Oh, the gall!
My apologies to the subscribers to Life on Avenue Z: this is just a personal post. My dear baby sister just underwent a painful 4.5-hour emergency surgery. She had severe pain on Friday right before I visited, and all weekend she was up and down. Monday morning I went with her to the doctor. The diagnosis: a faulty gall bladder.
Normally this is not a big deal. With a non-invasive laparoscopic technique, doctors can make four little incisions and eliminate the problem, with a downtime of a matter of days after the procedure. But Sarah ended up having to have full abdominal surgery the day after I left.
I’m sitting here in my little office in San Diego worried to death. Sarah and her tubes and IVs will be in the hospital for several days, and she’s going to be down for 4-6 weeks. She’s got two little babies at home, and she won’t be able to pick them up. She’s a teacher, and she’s out for the rest of the school year. And she probably can’t come see me run my second marathon on June 1.
Think positive thoughts for her, pretty please. She’s an amazing woman and a great friend, and I’d take her pain for myself in a minute if I could.
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Claire (aka Little Miss) on 07 May 2008 at 2:20 pm #
Abdominal surgery is the worst… my daughter has had four of them. Ugh. I wish your sister all the best for a very speedy recovery.
Nanny Sarah on 07 May 2008 at 2:41 pm #
Hey Sarah,
We are all thinking about you. Sure was sorry to hear that you had to have the “full” surgery.
Take care of yourself.
we love you,
Nanny Sarah & Uncle Howard
Rebecca Eberle on 07 May 2008 at 2:46 pm #
Sarah,
Argh! So sorry you had to go through that surgery. I wish you the absolute best. I hope you are blessed with a speedy recovery.
-Bec
Ken on 07 May 2008 at 2:46 pm #
I hope Sarah gets to feelin’ better. She shouldn’t of drank all that bile, she wouldn’t have any trouble if she didn’t, I’m not Dr. though….
Never played one on TV either. But I am in the Navy…
Kisses
Dick on 07 May 2008 at 2:54 pm #
Sarah, ensure that you take the time to fully recover before attempting crazy things. Sorry you had to go the whole route. Your Sis can give you good vibes; all of her groupies are sending good vibes. Vibes? Jeez, am I an old hippy? I’ve had four bouts with kidney stones and can thus share some pain memories with you. Take care.
Bekki on 07 May 2008 at 3:51 pm #
Hey Sarah,
Sorry to hear about your sudden surgery. Do take care of yourself and give yourself plenty of time to indulge in convalescence! I’ve only had my appendix out when I was ten, but I hear abdominal surgery takes a lot of time to heal. Keeping you in my thoughts. Bekki, Beth’s Peace Corps stage roomie
Roki on 07 May 2008 at 4:53 pm #
Sarah…..Seriously, this is NOT the way to get out of housework and stuff!!!!! There are easier and less painful ways!!
I hope you feel better soon…..Drs orders teeeheee!
roki or doki…if you like
Erin on 07 May 2008 at 5:00 pm #
Hey Sarah,
You sound like a saint! Kick that Gall bladder right where it belongs!!
Good luck with every thing.
Lots of good luck wishes from the Wild Animal Park!!
Erin
Uncle Howard on 07 May 2008 at 5:41 pm #
I just got out of the hospital where they rearranged parts of my back that had slipped, bulged, herniated, ruptured, and scattered to press on spinal parts they shouldn’t have. More Morphine, Baby. For every time, there is a season. Tis the season to get relief, and let your body heal. Hope you are home soon, so everyone can tell you you’re doing more than you should. Get back good!!!
Unc
Julie Williams on 07 May 2008 at 5:59 pm #
Hi, Sarah –
Quit worrying your sister! Get well!
: )
Julie Wms
Roy Moses on 07 May 2008 at 6:00 pm #
Hi, Sarah, I don’t know you, but any sister of Beth’s has to have something going for her — the trick is to discover if it is a positive or a negative. I am a retired journalism teacher who put up with some of that Daily group whom you know, and believe me, it took its toll. Finally I had to ship Beth off to a former colleague at Alabama for the finishing touches — think of it, ALABAMA, for crying out loud — but it looks like she may have “cleaned up pretty good,” as they used to say. As one of the messages above said, abdominal surgery really is the worst — although not too far ahead of chest surgery where they “crack your ribs.” When they tell you to get up and walk, do it — it really does speed the process. And when the days come that you get so depressed because you think you’ll never feel good again — take my word for it — you will. But it won’t come easy — but with your family and job to look forward to — what other choice do you have? I speak with the voice of some experience — I had the easy gall bladder surgery and barely missed a golf game, but I’ve had coronary bypass twice — once relatively easy, once with follow-up staph infection, then yet another operation to clean that up, rehab etc. I hope Beth will keep us posted on your progress. We’ll all be watching, I am sure. All the best.
PS–I tried not to say anything funny (and think I succeeded), cause I know how much it hurts to cough or laugh in your situation. rm
Jim Perry on 08 May 2008 at 5:11 am #
Hey Sarah,
I’ve been under the knife a couple of times and I don’t wish it on anyone. You have lots of cheerleaders in your corner, especially that sis of yours in San Diego leading the calls for a speedy and full recovery. Get well soon!
Jim
Art on 08 May 2008 at 7:38 am #
I only met Sarah the one time last year, but it was readily apparent that she, her kids and hubby were all a delight. I am sorry to hear that she will now be going through such a difficult stretch.
