Your whipple surgery to Kat

[Guest guest]

Kat,

I'm glad that your conversation with the nurse was so reassuring - and

it's great to know that she's taken a personal interest in your care

afterward....that's cool. Many people have had so much success from

their Whipple's, Cecelia is one, and I've been hoping for the same

success story for you. When, again, is your surgery date? So many

people are having surgery in the upcoming weeks that I have trouble

keeping all the dates straight.....my memory is showing my age, for sure!

How nice of you to ask about me. I've been trying to deal with my

concern over 's departure next week for Iraq. I've tried to be

strong and supportive about it, both with him and our grandson, but

the mother inside of me spends many hours brooding as I experience

conflicting emotional reactions. After having two husbands in the

military and an adulthood which understood the military way of life,

duty and sacrifice for country, I feel quilty for my inability to

accept his assignment with a stiff upper lip as we're supposed to.

I've never felt this way before during any of my husband's tours

overseas during one conflict or another, or 's flights into

Afganistan in the years past. So, I still need to come to grip with

this, then lock the mother's heartache away in a closet

someplace.....and get on with life.

Austin wants to put a yellow ribbon around our old live oak tree in

the front yard. We had seen so many ribbons when traveling up north

in New York last year, that Austin had asked me then what they were

for. I don't know why you don't see them around here in the south,

but we haven't, and he asked if it was okay if we put one on our tree

- to be taken down when his dad returned home safely.

A 16 year old that drives like a maniac.....don't know if I've ever

seen one of those....lol!! I held my breath when each one of ours

left the house after getting their license's....yikes, how I'd worry!

The boys all had their share of minor fender bender's during their

teens, just enough to keep our insurance premiums higher than our

mortgage, but no injuries, thank goodness! It wasn't until they were

in their 20's and on their own until two of them were in accidents

that totalled their cars.... Once they had to buy their own cars and

pay the premiums themselves their driving habits became much more

sedate...lol! Hopefully your daughter will slow down a little and

learn to be less of a maniac before your hair turns grey from worry!

I didn't realize that my email address wasn't visible, so I've added

it to my signature. Take care of yourself, pending surgery, and get

back to me with your surgery date, hospital address, etc.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

hhessgriffeth@...

www.pancassociation.org/anthology#Heidi.html

SC State & SE Regional Representative

Pancreatitis Association, International

Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or

opinion only, and should not be substituted for professional medical

consultation.