After returning home from the first hospital admission and heart surgery, we thought we were finally entering a period of recovery.
The pericardial window surgery had been completed. The fluid around her heart had been removed, and we hoped that little by little, life would return to something close to normal.
But recovery was not as simple as we imagined.
Her body had changed.
She became weaker than before. Walking required more effort. Eating became a daily challenge. Foods that she used to enjoy suddenly became difficult because of smells, salt, or spices.
As a caregiver, I watched every small change carefully. Sometimes I wondered whether I was worrying too much. But after everything we had experienced with cancer, every unusual symptom felt like a warning sign.
Then, suddenly, another frightening episode began.
The Night Vomiting Started Again
Late one evening, she started complaining of stomach pain.
At first, I thought it might be temporary. Maybe something she ate did not agree with her. Maybe her stomach was still sensitive after the surgery.
But the vomiting continued.
Again and again.
She could not keep even a small amount of food down. Even a few spoons of rice porridge came back up.
The same fear returned:
“Is something seriously wrong again?”
Because of our previous experiences, my mind immediately went to the worst possibilities.
After fighting cancer for years, every symptom carries a different weight. A simple stomach problem does not feel simple anymore.
Returning to the Hospital
On June 26, Friday afternoon, we decided that staying at home and waiting was no longer the right choice.
Although we were worried about another expensive hospital visit and more tests, her condition was more important.
We returned to Raffles Hospital, where she had received her previous treatment.
After explaining everything — the recent heart surgery, the poor appetite, the repeated vomiting, and the abdominal pain — the medical team immediately arranged examinations.
A chest and abdominal X-ray were performed, along with an ECG.
The waiting began again.
The Fear of Another Surgery
The next day, June 27, the doctor explained the X-ray findings.
Something unusual was seen around the small intestine.
The doctor explained that there was a possibility that the small intestine had become twisted or tangled.
To know exactly what was happening, a CT scan of the abdomen was needed.
The explanation was simple, but the meaning behind it was frightening.
The doctor said that sometimes the intestine can move back into its normal position by itself.
But in some cases, if a section becomes severely swollen or blood flow is affected, surgery may become necessary.
When I heard the word “surgery” again, my heart sank.
How Much More Can Her Body Take?
She had already been through so much.
Brain metastasis treatment.
Bone metastasis treatment.
Radiation therapy.
Lung radiation treatment.
Pericardial drainage.
Pericardial window surgery.
And now, possibly another operation?
I looked at her lying in the hospital bed and wondered:
“How much more can her body endure?”
As a husband, I wanted to be strong. I wanted to tell her everything would be okay.
But inside, I was terrified.
The thought of another surgery was not only about the operation itself.
It was about whether her weakened body could recover again.
Waiting for the CT Scan Result
There are moments in life when there is nothing you can do.
You cannot fix the problem.
You cannot make decisions for the doctors.
You can only wait.
And waiting is sometimes the hardest part.
I sat beside her, hoping that the small intestine would somehow return to its normal position.
I hoped that the CT scan would show that surgery was not needed.
I hoped that this was just another difficult moment that we would overcome.
Cancer has taught us many things.
It has taught us that the battle is not only fought inside the patient’s body.
It is also fought in the heart of the person standing beside them.
The patient fights the disease.
The caregiver fights fear, uncertainty, and helplessness.
And tonight, once again, we waited for an answer.
To be continued: The CT Scan Result — Was Surgery Really Necessary?
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