Carolyn Custis James

It’s been over a week since my surgery and time for me to pick up where Frank left up with updates. It’s a bit risky for me to be doing this, since I’m still on pain meds (meaning loopy), which can result in some rather confused messages. Evidently I sent some incomprehensible text messages when I was in the hospital—fortunately, only to family. I’m counting on Amy Lauger to protect me from myself.

Right now, I’m in recovery mode and so grateful to be on this side of surgery. Thank you so much for praying and for your encouraging notes. Recovery is going slower than I would like, although not slower than normal. Besides getting a lot of rest and reading, I’m also getting good exercise. The past four days I’ve been outside walking and enjoying warm spring weather. Frank and my cousin Karen are taking good care of me. Friends at Biblical Seminary are providing wonderful meals.

Please keep us in your prayers. Means a lot to both of us.

Carolyn

This AM got off to a rocky start. CCJ awoke in considerable pain. During the night I check with her several times to make sure she is comfortable. All was well until the sun came up and suddenly the pain got out ahead of us. It took some time for the meds to work their magic, but by late morning the pain was under control. This was a reminder to both of us that recovery is a slow process.

Please keep CCJ in prayer.

FAJ

The first full day home has been quiet. CCJ has dozed off and on most of the day except to walk around the apartment (including stairs) and doing her breathing exercises. She is eating light meals and drinking her favorite beverage — Sprite Zero. Our little basement apartment came with a recliner and that has proven to be a real blessing. It allows CCJ to stretch out but without getting flat on her back. Her pain has been manageable, although if she makes one wrong move, it can be intense.

Grateful for friends,

FAJ

Yay!

Much to our surprise, the doctor is sending Carolyn home today. They removed her chest tube and her follow-up x-rays were good so they are discharging her. She has a big, somewhat loopy, smile on her face. We are grateful.

FAJ

She’s off to the Hobbit Hole…

More progress!

Carolyn continues to improve. The big event today was the removal of the chest tube. It was painful but Carolyn came through it like the warrior she is. If follow up x-rays are okay, the doctor may allow her to come home today. We’re hopeful.

FAJ

As always, feel free to leave encouraging notes here for Carolyn! Hopefully she’ll be back in her beloved Hobbit Hole soon.

I just received an update:

Carolyn continues to recover well. She is walking the hallways – doing even more than the doctor ordered. Today for the first time she had not one but thee real meals. It looks like she will be in the hospital for an additional day. The original plan was to go home Monday, now Tuesday is more likely. Her lung needs to heal a bit more before sending her home.

Grateful for your love and support.

FAJ

Carolyn slept well last night. Before I left she spent an hour sitting in a chair. This morning she walked the hospital hallway twice and will do that twice more this afternoon. The pain is present but manageable. The doctors and nurses say she is progressing very well. Carolyn felt good enough to make fun of her beloved husband. Please keep praying for continued good progress.

FAJ

Feel free to leave encouraging comments here. I’m sure Carolyn will love to read them when she feels up to it! 

CCJ is out of surgery and awake — but still groggy. The doctor confirmed that it was cancer but was confident she got all of it. Now for the road to recovery.
Thanks for the prayers. FAJ

Carolyn’s husband, Frank, has been in touch today about how Carolyn is doing. Here’s what he’s asked me to share:

In my mind’s eye, I can vividly see Forrest Gump sitting on the park bench saying to his unsuspecting bench-mate:  “My mama always said, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.'”

Just as this year’s harsh winter storms were finally subsiding and spring loomed on the horizon, just as our house in Massachusetts finally sold ending eight long months of living in separate states, just as we were finally settling into the Hobbit Hole in Pennsylvania and I was finally getting ready to hunker down and finish my next book … Frank and I were blindsided when doctors diagnosed me with Stage 1 lung cancer.

Forrest Gump was right. “You never know what you’re gonna get.”

I’m scheduled for major surgery this Friday, April 11, to remove the cancer. I’ll be in the hospital for four days and sidelined for four to six weeks. By God’s grace, we caught it early and so the prognosis is good. And I’m so thankful to be here with Frank, my cousin Karen, superb doctors, a wonderfully supportive seminary community, and for so many incredible friends who are pulling for me long distance. You’ll never know how much your words of encouragement and prayer support mean to me.

Please pray for both of us and that the ezer in me will be strong as we engage this battle. As one of my close ezer-friends reminded me, “You have to be what you’ve been telling all of us we are.”

My good friend, Amy Lauger, will post updates here while I’m away.  I’m already looking forward to coming back!