Together Pink

No matter what medical issues you are facing, the number one thing to be sure of is that you trust your doctor 100%. Remember, they are your employee; you are paying them to find and treat your condition. If you don’t have a warm and fuzzy feeling about your doctor, get a new one! This is your life and you have the power to hire a doctor that will listen to you.

Lynne, you need to get a second opinion immediately. Or if you really like your doctor, insist on a biopsy. Do not wait six months. My doctor said six months would be devastating since I had a very aggressive form of cancer. Your doctor should not “think” that it is benign. It should be a medical fact that it is benign, which I think can only be proven by a biopsy. Most of the time, the biopsy is almost painless. I would recommend a biopsy as soon as possible. Stay persistent until you know that it is not cancer.

Hang in there. Let me know if I can help.

As for me this week, I had two doctor’s appointments. Tuesday, I went to see Dr. Deutsch. My belly incision broke Friday night, so I was really worried. The gap is about 2 ½ inches by ¾ inch and you can see the cadaver skin that he had to put there. He said he could not sew it back up because it may be a harbor for infection. It has to heal from the inside out. I put hydrogen peroxide and antibiotic cream on it several times a day to prevent infection. It’s still holding its own and appears to be healing. I’m staying positive that it will heal with no problems. He said we could deal with the visual aspect later once I am completely healed. My breasts are healing great! Their color is normal! I look like the “bride of Frankenstein” with stitches and cuts everywhere on my body, but it will all be over with soon!

Wednesday, I had my appointment with Dr. Ballard. He is no longer coming to Fayetteville every week, so I have to make the trek to Howell Mill every three weeks now. But he is worth it. Like my first paragraph indicates, you must trust your doctor 100%. I had the choice of staying with the group in Fayetteville or staying with Dr. Ballard. That was a no-brainer. He is the best!! He is impressed with my recovery. My blood results were good, so I was able to take the Herceptin. I was really pleased with the nurses in the infusion room. The nurses in Fayetteville were all so good, that I was unsure of what to expect there. But I was extremely pleased.

I’m still not able to stand up straight, but that should come after about 4 ½ weeks according to Dr. Deutsch. I’m walking to the mailbox several times a day (yippee!). I’ll be glad when I can walk around the block.

I have found that the key to recovery is to stay positive and happy. I thank God every day that I have the opportunity to live! I hope that I can be an inspiration to others once this is over. Being diagnosed is not the end of the world. I have proven to myself that I am strong and have courage and determination to win any battle put in front of me. Thank you for giving me the encouragement to be motivated to get over this.

- Ann

Mom got a great report from Dr. Deutsch yesterday. He says she’s doing great, although it will take a while to fully recovery from the surgery.

- Jessica

Sorry I haven’t updated sooner. Hectic week.

Mom came home on Sunday as planned. Since then, she’s been resting most of the time, but trying to get up and walk around some as well. The last time I talked to her, she had made it almost to the mailbox a few times and was going to keep at it. She’s working to be able to stand up straight. With this procedure, you have to go really slowly with stretching out the abdominal muscles.

So, Mom’s doing well. She is in pain, though. Not excruciating, but bad enough that she knows not to skip any of her meds.

I’ll try to put the next update up sooner rather than later.

- Jessica

Wow – what a difference one day can make. I can’t believe how well Mom is doing. I just got off the phone with her and she sounds great. Dr. Deutsch says she’s healing beautifully and can go home in the morning! She’s made 3 trips down the hall today and will probably do 1 or 2 more before the day is up. She’s off the pain pump and IV meds, taking everything orally now. Of course, there’s pain, but she’s trying to do whatever she can for herself and is able to get up on her own. She’s thinking she’ll probably go home around 11 tomorrow, going straight back to bed for the next phase of recovery.

My mom is amazing.

