Surgery #1 -- marked done!

I'm sitting in my hospital room on the sixth floor, with a lovely view of the grounds and rolling hills, with Pat in the easy chair beside my bed.  He's watching reels and I'm on my laptop.  It's just like being home -- haha!  

I was loopy for a couple of hours after my surgery -- perhaps I still am.  However, I've been quite chatty because I am just so happy with how the surgery went.  As much as I was determined to choose joy no matter the outcome, I really didn't want to say goodbye to the tendon that lifts my foot.  Praise God, there was no sign that the cancer had gotten to that tendon, so it is intact.  It looks like hikes and racquet sports may be in the much nearer future than expected.  

However, it's not a done deal until we get the results of the samples the surgeon sent out.  If they find any suspicious cells, then they will have to go back in remove more of my leg.  So keep praying!  

So far, I don't feel any pain, even though all I've had is Tylenol.  That appears to be a surprise to everyone.

I also surprised the nurses by being able to walk to the bathroom rather than having to use a potty chair.  The negative pressure wound vac that's attached to my leg is held in place by a partial plaster cast and a very long ace bandage.  The pump is in a small purse-like bag that I can put over my shoulder when I make my little trips to the lav.  

I haven't spoken to the surgeon yet, but hopefully, tomorrow morning, he will visit with news that I can go home while we wait for the lab results and get the second surgery scheduled. When he called Pat after the surgery, he said he was very pleased. I can't wait to hear all the details.  

I am so grateful to God and to each and every one of you who took the time to pray for me.  What a gift you have given me.  I felt like I was bathed in God's grace -- like any anxiety was washed away. (Even when it took five tries to get an IV put in -- I now know I have very small and wiggly veins.)  As I was wheeled into surgery, I felt surrounded by prayer and bolstered by God's love.  And then to have the good news that I got to keep my tendon!  What an answer to prayer.  Thank you, everyone!