At long last, it is time to bid good riddance to Herman and close down the lisa.removes.herman email account. It is hard for me to believe that over a month has passed since my surgery and yet oddly it is almost like it never happened (emphasis is on almost). I feel fabulous and have indeed learned to take every day as a gift. I can honestly say I start each day with a huge smile and meet it with both enthusiasm and gratitude. Yes, of course I have my moments, I am human; however, it’s infinitely easier for me to take stock of how precious life is and GET OVER IT. Prior to this year, the opposite was true for me. I would spend more time ruminating over things I can’t change or that I have no control over, or at least thought I had control over but didn’t. As the saying goes, don’t sweat the small stuff, and it is all small stuff! My goodness, how true those words are.

Now to the good part…They were absolutely, positively successful in removing the entire mass. As it turns out it was not a pituitary tumor, but rather a fluid filled cyst. The issue was, that it (like me) was not your normal run of the mill cyst – duh, who would think I’d do something as boring as that. They are relatively certain (nothing in life is 100% except death…and taxes) that this was caused by a rare auto-immune brain disease called Lymphocytic hypophysitis or a Rathke's cleft cyst. Either way it’s gone – so who cares really? The scary part is that it was indeed growing and my demise was certain had I not had the surgery (give or take 6 months). Yeah, FREAKY SCARY.

So what to do from here in terms of treatment you ask? Nada Mucha. Such a shame, I was so enjoying my frequent visits to doctors who like to stick me with needles. For those of you who don’t know my history with needles, let me just say that I opted to have my children naturally without drugs rather than have a needle stuck in my back. Once again, I digress – and maybe provided a little too much info. All I will need to do is have my blood taken regularly. I will also have to have regular MRI’s. [Dayna – I’m looking into having my ipod with me so you don’t need to block out the next 50 years of MRI’s. You will of course need to block out the next 50+ years for friendship.] Yes, Dayna and I will be up to our normal bag of tricks for years to come. I honestly don’t know if the world is ready for us. My neurosurgeon and neuro-endocrinologist have assured me that I have no reason to believe that I won’t have a LONG, happy, healthy and extraordinary life. Key here is not normal – who wants to be normal when you can live it up and be extraordinary?

So what is next? Like ya think I didn’t have a plan? Well, some of it I will keep to myself so you can enjoy the journey with me. Yes, I will continue to write. After much prodding and confidence building by many of you, I have decided to keep writing and put it up on my personal blog to keep you entertained. More importantly, my business has launched, inspired by my nephew Max and Herman. Thebotanicalcollection.net is open for business and going full force. I am thrilled to say that I have already been contacted by newspapers, magazines and some retail stores just from one press release (I also have an amazing Director of PR – Joelle – who knew she had this talent – wheelin’ and dealin’?). I am so proud of the company…and if I can allow myself the shameless plug…I am proud of myself – I finally listened to my inner circle of confidants and not my inner voice and got out of my own way. Sometimes the fear of success can be just as powerful as the fear of failure. Yes, you can quote me.

Again and for the last time the Thank You segment of my email – I need to thank my family (Mom, Dad, Chad, Joelle, Mark, Ami, Pa, Stacy, Rod, Jamie, Princess Ali, Aunt Jackie, Uncle Monroe, Aunt Sue & Uncle Tom)…yeah, I know the last 6 months kinda sucked…thank you for loving me and supporting each other through this when I needed to try and figure it all out. Chad – I know this was way more than you ever bargained for and I know the stress was at some times unbearable, so thank you for keeping it together and being the mom and dad to the kids when I needed to recover and couldn’t be. Joelle – I have to say publicly that I do treasure you and our growing friendship; I wouldn’t want to fumble through life without you! and thank you for Max - my Divine inspiration. Dayna – speechless, you leave me speechless…you put your life on hold for months and made sure a day didn’t go by without letting me know you would be there till the end of this…Psych – now you’re stuck for so many more years of me and my crap. Mar – my BFF and strongest cheerleader – I look forward to lifetime of fun and success for us both. Susan – I can’t imagine what coming out of the hospital without you and your love would have been like. My rapid recovery is so much due to your care…now we both get to have some fun together for years to come. PaTaylor – You coming back into my life is one of the best things to have happened – you may not remember this but 12 years ago you gave me the magnet that says, “a true friend walks in when another walks out” need I say more? The gals of South Salem – a better group of woman that supports each other selflessly could not be found. Craig and Matt – yeah, I’m going here…boys if someone told me 3 years ago that two of my dearest friends would be young enough to my kids I would have laughed, the two of you and your friendship/love for me and my well being is nothing short of a bond between mother and child…you will forever be in my life. Sonia – I could not imagine coming home to a house without you, you remind me every day why life is worth living (Emily and Jacob). David – yeah you, didn’t think I would let this go without singling you out? My oh my aren’t people gonna talk about this one…your insight and wisdom about life is what got me through some of my darkest days toward the end, when I could barely talk to anyone, your continued friendship and humor is what I know will always get me through any dark moments that might lie ahead – Thank You. Friends and Family not singled out…I could go on and on and on because each and everyone on this email touched my heart and life in so many ways I couldn’t express on paper – by the way did I mention I need cookies on a continual basis (you know who you are). Last but NOT least, some of you have also asked not to be singled out in the true “Lisa” style and I totally respect that – just know what you have given me and taught me about life and myself is something that I will forever hold dear. I have no regrets and in the end only amazing memories and life lessons from this entire experience.