- Jessica

Mom is doing great! She’s in a lot of pain (to be expected), but they’re taking great care of her at Northside. The nurses on the 3rd floor are awesome. We’ve seen the same nurses all 3 times, and they’re really wonderful caretakers. I can’t say enough good things about them.

Mom was able to walk a little today around the room with assistance. When I last spoke with Grandma, they were going to try and get her walking in the hall later today. She’s still not even up for talking, so I’ve just had to relay messages to her.

Continue to send positive energy/prayers for healing and strength.

- Jessica

If you’ve read the first part previously, just scroll down for the updates

Not much to report just yet. They didn’t take her back until almost 11 and the surgery is supposed to last for 5 hours.

One little story… Mom is usually TERRIBLE with IVs. Unfortunately, with any breast surgery, they’re not able to use her chemo port and instead have to put an IV in her hand. Sometimes they have to try 5 or 6 times to get it. This time, I was back with her when the nurse tried. Mom immediately tensed up and stopped breathing, which made the situation bad and prevented the nurse from getting the IV started. I started singing “Dreamland” by Mary Chapin Carpenter (listen here – it’s beautiful) and immediately the situation changed. The nurse was able to get the IV going on the first try. The nurse joked that she was going to keep me captive back there to help with the other patients.

So right now, Grandma and I are in the waiting room. I’m working, and Grandma’s watching soap operas. I’ll update this post when I know more.

Update 1

Dr Deutsch just came back and said everything went well. She’s in recovery, awake, and we’re hoping we get to see her soon. They looked up the drugs that she was given in February in hopes that she won’t have to repeat that experience. Hopefully this time she can just rest and get on the path to healing.

Update 2

Mom is resting, her thumb on the pain pump button and her IV flowing with anti-nausea medication and muscle relaxers. Grey’s Anatomy just finished, so Grandma’s ready for bed now – lol. I just got home; Mom wanted me to go to work tomorrow (thanks, Mom!) and didn’t want me to miss the the concert tomorrow night that I bought tickets for a month ago. I’ll probably go back to Northside this weekend to see her and help focus some healing energy her way. Any thoughts, prayers, or meditations for healing and comfort are welcome and much appreciated. This is what we hope will be her last major surgery, with perhaps 2 or 3 outpatient surgeries to follow. She’s really powered through this whole year, and I expect her recovery this time will follow the same path. Thank you for your continued support. Your prayers and positive energy have no doubt made a huge impact.

Thank you.

- Jessica

Sorry I haven’t updated in a while. Can you believe that it’s been over two months since I completed chemotherapy on July 1? Dr. Ballard started me on Tamoxifen, which is used to treat women diagnosed with hormone-receptor-positive, early-stage breast cancer after surgery to reduce the risk of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer coming back. Some of the side effects are hot flashes, leg swelling, and pain in the pelvis. Of course, I have all of these. They said I would get used to it in a few months. It’s tolerable, just aggravating walking like an old woman when I get out of my chair or out of bed. I will still be taking Herceptin treatments until about April.

My hair is growing back very thick! But my eyelashes just fell out. I try to put on mascara in the mornings, but I only have 1 lash left on one side and about 3 on the other side. I hope they will grow back thick and long!!! Wouldn’t that be wonderful!

I start my reconstructive process tomorrow – Thursday, September 24. We have to start all over since the tissue expanders did not work due to infections. Dr. Deutsch will perform a Pedicle Tram Flap procedure. I’ll be in the hospital for 3 days and recovery is expected to be 4-6 weeks. But as you all know, I’m one tough cookie, so I am expecting to be back working from home in about 2 weeks.

Mama is going to stay with me again until I can move around a little (or at least take a shower by myself). Thankfully, she is feeling much better after her surgery.

Jessica will keep you posted during and after the surgery.

Keep me in your prayers for a successful surgery and speedy recovery! I’m nervous and a little scared, but excited to get another step behind me.

Love ya!
Ann

“Life may not be the party we planned for, but while we are here, we might as well dance!”

