My recovery by the numbers

It has been 32 days since my surgery!!  It is so hard to believe everything that I have gone through.  It's been a whirlwind of numbers......

45 - days since my tumor was discovered
32 - days since my surgery
15 - pounds I lost
8 - weight of my tumor
8 - inches, length of my incision
4 - sleepless nights because I was allergic to the surgical tape (horrible rash!)
10 - number of staples I had
1 - shower chair that was a heaven send
4 - days spent in the hospital
3 - weeks before I could sneeze without blacking out because of the pain
112 - number of pain pills I took (glad I am not addicted!)
10 - days I have been pain pill free
5 - days since my first walk
.6 - miles on my first walk
4.36 - miles that I walk/ran today!
12.07 - miles I have logged in this week so far
6 - days until my first trail walk/run with my sole sisters ( I am SO excited!!)
29 - days until my first post-surgery race (which I will be super slow at)


For awhile I felt like I was NEVER going to be able to recover.  Time was going so slowly and simple things would tire me out.  Then Sunday, Father's Day, my husband said, "Let's go on a walk."  I was super slow and we didn't go far but something changed THAT DAY.  And I am never looking back!

It is humbling to realize how far I still have to go.  I was running anywhere between a 7:45 and 8:30 pace depending on the length of the run.  I used to say that it wasn't worth my time to head out for a run unless I did at LEAST 5 miles.  And now, I am so happy to do any amount!  When I walked .6 miles I was telling everyone because I was so proud of myself. 

I definitely have a long way to go before I am back into my marathon shape.  My goals and perspectives have been altered a great deal.  But there is nothing better than when someone asks me how I am and I can smile and say, "I do NOT have cancer!!!"