Happy New Year and Home Sweet Home

Hey gang o' mine, I hope this finds you all well and that you had a wonderful holiday surrounded by loved ones. Our holiday did not look the way we had imagined it, but it was most definitely filled with love and that's really all that matters as far as I'm concerned. Surgery on 12/15 went well and we just received word yesterday from the surgeon that the pathology results are back and there are healthy margins around the tumor which is SPECTACULAR news! We still don't know exactly what that means as far as further treatment goes, but the fact that they got everything out is a huge relief. We will find out more about the next course of treatment over the next few weeks. The results of the surgery have left us optimistic about my appearance, as well. I think that everyone that has seen me would agree that I look significantly better then expected. I guess an entire bone from my leg (and10 hours) gave my magician of a plastic surgeon all that he needed to completely re-create my upper jaw. There will be quite a few surgeries ahead but the ground work has been done and I am grateful and relieved. There is still lots of swelling and 2 incisions on my face that need to heal (as well as an incision that runs knee to ankle on my left leg) but I am feeling really good about the direction we're heading. I was able to come home on 12/23 after 8 days in the hospital (which involved a struggle to manage pain, a difficult tracheotomy, precious nurses, a room with a stunning view of Philly and strands of white twinkle lights, Christmas music and an extra bed where I was lucky enough to find a loved one every single night). It has been a challenge, but Nurse Nancy Pants (NNP) and I are finally settling into a schedule here at home. We have a hospital bed set up downstairs and are managing the feeding tube and meds every few hours. The first few days we were like Lucy and Ethel in the chocolate factory but we have found our way with the support of each other and others, especially my sister (who has been an absolute rockstar from day 1). Ok, im about to crash so I will sign off. Thank you for your cards, gifts, meal trains, jokes and funny you tube videos. You continue to support me in ways I never could have imagined. Happy New Year to all. Xoxo, Kaytie