Sunday, June 7, 2009

I'M SO LUCKY!

To have such wonderful sisters.

A week ago Friday, I went in for my port surgery.
This helps to keep me hydrated during my pregnancy.
I've been through this before...it's no big deal...
Until this time.
Two hours into my recovery,
I woke up in SCREAMING pain.
It felt like I could hardly catch my breath.
It hurt to breath.
It felt like something was wrong with my heart.
I knew something was not right.
I didn't have this pain the last time I had a port surgically placed.
My first thought was a possible blood clot,
we have a family history of these.
After many tests and x-rays, they found it.
A PNEUMOTHORAX.
I had a small puncture in my left lung.
My left lung was collapsed as a result.
The doctor decided they would watch it for a day,
to see if it would get smaller or possibly bigger.
The only thing that made the pain bearable was morphine.
I was admitted.
24 hours later, my pneumothorax had grown.
That meant a chest tube.
They called a surgeon in.
He numbed the area and popped it in.
It wasn't too bad...
Until they hooked me up to the chest tube suction/drain.
Then it felt 10x worse then in the recovery room.
They were suctioning out the air that had escaped.
I could hardly catch my breath again.
It was awful.
The pain never really went away until they took it out.
(two days later)
Thankfully my lungs re-expanded right away.

On top of the pneumothorax,
I caught a stomach bug.
I was SO sick, fever and all.
I also walked away with a UTI.
Lots of lovely gifts from the hospital.
Thankfully I was able to come home 5 days later.

My sister Amy Jo is here from Ohio to take care of me.
I am so blessed. I couldn't do this without her.
I know what a sacrifice it is to be away from some of her family,
and so I am truly grateful for her service and love.

And I am so grateful for Jenny too.
She kept my blog going...(thankyou)
and was by my side in the hospital.
She snuck me contraband,
and entertained me...
even though it was too painful to smile.
I am thankful for her service and love as well.

Thank you dear sisters. ♥

29 comments:

Alicia said...

Glad to see you are feeling a bit better. And sisters rock, take care and keep us posted. You deserve a medal!

April said...

You are so brave! I'm so glad you have such wonderful sisters to be by your side! Our hearts are with you-- even though we're far away!
LOVE YOU

ellen said...

Gosh! Enough already!! Lucky you to have such nice sisters! I hope you are on the mend. And, congrats!

The Snell Family said...

Glad you are home and doing better. Take it easy and let your sister do all the work. Thinking of you guys often.

Julianna

Ambrose said...

God Bless you Becky! You are an Amazing and truly inspirational woman! I will keep you all in my prayers!
Love
Rebecca
P.S. Ambrose is BACK in the PICU (3rd time!-Ughh!)

DainBramage said...

I'm glad to hear that you are starting to feel better.
I can relate to what you went through, having been through a similar experience. I understand your pain, Becky. I hope you feel better soon, and I hope that the rest of your pregnancy is an uneventful one.
Maria sends her love, as do the rest of us.
- Adam

Jo Jo said...

Hey, that's too graphic! Nothing but love, dear sister, let's keep it down!

shirlgirl said...

Hope you are feeling better. You are fortunate to have sisters to take care of you. You've really had more than your share of hospitals over the past year or so. Not fun, for sure.

Alana said...

I'm glad the Beck attack is back. Hope you keep getting better and not worse. We love you. Zach's poem made me cry when I thought of you. I hope you enjoyed it and the kids drawings.

Adam and Anya said...

Stay strong Ortons! This must have been a frightening ordeal. Luckily, there is great peace from the gospel. I hope you're feeling that peace constantly during this tricky time.

Unknown said...

*mmmwwwaaaaa.*

LL said...

Sister by chance, friends by choice.
Sorry, did that CHEESE upset your stomach? :)
REally though, SISTERS ARE THE BEST!
Glad you're being taken care of.
btw. I can't believe all you had to go through, those 5 days in the hospital. YUCK!
Glad you're home!

Sarah said...

Oh I am SO HAPPY you are home!! Robb and I were thinking of you often and hoping you'd be feeling better soon! Hugs!

Amy M. said...

Yea you're home!!!! Glad that you are on the mend. I'm also glad that Amy is there- what a big help she will be. Say Hi to Amy for me.

Cindi said...

SO glad you are home, and it is wonderful to see you here again...I am at Missy's and we have been praying for you here in AZ, put your name on the prayer roll in the Mesa temple. No more excitement allowed!!!

Rachel Durazzani said...

I am so glad you are home. And it really is a blessing to have such great sisters. Sisters are the best. I hope you continue to get better. Good luck with everything. You're in our prayers.

Jane said...

Sisters Rule!!

That acutally made me tear up, my one and only sister is many, many miles away from me.

Wiggles said...

Becky, I'm so glad to see you are back home and in good hand with your sister. It was good to see Amy and ALL the kids in church. Let me know what I can do to help when you need it. Here's to no more visits to the hospital for a while.

Lici said...

Becky- I'm excited for you to be feeling a little better- what a crazy ordeal. You guys are keeping the hospitals a float over there. We are all wishing you well and you new little one too.

Christy said...

Hey my friend! You al least have a great summer to look forward to with Amy staying with you..she will keep you nourished in all sorts of entertaining and useful ways! You are lucky, and you never forget to mention it, reminding those of us complainers how many blessings are out there if we stop and look.
One of your charms lady!
I am so happy for your new little heartbeat!

Rocky said...

Howdy Becky -- I'd come and do a Therapy Dog visit in person if I could but ya know they put an end to Therapy Dog work at LRGH, so I'll just have to be your virtual Therapy Dog. Boy, sure am glad I only had a bb in my head and not in my lung -- that lung stuff sounded bad. You take care of yourself now, ya hear? Here's a big dog kiss for ya! Rocky

mali said...

Okay, we really need to talk! First of all, I didn't know you were expecting, or sick, or any of this! I am so happy you are doing better. Hang in there my friend. Keep making lemonade. You do it the best of anyone I know! Love you!
Malinda 727-940-5153

Eleyna Julia said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Eleyna Julia said...

Hi Becky! This is Emily Bennett, Hunter's mom. My computer has been out of commission for about a month so I'm just barely getting around to answering the comment you left on our blog a while back. First, let me say I'm SO glad you are doing better! As if you don't have enough on your plate, you are dealing with chest tubes and illness. I know that the day to day isn't ever as easy as it appears on the blog (even in full disclosure mode) and I'm amazed at your grace and strength and sense of humor, especially when it comes to caring for Ben. Thank you for your example. I'm tearing up even as I write this. :) I hope I can get to know you guys better! ~Emily

smart mama said...

Hey becky- Heather (Bennett) Oman and I were talking about you tonight and how cool we think you are! anyway just thinking about you today -will email you soon!
XO- L - if you make it down here at all (not that you will in your misery- but you might) let me know so I can come see you!

Charlene said...

Hi Becky, I didn't find out until the other day that you were pregnant and dealing with all of this, but having Amy Jo there must make all the difference. Congrats and my prayers will be with you and your family. We love you guys.
Love, Charlene

shirlgirl said...

Hi Becky--Am missing your blogging. Hope you are feeling better and are able to eat without too much of a problem. I can't imagine you going through what you did last year--you were so sick. Let's hope this time that there is a reprieve and that things won't be as bad and you can keep hydrated and your tummy full. Love you.

Michelle said...

I can't beleive all that you have been through. How awful to be in so much pain. I hope you will be feeling better soon!

Laurabeth said...

Hey Becky- Welcome Home!! Hope to see you when we get down in a couple of weeks... We love you! :)