Feel More Human • 11.8.21

[@geekybunnycat]

2:16 "Father, Scoop God has forsaken me."

[@LunaRayArclight]

The betrayal hurts, Father.

[@AirriMikochan]

So story time. Earlier this year I had surgery to remove two large ovarian cysts (and one entire ovary as it turns out) which required them opening me right up as opposed to keyhole and I was sleeping in an arm chair for a good 3 weeks and officially on bedrest for 4. And let me tell you, bending hurt. The bathroom was the worst because bending to sit hurt. Standing hurt. Everything hurt. Showering was just under the water and rinsing because moving to wash hurt. It's not fun. So I'm so glad that Mal has Steven to help because nothing helps more then just. Having someone look out for you, not to mention everything else. Wishing you a speedy recovery and that you're not too bored during the healing. Because that's also the worst.

[@nishka_w]

Being ill/recovering on your own is so hard. I'm glad you've (hopefully) made a full recovery and are pain free too!

[@silverlightyoake9938]

Stephen gets the husband of the year award in my opinion. You two are handling this so well really and it's nice to see Mal eating and processing more normal food like avocado toast which has nutrients that her body is going to need. Enjoy those games Mal and remember to just relax!

[@TsunamiKitten56]

Mal, continue getting excited over small things! Diet, showers, more mobility are all things that will make the recovery process a little easier. During my recovery after my first hip surgery I finally played through BioShock! (Thanks for making me addicted to that game , Stephen) ❤️

[@enesevanderwalt5900]

Wow Stephen, doing great catching up with the vlog (for context 2 x 2018 vlogs as well as 12 x 2021 vlogs in 18 days) . Good job! Also happy that Mal can have some real food. Yay!

[@NekoEcho13]

LOL to Kepler's daylight savings food schedule reaction. Bless. 😂

[@arcadia4691]

Glad the shower worked out. Just keep the faith, and give it time.

[@TheZavinskiStories]

For posterity's sake, HUGE thank you to all those who signed the digital get-well card that Mal received this day. 210 people wished her well in a 60+ page-long card that Mal somehow read all in this one day. For those who sent well wishes in spirit, we thank you as well. It was such a great community effort.

[@filippopratesi2997]

I didn't know about this, but I'll join in spirit as well!

[@FlashtheFirefox]

I didn’t know about this otherwise I would have happily signed

[@TheZavinskiStories]

@@FlashtheFirefox I'm not a famous guy, so it's basically impossible for me to let anyone know beyond the patrons on Discord. 😅

[@FlashtheFirefox]

It’s alright, I understand. I sadly can’t afford to be a patron right now so I tend to miss stuff like this, it’s not your fault.

[@lunalector4951]

To stephen’s question of how to do post op without having someone home: In post op from my lap procedure I had my SO home for the week after. But I mostly slept and that’s all. I would get up, go to the couch, and sleep. Get from the couch to go to bed and sleep. I went back to work after a week but I was work from home so I was able to have a lot of leeway with my issues. With both post op and my pain in general, I’ve been so lucky to work from home. A lot of the time I would have to work from the couch or the bed because of how I would have to sit to be comfy. A lot of the time it is just me so in each of the 3-4 places I spend time (work desk, computer desk, living room, and bedroom) I have some of my meds close by, I have blankets and such put near by, and I keep good chairs or futon mattresses, etc near by in case I just can’t move myself away. It’s doable, but dang have I had to make some adjustments

[@moonlitlilies]

Honestly it is wonderful to see Stephen being a great caretaker! I wish I had someone that would have been as concerned when I had my laparoscopic surgery (I had a 10 cm ovarian cyst and fallopian tube removed). And while it might not have been as extensive as Mal's procedure, having someone willing to take care of you makes a world of difference! I had the unfortunate experience of having to rely to roommates who I thought were going to help me more than what actually happened. Imagine my shock of having my roommate tell me that she would not help me buy groceries (that I would pay for) and that I should drive myself 48 hours post op! The night before I had almost fainted so I did not feel comfortable driving a car and I could only shuffle around the house for a few laps at a time before feeling dizzy and fatigued. The recovery process does get better with time, getting out of bed and moving around a bit helps tremendously in the long run. My biggest recommendation to anyone recovering from a surgery where you have a reproductive organ removed is to stay away from stairs for at least a month! Once I went back to work after 2 weeks and I had to go down the stairs I would feel sick several minutes after and this continued for several weeks after returning to work. Best of luck with your recovery Mal!

