surgery update

My Great Grandmother had her surgery on Wednesday. I had meet the teacher on Thursday and yesterday I was sick with a migraine. So here it is Saturday and I have an update.

Things went great. It was much worse than we had anticipated in regards to the cancer itself. On her face it looked big and bad but once they started mom said the doctor said it was much more extensive and worse. It had spread into much of her cheek facial tissue, into her salvitory glands, and into much of the muscle. NOT a good thing. The doctor told my mom (who was in charge) that if she had waiting any longer it would have gone all the way through and there would have been little that could be done.

So after the surgery at one place they had to take her to plano to get repaired by a plastic surgon. Crazy I know. He was shocked. She had told him over the phone it was about the size of a nickel. He told her dryly..."Well...it is bigger than a nickel." They put her under...but just a little way under. They didn't want her too far under...probably because of the fact that she is 96. Anyway...it was going to be a more extensive reconstruction than planned so she needed to be out. He cut behind her ear and brought the skin up over her face to cover the hole. Then bandaged her up.

Of her own choice ruthie decided to stay the night at a hospital. We were all shocked but very very happy. Someone would be there to help her and knew what was normal and not normal. Mom didn't even have to stay. She and dad went back to get her the next day to take her to the plastic surgon so he could look her over. He was very pleased. He used some kind of new technique they are trying out and he is doing a study on. Every where he could he glued her back together. And everywhere he used the glue there was no swelling...the places where he did have to use stiches there was some swelling. But overall things were better than expected.

At one point Ruthie was very upset with how she looked. She had expected it to be removed and then instantly she would look back to normal. LOL. Anyway...at one point she looked at mom and said..."I guess this was much worse than I thought." Mom just said yes.

So Ruthie is recovering at home. She still has some swelling but other than that is doing well. She doesn't have much pain. However back in like the 30's or 40's she had had bell's palsey on that side of her face. We think that the nerve damage has helped control the pain for this. So that is good. Mom is on her to take her antibiotics and pain pills (she does have some swelling and pain in her neck...but they did alot more cutting than we thought!). She isn't one to listen or to just rest and let her body heal. Oh NO...she has to do stuff...her thought is that if she doesn't she will die. We tell her that it is silly...but she doesn't listen...and honestly her constant going is probably what keeps her so young.

So I am sure that recovery is going to be almost worse than the buildup to surgery...but within a week the swelling should be gone, she gets her stiches out, and the bruising should be almost gone too...and then she will be back to normal and will forget the whole ordeal....so all in all...we have success!!!!