Hey everyone,
I took a couple days off after Thanksgiving to chill a bit and continue to care for Laurie. She is still doing well and the home health care nurse is pleased with her progress. We have a post surgery doctor’s appointment tomorrow morning with the reconstructive surgeon who will give us the “official” analysis of Laurie’s progress. We will then look forward to December 10th when we visit with the oncologist office and will find out the recommended course of treatment.
We have been blessed by the cards, flowers, meals, and the continued prayers and encouragement.
I look forward to providing a positive update tomorrow following our visit with the doctor.
.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving!
After a long day yesterday Laurie was able to get a good night’s sleep last night. The only time she woke up was when I had to give medication to her at 3:00. We both slept until 8:00 after that indicating we were both pretty tired. I fixed her breakfast and we watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade together. Around 1:00 we went over to Carlene’s, Laurie’s sister, for our family Thanksgiving celebration. We had only planned to stay a few minutes but ended up staying about an hour and a half. Laurie was excited that she felt well enough to go and see her family for Thanksgiving. We came home and Laurie took a three hour nap which was good. I watched the Dallas Cowboys game until half time and then we went next door to our neighbors for our second Thanksgiving celebration. We really enjoyed getting to share with Martha and Brian and their family. Once the Cowboys had won the game we came back home and spent the rest of the evening relaxing. Laurie may have over done it a bit today but felt it was important to share time with family and friends. We have to thank Laurie’s parents for keeping Brooke and Ridge and Laurie’s sister’s family for keeping Forrest last night. They will be sleeping over again tonight too!
Laurie is gaining strength each day. We continually realize just how much we have to be thankful for. We're truly thankful for Jesus Christ, The Great Physician, and our friends and family who sustains us during this time of healing.
.
After a long day yesterday Laurie was able to get a good night’s sleep last night. The only time she woke up was when I had to give medication to her at 3:00. We both slept until 8:00 after that indicating we were both pretty tired. I fixed her breakfast and we watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade together. Around 1:00 we went over to Carlene’s, Laurie’s sister, for our family Thanksgiving celebration. We had only planned to stay a few minutes but ended up staying about an hour and a half. Laurie was excited that she felt well enough to go and see her family for Thanksgiving. We came home and Laurie took a three hour nap which was good. I watched the Dallas Cowboys game until half time and then we went next door to our neighbors for our second Thanksgiving celebration. We really enjoyed getting to share with Martha and Brian and their family. Once the Cowboys had won the game we came back home and spent the rest of the evening relaxing. Laurie may have over done it a bit today but felt it was important to share time with family and friends. We have to thank Laurie’s parents for keeping Brooke and Ridge and Laurie’s sister’s family for keeping Forrest last night. They will be sleeping over again tonight too!
Laurie is gaining strength each day. We continually realize just how much we have to be thankful for. We're truly thankful for Jesus Christ, The Great Physician, and our friends and family who sustains us during this time of healing.
.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
She's home!
Hey there,
Well, Laurie and her doctors came to a consensus that it was time for her to go home. She was looking quite good this morning when I arrived at her room and she told me that her surgeon had stopped by earlier and said she was all set to go home to some peace, and most importantly, some quiet. The hospital is no place to get some rest. At 10:30 the other surgeon came in to check on Laurie and prescribed “home health care” which the insurance company had already said was included as part of their coverage. The waiting began. For Laurie to be released from the hospital all doctor’s orders have to be confirmed by all parties that are to be responsible for her care once released. That included the home health care. I guess the people who represent the home health care company all went home early today like so many other employees in the area. Luckily the nurses gave Laurie her pain meds around 12:30 and 4:00 which kept Laurie relatively calm while we waited for the powers that be to get their act together so we could leave. The Readers Digest version of the rest of the day is that we finally left the hospital at 5:10 this afternoon. The nurses were finally authorized to fill me in on the care that Laurie will need and we were finally on our way. At least I was spending the time with my best friend in the world; my wife!
