Home Sweet Home

The flight went very smoothly. Steve and Alyssa met me at the airport with a big sign. She was smiling ear to ear and so happy to see me! It was strange to come home after being gone so long. Steve was very busy while I was gone. He put up the Christmas tree, rearranged some furniture and did a lot of organizing. He prepared a fabulous Thanksgiving turkey feast for us, after which we spent a quiet day together as a family. I missed seeing my extended family, but knew that the car ride would be too much.

Since then, we have just been hanging out, playing board games, watching movies and sleeping!

Now I am supposed to take it easy for 3-4 weeks. He warned me I would be really tired - I've been sleeping 10-12 hours every night. I am supposed to get a scan in 6-8 weeks & then will follow up with my internist and neurosurgeon here. I will also need to do physical therapy - don't know how often yet. It will help me build up my muscles in my neck and spine. I am missing quite a bit of the bone on the back of my spine (both from this surgery and my previous one) & therefore, my muscles need to work even harder to hold up my head. I will do exercises at home also.

Amazingly, my nausea is almost gone! The doctor hypothesized that if he could remove the pressure that the cyst was creating that there was chance the nausea would improve & he was right! I AM SO HAPPY : )

As far as starting on the Sutent chemo drug for my kidneys, we first need to determine if the cataract surgery (which I am anxious to do) will cause this to be delayed. Originally, I was planning to start it in mid-January. Now we will have to wait and see... I really want to get as much of my eyesight back as possible, so want to address the cataract first.

Thank you all again so much for your love, support and prayers...