Although I may not know her that well, I vividly remember the many many times you told me of her strength, courage, character and just plain general awesomeness. I have no doubt that you, your mom & dad and the rest of the family will be there for her every step of the way.
And Sarah, if you’re reading this, all my best wishes to you for a speedy recovery. With Beth in your corner pullin’ for ya’, I know you’re in good hands!
Beth on 08 May 2008 at 7:50 am #
Friends and family,
You guys rock! I’m very grateful for your support and well wishes. I’m printing out a few of these notes at a time and sending them in a series of cards.
Sarah called this morning. She’s doing as well as can be expected, although she did have a fight with a nurse yesterday. (Sarah: “I know *technically* you know what you’re doing, but you still hurt me.”) Cross your fingers — she’s still hoping to come see me cross the finish line in a month at the Rock and Roll Marathon. Hell, I’m still crossing my fingers that I’ll be able to cross the finish line at all!
Sherri on 08 May 2008 at 11:32 am #
Sarah:
Get well soon and if you need to conspire with anyone against nursing staff just give me a call–i’m on it!Give ‘em hell and then get well!
Sherri
Meg Tully on 08 May 2008 at 12:38 pm #
Sarah:
I met you many moons ago when Beth lived in the thriving metropolis of Hayden, CO. I wish you all the best in your recovery. I hope that Beth doesn’t join you in the hospital after she finishes her marathon. Nurses - beware! Just kidding. I know you both will be just fine. Get better soon. —Meg Tully (Beth, You - - - - fill in the blanks)
Beth on 08 May 2008 at 4:08 pm #
Sarah Update:
DAMN — Not fair!
The surgeon missed some of the stones, and Sarah has to have another procedure tomorrow. They will try the endoscopy through her mouth again, even though that was the first thing they tried when all this started and it didn’t work.
DAMN!
Papa on 09 May 2008 at 5:18 am #
Betty is getting ready to go to the hospital to be with Sarah for the latest procedure to get the last stone. Lawrence is already there.
I am sure this is the last problem.
Pop
The really hard times | Life on Avenue Z on 09 May 2008 at 6:56 am #
[...] want to hibernate in bed for a week or two. I don’t want to push anymore. I want to go visit my sister in the hospital and spend some quality time with a TV. I want to mourn the end of my relationship with D.J. and [...]
Jen on 09 May 2008 at 12:32 pm #
Hi Sarah,
It’s a sad way to get the rest you most likely deserve in multitude, but I hope you heal quickly and can relax as much as possible. It must be so hard to have to stop so many of your duties, but one way or another, everything will get done or can wait. I’d be going crazy! Know that kind, healing thoughts are flooding your way. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Jen
Beth on 09 May 2008 at 12:48 pm #
Sarah Update:
Good news! The endoscopy was uneventful. Looks like the stone just kind of left, and Sarah said the people were really nice. She may be out of the hospital by Monday.
Linda on 10 May 2008 at 12:55 pm #
Sarah, Every day in every way, you be better and better!
When I had those 4 little incisions, they took part of my liver but failed to tell me the gall bladder went too. A year or so later I told another doc that my gall bladder was intact when it was no place to be found . .. I didn’t even miss it. Surprises and other S words happen.
Keep getting better ya hear!
Love & prayers
Linda (Roki and Ken’s mom)
Sunday morning in the coffee shop | Life on Avenue Z on 11 May 2008 at 8:42 am #
[...] my mom for Mother’s Day, registered for the America’s Finest City Half Marathon and checked in with my sister. Doing the math, I have 6 solid hours of billable work that I need to complete today, and [...]
Robin Hinders on 12 May 2008 at 6:33 am #
Sarah,
Although I read Beth’s blog periodically, I missed the information about your surgery and just learned about it this weekend when Beth called. Since I don’t have Internet access at home, this is the first chance I have had to wend get-well-wished. I truly hope that by now you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, or at least the light above your own comfy bed at home. Hang it there - you WILL feel “normal” again soon.
From the corn fields, Tone’s Spice Factory, and plasma donor capital in Iowa…Robin Hinders
Beth on 12 May 2008 at 10:04 am #
Sarah update:
Holy shoot again! Things are still not going well for Sarah — she’s not going to be able to go home today probably. She keeps saying, “I’m tough, you know.” And she certainly is.
Please keep thinking positive thoughts. I wish so much that this would end for her.
Beth
Elizabeth on 12 May 2008 at 11:49 am #
Sarah,
I hope and pray your recovery is quick.
I love you, Elizabeth
Need to grow your business? Just ask | Life on Avenue Z on 13 May 2008 at 7:34 am #
[...] My sister and I sometimes worked as housekeepers when we worked our way around the country for six months in 1996. We’d approach bed and breakfast managers to see if we could get spring-cleaning gigs to help the overworked staff. [...]
Stan on 14 May 2008 at 2:05 am #
Sarah,
Get well soon. I’m sitting here in Newark Liberty waiting for a flight to Milwaukee, and hoping you heal quickly.
NT Journalism RULES!
SS
Beth on 14 May 2008 at 9:50 am #
The BEST Sarah update ever!
After nine days in the hospital and five procedures, Sarah is on her way home. She’ll be napping for a while, but she’s able to walk some and looks to have this whole thing behind her. It’s all over but the healing, we think.
Thanks for all the support. She has very much enjoyed the notes and letters.