Reconstruction is Done!

Sorry for the long abscence and no news. Mom has asked again and again for me to blog. It's usually about this time at night that I find the time and lately I've not been in the writing frame of mind. I've been really tired.

Mom & I have the reconstruction surgeries behind us. She was looking forward to hers, whereas I was not! But we are both thankful to be done.

After Mom's reconstruction, she has done better each day. She still has days where she "tanks" but she is getting around the house & actually (unfortunately for her) doing some chores. She is still not able to do any heavy lifting or pushing but can at least clean the kitchen. Dad is overjoyed & has decided that he's off duty after almost a year. I figure that he's not caught up to Mom's "45 years of marriage work", but he graduated a different math school than me :)

She just came to spend the night with me & we had a great visit. It's the first time since last January that she's been able to be with us at our house & we enjoyed her so much. She has lost 35 pounds, has no clothes that fit & has furry cute silver hair coming in. She has black patches that amaze us. Dad calls her a dalmation. We love her hair short & silver, but we'll see if we can convince her to leave it that way. I'll post pictures as soon as I can.

She is doing really well except for neuropathy. Her hands & feet stay freezing/tingling & she is constantly rubbing them. She is to go in next week for blood work to see if the oncologist should increase her medicine.

As for me, my reconstruction was October 20 & it was harder for me this time than last. I say that.... but last time, I had more time to recuperate & had more drugs. (obviously... for those of you that visited me. So sorry Linda Rich!!!!) Be very careful using the word "girls" around me these days.

Anyway, my surgery should have been about 3 hours but ended up being almost 7. The doctor worked & reworked to get things right. My back muscle had to be tightened on the side of the cancer & he went back through most of my scars to clean things up. My back & right side are the problem areas, but they will pass. I am trying to get to where I can lay on that side for sleeping w/out hurting. I know I will feel back to normal again, but the road there is tiring sometimes. I have NOTHING to complain about....I've been enormously blessed....just ready to be back to "me". I went back to coaching about ten days after the surgery but could only talk to the girls. I can not lift my hands above my head all the way yet & I certainly can't show them any basketball moves :) I get the older girls to help me demonstrate. My team of girls is precious & very understanding & careful with me.

I still have stitches but will get them out soon. I think most of you would want me to spare you the details from this point on, but I'll just say that I am close to being a "finished product" & Mom is not that far behind. ha ha! I go strong for a few days & then have a day that I tank & have to rest most of the day. I have not been given permission to do any work outs or any major pushing or pulling. Darn! Housework will have to go to someone else :0 I'm going to ask my doctor to continue to give me that prescription for a while.."no heavy housework".

Mom & I have fun comparing aches, battle scars, laughs, & all else. We are on the downhill side of this whole journey & are so thankful. We've been blessed with precious, Godly men who stood by & took care of us through it all. We could have never made it without them! Dad has been to more doctor appointments with Mom than he has for himself his whole life & Steve has been a Mr. Super Mom this whole time. We have had amazing friends support & love us, bring us food, transport my children, keep my children, send cards, & pray. God is so good & has made this journey, which we would have never wanted to take, such a blessing in many ways.

As always, thank you for your prayers. We still have a little ahead of us, but for the most part, the bad is behind!!! Please continue to pray for Mom especially....that her CT scans, bone scans & blood tests continue to be negative. Pray for her strength physically.

Mom's reconstruction surgery

Mom had her reconstruction surgery yesterday & did great. She woke up much easier this time & was not in as much pain. She is hurting & on morphine, but MUCH better than last surgery.
The doctor took the expanders & the chemo port out & Mom is very very very happy about that!!

She may get to come home today, Saturday, but we have to wait on the doctor this morning.

I'll keep you posted. Thank you for your prayers. She is on the downhill side of all of this!!