We got home at 5:45 and the saying is true; there’s no place like home! A couple days of rest and TLC should do wonders for Laurie as we begin our second phase of our quest for the cure.
Well, Laurie and her doctors came to a consensus that it was time for her to go home. She was looking quite good this morning when I arrived at her room and she told me that her surgeon had stopped by earlier and said she was all set to go home to some peace, and most importantly, some quiet. The hospital is no place to get some rest. At 10:30 the other surgeon came in to check on Laurie and prescribed “home health care” which the insurance company had already said was included as part of their coverage. The waiting began. For Laurie to be released from the hospital all doctor’s orders have to be confirmed by all parties that are to be responsible for her care once released. That included the home health care. I guess the people who represent the home health care company all went home early today like so many other employees in the area. Luckily the nurses gave Laurie her pain meds around 12:30 and 4:00 which kept Laurie relatively calm while we waited for the powers that be to get their act together so we could leave. The Readers Digest version of the rest of the day is that we finally left the hospital at 5:10 this afternoon. The nurses were finally authorized to fill me in on the care that Laurie will need and we were finally on our way. At least I was spending the time with my best friend in the world; my wife!
We got home at 5:45 and the saying is true; there’s no place like home! A couple days of rest and TLC should do wonders for Laurie as we begin our second phase of our quest for the cure.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Tuesday's update
Hey there,
When I arrived at the hospital this morning Laurie told me she did not get a lot of sleep last night but did manage to catch a few hours just before dawn before the nurses and doctors made their rounds. She was glad to see me and even asked why I was so late arriving. I had stopped by the office before going to the hospital to get a replacement Blackberry because mine had died yesterday afternoon and I was going through withdrawal. Laurie had eaten some yummy hospital Jell-O for breakfast and in spite of that was obviously feeling better. She was able to get out of bed a few times today and it seemed to be a little easier for her each time. I brought the kids over to see her this afternoon and they were a bit apprehensive at first but quickly warmed up to the lady in the hospital bed as their mom. Laurie was obviously very glad to see them. Laurie enjoyed seeing several family members today and looks forward to seeing other friends and family after she has been home a couple days.
The doctors are optimistic that Laurie will be discharged tomorrow morning but Laurie will have the final word on that. The insurance company has authorized a three night stay but the doctors claim her surgery only warrants a two night stay. We’ll see how Laurie feels in the morning.
I’ll provide another update tomorrow evening. Thanks, yet again, for your continued prayers and encouragement!
When I arrived at the hospital this morning Laurie told me she did not get a lot of sleep last night but did manage to catch a few hours just before dawn before the nurses and doctors made their rounds. She was glad to see me and even asked why I was so late arriving. I had stopped by the office before going to the hospital to get a replacement Blackberry because mine had died yesterday afternoon and I was going through withdrawal. Laurie had eaten some yummy hospital Jell-O for breakfast and in spite of that was obviously feeling better. She was able to get out of bed a few times today and it seemed to be a little easier for her each time. I brought the kids over to see her this afternoon and they were a bit apprehensive at first but quickly warmed up to the lady in the hospital bed as their mom. Laurie was obviously very glad to see them. Laurie enjoyed seeing several family members today and looks forward to seeing other friends and family after she has been home a couple days.
The doctors are optimistic that Laurie will be discharged tomorrow morning but Laurie will have the final word on that. The insurance company has authorized a three night stay but the doctors claim her surgery only warrants a two night stay. We’ll see how Laurie feels in the morning.
I’ll provide another update tomorrow evening. Thanks, yet again, for your continued prayers and encouragement!
Monday, November 24, 2008
The end of a long day
Hey everyone. Sorry for the delay in posting info about Laurie. I just got home from the hospital around 10:15 tonight.
