LISA ALLENDER'S SURGERY/RECOVERY.

The Cleveland Clinic is where I chose to have major abdominal surgery, as I discovered they do laprascopic surgery whereas in Atlanta, the procedure I needed done, is rarely done that way. On the recommendation of a dear friend, Susan(who had a similar procedure), I met with Dr. Daniel Geisler, who is extremely experienced in gastrointestinal surgery, this past August. We set a date for surgery in mid-September, and when I was told I could get in earlier, I opted for the earlier date. Unfortunately, I had two attacks of Diverticulitis, the latter episode including pseudomembraneous colitis, also known as the very deadly "c.-diff bacteria" (this often occurs as a result of being on antibiotics long-term, which I had to be on, when afflicted with the Diverticulitis), which meant surgery had to be delayed, again, and again. I was fortunate to have surgery, (which appears to have gone well), on Dec. 10th of this year. Dr. Geisler told me because I am so "tiny" he had to use pediatric instruments on me(!).He said I reminded him of a patient he worked on two years ago--a nine-year-old child!
For those of you wanting the gory details, I can tell you that over 19" of intestine(my entire colon, or large-intestine)was removed. In its place, my
small intestine has been utilized, by attaching it to the top of the rectum(the hallway that leads towards the exit of the body).'Nuff said.
I am extremely sore, particulary in my lower-left torso area, but currently forcing myself to walk--even up and down a few stairs. I am still on a "soft-GI diet" which sounds like some sort of abbreviation for a soldier-who's-become-fat-food-plan."Soft GI diet" means soft foods for the
gastrotrointestinal tract. It means I can only have foods(for about another 5 weeks--it's been three, already)which are soft,like lots of liquids and soup, and mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, creamy rice, mashed meat, eggs, cheeses, very processed, white soft bread.Absolutely NO fresh fruits or fresh vegetables, no salads, etc.No fiberous foods whatsoever. However, I learned two days ago that I may add wheat bread, slowly.
Eventually, I'll be able to eat ANYthing I choose--which is truly something, as I've not had any nut, seed, berry, or corn--or any foods containing them--for over 5 years!
So, hopefully, when I return to Cleveland Clinic in Feruary, I'll get a "Go
Ahead" from the Doc.
I want to add that the entire experience at Cleveland Clinic was excellent.
Everyone from the group I've dubbed the "A-Team"(so dubbed because the hall they are on is "A" hallway), who processed the paperwork, and ran preliminary tests, to the pre-op team of Nurse Amber and Nurse Jackie, to the entire surgical assist-staff of Dr. Geisler's, to the compassionate after-care at H-50 ward, where three Nurse Kristins did a spectacular job, assisted by Dorina, and other great CNA's. The hospital even arranged for me to receive Communion in my room (outreach ministry from a nearby RC Church came everyday)
and Cleveland Clinic's own chapel's "Pastor Jeff" also offered Reiki healing(which I accepted, and then enjoyed an extremely restful night of sleep), and even Aromatherapy(I accepted their marvelous "Lavender Balm" for relaxation). The approach at Cleveland Clinic is cutting-edge technology, combined with a mind-body-spirit application of what used to be considered "alternative", but apparently, is quickly becoming accepted as having healing benefits. For the skeptics out there, who will say "Well, it's just a placebo effect," I can tell you that we humans are built to receive "placebo effects" as well as "medicinal" ones. Either way, I am healing well, though my operation was not entirely laprascopic, as a bit more cutting was necessary.
I am so far, very pleased, but really tired of being tired!
I am getting a tremendous amount of reading completed, which is good(my night-stand usually overflows with books bought, as-yet-unread), and have been watching a few really ridiculous, and oddly-addictive television shows.
Today, New Year's Day, I watched three episodes of some show on TLC(The Learning Channel) about an L.A.-based bikini designer, and it is a scream!The title is "Ashley Paige's Bikini or Bust". Really. That's the name.
My new favorite crush(okay, I've been watching her, relentlessly since she debuted on MSNBC)is Rachel Maddow. Her "First Annual List" last night was laugh-out-loud funny.
Tonight, I'll be taking time to pray, and to take the Vow of Peace, and Non-Violence.I was unable to attend the ceremony we hold, every January 1st(World Peace Day) at St. Jude the Apostle, where we make our committment to make peace-filled choices, not violence-based ones. I was steadfast in my committment, save one unfortunate e-mail I sent several months ago, when I fired off a threatening-sounding
e-mail at someone who'd hurt my feelings, by attacking me for something I've never done. When the angry person e-mailed back--even angrier, with unbelieveable vitrol and untrue statements, I did manage to respond to the anger in terms of what anger is:
fear, disappointment, frustration, or hurt. In this case, I guessed(probably correctly) that this individual is still hurting from my involvement with him, years ago(we're talking 13 years ago!). So I addressed my role in hurting that person, and asked if he needed me to say anything to him, in-person, and then suggested if we can't be civil, perhaps we should not communicate.
It's always difficult to navigate relationships. I've retained, and strive to strengthen, nearly every strong relationship (close relatives, distant relatives, beaus, girlfriends, male and female friends)I've ever had in my life, save this one I have mentioned here, and one other. Which I suppose is a pretty fair record, for an ol' lady like me.
So, my New Year's Resolutions? To become more Peaceful, to become more forgiving, to try to understand.
What are YOUR New Year's Resolutions?

