Jennifer. J. Chow

Guess I Don’t Really Need This Organ…

Hey! Jen here with a personal update… It’s been said that you’ve gotta kill your darlings when writing.

Now, I get to do it in real life. While I’m not killing a darling, I do generally like keeping my organs around. Sadly, I’ve had this growing fibroid (aka Fran), who’s been lurking and taking over others’ space. Fran has recently been bullying my bladder and jostling my digestive system, so it’s time to give her a notice of eviction; she moves out next week.

When I first mentioned to my family that I was getting a robotic hysterectomy, one of my kids looked shocked: Wait, are you getting a robot uterus? No, though, that does sound pretty cool. Plus, my dad did love The Bionic Woman, and I must admit that I admired the Transformer I saw at WonderCon:

So, I suppose my life has been like its own mystery. At first, all clues were pointing to I-think-I-can-wait-this-out. But now, plot twist—surgery!

Any plot twists in your life?

31 thoughts on “Guess I Don’t Really Need This Organ…”

  2. Ugh, Jen. Been there, done that. Twice. First, I had a myomectomy and just had the fibroid removed. The hysterectomy came a few years later. Probably should have just done the second surgery first and been done with it. Sending big but gentle hugs.

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  3. Jen,

    thank you for sharing. I never did like the name Fran, so good choice to kill off (Fran Dressler’s voice in The Nanny is annoying has all get out).

    as far as me? Dealing with the hubbs being in the hospital, for over a week now. He will get sent to rehab I hope next week, and be home within a month.
    but, I’m kind of liking the bed to myself 😝

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  4. I went through that 15 years ago… before they had robotic surgery. Once the 6 week recovery period was over (I got the full slash across the abdomen), I felt like a new person and hadn’t realized how much pain the fibroids had been causing me, until it was no longer around. Sending good thoughts and wishes for a speedy recovery!

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  8. Hit the road, Fran–and don’t come back no more no more no more…! Wishing you the very best, Jen, for a speedy recovery–and congrats on that Anthony nom, woohoo! (Also El and our Chicks Emerita Kellye!)

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  11. I don’t think I’ve ever read a funnier description of having something removed. I’m glad you’re dealing with it with humor! Hope it goes beautifully and we can all laugh about it some more later!

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  12. Sorry to hear this. I hope the surgery is easy and your recovery is swift.

    Me? I’ve had a few plot twists in my life. I’ll just talk about the one where my publisher decided to let 20+ authors go with no warning at all. That was fun.

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  13. So sorry to hear that you have had issues with Fran! Glad she is going away. Bon Voyage to her on her one-way trip. You are handling this in a very positive way Jen. That is a plus for you. My plot twist is what has happened to my best friend in Texas. She just survived chemotherapy and then lung surgery to remove the now shrunken tumor and half of her lung. It was golf ball sized but had not spread and she is cancer free which is unusual it seems for lung cancer. But then she had continuing inflammation in her knees. Turns out she had an infection in both knees (they were replaced in 2011). She went in Friday and was told she would have surgery Wednesday. They are trying to figure out what kind of infection to treat it correctly. None of the cultures have grown yet. They have her on regular antibiotics for 4-6 weeks. They had to flush both knees and replace all of the plastic parts but not the joints. Now she is recuperating in the hospital, getting PT and then moving at some point to rehab. I really was worried that I would lose her as she just turned 80. Still not out of the woods, but I got to hear her voice today. Happy Mother’s Day Jen. I love your books. Keep us posted!

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      1. I did. The surgery was successful, and she is cancer free which is a rarity in lung cancer apparently. She started infusions and got sick. Then she got inflammation in her knees that would not go away, and it turned out to be an infection. They rushed her into surgery three days later, flushed her knees with antibiotics as it was in both knees. She had them both replaced in 2011. They replaced all of the plastic parts but not the joints. She was in the hospital a week and then to rehab for a week where they worked her for four hours daily. She finally got home. She has to be on infused antibiotics for 4-6 weeks. Three different doctor appointments next week. They have not started PT at home yet and won’t let her go to PT at a place due to the antibiotics. So seemingly better but still not up in the air.

        Thank you.

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  14. I thought I had commented here! (Or maybe just ran straight to texts.) So sorry you have to deal with this Jen, but I join the chorus of voices here saying that I hope the afterwards brings relief and comfort! Sending all the healing wishes! (And big congrats on the noms, Chicks.) ❤️

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