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Praise God, mom is home!

We just got back about an hour ago from bringing mom back from the hospital. She's ok; weak and a several pounds lighter, but ok. She will be able to do her follow-up check-ups here in Salisbury (Praise God). This doesn't mean she's out of the woods yet.

There are a few tests that were done on mom's stomach. There was something suspicious, but hopefully it's a false alarm.

God has really protected us on the roads. I'm not sure if you all are aware, but there were a couple of strong winter storms in the area. On Friday and Saturday nights, we overnighted in a hotel in the Annapolis area. This was the same time the 2nd winter storm hit the area. We were snowed-in all day Sabbath. Dad, who's driven on snow and ice for years and knows what to do in just about any situation, was worried. This kind of snow is just not normal here! The good news is that everything is starting to clear up: the bad news is that there's another on it's way for tomorrow. At least we've got mom and don't have to leave home for a while. I'm gonna leave you with pictures I took of the snow in the area we spent the night in.

This is the hotel we stayed Friday and Saturday night in. The first vehicle is a van.

This was at a gas station. Just check out the Uhaul trucks!

Today

Today at noon, mom went into the operating room. At 14, she came out. Her surgeon told us they took out her entire reproductive system. She had 1 huge tumor and a few little ones scattered around. But they're all gone, and it appears as though the cancer did not spread. She had a lot of liquid in her stomach. Tomorrow, they're gonna run some tests to see if anything is wrong with her stomach. The doctor said it could be stomach cancer, but he doubts it.

Right now, mom is in a regular in-patient room (she was in the intensive care unit for about 2 hours after the surgery, just to be sure she got out of the anesthesia alright--remember, it's her first surgery EVER) and recuperating. She can talk and is aware of her surroundings. She says her stomach hurts a lot and can barely move from the pain. She's on a couple of pain-killers. At least tonight, she'll be able to rest.

The doctor and the nurses were wonderful. I didn't expect such nice treatment. We (my family) are really impressed.

We're home right now. We have quite a few errands to run tomorrow morning and then we will go back up to Baltimore and see how mom's doing. There's another major winter storm headed our way for Friday morning 'til Saturday night--which means travel will not be recommended at all until it's past. There's a chance mom will be allowed to go home at that time; so if it happens, may we travel safely home.

Thank you all again for your prayers! Mom sends her many thanks as well!

Winter Storm and Tomorrow's Storm

Hi, sorry for not posting anything for a while; it's just that there wasn't anything new to post.

Wait, no: I lied.

This Friday night and Sabbath (29.-30. Jan.) fell the largest winter storm I've ever seen in this area. Normally, we have about 2 inches (5 cm) of snow fall in one night. After the snow fell that night and all of Sabbath day, we had almost a foot (30.5 cm) of snow! I never thought I'd see so much snow in this area! I have no idea when was the last time it snowed this hard. Here are some pictures I took (by now you should know I can't resist an opportunity like this):

Say "hello" to our family car

My foot buried in the snow, about half-way up my shin.

The lantern in front of my window, but from the complex's entrance.

Even though a lot has melted and been shoved out of the way, there is still a lot of snow and ice on the ground--and we're supposed to get more this coming weekend. . .

The surgery is tomorrow and mom is on a liquid diet. Praise God, dad is here. He got in Sunday night/Monday early morning. Mom is having mixed feelings: she wants the surgery done and over with, but she's a little nervous about going under the knife. She is 52 and she's never had an operation done on her before. Sure, she's been hospitalized, but only when giving birth to my sister and I. May God be with her today and tomorrow. Please, don't stop praying for her. Thank you.

Good news in the morning

This morning, I woke up earlier than usual to the ringing of our home phone. It was one of the secretary/nurses from the doctor who will operate on mom.

Due to a cancelation from one of the patients, mom's surgery will not be on February 15, but February 3.

That's almost 2 weeks earlier! Although it would be nicer to have it this month, we are really happy. Keep up with the prayers! They're working!

Good news and bad news

The good news: mom has a date for the surgery.

Bad news: it's on February 15.

Good news: if there is a cancelled appointment between now and that date, we can reschedule for the earlier date.

Better news: mom felt hunger.

She hasn't been hungry for a couple of weeks. The tumor has been pushing up against her stomach, which probably prevented her from feeling any hunger. She would eat only because she knew she had to--and when she did eat, it was less than what she would regularly eat.

The day before yesterday, mom felt a little hunger and ate somewhat greedily: a very good sign.

Rude Awakening

It's Saturday night right now. This morning, not too long before 8, I had to drive mom to the hosptial. The pain has come back--not as bad as the first time, but still pretty bad. She couldn't sleep at all last night from the pain (not to mention she vomited twice). I woke up to her vomiting the second time (not quite rested, but awake enough to know I need to drive NOW). Mom got ready as best as she could and I got Julia and myself ready as well for the drive to the emergency room.

We were there from about 8 and left (with mom) around quarter 'til noon. They couldn't keep her there or operate on her. The doctor who can operate on her is and works in Baltimore. He does come down to this hospital, but that's about once every 4 months or so. We/mom cannot wait that long. The nurse who attended mom told me to call the doctor everyday, asking for an operation date everyday until he breaks down and gives us one (hopefully within the next 2 weeks).

