Cody Updates by Mom

Hi all. We are home but wanted to give a quick update on our hospital stay and where we are at with healing and eating.

Before we talk about an update – Having a TG or Total Gastrectomy is identified as being a Sea Horse. Sea Horses do not have stomachs. Cody and I are partial to the Platypus, which also doesn’t have a stomach. Feels more like us, lol: odd, scary, deadly (to things like cancer) and not like any other creature. TEAM PLATYPUS!!

To get discharged, Cody had to show that he could get around walking (with help) and also eating. Eating is always the hardest part of healing from this surgery. Finally, on Sunday, Cody was able to have food for two meals in a row. This is what allowed us to get out of there. We will get results of all of the lymph nodes and stomach sectioning sometime this week. We will know next steps after those results are in.

We are now at our place in Cottage Grove and things are going well. Cody is eating well, taking his meds, hydrating and ensuring that he is walking. Luckily our house, basically, has a square in it that he can walk around.

I do want to take a minute for a few Thank You’s.

First – Thank you to the Hansen clan for spending time with both Cody and I in the hospital. It was wonderful to have a break. Cody loves his personal penguin. The nurses named her Angelica. Goes well with his stuffed stomach that they named Frank. We cannot thank you and your folks enough for stopping by. It was a welcome distraction and laughs that needed to happen.

Second – I want to thank Shim and my team/bosses. Shim works for me. He is also a classically trained chef. When he heard that I was going to spin up some Dinty Moore Beef Stew in the Ninja for food, he was, well, a bit offended. He then pulled in my team and bosses to make up some chef-made soups that he then pureed and sent to us from the East Coast. I am humbled by the amazing gesture of care for my family. My team is my work family, and this is so amazing.

Soups: Don’t’ these soups sound freaking amazing!!! I may be stealing a taste or two when I am prepping Cody’s food.

• Mexican chicken
• Mushroom Chicken
• Chili
• Italian squash
• Ham & Roasted Pineapple
• Potato Bacon & Leek
• Thai Beef
• Seafood Bisque
• French Onion Steak
• Sausage & Kale

Lastly – Thank you all for the prayers and well wishes. We are so blessed.

Now that we are home, we are working to get into a good routine so I can work, be nurse and mom. If you want to visit, please let me know.