Hello Friends, family and admirers of Sarah,
Sarah has asked me to update you all because she is sleepy and conserving energy for healing after her Friday June 17th surgery. She is hugely appreciative of your messages, even if she is not currently responding, and says, “keep sending them!”
The surgery went well from the surgeon’s perspective. He did note that there was more disease than perhaps expected. Part of the surgery included an application of HIPEC (hot, liquid chemo) into Sarah’s abdomen, which is more targeted and effective (for hard to treat abdominal cancers) than chemo, and comes with fewer side effects. We are grateful Sarah was a candidate for this treatment.
Some of Sarah’s stomach was removed, and she has a drain in her throat to manage the draining of the stomach via the esophagus. Yes, this body has been through A LOT. Sarah has a free pass to wail and complain for a lifetime, and yet she manages to find delight in so much; to contribute to others; and to maintain her focus on parenting her kids with presence and connection. (And when it is time to wail she seeks support and accompaniment so the grief can flow).
Sarah is currently in very little pain, “super sleepy,” though having increasing alert moments. Her friend, Pam Orbach, has visited several times, and reports that Sarah has an amazing and responsive medical team.
Again, please shower her with messages of love and support, knowing she may not respond for awhile yet. Thank you for being here.
Been thinking of you during this recovery week Sarah. Prayers for quick healing and that you can rest, and have energy, and I am hoping not that nausea. You are loved and are so strong. It was very challenging and good for me to read and think about things you have been sharing on parenting, especially with an emotional child. I have been working on listening better. Thank you~Krysten (from Brinnon)
Hip hip hooray, Sarah! Go, fight, rest, heal, smile, hang in there!
Next step is getting up, then walking to the door of your room, then around the halls, then down the halls, then "Doggone-it-I'm-going-outside-on-my-next-walk-cuz-I'm-bored-and-I-am-getting-out-of-here!" ... then home to your new home, then healing there and considering the future. Every day a little progress. Every day you and Matt and the kids' world gets a little bigger, the times you look ahead to a little farther out.
Patience, attitude (!), perseverance, rest, hope, support, love, ... They all have a place in their time to help you guys move ahead. Kate and I are SO pulling for you! Stay with it, you can do this, we believe it with all our hearts.