A great first check-up!!!

My first 3-month check up went really well on Friday! It was great to see my nurse, Angela and Dr. Litton. She examined my entire body and basically went through a list of persistent symptoms that I could be having, and nothing worried her. She completely agreed with Dr. Villa that the spot under my left breast was the expander and that was definitely a relief. It is so weird when you know longer have your own breasts anymore and really have no clue what anything is supposed to feel like. I have this foreign plastic thing in my body and am supposed to let the doctors know if I feel anything weird…um that would be everything!!!! Haha. But I was so, so thankful that it did not concern her at all. My body completely relaxed.

I told her about the clicking in my chest that I told you all about, and she confirmed what my physical therapist thought it was- something with my ribs. Dr. Litton said that it is very common with mastectomies and reconstruction, and especially radiation, for ribs to be pushed out of place and even broken. So, I’m not sure if some of my ribs are broken or just pushed out of place, but they should heal themselves regardless and I felt MUCH better after hearing that was common. It already feels much better and is not clicking nearly as much as it was. The things that one might typically push aside as "nothing" are on super high sensitivity for me. 

After she got done examining me and going through the typical “symptom” questions, we asked her many questions about how our future appointments with her will look. I will continue to see Dr. Litton every 3 months for 2 more years, and then it will move to every 6 months. I have still yet to have a body scan, and I've learned that is a good thing! It still seems weird to me to not have a body scan, but once you are deemed cancer free at MD Anderson, routine scans are not performed. Scans are only performed if you are having a persistent worrisome symptom. We asked Dr. Litton why this is the case because I have had several breast cancer friends have clear PET scans and Cat Scans and I want my turn to say mine is clearJ!!! She explained to us why this is the case, and it is somewhat scary to think about. She said that if a routine scan caught something really early that spread to an organ, the chances of survival are no different than when doing a scan when a symptom comes up. More harm can be done through the radiation that scans give, rather than only doing scans with a symptom, which I will never have to do in Jesus’ name. 

Dr. Litton was very positive and kept reiterating how she hoped and expected to never have to do a scan caused by a symptom. She reminded us that the only time she does any type of scan not caused by a symptom is before getting pregnant. So, we agreed that we would have my first scan next year around this time before we started trying for a babyJ. We left feeling very positive and thankful to God that he gave us such a great first visit. We greatly miss Dr. Morrow, but we are thankful to have Dr. Litton who remains positive with us and joins with us in the hope for a family.

Psalm 128 "How joyful are those who fear the Lord- all who follow his ways! You will enjoy the fruit of your labor.  How joyful and prosperous you will be! Your wife will be like a grapevine, flourishing within your home. Your children will be like vigorous young olive tress as they sit around your table. That is the Lord's blessing for those who fear Him. May the Lord continually bless you from Zion. May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live. May you live to enjoy your grandchildren. May Israel have peace!"

We are striving to fear the Lord and follow ALL of his ways. Not only for his benefits, but we are believing we will be joyful, prosperous, have children who sit around our table, and grandchildren. And peace! I am so thankful for God's word.

We were supposed to go to the beach with my family the week of my unexpected lattisimus dorsi surgery, and of course missed that trip, so we made a last minute decision to go to the beach this past week. We had such a wonderful time and were able to relax and rest. We both spent some good, much needed time with the Lord, and resting in Him. The Stanfills were actually at the beach at the same time we were, and we hung out with them some while we were there. We joked that they just can’t get away from us, even when we aren’t crashing their house in Houston. My mom came and met us on the last day too and we had a great day on the beach together. I love my man, my mom, and my Houston family!

On the first night of the beach trip, I noticed a small spot on my left breast (the radiated side) where my expander was somewhat poking out. It looked much like what my right expander looked like in the beginning stages of the expander becoming exposed. I showed Josh and he agreed with me. We both spent the majority of the week praying and seeking the Lord, asking Him to heal this spot. To supernaturally touch it and for it to be healed. We have trusted him completely and know he will heal me whether it be through surgery or that it will just heal up on its own. It continued to get slightly worse each day of the trip, and we have just continued to pray and trust. I emailed my P.A., Alisha, and she told me that she would see me today, Thursday, and we would evaluate it then. Dr. Villa is out of town and will be back on Monday.