[@stuartdunlop8834]

Glad to see you both moving forward with things and doing things in increments. Hopefully things will progress smoothly. Also, Stephen, that toast looked amazing. Cannot wait to see what else you come up with for Mal.

[@jaybird7]

Been keeping up on these vlogs because I'm undergoing surgery tomorrow, totally different than endo of course but surgery ain't fun either way. Wishing Mal a speedy recovery, keep up the good work, Nurse Stephen!

[@ohnospacey]

Oh man, I loved the Adventure Zone! That's sweet of Dan to get you the graphic novel! :D

[@hadla]

Love the Kirby pillow! Wish I could go help you to take care of her! Her recovery will speed up since y’all are home and more comfortable :) I’d sit and play Nintendo games with her all day!! Omg I would love to play mean bean machine with someone!

[@TakersSoulGirl22]

Sending Good Vibes from Canada still. Yay! Shower worked out. Glad Mal is doing better. Going at a slow pace and giving it time really does help. Also, something about being at home after a surgery or anything like that is comforting.

[@spriddlez]

My mom had her hip replaced a few years ago. My dad was retired so he could help her but I ended up taking a day off work to go be with her both to give my dad a break and to allow him to run errands outside the house. It was super eye opening about how intense surgery recovery is. My mom had to do like a 1-2 hour routine every 3 hours and it was a full time job helping her. Surgery is no joke.

[@morgancrabtree6248]

I love Catquest hope Mal enjoys/enjoyed it. Also I don't know if you have a physical copy so you might not know about Catquest 2. I'm glad you're slowly but surely recovering Mal!

[@estelledubuc3485]

Thank you guys for all the work that you've done. I hope the recovery Will go well.

[@AlmightyVincent]

Watching these last few vlogs makes me feel like I am apart of your journey and recovery. I'm happy to see you guys are doing well after all that has happened and glad to see each of you looking after one another. As a way to pass on good vibes I've been re-listening to Fobbies are Borange and losing my mind to its hilarity. I recommend everyone here to do the same especially if you never have. Fobbies are Borange is audio show that is a comedy spin of the story of Eathbound. Stephen plays Ness and Mal plays some small roles as well. Keep up the high spirts you guys and God Bless

[@HeyItsAJOmega]

Honestly, sometimes toast is the absolute MVP of food. Either on its own, cheese on toast, beans on toast, avo toast like here, whatever. Sometimes it's just spot on, and its always there for ya. Perfect comfort food. Gonna go make myself some cheese on toast with my cuppa this morning ^_^ glad you guys are doing well and I hope recovery continues smoothly.

[@dstinnettmusic]

The relief on Mal’s face strikes me every update video.

[@GyroCannon]

As someone who is in the Discord and saw Mal post about the spirometer, I legit laughed when it cut to Mal trying to fill it

[@StarryNovaSaiyan]

So, I have to preface this with thing before I explain the story that this is digging from whatever I can remember from 2009. But this is to help answer the question Stephen asked of what happens if a person doesn't have help. I am in a place where I can openly talk about this. My mom had major surgery for a hysterectomy in early December. From what I can remember, she didn't have much help with her recovery aside from the small bits of help I did. I was 18 at the time. There were 3 other adults besides me in the house and one of them was my dad aka her husband. She got pushed into doing things sooner than ordered. I know she had to use stairs sooner to sleep in the basement where her bed was since my grandmother (her Mother-in-law) was doing things that were actively disrupting my mom's sleep. Like watching TV at 5:30 am in the living room when there was a TV in another room. She drove, shopped, and cooked before Christmas and the surgery happened on the 7th and she struggled. I was with her for some of that just incase she needed it because apparently no one else was really making sure. She recovered ok, and while I am sad that I should have done more, these vlogs have made me mad at my dad for not doing more for his wife. Edit: Just something I remembered, but my mom is allergic to codeine and hydrocodone. Not only that but she was sure she was starting to develop an allergy to morphine. So many of the common pain killers were just something she couldn't take even at the hospital. So Stephen, to answer the question of what happens when you don't have help when recovering from major surgery? You get forced to do things sooner than what the doctor ordered and hope nothing goes wrong.

[@rachieturtle]

Mal is making such great progress! It's so great to see. Being able to relax at home definitely helps. The Adventure Zone!!! Fun fact: I know the authors ^-^ they're from my hometown. Clint taught a theater class that i took when I was in college (plus he's a very well known radio host here) and my sister went to high school with one of the brothers.

