Cancer Round Two

Wednesday, November 24, 2010
7:30 AM surgery to answer the question "What is this thing growing in my head?" I will be the first surgery that morning - good to know the Docs a morning person. I have no idea which procedure will be performed or how long it will take. I'm rooting for no additional damage.

The Beast Within

This "thing" is very different than the breast tumor. It fights dirty. It is waging war and I can look in the mirror and see it. My face has morphed into a toad; buggy eyes, round face, chipmunk jowls. This thing mixes my thoughts, steals my energy and confuses me.  

Friends and family I could not  face this without your strength and love.  Saturday Thanksgiving, was wonderful.  Your loving e-mails, notes and phone calls talking to me not the disease are greatly welcome. I like to hear what's going on in the "real world".
I miss my work and "my kids"  being a school counselor is part of me. I miss being Mom and Tony's wife, Aunt Mary Jo, Sister, Friend, Mahjong Queeen (sort of) I miss you.  I miss independence and driving. I miss looking and feeling nice, despite Nancy's  best efforts, I look and feel really ugly and think maybe I am going to have to wear veil.

What do I need - prayers.  Check up and support for Tony and Rachael and Jason and Michelle they are living this up-close and personal and do not have the luck to  be drugged out.

Thanksgiving Dinner Saturday - Surgery Wednesday

It's official!  Wednesday I will be having surgery.  The MRI gave the MD. a much clearer picture  of the lesion. It appears very small and delicately located.  With more MRI technology the MD will decide to either a) do a needle biopsy or b) more invasive surgery when he is  more up close and personal in the OR.

 I will not be cooking turkey this Thursday. Nancy and Tony are stepping up and will prepare a special "Country Thanksgiving" Saturday afternoon. All welcome!

Sunday will be home made cookie day.

MRI Scheduled

Wednesday, St. Thomas, MRI scheduled 9am. I will let you know how it goes.

Cookies: Thank you for the cookie memory Tom Means .... I have been smiling ever since. Cookie moments can put me on sensory overload. I remember shared moments with family  and friends, special occasions and ordinary Oreo days (creme first).  Share a favorite cookie  memory and recipe.  If there is a cookie  you are looking for maybe we can find it together.  My Grandma Helen never baked but she would order huge boxes of wonderful Italian cookies from  Cleveland. Those cookies  announced the start of many holidays and celebrations.  You know Jason's wedding could not have happened without cookies (well maybe I am exaggerating a little..)

“How much of human life is lost in waiting." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Good news Dr. Tierney, Plastic Surgeon,  says stretcher removal healing excellent. In the process of getting MRI set up for Wednesday. I am not able to return to work during the interim, poor vision and fuzzy head.

Wow! have I been out of it.

How crazy is it to get upset over not having your brain operated on sooner rather than later?  I have spent the last 2 weeks worrying and waiting about things I can do nothing about!  Speculating?

In the mean time I have missed (read wasted) over 2 weeks of presents.  I am so sorry.  Thanks for the reminder Rachael...

How could I have missed this??

NO NEWS IS JUST NO NEWS

Sunday Night ....

I still am waiting for information on next round of action. I have an appointment 7AM tomorrow morning to get an all clear  that the metal was removed and that the wound is healing clean. This will clear the way for an MRI. The Docs will have a better picture than the CScan and I won't be roasted in the process.

Currently, I am on steroids to reduce the brain edema. I lay around, my brain and body move slowly, and my face looks like a harvest moon.  Decision - with a swollen pie face this the is time to  savore some chocolate truffles I was hoarding.

I will update tomorrow news or none.

SURGERY WENT WELL. NAP TIME :)

Surgery went great! Sore arm and thirsty. I can not lift more than 5#. Oh No ! No purse I will be naked. No crutch may be a bit more of a challenge - I weigh a little over 5# . Thanks for the prayers and concern ..,

I don't know how to let you know when I post? Still figuring it out. Any help would be appreciated.

COMING OUT PARTY

Hi friends. What an interesting week (November 1 - 9) Lots of time to think - the good news is I too fuzzy to think of anything heavy. The big descision was to get the HUNK of metal, from the reconstruction stretcher out!!! With this in mind today is the coming out party!!! It is out patient surgery at Baptist Hospital scheduled around 10:30??

I am hoping to get a good nap out of this. And a cup of tea as soon as it's over. I'll let you know how it goes. With the metal out the Neuro guys can get an MRI and better see what the thing in my head is...

I'll be back soon.