Well, we saw Alisha today and she feels like the exposure of the expander is imminent. She told us today that she thought it was imminent ever since seeing it after radiation. She made a tentative plan, pending Dr. Villa’s approval (since he is out of town and will have to agree with her on this). She has planned for me to have the lattisimus dorsi surgery on my left side on this upcoming Wednesday, August, 22. I will see Dr. Villa on Tuesday to confirm or deny that, although she feels like he will agree. They typically do not like doing any form of reconstructive surgery this soon after radiation, but with  a “complication” like mine, they really don’t have much of a choice.

We asked her many questions about why it is more risky to do this type of surgery soon after radiation and she said it is simply because the skin hasn’t had time to heal yet. I love Alisha. She is so blunt and to the point, but in a super sweet way.  She said, “Your skin was burnt alive every day for 6 weeks. Your immune system is probably still affected from chemotherapy. Your body has been through the ringer and to have another surgery is a lot.” She spent an hour with us today answering our questions, laughing with us. I really feel like outside of the doctor’s office we would be friends. She is awesome.

Alisha explained that most of the risks come in with wound healing. So, if I have the surgery on Wednesday, we need to pray that it is successful, as painless as possible, and that there are no complications whatsoever! Before I left, Alisha put some special cream on my spot and covered it and we won’t look at it again until I see Dr. Villa on Tuesday.

If the surgery has to happen, I have complete peace about it. Josh and I have prayed this week for our faith to increase and we have come to Him in faith for me to be healed and whole- from cancer, from expanders failing, from sickness, from wound healing, from everything. Once you have cancer---or maybe not everyone is like this. Let me rephrase- once I have had cancer, everything else pails in comparison.  Especially over these last few weeks, anything other than cancer doesn’t feel like that big of a deal. Don’t get me wrong, I know this possible surgery is a huge deal, but it isn’t life pending and I will be absolutely fine. Perspective is an amazing thing.

So, Josh and I are on our way back to West Monroe and will head back to Houston on Monday afternoon. After over 10 months of driving back and forth to Houston pretty much weekly, we are tired of driving!!! I think we are about to invest in some books on tape and some other entertainment to help the time pass by. Up until now, it really hasn’t been too bad, but the last couple of drives have seemed long. I am still so thankful we have the option of driving. Even when I wish I could snap my finger and be there, I run into people from other countries or someone from New York that has to fly in, and I am put in my place once again. There is that perspective again!

School and work were supposed to start up for me on Monday, but obviously God had other plans. I plan to stop by work and school on Monday to get a few things in line before we leave to head to Houston on Monday afternoon. I will meet with Dr. Villa on Tuesday. If I end up having surgery on Wednesday, I will probably be out of commission for another 2 weeks. Of course this setback has had us scared and frustrated, but we are trusting the One who sees the whole picture and he holds His world in our hands. He cries with us and He rejoices with us. We are blessed because we mourn. He loves us more than we could ever know or imagine. 

Zeph. 3:17 "For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."

Matthew 5:4 "God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

Oh, and I almost forgot, I got a drain out today and just have one left. Hallelujah! Hopefully it will be ready to come out on Tuesday. If I have surgery on Wednesday, I will have 4 more drains on the left side. I know more about drains than I ever cared to know. I am thankful for them though, because without them, I would be having some major problems. It is amazing how God has equipped doctors and medical field with wisdom in surgeries of how things can be done. The human body is amazing! I know I have said that I can’t understand how someone could go through cancer without depending on God… I feel the same way about seeing what all the human body is capable of and how people can believe there is no God. I pray others won’t have to go through what I’ve been through, but it seems impossible to me to see what your body can do and not see the very divine nature of our Father.

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13

Ok, wow, I’ve written a lot and you are probably tired of reading. I can ramble on and on...if you didn't already know:) Last part- I got expanded today on my right side and that went great. It is looking really well. I got deflated on the left side to see if deflating would help slow down or stop the exposure process. We are both tired of my body being manipulated, but we know the Lord is being glorified through my suffering and healing process. He is sovereign and worthy of praise.

Here are some pictures from the beach this week. We had such a wonderful time. Please, please pray for me and I will update you all on Tuesday after my visit with Dr. Villa. We have been shaken with all of these "complications", but we will not be moved. We stand and depend on the one who never changes. We love you all!

After dinner one night with the bay behind us.

Glad to eat dinner with my mom!