Peace, kids.
For more on World Peace Day, check out:
http://www.paxchristiusa.org/
and
http://www.paxchristi.net/

I'M HEADED OUT OF TOWN, FOR SURGERY.
I'll be leaving early tomorrow(Monday) for the famed Cleveland Clinic, where I will undergo major surgery (on Wednesday, Dec. 10th) to repair my intestinal tract. I have suffered with acute Diverticulitis for over 5 years, and this surgery is long-over-due.
If you pray, please do pray for me. If you don't, I would respectfully ask that you give a minute of your day to me, where you focus on my healing, and/or visualize a healthy, vibrant Lisa. Thank you so very much!
I WILL BE ABSENT FROM THE ENTIRE BLOGOSPHERE, AND INDEED, THE INTERNET, FOR A FEW WEEKS! I'LL MISS YOU KIDS! BE SAFE, AND HAVE FUN WHILE I'M AWAY!
And now....some of those photos I've been promising the past few months!
The following picture was taken on November 3rd, one day before President-Elect Barack Obama's historic win!


Pictured are 91-year-old Winnie Wilds, and on her left, daughter CiCi, and on her right, daughter Dimawi. I was so impressed by this family--all volunteers at the Democratic Party Headquarters in Roswell. I loved working alongside these ladies, and several others!
Scroll on down, and you'll see me, in my wedding gown. The date was Feburary 10th, 2007. A few folks have asked to see the gown, which I had Nadine Jean-Marie(a dress designer from Alpharetta, originally from French Haiti)do for me. I showed up, explained I wanted a "late 1920's/early 1930's feel--silk charmeuse, flow-y, something I can wear at night, with a reflective feel, as I want lots of candlelight for a soft look..." I told her EXACTLY the design, but my Mom--Demetra suggested the off-shoulder look(which helped broaden my tiny frame, I think), and I suggested "gauntlet" gloves to pair with the dress. Nadine added simple beading to the neckline, and made a criss-cross tie for the bare back. She created, completely on her own, the beaded veil. (I found the material for everything at a Cheshire Bridge fabric store(near the Colonnade Restaurant)and when I returned to Nadine, I explained I wanted it to fit very snug, almost mermaid-ish, but flow-ier, Jean Harlow-like....)So, there you are.


I'll have a few more photos in two weeks(I have to get proper equipment to put the pic of Kate Evans & I(from the AQLF, held here a couple of months ago) .I'll also have pics from the Gay Pride weekend, and Wordsmiths' Books (July 4th), which show Collin Kelley, Theresa Davis, and others!
In the meantime, catch up with other blogs--check out my list of faves to the right of my blog!
Peace, kids.

