CDC Symptom Diary Card

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Mom is home

While mom was in the hospital, many days passed by.

What started out to be a weekend of fun, plans to see "Rock of Ages", abruptly turned into two weeks of rounds for our family.  More importantly, two weeks of pure Fight like hell days for mom.

What started out as super high blood sugar (diabetic ketoacidosis) turned into every nightmare you can imagine.  I cannot detail it exactly for her privacy, but it is safe to say that my mom is my true heroin.  She just never quits, never never never.

Our family had to be with her 24 hours a day 7 days a week while in the hospital.  I'm tired and joyous at the same time.  Thank God her sister came out when she did.  She is still here. God Bless her.

As mom rotated from one floor to the next to the next, my sister and I had birthdays.  The nation had a birthday.  Mom was fighting to tell her doctors to help her.  It was so scary to see her experience so many different problems, and not be able to communicate.  But with her will, our will and the prayers of many, she made it, by the grace of God.

She is home now and so so so so beyond thrilled and joyous to see out her living room window.  To walk in the sun.  To have her own food and sleep in her own home.  To watch the people walking by with their doggies and stollers.  To see the neighbors and see the children smile.

Most of all to see her family and feel our love.  She has some determination that comes from no place I know.  I have my cancer to deal with, and had my Lipodox yesterday............but overall it's just not that big of a deal. My mom is everything to me.

I remember one day a few weeks ago, I had knocked on her door.  "Come In" she would say with her boisterous voice, as she knew it was me.  I remember my glancing thought...."I wish I had recorded that".

She made this meal when my Aunt was out here in June, just a great spaghetti with peppers and all the good stuff.  I decided to freeze my portion of the left overs.  I just had to keep it.  My mom actually can't eat that kind of stuff, but my Aunt was returning home and my mom really wanted to cook up something good.  She sure did.

Now she is on a new road.  It will take a few weeks for her to get her strength back from this most recent ordeal.  I just pray that she accepts the help she is given.  Her independence is crucial to her survival.  That's mom.

As I recall the lonely halls at night in the hospital, arriving after work to relieve my sister or my Aunt, I would see other people all alone.  It was heartbreaking.  Especially on the critical care floors.  I'd walk by the same room day after day and see that no visitors were there, no extra voice to speak for them, no watchful eyes.

That is the truly scary part.  Hundreds of thousands of people are alone in the hospital, they live away from family, have no local support network or are from a nursing home and may have few family ties.

I can guarantee you that if we weren't there, my mom would not be faring so well.  We had to stay on top of everything.  Her specialists are so amazing, but it's the in-between people.  The change in shifts, change in floors, a constant new orientation to someone different who did not really understand the complexity of her medical condition.  They have too many people to help, can only take time for what is needed.

I know I was a pain in the butt, but it was necessary.  When someone you love is fighting for their life, you just do what you need to do.  That is all you can do.  I pray.  I want to thank all of those who prayed for mom and sent their warm wishes and positive healing thoughts.

It feels strange to be sitting here being able to take time to even type this out.  The past few weeks have been spent running back and forth to the hospital, coordinating shifts and my work and errands.  My poor kitty cat was so good......I think she knew.  She complained a little, but for the most part, did OK.

Now is time for healing and peace.  I continue to pray that my mom can find some time to do what heals her spirit, her art and just doing some fun things for what remains of our summer.  She loves her grand kids so so so so so so much and her family.  She is so bright and wants to be involved in important things.

She just needs a break to get some time to do these things while she is feeling good.  It's so hard in between doctor appointments etc.  It will happen.

We still need to take our sweet trip to Bainbridge Island, the one we won in KLGandHoda.

She just called to see how I am doing........yay.  I got to hear her voice.  I got to talk with her and my Aunt.  My day is better already

For today I am resting, will work tonight and hopefully visit mom tomorrow.  My sister has just done an incredible job of coordinating and running things.  She is the best sister ever.  My sweet Aunt is here, such a blessing.  A few nurses and nursing assistants really were so so so so so so good to mom, you really were.  Thank you for your tender care....especially Mario and Sean.  Thank you deeply to her specialists who really look out for her, you are wonderful.