New News

Ok..........so it's been a while & Mom is constantly asking me to update the blog. I have no idea if there are 25 or 250 of you reading, but I'll do this for you :)

There is no new news on me.....I have my second reconstruction surgery on October 20; Between volleyball & basketball seasons at our school. I coach volleyball & basketball so I'm trying to take as little time off as possible. I am doing better every single day & getting stronger & stronger. NOTHING to complain about. I am blessed!!!!!

Mom is having her second reconstruction surgey on September 18. She CAN NOT WAIT. She is SOOOOOOO ready to have her "tires" taken out & replaced with semi-normal breasts. She should only have a one night hospital stay & then be home to recuperate. Please keep her in your prayers. As "ordinary" as this may be for the doctor, this is definately not ordinary for Mom. She is anxious but very ready. Of course, EVERYTHING is happening the same weekend. It is not only homecoming with my children's school, but I have responsibilities with my coaching job that requires me to be somewhere the night of her surgery & early the morning after. This may keep me from being able to spend the night with her as I would like to do. She says she is fine alone, but that is NOT an option.

I have some pictures to post, but have to be at Mom's house to do it. My computer will not work for some reason, so I'll get those on asap.

She is recovering one day at a time, but is pretty miserable with some side affects of the chemo medications. She has horrible neuropothy in her hands & feet. By the time nightfall hits, her hands ache all the way to her elbows & makes it hard for her to use her hands. Please pray that this will go away soon. Several friends have told her they are still feeling the effects of chemo many many years after, but our God can do anything!!! :) Mom has said several times, that she would chance the cancer spreading in lieu of the side effects of chemo, but speaking for her family......we are thankful she has had & is done with the chemo. We are not willing to take any chances that the cancer had spread. She is strong & will look back on all of this as a blessing.

We are blessed every day with Mom & love her more than she can imagine. I'm so proud of her & thankful for every day that passes on the road to her FULL recovery!

Thank you for your prayers, constant support & love!!!!!!

Status "quo"

Mom has wanted me to update the blog, but I ask "why?" There is no change as of today. Tomorrow she will visit with the plastic surgeon & hopefully set a date for her last reconstruction surgery. She is still in pain with the "fills". If you've seen her, you know she is a little ummmmmmm , well we'll say "uneven", but she is hoping to get this fixed as soon as possible. She should be done with the fills, & may know tomorrow when her surgery will be.

She is doing much better. Just trying each day to regain the strength she lost due to not eating & laying in bed most days. She came to our house last week & was looking great. Michiel said she was so cute the other day in her turban wrap & makeup. She is beginning to lose her eyelashes & eyebrows after the chemo, but she is a trouper & taking it well. She is trying each day to do more & more to build her strength. She is really enjoying eating! After so long not being able to enjoy food, she is having a good time when Dad takes her out to eat. She is sounding much better on the phone. Little by little the progress is visible. She is doing great! I'm so proud of her. Living through what she's lived through is only REALLY appreciated by someone that's been there.

She & I still have a road to go, but I have NOTHING to complain about. We are still having to take pain meds periodically, but our road is completely downhill from here! Especailly hers!! Thank God we are both on the road to recovery & complete healing that can only come from our most high, most awesome, most compassionate Lord!!! He deserves all the praise.

Thank you for your constant prayers, thoughts, cards, food & support! We love you for all you've done for our family!

Doing well

There is no news to report except that Mom is doing great! Her mouth sores are gone !!! Yeah!
Her biggest problem now is regaining her strength & her feet are swollen. They say it's from the medicine, but they are really bothering her.

She went for another fill in her expander and hopefully this will be the last one. She now has to decide when she wants to do her reconstruction surgery. I'm trying to get her to do it with me so we can share a hospital room :) My surgery is October 20, but I think she wants to get hers done earlier if possible. The plastic surgeon will take out Mom's port & I know she wants that gone ASAP.

I found out this week that I DO NOT have the Brac 1 or 2 gene!! Yeah!! That puts my children at no greater risk than the normal population. Such a praise! I was very relieved to find out. IF there is a family gene, the risk is no greater than any other woman. Doesn't make total sense to me, but I'll believe the professionals.