[@rachelbradley7919]

You are both amazing!! Stephen, you are a gifted caregiver and an inspiration. Mal, you are a warrior!!! Your videos will be so helpful and encouraging to others dealing with major surgery and caregiving!! Oh ..and your folks are THE BEST, Stephen. It's obvious you get your nurturing skills from your loving parents. Continuing to pray for rest, healing and full recovery. Thank you so much for sharing your journey. Your example of how to handle life...head on, with honesty, even when nervous, with hard work, diligence and love are encouraging!! You ROCK!

[@lexien8239]

I got so excited seeing the TAZ graphic novels! Im glad your enjoying the adventure zone mal! Strongly reccomend dimension 20 if you have check them out yet :) #teammal

[@PrincessSunnyoftheSandWings]

Yay for Mal!!!! Keep up on the awesome recovery #TeamMal

[@snakechu]

I will admit you mentioning how cold it was in Atlanta it threw me off. Cause where I live right now it is now constantly getting in the low 30s and high in the 50s and is only going to get colder, so you saying that 40 was freezing made me had to do a double take in remembering where ya'll live normally XD Glad that Mal has access to all the video games while in her spot! Also good to hear the shower went well!

[@ThePisceanDragon]

That first shower after surgery always feels amaaaaaazing.

[@Swift4Sweeper]

AVOCADO CRONCH

[@AnachronisticALLOS2401]

This day was my birthday, but I hope Mal's feeling a good amount better now!

[@AlanCS1104]

So glad Mal is getting better. Keep up the good work! Also, I started watching your LP of A Way Out and I am enjoying it. Can't wait for more! #TeamMal

[@Sephiroth1204]

Myrtle Beach: Feel More Human, a new game by David Cage I'm glad you were able to return home so fast, it's so much easier to heal in a comfortable and familiar environment

[@LumiLunar]

For you Dear Hank and John listeners, the avocodo pronunciation differences shows up in the first minute. Stephen pronounces the first "a" as a short " a " sound like John. Mal pronounces the first "a" as a short "o" sound like Hank.

[@Kinnakeeter]

Glad she's starting to feel better. It's gonna take time though and a lot of work. #TeamMal

[@tonkyland]

the last bit of the vlog gave me huge déjà vu l ike??? why do i feel like i heard that exact thing about the showers and talking about details what the heck? did i dream of watching the vlog?? wacky...

[@doan2300]

Cat quest ftw. It's a pretty good relaxation game.

[@CrescentLizzy]

To answer a question for Stephen, if someone has no family or support system after major surgery, they go to a short term home or they stay in the hospital. It sucks but then they're able to have that help they need. Also yay Cat World!

[@TalesOfTheDamned]

I know how it feels to get a good night's sleep coming from being at a hospital , I have had open heart surgery in the beginning of 2020 and I had to be at the hospital for 9 days to get my pacemaker replaced and when I got home from staying with my parents, I actually got some good sleep

[@HazelDuck]

I recently had an operation on the nerves of my right leg and the three weeks before I could fully bend it and start using it as normal was a such a struggle. The first week was basically just rest, going between the couch and the bed, and letting it rest up as much as possible between short bursts of using it to exercise by standing and making food, or walking around the loungeroom. Thankfully by the second week I was able to bend it enough (had to start getting the muscles and nerves on the road to normal) to put on non-pyjama shorts and socks + shoes and head back to work. The worst part for me was waking up in the mornings as all the pain medications had worn off, and I'm not the best sleeper, causing my entire lower body to be in immense pain until the pain meds kicked in. Just barely around 8 weeks post-op now, and it's back to normal, minus a bit of sensitivity and weird strength issues when the nerve is compressed (I still can't squat yet without some pain and weird balance issues), but I can move my right foot again along with it having the muscle strength that a foot should have by default, along with no more foot drop!! I think had my SO been able to be there and look after me, the recovery would have been nicer on my body (ideally I'd have also liked to have taken two weeks off work, but alas, bills had to be paid), but I somehow managed to get it all done myself. The real scare will be come January when I need the other leg done, as my living situation has completely changed since I had the first op, and I can't do what I did for my right one, again now. Long-distance relationships really suck for situations like these. As an addendum: Baths were my savior during this time, they were awful to actually do due to needing to keep my leg in the air the entire time, but it was at least a reasonable struggle to bear just so I could feel better. You don't realise how much you miss showers until you're forced to take awkward baths for two and a half weeks that leave you sore and exhausted after.

[@FoxheartRiverclan]

is... is that not how you guys normally take pain killers? i've been taught to eat before taking pain killers since i was like, a baby.

[@AllenTax]

Thanks to Flat Kirby! Glad to have Keppy to! A walk in and sit shower be best.