UPDATE ON LISA.
I've been extremely ill the past two weeks, and did not want to have to detail this, but since I am unable to respond to all the e-mails and phone calls(THANK YOU SO MUCH, btw, I DO appreciate and feel the love!) I am receiving, it makes sense to post here, about what is going on....
Some time ago, I made arrangements to have surgery at The Cleveland Clinic for dealing with the Diverticulitis that has plagued me since June, 2003. The famed Ohio hospital has the best surgeons(particularly laprascopic gastrointestinal surgeons!) in the world. The operation was scheduled for mid-September. I arranged an unpaid, medical leave from my "job-job"(my term for a non-writing, non-performance job), and planned to rest fir a few days before flying to Ohio.
Unfortunately, I became violently ill the night before my last scheduled day of work. I was so ill, I was unable to go to work at all the last day, which made me very sad. I love my "job-job", which involves working with jewelry and accessories. It's a fun, fast-paced job where I feel very appreciated, and my fellow "team-members" are as kind and as hard-working as I am. I got sicker, and sicker, and was advised by my surgeon in Cleveland to head immediately to a local ER to get a CAT-scan to identify what was wrong.
I waited 'til the next morning; I simply felt too weak.
The morning we headed to the hospital, I was so ill I could not eat even an ice-chip without it "returning"(yuck!).
The wait was short, and the nurses, uniformly efficient, and ridiculously young and attractive "Are you a real nurse or do you just play one on T.V.?" I asked of cute brunette Nurse Jennifer(5'3", blue-eyes framed with a-young-Liz-Taylor-like-lashes), who asked "Why do say that?",clearly not understanding that my vision of nurses was shaped by old 1940's and 1950's images: older ladies wearing white dresses with white hose, and little "nurses' caps" on their heads.
Nurse Jennifer, and Nurse Jessica were a cross between the women of "Scrubs", and "Grey's Anatomy". Lots of glamour. I should add that Nurse Jennifer managed to take my blood, and insert an IV on the first try, an unbelievable feat, given the amount of sticks my tiny, almost-invisible veins normally have to endure! At 23, she was already a true professional. Nurse Jessica looked like the love-child of Jessica Alba(her coloring) and Jessica Simpson(her mouth, her figure). I wound up waiting in the CDU--Critical Decision Unit with uh, folks committed to, uh, being committed. The only bed available was there, and I learned a great deal in the hours to follow, about psychiatric meds, and discovered a wealth of security guards are assigned to these areas.
I had complained of being "so thirsty" (no surprise, since I'd had no liquids in three days!) for hours. I was on IV solution for several hours, and then presented with a 42-ounce lemon-y flavored drink to suck down in order to proceed with the CAT-scan. Be careful what you wish for, I thought. God provides. Finally, I had the CAT-scan made, and was moved to a gorgeous private room with flowers and a window. The diagnosis: Colitis. A serious intestinal disease, an inflammation of not just the Diverticular area, but "the entire region". My uncle who has suffered with Crohn's Disease for years, calls Colitis, "a cousin of Crohn's disease."
I still felt the illness I suffered was a "bacteria or virus" and I repeated this, several times.
The ER doc put me on Levaquin (an antibiotic I have used with no side effects, to treat Diverticulitis, over the years).
When I spoke with my own doctor the next day, she explained my long-planned-for surgery would be delayed a bit. "If they cut you when you have colitis, the infection can go into your bloodstream, and you can die."
and: "The surgeon cnnot cut and resew the intestines, because the tissue is not healthy. It won't hold. You have to be COMPLETELY healed."
I kept saying "I dunno. This feels like when I had e-coli, back in May, 1996. It feels like a bacterial infection. Can they test for that?"
She said they could, and I'm glad I insisted.
I had Hansoo drop off a sample (I'll spare you details here) and next day, I get a call from my gastroenterologist.
"Lisa, you have pseudomonas(spell?) colitis; it's a rare and very serious bacterial infection..
"So I was right? Is it like e.coli?"
"Yes", she began, "It's in the same class of bacteria, as a matter of fact...."
She explained only two different drugs can kill it, and one of them, I'm allergic to (Flagyl). So I'm off my old favorite, Levaquin, which is ineffective against this, and on the other one that actually can kill it, and it appears to be working well.
So the colitis may have been induced by this bacteria, or at least that's the way it appears....So.....I have a delay right now, of a few more weeks, before they will agree to perform surgery on me. Sigh.
I have in the past, asked for prayers, but I would encourage you to send prayers out to all those who are far worse off than me: those who are children, those who are without health insurance, those who are suffering in great pain, or from great loss, or going through a trauma right now.
I'm going to be great. And I can't wait 'til the surgery is over, because then I can have whatever I want to eat(any nuts, berries, seeds, baklava, lemon-poppy-seed-cake, etc.)
And know I'm thinking of all of you, every day.
I'll try to post later this week: my poem I promised you(I've misplaced it!!), and a few other poetry tid-bits, and updates on the Queer Lit Fest (which I'll be participating in!!) too.
God Bless You and keep you, kids.
Now, I'm headed back to bed. Peace, kids.