Post-Surgery Update

In short, Leticia has had a tremendously difficult last 24 hours.

When she came out of the operation, Brian spent the first 30 minutes alone with her, which she confided was a source of great comfort to her. The two spent some time talking about the surgery and the doctor's initial findings. 

Brian told her those findings were not as we had prayed for because the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.  This essentially means the type of cancer she has is not DCIS as previously thought.  DCIS would have been confined to a certain area of the breast and would have likely not have been life-threatening. 

Pathology tests on the lump and lymph nodes which were removed will tell us more about what type of cancer she is fighting and will be complete by the first week of February.

Considering those findings, the doctor inserted a chemo port at the time of the double mastectomy and once the pathology reports are back the oncologist will recommend a treatment plan.

Leticia and Brian have been visited by her trusted doctor, Dr. Doug Cochran who has been a great source of comfort to the family as they confront the fears of not knowing what the next step is, quite yet.

Leticia and Brian are looking into seeking out a second opinion in another city to determine the best option for her chemo treatment and are displaying an immense amount of courage, composure and strength.

Re-winding now...overnight was a terrible night for Leticia.  The post-operative medication had her nauseated and sick from roughly 1am - 8am and getting less than an hour of sleep.  Additionally, there were some problems with the leg blood pressure machine that had the nurses in and out of her room all night until they finally replaced it.

When her surgeon visited her around 8 this morning he changed her medication and since then Leticia has felt more comfortable, aside from the obvious post-operative pain.

Leticia has had her family at her side today and insisted that Brian go home to get a little rest.  He will return later and they are expected to be released from the hospital sometime tomorrow, January 28th.

For those of you who have texted, posted and left messages the Reinke's are thankful and you have not gone unnoticed!

Thank you also to those of you who have agreed to help make sure Leticia and Brian don't have to worry about feeding the kids and family who are in town.  If you'd like to help with meals you can do so here.

~Stephanie