Ms. Tammy, Audrey, Erin, Aly, Josh and my mom

This was me at the beach modeling my drains. Early practice at looking somewhat pregnant:)

1st 3 month check up on Friday

Hey guys,

My post- op check up went well on Thursday and everything seems to be looking really well from surgery. I got 2 of my four drains out and that felt much better to get out. My other 2 are draining well, but still not ready, so hopefully they will be out soon. It really is feeling great on my right side. Not anything close to what I expected it to feel like, so I am so, so thankful.

More of the issues come in right now with my left side in regards to reconstruction. The skin is very tight and somewhat immobile from radiation and they are scared that what happened on the right will happen on the left. Their thinking is ,"if problems happened on the non-radiated side, problems will most likely occur on the radiated side." Because of these concerns, they are just somewhat watching and waiting.

I thought I would get expanded on the left side last week, but they are just being super conservative and cautious, so I did not get expanded. It looks like the lat-flap surgery will happen eventually on that side as well...we just don't know when it will happen. It may happen sooner than 6 months if there are problems. It may happen with an expander if we can't expand before the surgery. If we are able to expand before surgery...we may do the lat flap surgery with an implant...It may happen soon or it may be a while...there are just so many options that just simply depend on how my skin and tissue responds on the left side. I really don't even know what I want. The one thing I do know is that God is worthy to be praised and worthy to be trusted. I thought I knew the best thing for me, and to me, that was not having the lat flap surgery. Thus far, it hasn't been too bad and I have super healthy tissue, skin, and will eventually have a more natural looking breast. God knew what was best for me, when I really had no clue. So, I can kind of waste my time thinking of all the things I want. I am praying above all that I am cancer free FOREVER, and I am trusting that is his will for me. Of course I want to look great and somewhat like my old self, and he knows the desires of my heart. I am trusting him to give me those desires in whatever way he sees fit. He has proved himself faithful over and over and over again!

Psalm 37:4 "Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires."

I am having some pain/discomfort on a part of my left breast that I was concerned about at last week's appointment. It felt sort of lumpish, but I was trusting that it was part of my expander, and that is just what it was. My plastic surgeon and the P.A. felt it and said that that was where expander was sutured and it is OH SO SORE! To barely push it can feel excruciating. I'm not sure why it is so sore, but it is. I think it may be putting pressure of some of my ribs, because I have had some "clicking" when I take really deep breaths and it is right where the expander is so sore. Please pray that this goes away!

I have started physical therapy here in West Monroe and it is going really well. I am getting much movement on my right side after this surgery and my left arm range of motion is getting better too. Before this last surgery, I was favoring my right side so much because I had much more limited movement on the left. Well, now that I had surgery on my right side, it has made me use my left side more, which has been a blessing for sure. I had been scared to move my right arm and back after surgery and going through this physical therapy has made me feel much more comfortable in moving it and stretching it. I will continue going to physical therapy 3 times a week until I have reached my goals.

I will see my plastic surgeon on the 16th of August to re-evaluate what we think we will do on the left side. I am trusting that God's perfect plan will play out as I obey him and stay close to his word.

The huge, big, major milestone coming up happens tomorrow! I have my first ever, 3 month oncology check up. I have been giving my anxiety over to the Lord in my mind, but my body is not quite caught up with my mind just yet. My stomach has been in knots this week as I come to this appointment. Instead of looking at 4 more years, or 1 more year, I have chosen to go from milestone to milestone. And for me, that is every 3 months for the next year. So, I am going from 3 months to 3 months, and that's tomorrow. The last time I saw my oncologist was on May 1st when I got the wonderful news that my pathology was clear! I was so overwhelmed at the good news that we barely even asked any questions. So, we have a lot of questions we want to ask at this visit. Overall, we just want a good, cancer-free visit. Please, please, please pray for me and that tomorrow will be another joyful day where God's healing is yet again so very evident. I think I literally feel every bit of blood pump through my body because I am so aware of what my body is doing and I can have "symptoms" come up. I cast them down and make them line up with God's word, but those come to mind when an appointment like this comes up. Please do not just read this blog, but stop right now and pray for me! I will be looking forward to posting a great report after my appointment on Friday! Please join me in devoting yourselves to prayer, with a thankful heart.

"Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart." Colossians 4:2. So take rest that when you pray for me, you are obeying scripture. I will do the same for all of you.