I love you mom.  I love you mom.  I love you mom.


Thursday, July 12, 2012

More well wishes and positive thoughts needed

Hi everyone,

This is just a simple note to you to let you know how mom is doing.  She is STILL in hospital.  We are trying so hard to get her stable, she is so complicated.  She had new and severe issues arise after she was admitted and we are dealing with all of that mess.

I can't go into details, just know anything you can do to send a prayer or a cheery thought her way would be welcomed with open arms.

We want our mom back.  I love you mom with all my heart.....................

PS.  I start my new chemotherapy treatments Monday the 16th.  It's breaking my heart because I won't be available to help for a few days.  I have been switched to Lipodox.  Just really need it to NOT knock me down.

Being lifted in spirit.

Love,
Denise

Thursday, July 05, 2012

Mom's work from long ago, prayers needed


When we were young as kids, my sister, brother and I remember mom spending many nights creating beautiful paintings.  This is the only photo we have of her work.  Somehow this horse painting disappeared after the divorce years and years ago.  I never want to see the heart that created this stunning representation of a Spaniard and horse to stop.

I am asking for prayers for mom. She had a heart attack last week and a series of other serious complications are keeping her in hospital, including an infection she acquired from her central line. She is in so much pain and just not herself at all.  She is suffering.  Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

I saw my gyn onc yesterday.  Had a follow up CT scan last week.  Well, the carboplatin isn't working as well as my gyn onc would like.  My tumors have grown slightly, one the same size and there's a new tiny one.  They are still all small, but a threat if they keep growing.  I have small amount of fluid around my heart and something strange going on with my lungs.  Atelectasis....where the tiny sacs collapse. I only have small area on both lower lobes, so that is good.  I feel like that partially explains my constant fatigue and decreased activity level.

My last carboplatin treatment caused me to get very short of breath, and sometimes even now I catch myself not breathing very deeply.  So my goal is to start doing deep breathing exercises while I transition to a new medication.  Basically carbo is not giving me enough benefit for all the suffering, and I agree to change out to a new chemo medication.

So I will start a medication similar to Doxil in a few weeks.  The program is 4 treatments, monthly.  My chemo brain has caused me to forget the name of the sister drug, but I think it's called Lipodox.  I honestly can't remember.

Well, it's not the best news, but it's not the worst news either.  The carboplatin did make some difference, and for that I am thankful.  I have been so fatigued and really need to exercise.  I have gained 10 pounds.

The good news is that this new chemo may have more manageable side effects and I won't have to go in hospital to receive treatment.  My gyn onc is so good.  She really wants the time that I am in treatment to be as functional and positive as possible.  I believe she has made a smart recommendation to change at this point in the game.

I need to be there for mom, and work and be as active as possible. We have to get her back on her feet..........

I just wanted to give you an update.  Thank you for your friendship, care and prayers.

Love,
Denise


Monday, June 25, 2012

4th Chemo kicking my behind


My mom with Kate, at the NBC Today Show.  Kate was our producer, so sweet.  My mom still beats down the doors of diabetes every day, and wins!
I painted this little fish when I was on chemo in 2010.  I just love the  blue.


As I sit here drenched because of the side effects I wonder why I don't look like a swimsuit model.  I just can't explain how ridiculously sick I have felt since last Monday.  Actually, yesterday was a good day and this morning I am faring "ok".  

My sister took me home from the hospital last Tuesday after another round of Carboplatin via a desensitization protocol, and I was thinking "I'm good". She bought me a soy vanilla latte ( I know, bad soy bad soy).  I can't remember much after she left, except to say that all week I was very short of breath.

All week I got drenched in sweats and would have bad nausea, be unable to breathe well, and just super tired.  I hardly drank a thing for three days, big NO NO.  I did the best I could. I took my meds like I was supposed to, oh well.  I am on the up side of the recovery now, whew.

Yesterday was the first day I had a cup of coffee.

My mom and aunt were so sweet to come over Thursday night because I couldn't function.  I was crying because I couldn't catch my breath.  It wasn't like I needed 911, it was just a knowingness that my body was having a hard time with the chemo.  Harder than last time.

