It’s been 1 month since my spinal surgery, and I realized I never shared some of the key photos and information about my stay in the hospital. The past few weeks have been emotionally and physically some of the most challenging of my life. I feel like I keep saying some variation of that during this stupid cancer journey, but it’s true. I would like to declare that I am only accepting joyous, exciting, miraculous, and amazing experiences from here on out, ok?!
Almost 10pm on 7/13/23; 8 hours after arriving in the ED and still no updates. No bed. Just a recliner and folding chair. Axial view of the tumor (white) pushing my spinal cord out of the waySagittal view of the tumor (white) in my spineMy parents brought Sloane to the hospital a couple days after I found out about the tumor, and was unfortunately unable to leave the hospital before surgery (thanks, insurance). Her cuddles, energy, and joy helped immensely. She picked out this little dog, “Sunny,” in the hospital gift shop for me 🥰 She was SO excited about it, and told me I could cuddle him whenever I was scared or lonely. I kept him at my bedside every day in the hospital, and have since getting home, too ❤️I sadly missed Super Soccer Saturday on account of being stuck in the hospital. It was the last soccer day of the season. Mason was so excited to show me his trophy when he and Brandon came to visit that night ❤️ Jess came all the way up to visit me the day before my surgery. Somehow the timing worked out and she happened to be in the state when all of this happened. So grateful for our time together 💞Forcing myself to smile through the tears. 7/16 was our first date anniversary. We had planned to take the kids for a walk and then have lunch at our first date location, as tradition. Instead, I was stuck in the hospital, completely terrified for surgery the following day. Grateful for the amazing partner I met 12 years ago, still always by my side 💙In pre-op, waiting to be taken back. Scared as hell. Thankful for him. The morning after a horrific night in the ICUPartially with it, realizing what they’d done to my hair in order to complete the surgery 😳
Happy to have Jess & Brandon with me, 2 days post-op! Jess even redid my hair, which was no easy task given the amount of sores and scabbing all over my head and scalp from the devices they used to stabilize me during surgery 😵💫
Sitting on the edge of the bed for the first time, trying not to fall over. My head felt like a 200 lb lollipop on a wet stick for almost 2 weeks.
💝 Cousins by chance, sisters and best friends by choice 💝 This woman continues to support me every single day. She listens to me bitch and cry and somehow continues to have patience and love for me every dang day. Walking in the hall, post-op day 3. Scary and painful as hell.Sometimes when I couldn’t find a good comedy on, I would just watch Bluey 🥰 Reminded me of Sloane and home.. and let’s be honest, it’s a good show, too 😏Mason picked out these beautiful flowers for me at Costco. They held up for over 2 weeks!! ❤️Being in the hospital is so incredibly lonely (despite the billions of interruptions during the day). One of my very best friends, Joy, came to visit me one day. It felt Amazing to forget about all the hospital and cancer stuff for a little while, and just feel like I was having coffee with my girlfriend 💖The rehab unit had a little deck; Brandon was finally able to take me out onto it one night. It was my first fresh air in 11 days 🤯 The deck had lots of beautiful planters, with plants, flowers, and vegetables growing.This was my first wheelchair while in rehab. I later got an electric one which gave me the ability to drive myself to and from therapy appointments each day. Feeling like a different woman! I finally got my hair washed (with lots of help from the OT) for the first time since surgery!! It had been 9 days 🫣Realizing they shaved part of my head to do the surgery 🥴🙁All packed up and ready to go home!!! 🙌🙌 After being in the hospital for 16 days, I was more than ready to get out!! So happy to be in the car, going home! My rollator goes everywhere with me now when I leave the house. As nice as it is, I’m looking forward to the day when I can safely walk without it!
Welcome! Thank you for being here! My name is Lauren Doyle. My husband and I have been married since 2013, and together since 2011. We have 2 wonderful kids and live in the Twin Cities suburbs. I have both a Master’s and a Doctorate and am a board-certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. I also have the student loans to prove it.
In 2019 our lives were turned upside down. Our daughter was born with a serious heart defect that required open heart surgery when she was just 5 days old. A couple weeks after her birth (while she was still in the hospital), I found a mass in my abdomen which required major emergency surgery to remove. At first, we were told it was just a fibroid; we learned about a week later that the mass was a rare and aggressive type of cancer – leiomyosarcoma. Through multiple surgeries and chemo, I have come out the other side, changed in many ways. I am now considered Stage IV, with a chemo-induced heart condition, and struggle with several other severe side effects from treatments.
I continue to work and live and love as best as I can. I will not claim to have all the answers about anything, but I can tell you I have learned a LOT in my 35+ years of life thus far. My passion has always been helping and educating people in whatever ways possible. I am hoping this blog will allow me to do that for a broader population beyond the patients I see at work, share my unique journey, and help keep friends and family in the loop along the way.
Thank you again for being here.
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One thought on “1 Month Since Surgery”
I know you must get tired of hearing you look wonderful and you are SO courageous and brave. But it’s true!!! Your progress and perseverance amaze me. Hang in there. Praying for you daily and look forward to your updates. 🙂 Lisa Sikes
Lauren MG Doyle 
I know you must get tired of hearing you look wonderful and you are SO courageous and brave. But it’s true!!! Your progress and perseverance amaze me. Hang in there. Praying for you daily and look forward to your updates. 🙂 Lisa Sikes
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