My new fun challenge was drinking actually. The diet is luke warm clear liquids so that was the word the week after. “Lukewarm” became my new favorite word, as everything I consumed had to be clear (not actually just scientifically and at the right temperature. Mouthwash was my chica, new four-times-a-day baby! Minty fresh indeed. My mom truly deserves the title of Nutrition God. She transformed those protein shakes into a nutritional science project, creating 700-calorie shakes twice a day, supplemented by broth and other high-calorie clear drinks throughout the day. We all found it humorous how challenging it was to find high-calorie options; normally, it’s the other way around! But my mom and aunt were on a mission, and their dedication to keeping my nutrition on track was truly amazing. They really got it down to a science.
Rochester – it’s a town where everything revolves around the Mayo Clinic, and for good reason! This place is captivating. The Mayo Clinic itself is legendary, with a rich history built on the Mayo brothers’ philosophy of exceptional patient care. Its kind of interesting how it’s a landmark in a way.
We explored, got coffee, Target, Costco, and just enjoyed the simple pleasures – porch time with Zac Brown, maybe even some reckless cart cruising at the store (I got to drive the motorized carts because walking long distances was exhausting!) and thrifting. My mom found her dream cup! It felt like things were slowly getting back to normal. The people in Rochester are awesome, laid-back and cool. This city has a unique charm, and I’m totally loving it!
There were a lot of appointments to attend, but there were also many gratifying moments along the way. While recovery was progressing well and all the pathology reports showed clear margins and lymph nodes, based on the original scans showing some concerning discoloration in the nerves, the doctors recommended proton radiation now as the best course of action. I kind of expected this in the beginning because this was mentioned but I accidentally had gotten overally optimistic that my surgeon could work miracles. Unfortunately she couldn’t do anything about the nerve. This news was unexpected after that for my grandma and I at least, but I’m determined to tackle this next step head-on. I’m back home recovering the best I can, until I can make radiation my next bitch.
Lets do this- thanks for reading and being there!
Kam
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