Gratitude For My Life

After Four Surgeries Relating to My Oral Cancer.

Welcome to Denyse Whelan.

This site was called Denyse Whelan Writes Here and I decided this week to return to my name only…and of course, I do write here which is why ‘writes here’ remains in the banner.

Gratitude For My Life…after my four surgeries related to my (rare) oral cancer diagnosis in May 2017.

Last week I wrote, at length, about the trauma of my oral cancer diagnosis and what happened around anticipation of surgeries and more. Thanks for reading.

Now to the ‘more positive and uplifting’ sharing…even though some of what I still had to endure was pretty tough.

I’m going to use groups of photos which I believe help share the messages of gratitude…and now I come to think of it…growth within me.

Are you ready?

Let’s go.

After the first 11 hour surgery. Cancer removal and mouth reconstruction from parts of my leg. 2 Theatres were used, and 25 people made up two teams: one for mouth and other for leg. And my prosthodonist was waiting ready for the placement of the ‘screw holes’ into the bone from my leg…see image further on.

I had 3 subsequent day surgeries (Nov 2017, Feb 2018, May 2018) related to allow the mouth to settle and be ready for, the eventually addition of the ‘upper prosthesis of teeth. Vestibuloplasty.

Woke and could TALK (kind of) so that meant no tracheostomy and I was in ICU for minimum time of 3 nights. I was OK as I could be…and B visited. My request was no visitors as I did not want the ‘conversation burden’ given what my prognosis was.

First Days in ICU & Into The Week in Private Room

Time to go home…but first, the speech pathologist need to see if my reconstruction has sealed everywhere so I can swallow. I could…and I could TALK (of course I could) I hated being tube fed but it was necessary. By 2nd last day in hospital I had soft food, soup etc…and my, that was goooood.

It was one HUGE experience for sure.

About eating…that event I missed for 8 days or more. Once I could eat (soft foods) it was up to me to select. Not much to choose from but oh so grateful to have a semblance of control and the dreaded naso gastric tube removed. Once I gave these foods a go, I actually sent B (my husband) some photos so he might have a few things at hand once I was home. Oh how we learned from that time. I was also offered drinks like Ensure but full of milky stuff I did not fancy and my G.P. (and the hospital dietitian eventually agreed) said “Denyse, eat what you can and try to make some of it nutritious”.

Yes I had a great view of Sydney from my hospital room BUT there was no better view than B taking my bag, then getting into the car and driving HOME via the Harbour Bridge.

Oh and the other instruction…”we don’t want you to lose weight!” Keeping weight on helps the body healing after the kind of surgery I had but this “diet type” personality in me found that “strange and amusing”.

Some of my food creativity. Only 8 teeth & a tongue to help me eat & a very small mouth space....

The days were long..nights too and I was hungry …a lot. My G.P. was fantastic - a phone call away and said because of a very empty gut for over 8 days, a strong anti biotic, diarrhoea was the sad outcome. This did not help much other than to allow time to pass. And I have always asked about anti-biotics since that day.

At home my mouth did not need anything other than time…and to ensure it was OK. I had no idea what that would be but we trusted the Prof (and the G.P. who I could ask to have a look)…and the parts of my leg were “settling nicely”. Had a check back at the hospital 3 weeks after surgery and was given an all clear to try eating as I can.

I had NO idea it would be 3 MORE reconstructive surgeries and 14 months before any top teeth could be added…that is for another time if I decide to write more.

The right leg needed nursing care every few days and mostly that went well. I did have one nurse who was rude and we asked for her not to return. By the 5th week or so a ‘permanent’ care nurse came and we loved her. Her final visit was on Father’s Day.

Learned to adapt my recipes. My "reconstructed mouth". First drive in car and gratitude for people who cared.

I had the most wonderful professional people who cared for and about me during the 6 plus years it took for a diagnosis and then over 5+ years as a cancer patient…and since then my upper prosthesis gets checked through the year. I call these people “Team Denyse”

My dentist, My Surgeon and Nurse, My prosthodontist.

Last but never least is of course I needed the love, care and attention of family and friends. I got this in spades and I am always grateful.

I found a video from February 2018 with me talking…and I did daily selfies too, along with dressing with purpose as it gave me a focus each day once I was independent. I was NEVER self conscious about my surgery and always PROUD of how I managed

things then and so very pleased with the outcome of pathology of my cancer which did not require any other treatments. Phew.

And that’s it folks.

It’s been an ‘interesting time’ for me remembering it all…and of course I remain in awe of those who care for us and can create ways of living well which take a part of your body and put it elsewhere.

I am very grateful for my body’s healing capacity and recovery always.

AND with that, this is the final post for me about the oral cancer. THANK YOU readers for your patience and kindness as I used my memories and words (and pics!) to better acknowledge my trauma and life experience.

And big thanks to B. Taken this week.

Take care,

Denyse.

I am linking up with Min and friends too here for WWWhimsy and am grateful for that kind place in the world of blogging.