Monday, December 22, 2008

Where's Waldo?

Do you see my suitcase?  Me neither...  This is the scene at baggage claim at Seatac airport.
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Sent from my Blackberry

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Update on my Face

Just a quick update on my surgery: Results came back that all growths were benign. Phew! I got my stiches out last Friday and the doc says all is healing well. Swelling is down, feeling is slowly coming back. The worst part is that now it hurts more..but that's technically a good thing. I'm getting more strength back in my face too, still can't pull the corner of my mouth down, but when I smile it doesn't tug that corner up quite as high. And I can almost drink from a straw from the middle of my mouth!!

Thanks for everyone's well wishes, I appreciate the positive vibes!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Quick Update on Scar Face..I mean, Me!

So, for those that weren't aware, I had surgery last Friday. There was a reoccurance of a tumor in my parotid (aka salivary) gland below my right ear, sort of tucked behind my jaw. The surgeons found a series of small growths along my facial nerve, and had to carefully hack around my nerve for the better part of 4 hours. Not ideal. I'm doing pretty well all considered. The facial nerve is weak, put expected to recover over the next 2-3 weeks. Above you see me trying to smile. The right half of my mouth just doesn't want to cooperate. I can feel it, I just can't move it!! But the eye closes (thank God!!) and no one can tell that my right nostril won't flare with the same enthusiasm as my left... so overall I'm not complaining. I just wish I'd stop biting my lip while eating my toast!

Warning: Graphic image below, not for the weak of stomach.....

Here's what the sutures look like, and my drain. That bloody looking tube really is coming from inside my neck! it has a small plastic bulb on the other end that sucks out all the liquid my body is trying to throw at the site of the surgery. It's out now..only had that attractive accessory in over the weekend thankfully! The stitches get taken out tomorrow, and then it's back to the gym.. Well, I've already been back, but no one is supposed to know..

That's it for now..later skaters..