Breaking Recovery Records

Hello All!

Quick note here to let you know I am out of the hospital already. Mt. Hood, Mt St. Helens, and Mt. Adams all showed up to give me a good send off on a glorious day! I hope to share a few photos with you if I can find the download cord to my camera today.

I have been doing so well this time because I was strong and in such great shape, that so far this has been the best recovery out of a treatment protocol for cancer 18 years ago, radiosurgery treatment for a large brain tumor in 2004, and then 3 brain surgeries dispersed between 2007 until now. I am breaking my own recovery records and actually could have gone home Wednesday but the doctors wanted to keep me overnight for one more day of observation as I have sustained significant imobility of my face. Aside from the new facial paralysis making things like eating, drinking, talking, and brushing my teeth a problem, the paralysis also prevented my left eye lid from fully closing. As a matter of fact, the half closure is the only movement I have on the left side of my face (keep in mind that the right side of my face is partially paralyzed). Therefore, using my face in any matter is exceptionally a challenge.

To protect my vision, the facial plastics team did an outpatient surgery on my eyelid in my room yesterday which is pretty much the main reason they kept me the extra day. To help the eyelid close they inserted a gold weight into the upper eyelid. My sister took some GREAT photos of the procedure so I hope she will be able to get them to me soon so I can post them for you. My eye sort of looks like a slight black eye on my upper lid but is actually purple in color and somewhat swelled. It is hard to see out of the eye and makes my vision kind of difficult. To not let it bother me and to read or see better, I sport a pirate eye patch. I told my husband that now his wife is a boxing pirate! hehe I sort of feel like I have a boxer's face after sustaining a few rounds.

I see that my family gavc people the hospital address and room number if people wanted to visit or send some cheer.

I am no longer there but still in Oregon. I am staying at my parent's home in Scappoose which is only a half hour from OHSU should I need to return if any complications develop. I also have appts scheduled with neurosurgery, facial rehabilitation, and will need to see facial plastics again to look at my eye. Hence I will be here for about 3 weeks.

For anyone wanting to get in touch with me, please email me at bluediverbeck AT yahoo DOT com. I can also access facebook from there and it is easy to get in touch with me as my facebook messages download to my email.

I am not out of the woods yet and this will be the challenge to not overdo it and end up getting sick. I feel I have pretty good energy and took a 45 min walk with my trainer Merrie yesterday afternoon with the dogs (we brought my babies so I could be with them. They became very stressed out the last 2 surgeries and this taking them with on a sort of vacation has made the transition for them go smoothly). I was a little concerned whether they would recognize me but everything went just fine. HEHE I cannot even fool them if I wear a halloween mask. They know my voice well!

OKEy doke. I need to get out for a little walk with them on such a beautiful day. take my first shower followed by lunch and a nap because after all, I am still a patient and my recovery has just begun.

Thanks everyone for your concern, encouragement, prayers, cheer, support, and for following along! I REALLY do appreciate it and it helps keep me going.

Have a great day! More later. :)