Laurie had her surgery today. It began at 1:45 and ended at 5:45. The news from the general surgeon was not what we had hoped for. He found cancer in the sentinel lymph node and removed that node as well as other lymph nodes. The reconstruction went very well according to the plastic surgeon. Both surgeons said Laurie made it through the surgeries very well and there were no other complications. She was in recovery for a couple of hours and finally made it to her room around 8:30. We talked a bit when she was not dozing and prayed for the strength and courage to beat this illness. I believe our faith, your encouragement and prayers will get us through this. I will talk more with the doctors in the morning and post an update then.
I can’t say it enough. Thanks very much for your prayers and words of encouragement and a special word of thanks to those who provided support to me today both at home and at the hospital!
Laurie had her surgery today. It began at 1:45 and ended at 5:45. The news from the general surgeon was not what we had hoped for. He found cancer in the sentinel lymph node and removed that node as well as other lymph nodes. The reconstruction went very well according to the plastic surgeon. Both surgeons said Laurie made it through the surgeries very well and there were no other complications. She was in recovery for a couple of hours and finally made it to her room around 8:30. We talked a bit when she was not dozing and prayed for the strength and courage to beat this illness. I believe our faith, your encouragement and prayers will get us through this. I will talk more with the doctors in the morning and post an update then.
I can’t say it enough. Thanks very much for your prayers and words of encouragement and a special word of thanks to those who provided support to me today both at home and at the hospital!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Surgery schedule
Laurie's surgery will be Monday, November 24th at Fairfax Hospital at 1:30. The surgery is supposed to last approximately 3 hours. I will update late tomorrow night. Continued prayers appreciated!
The Wagner Family Update
We are overwhelmed and humbled by the tremendous amount of support and prayer that has already been shared by so many people since we first learned of Laurie’s illness. This blog has been created to inform family, friends, neighbors, our church family, and work colleagues of Laurie's healing progress. We will be posting regular updates so that you can monitor her progress and send her notes of encouragement and support.
An online calendar is being developed by our dear neighbors, Martha and Brian Roherty, to help in the coordination of the scheduling and delivery of meals. In order to be helpful to the family, we are requesting that the meals be dropped off at the Roherty's home, 13030 Monroe Manor Drive, Oak Hill, VA which is conveniently located next door to the Wagner’s. Brian Roherty is home during the day to help facilitate the drop-off of the meals.
The offers of support have been so numerous that we think it might be best if we assign nights for each of the various groups that have offered. We have randomly assigned the following order to begin on November 30th.
Sunday night - Church Family Members
Tuesday night - Floris Elementary School
Thursday night - Oak Hill ElementarySchool
Saturday night - Neighbors
We anticipate that this support will only be needed until December 21st for this first phase. Once we begin phase two we may need additional support.Please feel free to contact Brian Roherty roherty@verizon.net at 703-481-9361 or 202-251-3840 or Martha Roherty at mroherty@nasua.org 202-320-7419 if you have any questions.
Once again, we will update this blog as new information becomes available. In the mean time, we appreciate your continued prayers and support.
An online calendar is being developed by our dear neighbors, Martha and Brian Roherty, to help in the coordination of the scheduling and delivery of meals. In order to be helpful to the family, we are requesting that the meals be dropped off at the Roherty's home, 13030 Monroe Manor Drive, Oak Hill, VA which is conveniently located next door to the Wagner’s. Brian Roherty is home during the day to help facilitate the drop-off of the meals.
The offers of support have been so numerous that we think it might be best if we assign nights for each of the various groups that have offered. We have randomly assigned the following order to begin on November 30th.
Sunday night - Church Family Members
Tuesday night - Floris Elementary School
Thursday night - Oak Hill ElementarySchool
Saturday night - Neighbors
We anticipate that this support will only be needed until December 21st for this first phase. Once we begin phase two we may need additional support.Please feel free to contact Brian Roherty roherty@verizon.net at 703-481-9361 or 202-251-3840 or Martha Roherty at mroherty@nasua.org 202-320-7419 if you have any questions.
Once again, we will update this blog as new information becomes available. In the mean time, we appreciate your continued prayers and support.
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