nelson is closing the incision. One of the ovaries had a small area that felt abnormal, a small hard spot or nodule. We alerted the pathologist to be extra careful when thin-sectioning that ovary. We will see if we dodged a bullet or not."
"So, except for that, everything was routine," Jamie hesitantly asks.
"Absolutely," Dr Young nods. "She will be in recovery soon. You may as well go to her post-op room and wait there for her arrival. She will be in," he looks down at his phone as it chimes. "Room 414."
Before he leaves, all the kids come up to him for a hug. He obliges with misty eyes.
"Thanks doc," Jamie shakes his hand.
"You all are very welcome, it's a pleasure to see such a loving, supportive family!" He turns and exits.
Jamie and Nicky help the crew pack up and move. After they get settled in room #414 Jamie sends a group TXT:
J: Surgery done, Ed in recovery. We are in room #414. I will TXT tomorrow when visitors OK. Please wait 4 individual OK.
He doesn't mention the ovary issue. That would be too confusing, worrying to deal with thru TXT.
45" later Eddie is wheeled in on her bed. After the bed is positioned, her nurse asks for a few minutes; she checks vital signs, pain level and incision dressing status. She advises Jamie to be sure no one touches Eddie's tummy.
He nods understanding.
As soon as the nurse leaves, Eddie opens her arms and one-by-one she accepts a gentle hug and kiss.
"Tum-tum owie?" AJ expresses as he looks at mommy's tummy. He looks and points but does not touch.
"Yes, baby, mommy has an owie in her tummy." After they hug and she gives him a kiss on the cheek, Patrick gets a turn.
"Mommy hurt?" Pat has tears in his eyes.
"Yes, baby, mommy's tummy hurts. But I will be ok. Were you a good boy for daddy and cousin Nicky?"
"Yes, Nick-Nick like Pat."
"I bet she does," Eddie smiles a tired smile at Nicky, and mouths 'thank you'.
Nicky blows aunt Eddie a kiss in return.
After 2 hours the boys are wilting badly. Cassie volunteers to go home with them. She and Nicky pack up, and Nicky takes them home in her car; leaving Eddie with Jamie, Mal and Mary Rose.
"Sweetheart, doctor Young said everything went well. There was one thing however."
"What," she tenses. She squeezes his hand more firmly.
"There was a firm nodule in one of your ovaries. It will be up to the pathologist to examine it under the microscope and tell us what that is. We may have dodged a bullet there."
"Oh, Jamie! Just before I called you, from pre-op you know."
"Yes?"
"I had a feeling that I should have the ovaries taken out. I just had to call you and talk about it. Dr Young was giving me another chance to change my mind. I'm so glad we did it!" She pulls him in for a kiss.
The girls and Jamie join in a gentle group hug.
8888888888
SATURDAY
The nurses had given Eddie their largest room, per Dr Young's request. He knew the size of Eddie's support group.
Jamie, Mal and Mary Rose had stayed all night. He had been in a recliner; the girls shared a roll-away single bed. After breakfast in the cafeteria, they returned to mom's room.
"When will you be ready for the cavalry?" Jamie asked.
"Well, any time, I think. My pain is well controlled."
"And how many at a time, babe?"
"What about starting with Pops and your dad?"
"Good idea. I will TXT the group and say that is our starting point. Would you want more today, or not?"
"I think Erin, Danny and gang tomorrow. Will that work"
"Yup, if we say so."
Jamie sat down and sent a group TXT.
J: Ok 4 dad and Pops to visit today, send ETA please. Erin 10:00 tomorrow. Danny & gang 14:00 tomorrow. She is doing well.
D: OK
E: OK
F: OK
"It's a go, babe." He tells Eddie.
"What about the boys, Cassie & Nick?" She wonders.
"Let's call." They do and have a nice chat over speaker.
888888888
MONDAY AFTERNOON
Casey Nelson stops by at noon, making hospital rounds.
"Eddie, I have some good news! That nodule in your ovary was a low-grade carcinoma. But the capsule was totally intact; the pathologist detected no spread! We caught it in time. Dr Young and I have gotten 2 other opinions and no one recommends any prophylactic therapy. Our careful exam of your abdomen revealed no abnormalities. We did dodge a bullet."
"Wow! I don't think I've told you or Dr Young this. In pre-op, as he was asking me if I didn't want my ovaries removed, I got this feeling that I should reconsider. I called Jamie, we talked and decided to do it!"
"Well, I am surely glad we did!" Casey nods.
"Me too!" Eddie smiles.
888888888888
Eddie went home Wednesday afternoon, her 5th post-op day. Dr's Young and Nelson had lobbied hard for 2 extra days. The size of the family won the day! As much as she disliked hospitals, Eddie appreciated this.
NANNY
Jamie and Eddie had talked with the girls and Nicky; it was mutually decided that Nicky would join the ON THE ISLAND family, serving as nanny. For starters, Nicky agreed that room & board plus a stipend of $150/month would be her compensation. This was mid-August. The arrangement would be reevaluated mid-December.
Erin was not thrilled; especially that Nicky had 'paused' her education and progress toward a career. Part of Nicky's argument with her mom was that being a nanny can be a career. Erin retorted that she desired more for her daughter. They went round and round. Finally, Nicky gave up and walked out. Jamie didn't like the 'walking out' part; but Nick was 21 y/o so she could, and was, making her own decisions.
During these discussions Mary Rose started lobbying to be allowed to sleep in the barn. Jamie and Eddie had been expecting this topic to come up; they were rather surprised that it hadn't come up sooner. They vetoed this for the time being. They knew that this wasn't the end of it.
Privately, Jamie and Eddie were thinking of making this work for Mary Rose during the warmer months. Say May-September; with some strict ground rules. They were NOT telling Mary Rose this yet. A possible solution would be sleeping quarters above the tack room. A bathroom would be difficult. This would require lots of planning and work. They are sleeping on it.
Soon the next school year would begin, and the 2nd 5-way birthday party is on tap!
8888888888888
TBC
NPO = Nothing per os (mouth).