Small Setback

Mary Jo Burns

Mary Jo is doing fine today after being treated today by her reconstructive plastic surgeon, Dr Jacqueline Luong in her Edina office.  Mary Jo had been experiencing some pain and swelling caused by the pooling of fluids on her left side after having the JP drain tube removed following her latissimus flap surgery.  Dr Luong numbed the site before using a long needle to suction out approximately 50cc's of excess fluid.  She said this is a fairly common complication and she does not want Mary Jo to be alarmed if it is necessary to repeat the procedure next week if the swelling and pooling of fluid continues.  Mary Jo says it feels much better with the fluid removed but is hoping to not have to endure the procedure again.  Because of the pain and swelling, unfortunately Mary Jo and I were not able to walk in last weekends Susan G. Komen "Race for the Cure" walk/run at MOA.  I understand the event was a huge success and raised lots of money and with all the media attention, good awareness for the breast cancer programs that the Susan G. Komen organization supports.  We are hoping that the swelling does not return and Mary Jo and I can join a group of friends this weekend for the Get Your Rear in Gear Colon Cancer walk at Southdale.  We lost a dear friend, Jon Holmes to colon cancer last May 19th and we would like to be there to walk with the Holmes family this weekend in support of Jon's family and all the survivors.  Mary Jo's mother, Diane is a colon cancer survivor and we very happy to have Diane on our team called "Jon's Poop Troup".  Hope to see everyone this weekend at Southdale for the walk.

syringe used to draw out the excess fluid (ouch)

Making Progress

Mary Jo had her post op follow up visit at her surgeons office yesterday in Edina.  Dr Luong's surgical nurse trimmed a few of the long sutures on Mary Jo's back incision and removed the J.P. drain from Mary Jo's left side.  Mary Jo said "the removal was a little uncomfortable at first but it feels so much better not having that long plastic tube coming out of your side".  Mary Jo is now able to manage the post op pain with over the counter Ibuprofen and is moving around pretty good.  We had planned on walking in the annual Susan G. Komen "Race For The Cure" 5k on Mothers Day but we feel it is just too soon after the surgery for Mary Jo.  We do plan to show up at MOA and support the walkers and runners, but we are going to have to put the walking part on hold this year.  It's a great event and I would highly recommend you check it out if you can.  Here is a short video I made from last years event.

Going Home Day

Mary Jo being escorted to the car by the little old volunteer ladies

Mary Jo came home from the hospital this afternoon and is resting at home.  The main goal for now is pain control.  Dr Luong told me the procedure went well.  There does not seem to be any post op complications except Mary Jo was sweating from the top of her head all last night.  Very strange because that never had happened to her and the doctors could not give us a solid explanation, only to say it could be a number of things but likely the side effect of numerous medications and pain killers.  Mary Jo has one JP drain tube device exiting her left side below her breast, a five inch or so incision on her back going from her arm pit to about mid back and a simular size elliptical shaped scar on her left breast from the transplanted muscle and skin tissue from her back which replaced the reconstructed, damaged, radiated skin tissue.  The scars look very painful but the plastic surgeon did a wonderful job and the should flatten out well in the months ahead. 

Mary Jo resting just before being discharged today from Fairview Ridges Hospital

Mary Jo is a tough girl and we understand life has setbacks and hopefully we can learn and grow stronger.  We feel very blessed to have so much support from of family and friends and I thank God that this setback was not a life threatening cancer related bout.  Amen.

Surgery Update

The surgeon just came out to the waiting area to brief me that the surgury is finished.  Dr Luong said the proceedure went well and Mary Jo has been moved to the recovery area where she will be monitored for about two hours before she is transfered to her hospital room.  Dr Luong will stop by later this evening or first thing in the morning to check on Mary Jo.

Surgery Day Running Late

Mary Jo is in good spirits for her surgery today.  The surgery was scheduled to begin at 1:05pm but the plastic surgeon, Dr Luong is running behind in the O.R. so Mary Jo was actually wheeled into O.R. at 2:10pm.  The procedure is expected to take about two and a half hours followed by about an hour or so in post op recovery.  The surgeon will be coming out to talk to me after she has finished.  I will update the blog in a few hours.