I love you all. I pray for you all too...blessings for your care and concern and prayers for me!

Hello Drains..we meet again!

Well, I have been out of the world for several days and it is good to be back. So thankful Josh was able to update you all during my surgery and hospital stay. As you know, it all happened so fast, so it has been a whirlwind. I don't know why God had things happen the way he did, but I know He is trustworthy. I am so thankful I was able to have surgery on Tuesday and He got me in as quickly as possible. One of my good friends, Christi, immediately texted me after knowing I was going into surgery and she affirmed me by saying that she was thankful I did not have to wait or be anxious and the Lord was getting me to surgery ASAP, for both my body and mind. That was so true!

Overall, the surgery was a lot better than I ever expected. My chest is not sore, not even one bit. It doesn't feel like anything happened in my chest. My back is the only thing that is sore and I can feel it getting better each day. I really think this recovery will be fairly easy. I do have four drains though- 2 in my back and 2 in my chest and they come out at my right side. I have not missed these drains one bit and I am reminded by having them again! They aren't draining very much, so I am hopeful that many if not all can come out Thursday at my check up appointment! It is just simply impossible to try to conceal them. At church Sunday, I wore a black, long, somewhat baggy dress and I still had "growth- looking bumps" poking out through my clothes. Sooo attractive:)!

As Josh told you all, we walked into Tuesday's appointment not knowing when or if we would have surgery, but mostly knowing we would. They were trying to get me on the schedule for Wednesday and were having trouble getting me on the schedule. I didn't eat or drink just in case they wanted to take me back for surgery on Tuesday, just to be safe, and I am so thankful I didn't. After trying to get me on the schedule, the PA walked back in and said, well since you haven't eaten today we are going in for surgery today- NOW. Josh and I looked at each other and were like, "Ok, let's do this." The Lord had prepared our minds and hearts for this possibility and I personally was not thrown off my by the immediacy of the surgery. I truly think the Lord knew it was best for me to have it that day, as my heart and mind would be more guarded. I don't think even an hour passed from the time we were told I was having surgery that day to being put asleep. Another upside of an emergency surgery- no wait times- I just went straight back!

When I woke up,  I was hot and slightly nauseous, but nothing compared to last time. Ms. Tammy and my mom were able to come in that night and I really don't remember much else from that night. I do remember waking up and telling Josh that I really didn't feel that bad. My drains were huge up until the time I left. I am still not sure why they were so much bigger than my mastectomy drains, but they said that the bigger drains have more of a suction on them. They were so heavy. Getting me out of bed was quite a challenge with IV's, drains, a foley, bandages and keeping my gown on:)  I had 3 nights in the hospital, which overall weren't too bad. The nights are really the worst, because it feels like someone is coming in there every 30 minutes. It was nice having Josh there with me at nights, but I felt so bad for him with all the commotion in the night. Thankful he is a hard sleeper.

I had some really great nurses: Brenda, Andrea, and Sharai. Sharai was one of my nurses after my mastectomy, so she remembered me from April. My respect and thoughts of nurses is so high and well-thought of. The things that they do, see, and deal with each day is overwhelming. I know that nursing is not for me...you have to be so patient and tolerant and skilled in so many ways! I was so impressed with my nurses and their care for me. Thank you nurses for all you do. I have never truly valued your career until I have seen what you guys do day in and day out. THANK YOU!!

Each day Dr. Villa and his PA Alisha would come and check on me, and they were so pleased with how I looked. Every nurse that saw me would comment over and over again on how great I looked. The surgery could not have gone better, and I am ready to be feeling like myself again. I have the best plastic surgeon team ever. We were all so disappointed that my expander became exposed. We were all hoping and believing it wouldn't happen. In the doctor's office on Tuesday, when it had been confirmed it was exposed and surgery was going to happen, I couldn't hold back the tears any longer. Once again, tears coming, when I least expect it. I always make my PA Alisha cry, and I just love her. So, there we were, all in tears.. Josh, me, Dr. Villa, and Alisha. I love these people. Then of course, Dr. Villa, reassures me that he will take the very best care of me and I will look wonderfully. Even though we are in Houston, we have built a "medical family" that we couldn't imagine being anywhere else. They have gone through the ups and downs with me and truly care about me. We are blessed.

