So many have stopped by to pick up kids, bring in meals, offer treatment aids and emotional support. The comfort and peace this brings our family is indescribable. If I neglect to pick up the phone, please know that none of your service goes unnoticed. I am amazed at the community of love we get to be surrounded by!
Giant XOXOXO!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Great Friends, Good Times
Eric had signed up for a bike race in Snelling, and Joan and Larry encouraged me to go along for an overnighter since they were here to watch the kids. Even with a sore head and fatigue, it didn’t take much to convince me to jump on a getaway with my husband! We made the 4 hour drive to Val and Cheri's house, arriving in time for a delicious dinner. We stayed up playing cards and chatting before calling it a night.
Eric scooted out a 7 am Saturday morning for a 67 mile bike race in wet slippery conditions. He had a ball, finishing about 10th of 102 riders in his heat. While he was racing, Cheri and I attended a Relief Society seminar, taught by a representative from Stephen R. Covey Industries. He taught a seminar about the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Women, putting a spiritual application on all the principles. It was a perfect pick-me-up and so nice to see familiar faces of people I missed from Merced. We finished up there, went to good 'ol La Hacienda2 for lunch with the Fogelberg’s, then drove home and went to dinner with Stephen family. Short but full trip. I’m looking forward to a peaceful Sabbath day of rest with my family!
Eric scooted out a 7 am Saturday morning for a 67 mile bike race in wet slippery conditions. He had a ball, finishing about 10th of 102 riders in his heat. While he was racing, Cheri and I attended a Relief Society seminar, taught by a representative from Stephen R. Covey Industries. He taught a seminar about the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Women, putting a spiritual application on all the principles. It was a perfect pick-me-up and so nice to see familiar faces of people I missed from Merced. We finished up there, went to good 'ol La Hacienda2 for lunch with the Fogelberg’s, then drove home and went to dinner with Stephen family. Short but full trip. I’m looking forward to a peaceful Sabbath day of rest with my family!
Gamma Knife Radiation Day
While the kids were tucked all snug in their beds, Eric and I snuck out to the Gamma Knife center at 6:30 am. We got right in for vital checks. At 8 am, Dr. Young arrived, excused Eric, and with the help of my nurse, Denise, attached the halo headpiece for the radiation treatment. Four big shots of numbing medication, then four big twists into the scalp (two on my forehead and two in the back of the head), and voila, the headpiece was on. It’s quite heavy.
Following the placement of the halo, the ambulance team came by to put me on a stretcher, then transported me by ambulance from one building to another. I did a MRI scan for the doctors to work on a treatment plan. I was amazed at how quick it all went. It seemed I had just been back from the MRI building before they walked me back to the Gamma Knife room. The process just seemed too easy. I went into a quiet machine for about 18 minutes, came out for repositioning and machine changes, then went back in for another 45 minutes or so. I had fallen asleep to a music cd of Josh Groban and Celine Dion when they pulled me out and let me know that they zapped four of the biggest tumors. Amazing!
I will go in next Thursday to get one more big tumor that’s resting on an optic nerve, and hopefully they’ll be able to get many more, as well. Assuming no more lesions pop up, there are 9 remaining.
Friday morning, we met with my oncologist to dicuss chemotherapy treatments. my brain specilist is concerned about the continuation of more tumors popping up. The plan we made with Dr. Menco is to finish radiation, then do a PET/CT scan to ensure there hasn’t been more cancer growth in other parts of the body, then start a chemotherapy treatment that has had some success with breaking through the blood/brain barrier that most chemo treatments can’t penetrate. I’m not looking forward to the chemo again at all, especially since it sounds so similar to what I was already doing before that didn’t work. My trust is in the doctor’s, though, and the healing that I know will occur.
My life is immensely blessed, even through all this adversity and sickness. The Lord is certainly surrounding me with an army of support and love. I just hope I am able to convey to Him the gratitude I have for all the angels in my life by handling this trial with grace and patience, and not letting the “fear factor” take over. While I am ready for this to be a thing of the past, it’s a trial wherein I have been able to recognize the value of it every single day and it’s been a growing experience for the entire family.
Following the placement of the halo, the ambulance team came by to put me on a stretcher, then transported me by ambulance from one building to another. I did a MRI scan for the doctors to work on a treatment plan. I was amazed at how quick it all went. It seemed I had just been back from the MRI building before they walked me back to the Gamma Knife room. The process just seemed too easy. I went into a quiet machine for about 18 minutes, came out for repositioning and machine changes, then went back in for another 45 minutes or so. I had fallen asleep to a music cd of Josh Groban and Celine Dion when they pulled me out and let me know that they zapped four of the biggest tumors. Amazing!
I will go in next Thursday to get one more big tumor that’s resting on an optic nerve, and hopefully they’ll be able to get many more, as well. Assuming no more lesions pop up, there are 9 remaining.