[@Grindeldore]

Oh definitely always eat before taking meds, meds on an empty stomach are the worst!

[@Psykitty96]

Especially the nausea that comes with it

[@thelegoglitcher1359]

My mom's friend had a hysterectomy in august and her mom was out there for after surgery and my mom flew out later for 2 weeks to be the recovery buddy

[@smeake]

I had an avocado for the first time on my sub, it was good. I will have to try avocado toast next. I’m happy Mal can have real food.

[@kylechristie6526]

9:19 "I think I'm going to end the vlog here" As there is almost 3 minutes of the vlog yet XD

[@timhutchinson8485]

Dr Mario 64 is my favorite so far on the Switch64. I feel a little weird saying that. :\

[@ChibiFighter]

I had a gonadectomy and my ovaries removed when I was born so I relate with Mal.

[@Psykitty96]

Take it one day at a time

[@luigigrabspam4596]

There's nothing more millennial than avocado toast lol

[@DevinY1]

I kinda forget that Vlogs are in the Past lol. I assume things are much better right now haha.

[@darkbladesceptile5811]

#ThankYouKirby

[@dude4269]

There nothing like sleeping in your own bed. Goodvibes #teammal

[@wanderinggstars]

I remember when I was sick with mono and couldn't eat real food because my throat was so swollen all I wanted was a burger 😭😭😭

[@djsherbetx]

wait do you guys in america not have Carers leave?

[@MajorKerina]

Oh I wish we did

[@saigebaker5826]

Stephen, Just think of Mal as a delicate little and precious flower that u know she is💐🌹🥀🌷🌺🌸🌻🏵🌼💮 And Mal, throughout the years of watching the Vlog, I have thought and looked up to u as an AMAZING role model, a teacher and a gosh darn (Stephen's PG Vlog language) to everyone from the internet or away from being the Internet Grandma, I have also and ALWAYS look up 2 u as a big sister 2 me and I'm an only child, and there have been some parts and times where I have always thought just how nice, sweet, cool and just plain amaing how it would be to have a big or little sister, and after watchng u, I have kinda decided to Ilegally adopt u and Stephen as my big sister and brother than my Internet Grandparents, I've loved u guys from the first Vlog called Day 1029 KITTENS! And from that moment forward, I loved u guys, U guys helped me through the hardships I've had going in my current life form really bad breakups to whatever crap a 22 year old girl has going on in her life. So thank guys from the bottom of my heart 4 eveything u have done 4 not ONLY me but 4 ery other Stephenite that watches the Daily Vlogs and Let's Plays. And I am so happy, lucky, grateful and even fortunate to have a birthday 20 days from urs and Dan's. And Stephen's birthday is 6 days from Aerosmith Singer Steven Tyler. Again, I love u guys so much and I wish Mal a safe, happy and healthy recover, and she will always be in my prayers, thoughts and dreams. OK. Maaaaaybe her being in my dreams is a little weird and creepy but u know what Mean Big Sis And Bro!!!!!🥰💙 P.S. I did get a little teary eyed while writing this 4 u Mal and Stephen. And I also think of Deb, Steve, Mark and Wanda (or is it Rhonda.....?????.....HMMMMM.....) As my actual grandparents ESPECIALLY Steve and Mark because unlike Deb and Wanda (Rhonda. Still not sure on the speeling of her name, so please 4give me Wanda) I NEVER Got to meet my grandfathers, Maybe when i was like 2 years old but how in the actual crap am I going to remember my dad's father at that age!? And I NEVER got the chance to meet my mom's dad either. He died in the hospital in San Francisco while I was living in Georgia when I was 8 years old. I remember coming home from school one day and going straight to the kitchen grabbing a Fruit Roll Up or something for a before dinner snack and I remember my mom telling me some sad news that her dad (Richard Urdahl) died in the hospital in San Francisco and I IMMEDIATELY Cried and hugged my mom at the fact and thought that I NEVER got to meet him. So that's why I think of Mark and Steve as my non biological grandfathers. So thanx for EVERYTHING u, Stephen, Johannes Kep Kep Kepler, Carl Sagan, Rocco's Modern Life and everyone else in the Georg/Stepehn Friends Corporation!!!!! Luv u all so so so so so much from the bottom of my heart thank u!!!!!💙

[@KatieJoMikell]

Please get Mal a shower seat it will be so much easier. I believe they rent them at most local drug stores?

[@KatieJoMikell]

Cold? 40? Oh you probably meant 40 below zero 😎. True Chicagoan here ⛄️

[@tyreesetjjoyner1995]

Good video