My pain has been completely manageable. The last 2 days, I have just taken my pain medicine before I go to bed. The main reason for this is that I have been having nausea and stomach discomfort with my pain medicine. I have felt much better since I have reduced my pain medicine, but of course have a little more pain. It just really isn't that bad. I have been so pleasantly surprised with the way I feel. The Lord is so good to me.

So, now we will start expanding similarly to what we did after my mastectomy. They decided to put an expander in instead of an implant to remain as conservative as possible. By being able to gradually stretch my new skin, we would make sure that everything looked great before my final surgery. So, I should only have one more major surgery when they do final reconstruction on my left breast and switch out the expander for an implant on the right side.

I will go to Houston on Wednesday night to be there for my appointment Thursday morning. I should start getting expanded on my left breast and have them evaluate my right. Not sure if I will get expanded yet on that side though. Also, my first 3 month oncology check-up is coming up. My appointment is on next Friday, August 10th. As far as I know, no tests will be run, but I still want to pray for a wonderful appointment outcome. Cancer- free for the rest of my life.

As I've told you all before, my type of breast cancer that I had is called "triple negative" and is most likely to recur in the first 2 years and possibly the first 5 years. If a survivor makes it past these markers, their chances of survival are great. I by no means am hanging on to these "statistics", but it does make me want to turn 26 and 29 really soon! I am continuing to meditate on scripture and believe I will live and have a long life. I still need you all praying so hard for me, especially until I meet these milestones. So, you may be thinking, so you want me to pray without ceasing for 4 more years?? (since I'm on the edge of my first year) and the answer is YES! YES! YES!!! I am depending on it.

Please pray for my check up to go great on Thursday, that I will continue to feel better and better, that I will look better and better, and I will have a great first oncology check up on next Friday. Cancer-free in Jesus name, for all of the rest of my days. Nahum 1:9.

Here are some pictures from the hospital and my surgery from last week. So thankful for my husband, my mom, and Ms. Renea that were there with me as I recovered. They all completely dropped everything they were doing and came to be with me. I wasn't very fun to be around either- drugged up and typically having things done for me. So I am so grateful for my wonderful family. I am one blessed girl. Below are my pics from last week's surgery.

I believe this was on my last day. I was walking around pretty well and those drains were so heavy!!

Walking some laps around the floor with one of my nurses, Andrea

When Josh saw me for the first time after surgery. So pitiful!

Before surgery!

Going Home Today!

This morning at about 7:45 Alicia came in and checked Aly. She said that the skin looks good and is very pleased with it.

About 8:00 Dr. Villa came in and said the same thing. We will be back in Houston next week for a checkup but we will be coming home today.

Day 2 1/2 After Surgery

Today seemed to go good for Aly. She walked around quite a bit. She was able to get her IV removed and is taking her medicine by mouth now. She just took another round of pain meds at 10:00pm. The main source of buzzing and noise making from the previous nights is now gone.

The machines that monitor Aly's breathing and administer fluids and pain meds beeped on and off the whole night. They are now gone.

Today Aly was able to take a shower which that process in itself may have been one of the worst things I think a patient can experience. A nurse comes in and gives Aly a shower. So we are in a hospital shower room that even as nice as this place is it still isn't big enough for 3 people. Aly sits there while this nurse removes the bandages and showers her.

There have been a few moments through this process where I have truly thought that it was unreal. That moment to me was about as much of a personal space violation as you can experience as a person. Having been in surgery, then stuck in a bed for two days and then on top of that the nurse is showering you. I struggle the most at those moments for Aly, those are the moments you are not prepared for. Pain is somewhat a part of a normal life but some of the things that happen are so far from what any person should have to experience. Those moments are de-humanizing. Not sure if that is an actual word but that is the best I could come up with.

Aly ended up being completely unhooked from all machines so it makes going to the bathroom easier, eating easier and just more comfortable to be sitting there.

This week has been a test. When we realized what was happening to Aly's skin on Sunday/ Monday we were wrecked. We knew that something was going to happen that wasn't planned and for us that was not ok. I know for me since we had been home for about a week I had been desperately trying to figure out and ask God to show me what our life needed to look like from here on out. So much of our life is dictated by what we do for a living. That is what for Aly and I had dominated our schedule and our conversations. This next season for us will not look the same. The trick is figuring out the balance God wants for us. I had spent almost 7 solid days in the woods working and most of those days asking God to show me what does balance look like for Josh and Aly Taylor. My version of balance had not been good enough. My version of balance kept my mind on most everything other than hearing God and living what I heard to my wife and in my life.