Friday morning, we met with my oncologist to dicuss chemotherapy treatments. my brain specilist is concerned about the continuation of more tumors popping up. The plan we made with Dr. Menco is to finish radiation, then do a PET/CT scan to ensure there hasn’t been more cancer growth in other parts of the body, then start a chemotherapy treatment that has had some success with breaking through the blood/brain barrier that most chemo treatments can’t penetrate. I’m not looking forward to the chemo again at all, especially since it sounds so similar to what I was already doing before that didn’t work. My trust is in the doctor’s, though, and the healing that I know will occur.
My life is immensely blessed, even through all this adversity and sickness. The Lord is certainly surrounding me with an army of support and love. I just hope I am able to convey to Him the gratitude I have for all the angels in my life by handling this trial with grace and patience, and not letting the “fear factor” take over. While I am ready for this to be a thing of the past, it’s a trial wherein I have been able to recognize the value of it every single day and it’s been a growing experience for the entire family.
How vain am I?
I’m getting a bit depressed from having to take these steroid pills everyday. They are causing “moon face” and an insatiable appetite that I’m having trouble suppressing so the weight is piling on. I would really like to combat the weight gain with exercise, but Dr. Ahn said absolutely not. Light walking is the extent of my exercise capabilities right now because the tumors are taking up the blood supply that rushes to the head when I exercise – dangerous. I’m following doctor’s orders, but will have to start doing yoga or something everyday to help me feel better about myself.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Here we go again....
No words can express the feelings of comfort and strength I received from your prayers and faith last go-round, which is why I want you all to know what we're facing now -- so we can get your continued support and pleading prayers.
After constant vertigo, headaches and vision problems the last month or so, and various other tests (retinal scans, hormone checks, blood work) to determine the cause, my oncologist sent me in for a MRI on Thursday. Friday afternoon we found out that I have 5 large tumors and several other smaller tumors on my brain, accompanied with fluid and swelling (hence the pressure, headaches, and vision problems). Apprently in only 20% of patients where cancer is in body does the cancer spread to the brain. I've been in the small percentile for everything else, why not this I guess?
Radiation is the only route for treating my brain tumors, because there’s just too much for surgery to be a viable option. (doesn’t bother me any – I don’t want anyone cutting into my brain—yikes!) After some deliberation, we decided to do pin-pointed radiation where I’ll be sedated and treated for approx 5 hours for three different sessions, each a week or so apart. If we radiate any other way, I’ll experience hair loss and possible cognitive impairment. It all sounds scary, but I know it’ll be okay. The brain specialist was very encouraging. Though the likelihood of tumors coming back after radiation may be high, he made it sound like he believes they can treat and kill them all as they arise.
I really tried not to let myself get emotional over all this. I've learned that tears accompanied with fear don't do any good, but the few hours between the diagnosis and meeting with the brain specialist I was a bit shaken up and frustrated that my family has to ride this roller coaster again (the one ride that's not so fun and certainly makes one sick to the stomach!). Now that we have a plan of attack, though, I feel greatly relieved and am in fight mode again. Now my tears come from the outpour of love I feel from each of you again.
Also, I had a beautiful priesthood blessing by Richard and Gary Raymond, wherein I received tremendous comfort and a promise that miracles will be repeated. I know that if I receive a fraction of the faith and prayers that you all offered me last go-round, there’s no doubt that everything will turn out okay. So here we go again…..Thanks for supporting our family through what seems like endless trials lately.
Please know that the love we have for you is indescribable! You are our sustenance!
After constant vertigo, headaches and vision problems the last month or so, and various other tests (retinal scans, hormone checks, blood work) to determine the cause, my oncologist sent me in for a MRI on Thursday. Friday afternoon we found out that I have 5 large tumors and several other smaller tumors on my brain, accompanied with fluid and swelling (hence the pressure, headaches, and vision problems). Apprently in only 20% of patients where cancer is in body does the cancer spread to the brain. I've been in the small percentile for everything else, why not this I guess?
Radiation is the only route for treating my brain tumors, because there’s just too much for surgery to be a viable option. (doesn’t bother me any – I don’t want anyone cutting into my brain—yikes!) After some deliberation, we decided to do pin-pointed radiation where I’ll be sedated and treated for approx 5 hours for three different sessions, each a week or so apart. If we radiate any other way, I’ll experience hair loss and possible cognitive impairment. It all sounds scary, but I know it’ll be okay. The brain specialist was very encouraging. Though the likelihood of tumors coming back after radiation may be high, he made it sound like he believes they can treat and kill them all as they arise.
I really tried not to let myself get emotional over all this. I've learned that tears accompanied with fear don't do any good, but the few hours between the diagnosis and meeting with the brain specialist I was a bit shaken up and frustrated that my family has to ride this roller coaster again (the one ride that's not so fun and certainly makes one sick to the stomach!). Now that we have a plan of attack, though, I feel greatly relieved and am in fight mode again. Now my tears come from the outpour of love I feel from each of you again.
Also, I had a beautiful priesthood blessing by Richard and Gary Raymond, wherein I received tremendous comfort and a promise that miracles will be repeated. I know that if I receive a fraction of the faith and prayers that you all offered me last go-round, there’s no doubt that everything will turn out okay. So here we go again…..Thanks for supporting our family through what seems like endless trials lately.
Please know that the love we have for you is indescribable! You are our sustenance!
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