Although they are too young to read this now, I need to say a separate thank you to Jacob and Emily. I love you both. You two are everything to me and the reason I know that life is worth living every day to the fullest. You are the driving force behind all that I want to accomplish … but please know that no matter what I do in my future the two of you will always be my finest accomplishment.

So friends and family it is with a full heart and a “perma-grin” that I say goodbye to Herman and Hello to My Life! And remember Only Good Things to Come. Oh screw it….Only Amazing, Fabulous, Brilliant and FUN Things to Come.

With Love and a huge ass smile,

Lee

To be honest, I don’t know where to begin. I was so overwhelmed before I went into surgery by the amazing words of encouragement and support that I had received. But nothing, nothing prepared me for what has happened since. The heartfelt words that were written on my face book page, the emails sent, the beautiful cards that I received when I came home last week…. Unfortunately, it takes events like these to realize how much you are loved and thought of and as such Thank You doesn’t seem to do it justice. A close friend reminded me the other day that “you can tell the true measure of a (wo)man by the company (s)he keeps” and if I were ever unsure of who I am and my place in the world to take stock of what has occurred and I what I created in terms of community. I was of course taken back by the enormity of what they said, but later that evening when I was laying in bed, really started to think about the depth of it and the consequences of our action and words. Please accept this humble thank you for your support and encouragement. My continued health and fast recovery is due in large part to you all. I am forever grateful.

As most of you already know the surgery was a complete success. Herman has left the building. Once of the greatest pieces of advice I received before going into surgery was to make sure I was in a great mental/emotional place before I went under, because the body would retain that position when I woke up. NICOLE you are a genius. I took your advice to heart and kicked some royal Butt! I was so upbeat and so ready for this surgery nothing was going to deter me from waking up to see my kids and having the rest of my life to enjoy. In fact I don’t think the doctors were prepared for Lisa “Mary Poppins” Swengros. I walked into the OR head held high politely asked the surgical team (all 10 people in the Operating Suite) “Are we ready to kick a little Ass? Let’s get this thing out already!”. After 3.5 hours the doctors were able to successfully remove Herman with very little complications. I woke up true to Nicole’s words, happy, excited and alive. What the OR nurses who stayed with me in recovery couldn’t believe is that I woke up with a huge smile. I was not nauseas, bewildered, confused….just looking to find out how long until happy hour. Yes, I really did ask for a scotch and cigar in recovery a few minutes after waking up! Ask Dayna, she can attest.

My recovery went just as smoothly in ICU – mentally that is. Yes, we had a few minor hiccups medically and yes we are still monitoring my pituitary functions closely…but nothing, NOTHING is or was going to get in my way of recovering fully and moving forward. I can promise you all that. The tales are true, my BFF [MAR, thank you. A better BFF I couldn’t find] made sure my hospital bed was beautiful, my hair was presentable, lipstick was on and YES – I did wear awesome PJ’s before welcoming all of the amazing visitors – My entire family, Taylor, Dayna, Mar, Susan, Ellen x2, Jen, Andy, Neil, Donna, Jackie, Monroe - (yes – I also received and continue to wear a tiara from another princess).

Friday I was moved to a regular room and finally was able to see the two most important people in my life. Emily and Jacob – just thinking about seeing them walk into the room makes me both smile and tear. Of course they were true to form. Jacob came over to me and asked “is it really over, did they really get everything, are you really going to live mommy?” Emily asked if the tiara I was wearing was mine and could she have it. That night was then topped off by a visit from Ellen & Ellen complete with French food. Yes, Lisa had escargot. Love Ya gals.

Saturday I was discharged directly under the care of another amazing friend Susan. Again, no words can do the acts of kindness and generosity credit. Susan took me to her apartment in the city and nursed me back to health for the next 4 days, waking up in the middle of the night to make sure I took my medicine, checking in to make sure I wasn’t running fevers, monitoring my progress with the doctor’s, all the while taking care of her husband and kids back at their home in CT. Now that gal can multi task. Susan, I love you and thank you for all of your warmth, love and care.

I am now resting comfortably at home and getting stronger every day. More importantly, I am making every day count. Something I urge you all to not take lightly. If you take nothing else away from what I have gone through, please remember that this life is not a dress rehearsal, so go out there and make it count. Be Happy. Love the Life you Live and Live the Life you Love. I know I intend to.

Now to the information many of you have been waiting for. The early Pathology is in and everything points to a positive and full recovery. While I do have some additional information, I do not have it in entirety and would not be able to answer and follow up questions - and I know I have tons, so I can imagine some of you will as well. As such, in true Lisa fashion I am waiting until I am fully in the know to go public – but again I will reiterate my true belief and initial reaction from the doctors….Nothing But Good Things To Come!