Mom is sounding better & feeling better. She is able to take phone calls & answer emails now. Returning to everyday life will just be a slow process. Patience is what her doctor said. It may take up to 6 months to feel back to her old "new" self again.

Thank you always for your prayers & letters!

FINISHED!

Mom went back to receive fluids, talked to her Dr. & was released from any further chemo!!  Thank you Lord!~  She has one last appointment in August & then she'll be done with having to visit the oncologist.  I'm not sure when she'll get her port taken out.  She will also have a few more appts. with the plastic surgeon.  

I will have another reconstructive surgery October 20, but I don't know when her 2nd surgery will be planned.  She will probably need to give herself plenty of time & the doctor said that there was no rush.  Maybe by the end of this year, surely the 1st of next; Mom & I both will be cancer free & all treatments done!!  yeah! 

She is trying to do more....not chores, just getting up & around.  She & Dad have gone out to eat some & they even came all the way to my house (45 min.) last night to eat dinner with us.  It was a great treat to have her at my house for the 1st time in 6 months!  She was doing great!  She even walked upstairs.  A huge workout for someone who's been down for such a long time.  She ate great.  Food is tasting wonderful to her again after it being so long since she could eat.  Her mouth sores are gone.  The oncologist told her that hers was the worst case of mouth sores he had ever seen.  Pretty huge!  She is extremely weak & shaky from the treatment.  Dr. said it would be as long as 6 months before she felt like her "old" young self again.  Dad thinks her hair is starting to grow a little.  He loves to pet her head & play with her bald spots. 

I just wish I lived closer to bring food & help get her out more, but maybe she can get to some of our children's sports activities in a few weeks.  Anything out of her bedroom is cause to celebrate!

Thank you for your constant support & prayers!!  I don't know if one or 100 people are reading this, but I do know there are some awesome prayer warriors out there & our family appreciates you more than you will EVER know!!  What a blessing to share such an awesome GOD!~

** please pray that Mom continues to get stronger w/no setbacks & also that my genetic testing come back negative for the brac 1 & 2 gene!!! **

No more chemo hopefully!!!!!

Mom went back for another round of fluids last Friday.  She still has low blood pressure (weird for her) 90 something over 60 something.  At least it's coming up.  Her feet and ankles are very swollen.  The doctor will be back sometime this week & will want to see her, but we all believe she is done with chemo!  YEAH!!!! She is now trying to regain strength.  I'm so proud of her for getting this far!

We went to visit tonight, it had been a while since she felt like company & my girls wanted to see her.  She was much better than last time I saw her.  We fixed her something to eat & she did great.  She is back to being able to eat so much better.  Such a praise.  Thank you Laurie for your meals!!!!  I don't know what Mom & Dad would have done without your family!  You've been such a blessing!!!  You are our family :)  Edmonds & Petty's  constant visits of encouragement have meant so much!!!!  Even the times Mom could not get out of bed....especially those times for Dad!!!  I love you for loving them!!!

We are on the uphill slope.  All the bad should be behind both of us.  I go on Tuesday to the genetic counselor to figure out if I have a gene to be aware of for my girls.  (& for ovarian cancer) :)  fun times !   

God has been so good to us.  We are both survivors....Mom having gone through more than me, but God has not put either of us through more than we could bear.  I know chemo would have DEVASTATED me & my husband & children.  I am so thankful I am spared that treatment!!!  Yet, I feel guilty because Mom had to walk that road & I did not!    Each breast cancer survivor's  journey is different, yet the same.  I have talked to 3 friends lately that were recently diagnosed!  Thank God we have modern technology to find cancer early, but you HAVE TO GO BE TESTED!  Please! The key is to find it early.  

**please pray that Mom's doctor agrees with no more chemo, mouth sores leave for good & I don't have the gene to pass on to my girls!!!!!! ***

Thank you for being faithful friends & prayer warriors!!