We got to the hospital this morning at 6:50, got oscopied, home by 11 and on the couch sleeping off my knock-out meds. Now it's 1:30 and I'm feeling more human by the minute.
Leading up to this day I've been aware that people were focusing on the Colonoscopy and blanking on the endoscopy. I called the surgeon's office to make sure that little item was part of what he was prepared to do today. I mentioned it to the nurse who was getting me ready and she actually had an order and knew he was looking for a "primary site"--the place where my cancer is originating. Then the surgeon came in. Asked my name, birthdate--all that and then said, "And we're doing a colonoscopy this morning". And I said, "And an endoscopy with a biopsy". He looked perplexed and looked at the next paper on his clipboard and nodded or something. Don said something about there being a 6 mm polyp to biopsy... Got that straight!
They did indeed do both procedures. He found an "interesting" cluster at the bottom of my stomach, leading to the duodenum that had not been seen previously. He took biopsies of that little bugger and it is now in the lab being examined. We understand it takes 2-3 working days for the final word so he will call with the results and they'll be sent to the UW and various other places where it needs to go.
Done with this step. On to the next.
We are being very spoiled by our daughter, Becky, here for a week from Virginia. She is the most amazing cook. I'm trying to think of a word other than "cook" because she is so much more than that. And she goes on her morning walk up the hill by our house and brings me back little nature beauties. Two ripe blackberries, a seed pod, a daisy, and today some beautiful bark from a madrona tree. Life is so rich and full.
Have a wonderful day.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012
As I was saying...
After our exhausting day Tuesday, I woke rested and ready! We started working early on scheduling a colonoscopy/endoscopy, which will happen Wed. the 29th. Our daughter, Becky, will be here from Virginia so she'll get to have a fun experience sort of vicariously! She's totally up for it.
During the course of our appointment-making day, just when we were becoming a little frustrated at having to wait until next Wed. for something to happen, the surgeon (Dr. Yeung) called. He had the results of Tuesday's tests (things happen faster at the UW, I think) and said the only thing they found from all my blood giving and barium drinking was a small polyp at the top of my stomach. Thus, he requested an endoscopy for next Wed. also. He and Don chatted for quite a while, which helped us both to relax.
One other thing I had to do yesterday was call Verizon and work out a rather large bill issue with them. A month ago I had greatly reduced our minutes because we just weren't using nearly enough to warrant such a large number available. Well...we received a $400 bill on Tuesday! Yep, $400. We had used double our allotted minutes. We've been making and receiving a lot of calls, needless to say. The young lady asked me a seemingly innocent question, "Has anything changed that made your minute usage go up?" I began to say, "Yes, actually...I have been diagnosed..." and I started to CRY! Holy Cow. Crying with the Verizon lady. I pulled myself together and finished my sentence and we got a little knocked off the bill and upped our minutes--how exhausting! I prayed later for my Verizon friend.
All this to say, Life is a never-ending adventure, emotions are running deep and bubble up at the most unexpected times. (I even cried telling Don the Verizon story when he came home later.) God is always Good. I am waiting expectantly for what comes next. And my friend Sun Hee is bring me more seaweed and Kale, which I will eat.
During the course of our appointment-making day, just when we were becoming a little frustrated at having to wait until next Wed. for something to happen, the surgeon (Dr. Yeung) called. He had the results of Tuesday's tests (things happen faster at the UW, I think) and said the only thing they found from all my blood giving and barium drinking was a small polyp at the top of my stomach. Thus, he requested an endoscopy for next Wed. also. He and Don chatted for quite a while, which helped us both to relax.
One other thing I had to do yesterday was call Verizon and work out a rather large bill issue with them. A month ago I had greatly reduced our minutes because we just weren't using nearly enough to warrant such a large number available. Well...we received a $400 bill on Tuesday! Yep, $400. We had used double our allotted minutes. We've been making and receiving a lot of calls, needless to say. The young lady asked me a seemingly innocent question, "Has anything changed that made your minute usage go up?" I began to say, "Yes, actually...I have been diagnosed..." and I started to CRY! Holy Cow. Crying with the Verizon lady. I pulled myself together and finished my sentence and we got a little knocked off the bill and upped our minutes--how exhausting! I prayed later for my Verizon friend.
All this to say, Life is a never-ending adventure, emotions are running deep and bubble up at the most unexpected times. (I even cried telling Don the Verizon story when he came home later.) God is always Good. I am waiting expectantly for what comes next. And my friend Sun Hee is bring me more seaweed and Kale, which I will eat.
Two Big Days...
Yesterday...what a day. And yes, yesterday was my day of recuperating from the day before. So, get some coffee (or whatever) and I'll tell you about some of the highlights of both days. I am meeting some amazing people and having some memorable experiences.
So, Tuesday was the day I met with my surgeon (Dr. Yeung). But before that happened I was "interviewed" and examined by the Chief Resident (very impressive). By 11, when the meeting was to take place I was already tired. Thank the Lord for my incredible support team, including Don, 2 daughters (Susy and Karen) and 2 good friends (JoDee and Christina), who hung in there ALL DAY and gave me strength and encouragement! We all trekked into the room, leaving standing room only for the 2 drs. (they were fine with that). And everyone listened intently, asked questions, took notes. After we were all satisfied (and I was fried) Dr. Yeung said he needed some more tests--two to happen right then. I needed more blood taken for testing and I needed another CT scan. Alrighty then.
Then began my further adventure with needles. Just so you know and can be praying for me in this regard, my body rebels at giving up blood. I don't mind the needles at all, in fact I find it quite interesting, but there's a reverse valve reaction (very unmedical terminology) or something that I always mention to those about to enter my vein world. Kind of me, I think...to forewarn.
So my first adventure was with a lovely Asian woman who, you could tell, knew what she was doing, approached my right arm confidently. She pressed on my inner elbow to raise the vein. Nothing. She tapped. She slapped. She eyed the back of my hand longingly. She slapped some more. Then she said, "We try other arm." She shifted the tourniquet, I made a fist, she pressed on the vein. Then she said, "I go get a heating pad" and returned (I'm not kidding) with a blue surgical glove filled with hot water and tied off at the top! Voila! A heating pad! After a couple of minutes she removed the "heating pad" and said, "OK, Now we try." And by jingo, she got it. Filled about 6 little tubes with my precious vital fluid. Done.
THEN, I went for my double-header CT scan. I call it double-header because I not only was injected with contrast, but before that could happen I had to drink a pint+ of yummy barium and two cans of gator-aide (yep). But before I drank this yummy lunch the nurse came in to start an IV so they could inject me when the time came. She was GORGEOUS! She was about 6 feet tall, tan, beautiful wild curly hair, and she exuded confidence. She looked over my arms for a good vein and spied the hole previously made by my Asian friend and said, let's try this since it worked before. (I had warned her ahead of time.) She also said she couldn't use a tiny needle because-well, just because. She slipped that puppy in, got it the first time. She and I were both relieved. I think she was a Viking relative.
Finished with ALL of that, Don and I left the UWMC and headed home. I ate the snacks I'd brought, managed to hang on until we had made our ferry crossing and woke up when we were in Port Angeles. That was Tuesday.
Wow. This was long. I think I'll tell you about yesterday after I have breakfast. Can't wait or the days all become a blur and mix together. And the stories...I love them. Hope you're enjoying this amazing journey with me. Blessings
So, Tuesday was the day I met with my surgeon (Dr. Yeung). But before that happened I was "interviewed" and examined by the Chief Resident (very impressive). By 11, when the meeting was to take place I was already tired. Thank the Lord for my incredible support team, including Don, 2 daughters (Susy and Karen) and 2 good friends (JoDee and Christina), who hung in there ALL DAY and gave me strength and encouragement! We all trekked into the room, leaving standing room only for the 2 drs. (they were fine with that). And everyone listened intently, asked questions, took notes. After we were all satisfied (and I was fried) Dr. Yeung said he needed some more tests--two to happen right then. I needed more blood taken for testing and I needed another CT scan. Alrighty then.
Then began my further adventure with needles. Just so you know and can be praying for me in this regard, my body rebels at giving up blood. I don't mind the needles at all, in fact I find it quite interesting, but there's a reverse valve reaction (very unmedical terminology) or something that I always mention to those about to enter my vein world. Kind of me, I think...to forewarn.
So my first adventure was with a lovely Asian woman who, you could tell, knew what she was doing, approached my right arm confidently. She pressed on my inner elbow to raise the vein. Nothing. She tapped. She slapped. She eyed the back of my hand longingly. She slapped some more. Then she said, "We try other arm." She shifted the tourniquet, I made a fist, she pressed on the vein. Then she said, "I go get a heating pad" and returned (I'm not kidding) with a blue surgical glove filled with hot water and tied off at the top! Voila! A heating pad! After a couple of minutes she removed the "heating pad" and said, "OK, Now we try." And by jingo, she got it. Filled about 6 little tubes with my precious vital fluid. Done.
THEN, I went for my double-header CT scan. I call it double-header because I not only was injected with contrast, but before that could happen I had to drink a pint+ of yummy barium and two cans of gator-aide (yep). But before I drank this yummy lunch the nurse came in to start an IV so they could inject me when the time came. She was GORGEOUS! She was about 6 feet tall, tan, beautiful wild curly hair, and she exuded confidence. She looked over my arms for a good vein and spied the hole previously made by my Asian friend and said, let's try this since it worked before. (I had warned her ahead of time.) She also said she couldn't use a tiny needle because-well, just because. She slipped that puppy in, got it the first time. She and I were both relieved. I think she was a Viking relative.
Finished with ALL of that, Don and I left the UWMC and headed home. I ate the snacks I'd brought, managed to hang on until we had made our ferry crossing and woke up when we were in Port Angeles. That was Tuesday.
Wow. This was long. I think I'll tell you about yesterday after I have breakfast. Can't wait or the days all become a blur and mix together. And the stories...I love them. Hope you're enjoying this amazing journey with me. Blessings
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Tests, more tests...
We do not yet have a plan, but this day was an important step in getting one. I'll keep this short and write more tomorrow because, believe it or not, I'm going to bed! I know it's only 7:15 but bed is calling.
Here's the bottom line. I am operable. And more tests are needed. The surgeon and chief resident talked with us, answered all our questions completely. The team agreed that in order to proceed with making the best possible treatment plan they need more info. It will be possible to remove the liver tumor and still function well. There are many questions still remaining, the most important of which is where is the cancer originating--the primary site.
After our meeting this morning I had more blood work and another CT scan using two different contrasts--one I drank (yummy lunch!) and one they injected. This week I get to have a colonoscopy! (Don't think about it too much... hehe).
So now we're home. Don drove, of course, and I slept! It was the fastest trip ever. I must tell you more about our day, about my incredible dream team that made such a difference. Hope you sleep well, I know I will...
Here's the bottom line. I am operable. And more tests are needed. The surgeon and chief resident talked with us, answered all our questions completely. The team agreed that in order to proceed with making the best possible treatment plan they need more info. It will be possible to remove the liver tumor and still function well. There are many questions still remaining, the most important of which is where is the cancer originating--the primary site.
After our meeting this morning I had more blood work and another CT scan using two different contrasts--one I drank (yummy lunch!) and one they injected. This week I get to have a colonoscopy! (Don't think about it too much... hehe).
So now we're home. Don drove, of course, and I slept! It was the fastest trip ever. I must tell you more about our day, about my incredible dream team that made such a difference. Hope you sleep well, I know I will...
Monday, August 20, 2012
Heading to the Big City
Heading over to the Big City (Seattle) today, staying overnight so we can be at the all-important appointment bright and early in the morning. I'm told we'll come away from there after a few hours with a plan. I have lots of emotions running around--relief (that we're taking action), sadness (that our little hiatus is interrupted), apprehension (at taking in lots of new information and remaining present in the moment)... Can I do it? Yes. I'm sure of that. I have lots of reasons for this confidence. My Lord has never failed me yet and isn't about to do it now. I have wonderful, strong, support going with me into this. I can't tell you how many people are praying for me/us... That is a huge, huge gift.
It helps me a lot to write this out. This is my continuing story. I'm impressed again with the importance of telling our stories! One of the foundational scriptures in my journey is Rev. 12:11. It talks about the power we have to defeat the enemy (Satan) by speaking our stories. It says, "...and the enemy is DEFEATED by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) and by the word of our testimony (the speaking aloud of our story)". So even as I write this out I feel the sadness and apprehension diminish and Peace become stronger. YAY! It's like a RESET BUTTON!
Thanks for reading, for hanging in there with me, for praying, for encouraging. I love to read your comments.
It helps me a lot to write this out. This is my continuing story. I'm impressed again with the importance of telling our stories! One of the foundational scriptures in my journey is Rev. 12:11. It talks about the power we have to defeat the enemy (Satan) by speaking our stories. It says, "...and the enemy is DEFEATED by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) and by the word of our testimony (the speaking aloud of our story)". So even as I write this out I feel the sadness and apprehension diminish and Peace become stronger. YAY! It's like a RESET BUTTON!
Thanks for reading, for hanging in there with me, for praying, for encouraging. I love to read your comments.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Special Gifts
We've received some very special gifts--
A dear friend who is praying specifically for our children through my cancer journey.
Another who prays for me in the middle of the night when she answers the call of nature =)
Little blackberries along the road where I walk. I stop and pick a few every day, and eat
them right then and there. They're usually warm from the sun.
A huge variety of birds that visit our feeder and entertain me all day long.
A Japanese friend who brought me seaweed she picked herself and processed and instructs
me to eat a tablespoon morning and night. I do. And kale from her garden.
Her husband who prayed such a heartfelt prayer for me with tears in his eyes.
Children who clean and cook and talk and love us so very well.
Grandchildren.
The comfort of my chair that is positioned perfectly so I can look out our big windows at the
beauty around us...or at the TV when we need mindless entertainment!
My little "camp" where I have everything I need within reach--you know, kleenex, phone,
books, pen and notepad, Bible, water, etc., etc.
Offers of help that just keep coming...
Those who are always here for us.
Visitors
I could go on and on. Feeling very blessed.
A dear friend who is praying specifically for our children through my cancer journey.
Another who prays for me in the middle of the night when she answers the call of nature =)
Little blackberries along the road where I walk. I stop and pick a few every day, and eat
them right then and there. They're usually warm from the sun.
A huge variety of birds that visit our feeder and entertain me all day long.
A Japanese friend who brought me seaweed she picked herself and processed and instructs
me to eat a tablespoon morning and night. I do. And kale from her garden.
Her husband who prayed such a heartfelt prayer for me with tears in his eyes.
Children who clean and cook and talk and love us so very well.
Grandchildren.
The comfort of my chair that is positioned perfectly so I can look out our big windows at the
beauty around us...or at the TV when we need mindless entertainment!
My little "camp" where I have everything I need within reach--you know, kleenex, phone,
books, pen and notepad, Bible, water, etc., etc.
Offers of help that just keep coming...
Those who are always here for us.
Visitors
I could go on and on. Feeling very blessed.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Such interesting timing...
Such interesting timing, to crash our car the day before my cancer discovery! Coincidence? I think not. Here's the story of the Gift from the Hand of God to my husband at a time he could use such a Gift.
We went to Seattle to have lunch with our girls on a Thursday. (Cancer was discovered on Friday.) Had a lovely time, they are so fun. Then we wanted to stop at the Auburn Supermall (Nordstrom Rack, of course!) on our way home. As we turned to enter the mall parking area, BAM/WHAM, a little black car came out of nowhere and struck our Zucchini (green Suzuki to you) on the passenger side right in the center between the front and back doors. It was a shock to us all. As we drove to a place where we could exchange information with the other driver I had this little flash of thoughts in my brain and I turned to Don and shared them... "I think this is about much more than wrecking our car. There's more going on." Really. I said that. And I could sense us both shifting from shock to something like being on alert. Turns out the young man who hit us was traveling a little fast and driving his mom's car. He kept saying, "Bummer, Bummer"... That was just the beginning.
Don found some straps in the car and tied the doors shut. I got in the back seat and we drove our mashed car home. Right away Don started to do all those things you do like talk to our insurance agent, get an estimate, etc., etc. Our insurance company was awesome. We even got a call at one point from the "Total Loss" department in Kansas from someone named Luke James who said he wanted us to know they were praying for us--since Don had spoken to them from the hospital as I was getting a test. Really? Luke James? Haha...
So, we soon saw that there were 3 stories going on here all at once. One was the wreck and all the people with whom we came into contact through that. The second was the response of our family and community to our needs. Within a day our kids had offered a car, two friends had offered theirs and finally a local car dealer gave us a loaner for as long as we needed it. I'm telling you! We are so blessed.
The third part of the story is so heartwarming. You see, in addition to my having married Stability, I also married a "car guy". Don is and has always been very "attuned" to great cars. The car that has excited him the last several years has been the Subaru WRX-STI. What fun it would be to have that car. We've also thought it a little small, sort of hard to get in and out of and we've known it was WAY out of our price range. After we learned that our insurance company was giving us much more than our little Zucchini was worth (probably thanks to Luke James) Don began to look around town for a replacement. He saw an ad online for a car that interested him and went to look at it. I stayed home. Before too long, I got a text: "I'm buying a car", he said. I texted back, "Wahoo!" He texted me, "Yup". What happened was this: he drove up to the car, a Subaru Legacy Outback and noticed a little "XT" on the rear. XT means this car has a slightly de-tuned WRX-STI engine and an WRX interior. Can you imagine what that's like for someone who's heart really does go pitty-pat when he sees a great car? So that's what we're driving now. I love it because it's blue and silver (!) AND because it is comfortable and secure AND, most of all, it brings joy to the heart of my man.
There are no coincidences. We have a great and Good God.
We went to Seattle to have lunch with our girls on a Thursday. (Cancer was discovered on Friday.) Had a lovely time, they are so fun. Then we wanted to stop at the Auburn Supermall (Nordstrom Rack, of course!) on our way home. As we turned to enter the mall parking area, BAM/WHAM, a little black car came out of nowhere and struck our Zucchini (green Suzuki to you) on the passenger side right in the center between the front and back doors. It was a shock to us all. As we drove to a place where we could exchange information with the other driver I had this little flash of thoughts in my brain and I turned to Don and shared them... "I think this is about much more than wrecking our car. There's more going on." Really. I said that. And I could sense us both shifting from shock to something like being on alert. Turns out the young man who hit us was traveling a little fast and driving his mom's car. He kept saying, "Bummer, Bummer"... That was just the beginning.
Don found some straps in the car and tied the doors shut. I got in the back seat and we drove our mashed car home. Right away Don started to do all those things you do like talk to our insurance agent, get an estimate, etc., etc. Our insurance company was awesome. We even got a call at one point from the "Total Loss" department in Kansas from someone named Luke James who said he wanted us to know they were praying for us--since Don had spoken to them from the hospital as I was getting a test. Really? Luke James? Haha...
So, we soon saw that there were 3 stories going on here all at once. One was the wreck and all the people with whom we came into contact through that. The second was the response of our family and community to our needs. Within a day our kids had offered a car, two friends had offered theirs and finally a local car dealer gave us a loaner for as long as we needed it. I'm telling you! We are so blessed.
The third part of the story is so heartwarming. You see, in addition to my having married Stability, I also married a "car guy". Don is and has always been very "attuned" to great cars. The car that has excited him the last several years has been the Subaru WRX-STI. What fun it would be to have that car. We've also thought it a little small, sort of hard to get in and out of and we've known it was WAY out of our price range. After we learned that our insurance company was giving us much more than our little Zucchini was worth (probably thanks to Luke James) Don began to look around town for a replacement. He saw an ad online for a car that interested him and went to look at it. I stayed home. Before too long, I got a text: "I'm buying a car", he said. I texted back, "Wahoo!" He texted me, "Yup". What happened was this: he drove up to the car, a Subaru Legacy Outback and noticed a little "XT" on the rear. XT means this car has a slightly de-tuned WRX-STI engine and an WRX interior. Can you imagine what that's like for someone who's heart really does go pitty-pat when he sees a great car? So that's what we're driving now. I love it because it's blue and silver (!) AND because it is comfortable and secure AND, most of all, it brings joy to the heart of my man.
There are no coincidences. We have a great and Good God.
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