Saturday, February 20, 2010

Back To Work

As I had mentioned before, my doctor released me to go back to work. Well, Monday, February 15th was my first day back at work. I was a bit nervous but knowing Scott was right there with me to help was a real comfort. We started at 5:45 am for our first run with our elementary kids. They just kid of looked at me strange. I worn my halo wig with a cap, so I had the short hair and a hat on. Which they were not use to. I guess they figured it sounded like me, but it didn't look like me. Of course, I have lost some weight too. Our intermediate group was glad to see me, one of our boys when he saw me on the bus just came over and hugged me. Our first run was over at 8:45 - 9:00 am. We came home ate breakfast and I laid down. Our next run was at 10:30 am until 12:15. We came home had lunch and I laid down again. Our last run is at 1:30 pm until 4:30-4:45 pm. I was a bit tired. Tuesday was better but on Wednesday I was really tired again. Every day I rest whenever I get a spare minute. We have a layover at our intermediate school in the afternoon and I rest there too. Praise the Lord for all the rest times. Scott is still making sure I rest and don't do too much.
Well, today Scott couldn't stuff my wound any more. The hole is closing up and the q-tip doesn't fit. Yeah! So as you see we are making progress. My next chemo treatment is March 4. Please be in prayer for that one, that I don't have any reaction.

Monday, February 15, 2010

February 11, 2010 - 2nd Chemo Treatment


Our day started early with getting my blood work done at 7:30 am then on to my doctor's appointment at 8:00 am. Got to get a picture of Dr. Solimon with me.
Also, got some good news and some bad news. Good news she released me to go back to work, bad news Scott has to continue to stuff my open wound. After my doctor's appointment we went on to the Infusion Center to get my IV started. That went great, with only 1 stick. So now on we go to the chemo center. Which we had to wait 2 hours before we even got in. I did sleep through 3 hours of it. Some more bad news, with 15 minutes left of chemo, I started feeling hot, thinking it was a hot flash. Pam started fanning me. As she was looking at me she said my face was getting bright red, so were my ears, hands and my palms started iching. We called the nurse and she stopped the chemo. They gave me some more Benadryl and a steroid. Started checking my vitals every 5 minutes. I was a bit nervous. My blood pressure and pulse was up, oxygen down, so they gave me oxygen. Pam said they were squeezing the fluids out of the bags. Boy, did I puff up. As you will be able to see by the pictures.

Well, I am having difficulty trying to add pictures to my blog. You will be able to see pictures on my Care Page.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

It's All Gone


February 10, 2010
Yep, my hair is all gone. Pam, started brushing my hair and it just was coming out by the handful. So we made a quick trip to Walmart (with hats on) and when we came home she literally washed the hair off my head. Not totally but she started cutting it REAL short and then shaved the rest off. It was very emotional for Pam and it has been a hard day for Scott. So far I have handled this part well. I do have a nice looking head, if I say so myself. We took pictures but I didn't know how to upload them right now and everyone is in bed. I will try to get them on tomorrow or the next day.



February 11, 2010 - 2nd Chemo Treatment
Please be in prayer for me that the IV stick is easy and the chemo goes as good as the last one. I am sure Pam will keep you posted. Thank you.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Glad to Go Home

January 10, 2010
Scott is coming to get me after he gets out of church. I got up and got dressed and after I talked to Scott I went walking around the floor. The nurse came in to go over discharge papers and the prescriptions. One for ibrofin, stool softners, vicodin and injections in my abdomen for blood thinner. She said we didn't need to get all of them. I knew I had to get the injections. So I started eliminating some of them. I haven't had any pain meds since they removed the pump. So I don't need them. The nurse said if I need stool softners I could get them over the counter. So all is left is the injections. When Scott got there we talked about the meds. We had a $25 coupon for the injections, so off he went to the Pharmacy. When he comes back he is smiling. He said the total rang up to $1027.00. What! That was just for the injections. Can't imagine what it would of been with everything else. Our insurance co-pay was $135.00, Scott gives them the $25 coupon and the total rings up to $0. Yep, $0. Scott said he just smiled at the man. He knew who took care of this for us. Later I saw and elastic support in the box that I never used or took out of the box. I asked the nurse about it and she took it and said she would credit my account. Another blessing!

January 12, 2010
Called Celine(nurse at MD Anderson) to check in with her and the other nurse. She hasn't given a definite answer to Nicole's salvation. She was suppose to call me back.

January 13, 2010
Went to church Wednesday night.

January 17, 2010
Went to church got to lead a teenage girl to the Lord. Sunday evening Scott got to lead a man to the Lord after the service.

January 18, 2010
Scott had an inservice day at work. That meant he got off early and later we went up to work. Got to see some folks. When I saw Regina we hugged each other and cried. That is a another story. She is a driver and had ovarian cancer, but it was caught real early with the blood test at work and just had to have surgery no chemo. We have just bonded. After that we went to Walmart. Wow, was I tired. I had to go sit down. When I got home I took a nap.

January 26, 2010
Not a good day. Threw up.

Well, after this was the cough to remember, So I guess we are up to date so far on my journey. My niece Pam and her 2 kids are coming in Tuesday and will stay until Sunday. Thursday I go at 7:30 am for blood work, 8:00 am to doctor and 10:00 am for chemo. Just be praying it all goes well.

Day of Surgery

January 4, 2010
Bro. Richard came to the house at 8:00 am we had prayer and left for the hospital. Had to be there by 9 am to check in. Didn't come get me until around 11 am. The four of us just sat there waiting (Bro. Richard, my sister Paula, Scott and me). I must admit I was somewhat nervous, more so this time then last. The IV team come in start the IV and before they took me, Scott had prayer with me again. They gave me a patch for nausea and meds. That made me feel good. Last time after surgery I was so nauseated. Kissed Scott and they took me to surgery. Next thing I know I'm in recovery in ALOT of pain. No nausea but ALOT of pain. Just remember moaning it hurts, it hurts! Got to my room around 6:30 pm. Paula spent the night with me. It was helpful that my sister was able to be with me at the hospital so Scott could work. He needs to work as much as possible.

January 5, 2010
Tuesday got up for first time to sit in chair while they made my bed.

January 6, 2010
Wednesday they took foley out. My IV starts leaking out, they called the IV team to come start another. Yeah, another stick. Sometimes I feel like a pin cushion.

January 7, 2010
Thursday I walked around the floor 6 times. Paula stays at the hospital with me during the day so Scott can go to work and then he comes up after work. I got up to go to the bathroom and I felt something else leaking, my drain. So we called the nurse, which comes check and said she will call the doctor. A while later the doctor (one of Dr. Soliman's fellows) comes to check. She lays me down and says she was going to take it out. But to our surprise it was just hanging there and was no effort. Praise the Lord!
Well, during the whole week I have been handing out books to my nurses and doctors called "What's Behind Your Light" by Dr. James Wilkins. Bro. Wilkins was just at our church in December and said several people have gotted saved by reading this book. Well, Thursday night my nurse Nicole came in, I gave her a book. Alittle while later she came in and asked if I had anymore books, said another nurse out there wanted one. I said yes and told her where they were. Not long after that another nurse came in and said, "You don't know what you did, Nicole was crying as she was reading the book. She is expecting a baby and is going through some rough times. This nurse was a Christian that came in and she was just praising the Lord over and over. She said can we have prayer together, and she prayed and we were praising the Lord." It is about 11 pm and now I am wide awake and praying. I got that nurses name and phone number.

CA125 Elevated - Not Good

December 22, 2009
Now I am going to start from the beginning for this journey. It was December 22, 2009, we just were going for my yearly check up at MD Anderson. As we were sitting in the exam room waiting for the doctor, a lady came in and asked me if I would continue in a study I have been doing for ovarian cancer recurrence. They wanted to up it to 10 years, I said sure and signed the papers. After she left I was sitting there thinking "What if it does come bac?" Well, the doctors came in and informed us that my CA125 was elevated to 71, not good. Wow, not what we expected to hear.

December 23, 2009
They scheduled me again for more blood work, chest x-ray and a CAT scan. The CAT scan was an awful experience. Of course, I had to drink the white stuff, which tastes awful. Then they start the IV. That was too bad. Now they get me ready to start the iodine push. Wow, the pressure in my arm was unbelievable. It pushed the needle out of the vein and all the iodine went in my arm. The tech had to call a doctor and a couple of nurses. They immediately put ice on my arm. The two nurses had to find another vein in my other arm. Which wasn't an easy task. The nurse who found a vein stayed with me until the CAT scan was done. So then I had to wait for a doctor to come look at my arm. She drew a line around it and I had to stay for another 30 minutes so they could keep an eye on it. I asked them to call Scott in. Wow, my arm sure was big. Scott said he was wondering why it was taking so long. After 30 minutes I got to change and go home. We had to keep checking my pulse and pinch my fingertips. If at anytime we couldn't feel a pulse we were to return to the emergency room. My arm was so big I couldn't bend it hardly. Of course, it was my right arm. After awhile at home I started to panic alittle so Scott told me to go lay down with my arm up. Putting ice on and off and keeping it elevated. Not a good time to have a big arm when getting ready for Christmas.
Around 5:00 pm Dr. Soliman called to inform us I had two tumores and that I was going to have surgery on Jan. 4, 2010.

December 24 & 25, 2009
By Christmas Eve it was better. Scott's mom came and spent Christmas Eve night with us. The rest of Scott's family came over Christmas day. We had a good time. Before everyone left we all had prayer together for my upcoming surgery.

Good News & Bad News

Sorry it takes me so long to get updates. I have had a few folks say they were waiting for updates on my blog and care page so I thought I better get with it. I went to the doctor on Tuesday after my emergency room ordeal. The good news is that my blood work was good and my incision looked good. Said Scott was doing a good job. The bad news is, he has to keep stuffing for now. So I am praying that Thursday, Feb. 11 when I go to the doctor she will say we don't have to stuff it any more.

Picture before Cancer Surgery