Today I am so lucky that I feel well enough, I can go with my mom to her rehab and spend some precious time with my aunt.  

I only have two more chemotherapy treatments to go.  Strangely my CA125 marker is slightly rising.  Not sure what it means because my gyn onc stated that the marker is not reliable.  When my recurrence was diagnosed, it was 15.  15 is a dream number, a great number, if you are not in a recurrence.  So for me, 15 is not good.  It was 38 at the end of May.  I try not to obsess about numbers, but hmmmmmmmm.  

So today is a great new day.  I am thinking about some friends, one who's mom and brother are ill.  One who is having her hip replaced and another who will be having brain surgery in a few days.  

We just need to keep looking forward and doing the best we can.  I feel so so so blessed that I get to talk with my family every day, or send a little text, or look at a few photos.  And, I have this sweet little cat named Marilyn, who stays within 5 feet of me all day long.  How bad can this life be?

Love you all.........................





Monday, June 18, 2012

More on New York, it stays with you always



Mom on the way to New York City May 7, 2012

Our cabbie was a great driver

The NBC Today Show Studio crawl
Me with the producer and her camera ladies...yay

Kate in the middle with her camera ladies
Mom enjoying the 360 degree View Restaurant, what a spectacular way to see New York
In New York, everything is big and tall


A view from "The View"

More views
And another view

A view once more



Things sure look small down there

Times Square

Times Square

Our first look at the city, arriving late into the evening

Mom and I have yet to take our little get away on Bainbridge Island, but we will soon.  It's just been a whacky time since we got back.  It took forever for me to even find photos because I had lost my cell phone at JFK airport.  Luckily I got it back.  Mom had severely bruised her tail bone getting into a cab that Tuesday and we spent all of Wed handling that.

As it turns out, mom had the ride of her life on a pedi-cab the day before the show.  She was in awful pain and finally we decided to go into a clinic.  Kate was such a gem helping us out with all of this, but getting there was crazy.

In New York they say take a cab everywhere.  Seems harmless....NOT. You can't catch a cab on smaller side streets, you have to walk to a busy corner.  My poor mom, walking around with me trying to find a cab.  So after one cabbie refused to take us...seriously.....this wonderful Irishman with bright blue eyes came up to us in his little pedi-cab and asked if we needed a ride.

I have to tell ya, I was not real confident in that, as the day before I saw pedi-cab race across four lanes of heavy traffic practically tipping the whole thing over.  Mom was excited.  We explained that she was in tremendous pain and that we were on our way to an urgent care clinic.  He promised me that he would go slow and take good care of my mom.  So we got in and held on...weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Mom laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed.  She said that was exactly what she needed.  It was also a great way to see the city.  I have a small video clip of our ride...........



It was a trip of a lifetime and we will never forget it.  Thank you Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kotb and Kate for hosting us.  Thank you to David Friedman, Chandra Lee Schwartz, Davy Wild, and of course Kathie Lee Gifford for creating such a beautiful song "Strong Like You" from me to my mom.

Here it is over a month has gone by.  I go into the hospital tomorrow for my 4th round of chemotherapy desensitization.  I went chemo shopping today for soups, veggies, yogurt, etc etc etc.  Of course I forgot my colace and flax seeds.  I just want it over with.  Not looking forward to almost 10 days of bad nausea.

I have been sleeping 12 hours per day for a long time.

Mom has been in hospital twice since the trip.  Geeze.  She can't catch a break but looked great today.  She is just a real trooper.  She is all excited because her sister is coming out to visit.

My sweet sister is finally up and around again, the whole family dealing with whooping cough.  Can you imagine?

Several of our teal sisters have passed away this past month, and that is really hard.  I pray for their families and hope that they can keep the conversation going.

Every day can be rich with life, the little joys and the small smiles that really warm your heart....that is what we need to look for each day.  Can't worry too much about what may or may not come.

I have a beautiful and loving family, a kitty cat that just gives me pure joy and I think she is happy too.  I have really nice friends and most of all I have God.  We all have Him there to love us and carry our pains.

I love you all......................Denise