but it's been on my mind and I'm just venting a bit.
My mom's going in for pretty major surgery tomorrow morning and at the end of it all we'll find out if she has cancer or not. Long story short, she has an ovarian cyst that they first thought was benign and now they're not so sure. Due to her age and many other factors they are removing what's left of her uterus (she had a partial hysterectomy after I was born), her ovaries, and basically everything internal that makes her female. I can't imagine what she must be going through...
I wasn't all that bothered about it until recently. Not sure if I was in denial or if I was just afraid to be anything but optimistic for her. Probably a bit of both. But last week, she asked my dad, my brother and 2 of my aunts and me to all come to the hospital to be there when she goes in and when she comes out, which is what has me worried a bit. It makes me wonder if things are worse than she's really letting on. Or maybe she's just scared.
Anyway... just sharing a little.
[Edited 2/8/05 13:58pm]

It sounds like she's scared and wants her loved ones around her. Try not to worry, I hope everything is okay.

Hope everything goes well. Will keep her im my thoughts.

I think she wants to see the loves of her life when she first wakes up.

oh toots...im here if you need a shoulder

ill keep u and your family in my thoughts.

Thanks, all. And likely you're all right, she just needs the support. I'm just quite worried.

I hope things go well, honey. You'll feel better having your family around. Keep us posted, ok?

I know I'd want a little company during a time like that, regardless

I hope everything works out ok for you and your family

I worked in the gyneocology oncolgy unit for a while carrie and i know what your mom is going through is totally normal and healthy behaviour, she is going to be scared and need her family around. Try not to worry to much until the operation is over and she has the results. It's going to be hard and I can't imagine the turmoil you are going through but my thoughts are with you

I will be praying for you and your family dear. I think she wants the energy of her loved ones around her. Don't be afraid to asked the doctors questions. Keep us posted!!!!!

Eek!

It will be good to know for sure what's going on. Let us know, k?

first, im sorry for you and your family my thoughts will be with you guys..


i dont know what else to say about this, except to offer two of my first thoughts. for one, when i was to have an operation about a year or so ago, my mom was going to go home during the operation, and then come back... she changed her mind when i let her know what i thought about that. see, to me, if you are having an operation, its a scary time - so, knowing that your loved ones are out there waiting on you makes it easier to deal with. she just didnt think it would matter to me if she was there or not.. man, was she wrong ! thankfully, she was there the whole time, and i was fine too.

second story.. a very dear friend of mine - her husband, not to long ago i might add, had a some kind of growth come up. all signs pointed to cancer. the doctor himself was fairly convinced from what i understood. i went and sat there with her and her family while he was in the operating room, it was hard to see them all so nervous... but, i was glad i was there for her as much as i coulda been. anyway, the moral of the story is - everything turned out great, it wasnt cancer, and the lump went away on its own

now, obviously, not all stories like this turn out this way... but, the point im trying to make is, just be there for her, try and be strong, look for all positive before the negative, and pray - A LOT !!! because, we can never have to much help from the big guy upstairs

best wishes to you and your mom

I'm sure your mom just wants you around her for support and I'm sure you wouldn't have it any other way. Everything will be OK and you know all of us at teh Org are here for you.

you and your family are in my thoughts!

best wishes hun ...

orgnote

Thanks again, all. I'm feeling a bit better. I just worry too much sometimes. I get that from her. I guess wait and see is all we can do at this point.
When bad things happen I have a tendency to shut down and just avoid it all. I didn't even get this worked up when my father had a heart attack a few years ago. But with my mom, I'm just a bit more, I don't know, protective, I guess.

CarrieMpls said:

You are a sweet girl!

Hang in there, Carrie... ..More people have gone thru what you and your family are going thru than you probably know.

Prayers of strength and health for your mom..

::good health & get well vibes for carrie's mommy::

You know where I am and I'm thinking of you sweets.

CarrieMpls said:

I didn't know! My mom had cervical cancer about 9 years ago, had surgery, kemo & radiation. If you need to talk about anything, or need anything, let me know I am sending good vibes your way...

All my love and wishes are with you Carrie.

Their is nothing like having your family around for moral support..

Best wishes to you, and to your family... To your mom tons of prayer, and light.

I know firsthand how scary this kind of situation is - from both your, and your mom's, perspective.

I have endometriosis and had my first full abdominal surgery for it when I was 28. I had huge huge cysts on my ovaries and when they told me I needed surgery, they also said that there was the possibility of malignancy (they cannot definitively diagnose endo without performing surgery)...a small possibility, but -- still there. That possibility, combined with the mere idea of a surgery, was terrifying, probably one of the most frightening things I have ever had put to me. 5 years later I had to have a total hysterectomy and again had to undergo a full abdominal surgery. They took out absolutely everything reproductive related that time.

Surgery is scary, as you know. Actually, scary is too small a word really to describe it. Turning your entire body and life over to the hands of the doctors, going under anesthesia, the not knowing what will happen both with the surgery itself and what is truly going on inside of you and what the outcome will be is overwhelming.

I'm sure your mom just wants the comfort and support of having her family around her at that time of going into surgery and waking up. It helps so much to have loving faces and voices there for you when you start waking up.

I know it's impossible for you not to worry about your mom. But try put your faith in the doctor's abilities and in whatever higher power you might believe in and just breathe. And when this is all over, you mom will enjoy a much healthier life. Trust that. Try to keep your eyes on the future and how good that will be when this is all done and is just a memory.

I'll be keeping you, your mom, and your entire family in my thoughts. Please keep us all posted as to how she's doing.



ps - Please orgnote me if I can help answer any questions or help you through this in ANY WAY.

JDINTERACTIVE said: