Thursday Mid-Day Update

MK is doing well today. Last night was smooth with the exception of the constant interruption of the nursing staff. We know it is required and we appreciate the sincere care. Today MK has been resting comfortably. We have been well cared for by the Dr.'s, residents, interns, nurses, and our private nursing student. UAB is a top notch facility. We have been very impressed. -Bradley

MK is in a Room!

We have just gotten MK settled into a room (room 7219). We are in the Women and Infant Center located on 8th ave and 18th Street. If you pull to the main entrance you can use the free valet parking (regular parking fees apply). Proceed to main desk on 1st floor to check in and get a visitor badge. Then just take elevator to 7th floor and use intercom to gain access to patient rooms

Surgery Is Over!!!

SUCCESS!!!!! Dr. Estes said surgery went GREAT!!! He said while she had severe endometriosis, he believes he was able to get most all of it. He completed a total hysterectomy (ovaries, uterus, cervix, and tubes) but didn't have to resect the bowels or intestines. She is expected to remain in post-op for another hour or two then we wil be transferred to Women and Infant Center. We will be on floor 7 but don't know a room number. Discharge looks like Saturday or Sunday. I have full confidence that God has worked though this UAB staff and MK is on her way to reclaiming a healthy life. Thank you to each and everyone for the continued thoughts and prayers. I am just elated with the positive response we believe MK has had. -Bradley

Finally Surgery Begins

At 11:10am, MK was finally taken back to surgery. Dr. Estes is very positive regarding the expectation of the outcome In our present location, I have very limited cell phone service, so I apologies for the limited updates. Bradley

Waiting For The Fun To Begin

After a sleepless night, we arrived at UAB just before 5am. We had been instructed that this was MK's time for admission. After waiting more than an hour, MK was registered. Now it is 7:15am and she just got called back for surgery prep. Hopefully soon the "fun" will begin. Bradley

"Bless Her Heart, She is so Young" (Surgery Scheduled)

“Bless her heart, she is so young.” This is the response that I get when I tell family, friends, and others that my 27 year old wife is having a total hysterectomy this Wednesday. After 5 difficult surgeries, it has been determined that Mary Kathryn’s reproductive system is causing too much discomfort and trauma to her body. Furthermore, it was discovered in December that her ovaries were functioning like a 40 year olds. Even with an oophorectomy (removing just the ovaries), the chances of having a successful egg donor transfer and carrying a pregnancy to term are very slim. We also have concerns that leaving any part of her reproductive system would lead to future cancer.

MK has given a lot of thought and prayer into this decision. If I tell you it has been difficult for her, I would be understating things. MK is very strong, but she is giving up the part of her body that is the very symbol of a woman. She is doing this so that she will finally return to good health after 2 years. She is also preparing to care for the child God has provided for us through a future adoption. She calls me daily in tears telling me that she can’t do it. She knows very well that God has a plan for us and that we will have a family, but it really hurts her knowing that this surgery will be the “final” surgery and will unfortunately eliminate any future chances of becoming pregnant. MK is very strong in the fact that she can even make this decision but greatly needs everyone’s support. She very much needs everyone’s understanding of the emotional and physical side effects of the hysterectomy.

The surgery will be performed at UAB’s brand new and beautiful Women and Infant Center by a specialized Gynecology/Onocologist. Why an Onocologist? MK’s disease, endometerosis, grows and spread in a similar fashion to cancer. Her doctor has the expertise to perform very detailed surgeries of this nature. This surgery will be considered a major surgery and will require at least 3-4 days in the hospital. Depending on how wide spread the disease has become, the doctor may have to rebuild parts of MK’s large intestine. In this event, her hospitalization would be doubled.

Please keep Mary Kathryn, our team of doctors and nurses at UAB, and myself in your thoughts and prayers. We are set to arrive at UAB this Wednesday (1/25/12) around 6am with surgery hopefully beginning around 9am and last several hours. I will try to keep everyone up to date via the blog, email, text, or phone calls. Thank you so much for your love and support. We could not continue our journey without it.

-Bradley

"When God Closes One Door He opens Another"

I'm sorry that we have not posted in awhile, but not much has been going on until this week. After I recovered from my last surgery I went back to see my fertility doctor. She told me that my ovaries were not functioning and that I had another cyst. She said that our only option left for me to get pregnant was egg donation.

After that day I felt like my doctor had done everything that she possibly could for me. I decided to get a third opinion from the infertility department at UAB. I was very surprised when I called to make an appointment and they said we can get you in tomorrow. I thought to myself "It's got to be meant to be." I was so glad that Bradley was able to go with me. As we sat in the exam room waiting on the doctor to come in I kept telling Bradley that I was so nervous. Now, If you know me then you know that I competed in Miss Alabama for several years. I competed during the time that Deidre Downs won Miss America. Let's just say that she was my role model and I looked up to her for years and still do. I knew that Deidre had just graduated from medical school and that she was doing her residency in OBGYN.

All of the sudden the door opened and Deidre walked in. I was speechless. She told me that she was doing a rotation with Dr. McLaren. After everything that I have been through I couldn't have been happier to see a familiar face. I immediately relaxed because I knew I was in good hands. So at this point I knew that God had sent me to UAB for a reason. I later got to meet Dr. McLaren and she was wonderful. She did some lab work and wanted to see me back in a week.

I went back to see Dr. McLaren on Monday and again the news was not was I was hoping for. Again, I was so nervous about hearing the results. She told me that based on test that she did my ovaries are not functioning and from the looks of my pelvic area she doesn't think that I will be able to carry a baby to term. As I sat there and cried I knew what was next. It broke my heart, but I looked at her and said "it's time to move on...I'm ready for a hysterectomy." She said that she honestly thought that it was the best way to stopping my pain.

She said that this surgery is going to be major and that she wants to do it within the next month.  I'm nervous and scared, but I know I'm in good hands. I'm going to have an endocrinologist, OBGYN and an oncologist performing my surgery. I have been to three doctors now and they have all said the same thing. I have been devastated since Monday, but in a way I'm relieved because I want have to worry anymore.

We are going to start the adoption process after my surgery. Right now, I'm extremely sad because I don't understand, but I know that years down the road I am going to thank God for the precious child that he is going to give us.

Please keep us in your prayers as this is just as hard on Bradley as it is on me.

God has closed this door and I know that he is about to open another.

Mary Kathryn