Finally, I am feeling good these days. With the infection gone and the chemo treatments done, I know I’ll soon be better than my old self. I certainly have a different outlook on everything. God has given me the opportunity to live and to make every day a day of happiness and success. Music and laughter are a huge part of my daily life. Just before I got sick, my oldest granddaughter, Kaylee, asked me to buy a plaque that she really liked. I set it in the closet and forgot all about it until I was putting away some things this morning. I love the words:

Work like you don’t need the money
Love like you have never been hurt
Sing like no one is listening
Dance like no one is watching

I am so thankful for every day. It is great to be back at work and to be doing things around the house a little. I’m looking forward to the day when I can do everything again.

Dr. Deutsch wants to give my body time to heal from the last surgery and from the chemo. I don’t see him again until September 2. At that time we will decide how and when we can start the reconstruction process. We have to go a different route since he took out the tissue expander on the right side. He mentioned getting tissue and muscle from my back – Ouch! I still have fluid retention from the chemo treatments, so we need to see how much actual fat will be left after it gets out of my system.

I will be taking Herceptin treatments every three weeks now. It is going to be great not having to go to doctors every week. Next week will be the first week (since March!) without seeing a doctor!!!

I’m super excited about our adults only girls’ weekend at Lake Oconee in a few weeks. Just a few of us are going over to relax, laugh, and have fun. It will be a much needed break!

I almost forgot to mention the Peanut Congress last month. We had Larry Jones from “Feed the Children” as one of our guest speakers. His program does so much for people in the U.S. and around the world. They are now putting two jars of peanut butter in every box they give out!!! Peanut butter is very nutritious and does not require refrigeration. Mr. Jones and the American Peanut Council surprised all of us there with a visit by one of his big supporters, Shaquille O’Neal (Shaq). He is a very big man!! It was very interesting to hear him talk about his motivation for supporting the program as well as his love for peanut butter. At the end, one lucky person won an autographed jersey from Shaq. And I won!! I was like a kid running and jumping up the aisle to get it. I was so thrilled!!

Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support. With family and friends rallying around me, staying positive and motivated is easier. Honestly, words are not adequate to express my thanks for your encouragement and many acts of kindness.

Ann did get to go home today. No fever through the night and she said she felt as if he just took all the sickness out of her body when he did the surgery. She must have. Ann, Jessica, and I ordered our pizza last night and stayed up laughing until almost 3am! You would have thought we were having a party, rather than at the hospital post-op. When we finally decided it was time to go to sleep, Ann and I couldn’t quit giggling. Jessica wanted to know what was so funny, but I have no clue. Just enjoying being together, I guess. I’m surprised we didn’t get in trouble for being loud.

We thought about it after we posted last night, that some of you may have been wondering why Mama wasn’t there, since she has been there the whole time. She had surgery herself this past Tuesday and I just got her home on Wednesday. She wanted to go, but we told her NO WAY. She is recouping at home just fine. We are hoping she is going to start feeling better soon. Her recovery time should be 2-3 weeks.

Keep praying that there is nothing but good news to post from here on out!

Glenda

Well that was quick. From the time that we left mom in Pre-Op to the time Dr. Deutsch came out to tell us that she was waking up, we spent only 45 minutes in the waiting room. We left her wide awake and she came back to us wide awake. And hungry!!! She wasn’t able to eat anything after she went to her doctor’s visit this afternoon, so the first thing she wanted was some food. Her first nurse wanted her to just eat ice chips. Needless to say, Mom didn’t think that was a good idea, so she ate all of the bland, stupid food that they brought her, said “OK, I kept the ice chips down!”, and now we’ve just ordered pizza.

She’s doing VERY well. She feels much better than when she came in. Dr. Deutsch will be in to see her in the morning and if she looks good, she’ll get to go home. YAY!!! Mom is definitely ready to be done with all this and get on with her life.

I don’t blame her.

- Jessica