They sent mom home with prescriptions for pain-killers and other side-effects. It's frustrating: we have to wait with something that should be removed immediately. Mom's feeling better now (pain-wise), but she's desperate to have the surgery and get this tumor out of her body. So am I. Please continue to pray for my mom and that an operation date can be made very soon.

Back with the family (and the flight over)

I'm gonna use my blog as the place where I'll post the updates and my mom's progress--for future reference.

I'm back in the States. Mom is ok for now. She's not in the hospital yet. We haven't been given a date for the surgery yet. Mom is impatiently waiting. We're thinking about calling them tomorrow (6. Jan.) to see what's up. Dad was sent to pick up a load yesterday and is on the road. He's planning to take time-off for the surgery. Last I understood was the surgery should take place in 2 weeks, and that it's gonna be in Baltimore.

My flight over went from "nice" to "I want to shoot someone (preferably the one responsible)." The tale follows as such:

Munich: Lovely. BMI flight through Lufthansa. Left slightly late, but nothing out of the ordinary. The only downside was that I had to be in Munich by 5:30 am.

London: Here is where my misadventure began. First off, I landed in Terminal 1. I took the bus to Terminal 3 'cause I thought my next flight was through American Airlines. Good thing I checked my itinerary again. I'm flying US Airways. It's in Terminal 1--where I just came from. No worries, I thought. I still have 3 hrs to kill; and with the new temporary regulations for all flights to the States, I'm probably gonna need most of my extra time there.

I got back on the bus to Terminal 1 (nice ride I must say), went through security, and looked for my gate. My gate info was gong to be displayed about an hour and a half later. I spent the time walking around the assorted rip-off stations, uh, I mean the "various shopping opportunities" and unsuccessfully attempted to obtain internet. At least I got to check out Heathrow's web site and my flight information: not a total loss.

10:50 was the time I needed to be at the gate (Gate 56). Completely at the end of the hall. I could see the ever-growing line the moment I turned the corner at Gate 30 or so. When my turn came, I was asked if I had connected through Heathrow. Yes I did. Go to the side. I was interrogated, then allowed to have my carry-on bag searched (which was stuffed) and to be personally patted-down as well. At least a professional lady did it and I had several layers on; so it really wasn't violating.

After the security gate, my name (along with a few others) was called over the intercom: we had to go to the customer service desk. Lufthansa didn't enter my passport info. Anywho, I finally got to my seat. Everyone was seated and ready to go. Don't remember exactly why, but we sat there and waited for about an hour before we were allowed to take-off. Then, if we wanted sound from the monitors (movies, TV, music, etc.) we had to buy a headset! What the (insert swear word here)?! Normally they are complimentary! We were not impressed. I guess we should thank God they didn't charge extra for the meals . . .

Oh, and once we reached Philly, we had to circle around for about 10-20 minutes (I think 'cause there wasn't an empty runway). In total, we were about 1.5 hr behind schedule.

Philly: I was fortunate to have a 3+ hr layover (again). This gave me plenty of time to get my luggage (which was late and coming from another "merry-go-round") and drag them to baggage drop-off. After a bus ride from Terminal A to F, and seeing my gate was different from what was on my boarding pass (not unusual), I arrived to my gate within an hour early. I saw my flight was 1/2 hr delayed. No big deal. I'm going home. The Salisbury airport is about a 15-minute drive from home. That'll just mean I'll get home a little after 20:30 (8:30 pm). No big deal.

The desk clerk announced we were delayed even further (20:00). Hmmm, ok . . . I guess. As long as we're going, I'm ok. Short before 20:00, the desk clerk announced we were waiting for a crew. What? Why are we waiting for "a" crew? The crew scheduled to take us to Salisbury was scheduled to fly in from Salisbury. Thier flight was cancelled due to heavy fog (up to .5 mile visibility). There were 2 later flights to Salisbury: both were cancelled. It was this flight, or none at all until tomorrow.

Happy day, a crew arrived! Some of us even applauded. We boarded around 20:45 or so. Yeah, we're on our way home!

Nope, not really.

I was asleep (haven't really slept for over 24 hours) but when I woke up, I realized we were landing . . . in Philly. WHAT?! Didn't we just leave Philly? Why are we back? I heard from 1 of the other passengers that we had clearance to fly from Philly, but not to land in Salisbury. We left, in hopes that when we arrived, all would be well and we could land. I understand we circled a few times, and then returned to Philly. We were not happy.

So, when is the next flight to Salisbury? 19:15 tomorrow. WHAT?! Tomorrow night?! If we want to stay in a hotel, neither the airport nor the airline was gonna reimburse us. If we want a refund, we're gonna have to make a fuss to Reservations (in process). We were NOT impressed. Some rented cars, others flew back to where they came from. My family picked me up. By the time they came by, it was about 0:30. We got home sometime after 2 in the morning. Praise God dad was home: mom would've never made it on her own--much less at night.

I guess I did set myself up for that: I didn't have a direct flight (as far as flights to Salisbury, MD are concerned, direct flights from any city outside the Mid-Atlantic is impossible--not to mention flights from Europe). Another fact, the 2 bad flights were through US Airways. Maybe the next time I fly home, I should just fly to Philly or BWI and skip the hassels that come with a small regional airport that only uses US Airways . . .

This is by far my worst New Years. At least my worst Christmas (just the week before) wasn't this bad. What a heck of way to start the new year . . .