 We have taken practical steps to change this. We have changed the time we go to bed, the time I wake up. Being overly intentional about giving time to sit when nothing else can be going on and read, pray and then truly listen for and to God. At 5:00 am there is nothing I can do outside, it's simply too dark. In the past when life got interesting or things got tight I begin to dig in and work like a dog. I looked at life problems as production problems. Cancer can't be outproduced. Chemo can't be avoided by buying another flip property or putting on a great fundraiser. For once we were facing something that took our "bucket" of life and picked it up and just dumped it out on a table. That was not a pretty table, I promise.

For me this kind of came to a head when I heard Pastor O'Neals sermon on Fathers day which was about Wounded Warriors. Men are not trained to ask for help, especially not emotional and spiritual help. That would be classified as weak and failure. Only problem with that theory is the B-I-B-L-E. In one of his points in the message it says that "Failure to acknowledge our woundedness will result in us never stopping the bleeding".

I had finally reached a point I wasn't willing to bleed anymore because I was affecting Aly and that wasn't something that was ok in my world. About a month ago I had what I have described as being as close to a mental breakdown as I can have. I simply didn't have the ability to finish anything that was frustrating. Not a physical labor or time issue but anything that required repeatedly addressing a problem and seeing something through. I felt like I was drowning. The next week I listened to Pastors sermon which we had missed while in Houston. My honest thought was that I was at a point where I was willing to tell other guys that I wasn't ok, I truly believed I would get no response. I thought it would be the classic how are you doing? I would answer, I am not ok and then they get the dumb look on their face and you can see they are kicking themself for asking because all they wanted was oh yeah life is great.

Literally the first time one of my friends asked me I told them I was not ok and that person not only continued the conversation but continued to let me know they were behind me. This process has been repeated with probably 5 other guys and all of them have continued to speak life to me. Most of them looked at me and said they were either in the same place or had been at some point. They are not speaking "words of wisdom", they are praying over me, quoting scripture over me and Aly. I have been a different person, husband and friend the last 30 days. God gave me the ability to lead Aly. I just wasn't giving him the ability to lead me. I am not done with this process but I am fighting tooth and nail to change the course of where we were headed before October 17, 2011.

We truly felt in our time back after radiation that we were beginning to create our new normal. So when this happened and happened so fast beginning Sunday when we realized there was problem this took our breath away. Monday was a rough day knowing we were coming back and then Tuesday certainly piled on after that. It was a low.

Brokenness isn't weak. Brokenness is admitting a need. If you wait to admit your need when God literally breaks you I can promise you it hurts worse and takes longer. You bleed longer and then you have more blood to clean up.

There's my sermon, I bet you guys have missed these "moments with Josh", well Aly is out of commission so I got a little bit saved up and you just got a piece of my preaching. That's me preaching at me.

Aly and I look forward to being home. We love you guys and continue to be so blessed in the midst of this war.

Walking around, eating and hopefully showering

Aly is feeling ok today. The pain is up a little bit from yesterday but she is able to eat and drink so that is an upgrade. The things we are still waiting on is for her IV to be removed and she will then take all medicine orally instead of through the IV.

Once she has the IV out she can shower which she is excited about. At this point the hospital experience is getting old. Aly is walking around well and we certainly hope that if all goes well she could go home tomorrow if not Saturday.

Hope all of you are doing well, we miss you already.

Dont Challenge my wife, she will beat you.

This morning Dr. Villa came in and talked to Aly and checked her out and thought everything was looking great. He then proceeded to tell Aly there were 4 things she had to do in order to go home....how silly of him. He said she had to be able to walk around, use the bathroom without the Foley (catheter), take pain pills orally, handle normal diet. At 1:31pm I received a text that said, "got up and walked around, foley taken out. love u". She also ate her favorite pasta from Ruggles green tonight so tomorrow all she has to do is take pills orally and she will have completed a 4 day process in .......1 day.

These doctors will soon figure out setting goals for Aly Taylor is like dangling steak in front of the starving.

I was sitting in Aly's bed with her just before her last nurse visit and she looks at me and says, " i don't see why we won't be able to go home tomorrow".  Just another day in the life.