hi all...

i read all your responses to august when she posted for me a few weeks ago and want to thank all of you! your well wishes and prayers mean a lot to us. it is so great and i tell everyone what a relief it is to know i am not alone. all went fine (or as fine as it could have) and taking everything since the maxillectomy one day at a time. in some ways things were better than i anticipated, some a little harder. at 3 weeks since the maxillectomy, i am talking great, looking really practically normal and getting around and about. not able to eat solids yet though but working on it. the first week and 1/2 were the roughest. today, physically doing super well, emotionally tougher but i know on my way, it will just take time. my family and husband were and continue to be a tremendous help. the boys too came thru great. ben (my 7 year old) had a horrible time beforehand and then couldn't look at me for 4 days afterward, but now back to normal. sam turned 5 the day i got home and luckily didn't get any of it. could not get outta the hosp. fast enough and even though i certainly couldn't sing, i got to see him blow out his candles (maybe the not singing thing may have been a plus, lol!)

unfortunately - i found out at my post-op this past wednesday that they did not get a clean margin. though i am sure most of you know, since tumor is in the bone, pathology was after the fact. very close, but not close enough. pretty devastating, but as we all know, have to get every last cell outta there and it is better now than later. will be taking some more jaw and another molar tomorrow. i knew the risk but as always these days with this tumor (ameloblastoma) still so shocked. so off to surgery again tomorrow morning and all the parents are presently on their way back to philly for round #2. please keep us in your thoughts and will keep you updated. i am sure this time won't be nearly as traumatic as the first one 3 weeks ago. a set-back for sure but will deal. may be breaking me a little, but forever grateful it cannot do anything more than that...

marieka