I need to update!
So, Mom's 2nd lumpectomy went well. The procedure was pretty easy, as was the first one. Mom recovered quickly and went back home and back to work.
So far, all I know at this point is that she has her follow-up appointment at MD Anderson on April 15th. At that appointment, she'll meet with the oncologist to discuss her radiation and chemo treatment.
One small praise about all of this is timing. Provided that everything goes smoothly, she can probably have all the radiation and chemo done during the summer (while she's on summer break from teaching) and have it over with.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Feeling frustrated...
In a few short hours, my Mom will be back in surgery for the 2nd lumpectomy. The tumor was a little bit larger than was originally thought. It's still small, but just big enough to really change what will happen in the next few weeks and months.
She has to be at MD Anderson at 6:30 a.m. and her surgery is scheduled for 8:30 a.m.
Because of the size of the tumor, her cancer is "technically" Stage 2, instead of Stage 1. The major meaning behind this is that she will have to undergo chemo in addition to radiation. We originally thought she was only going to have to undergo a few weeks of radiation.
As usual, we won't know much for a little while longer, but those are the basic details for now. She still has to figure out whether she'll do the chemo and radiation in Houston or in Midland... a very big decision.
Please continue to pray for her. I know I'm frustrated with the news and I could hear a little frustration in her voice over the phone this evening too.
She has to be at MD Anderson at 6:30 a.m. and her surgery is scheduled for 8:30 a.m.
Because of the size of the tumor, her cancer is "technically" Stage 2, instead of Stage 1. The major meaning behind this is that she will have to undergo chemo in addition to radiation. We originally thought she was only going to have to undergo a few weeks of radiation.
As usual, we won't know much for a little while longer, but those are the basic details for now. She still has to figure out whether she'll do the chemo and radiation in Houston or in Midland... a very big decision.
Please continue to pray for her. I know I'm frustrated with the news and I could hear a little frustration in her voice over the phone this evening too.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Not so clear after all...
I'm just diving right into this update:
While the doctors at MD Anderson thought they had a "clear margin" on the tumor they removed from Mom, they were incorrect. Mom received her check-up call which included the news that they did not get all the cancer out. So, here comes a 2nd lumpectomy.
Mom's next appointment in Houston will be the Tuesday after Easter. She and Dad will drive to Austin on Easter Sunday, after we spend it in Abilene with the family. They'll head to Houston on Monday. Her 2nd lumpectomy will be that week (I can't remember if its that Wednesday or Friday...).
They did say that the lymph node they removed was clear, which was and still is wonderful news. Hopefully this first lumpectomy will go as painlessly as the last one - and be 100% successful!!
In other news, my Aunt Veta's funeral was on Saturday afternoon. It was a beautiful service. I had always been so "self-centered" when I thought about her and how she touched MY life. It was amazing to see how she touched so many others...
While the doctors at MD Anderson thought they had a "clear margin" on the tumor they removed from Mom, they were incorrect. Mom received her check-up call which included the news that they did not get all the cancer out. So, here comes a 2nd lumpectomy.
Mom's next appointment in Houston will be the Tuesday after Easter. She and Dad will drive to Austin on Easter Sunday, after we spend it in Abilene with the family. They'll head to Houston on Monday. Her 2nd lumpectomy will be that week (I can't remember if its that Wednesday or Friday...).
They did say that the lymph node they removed was clear, which was and still is wonderful news. Hopefully this first lumpectomy will go as painlessly as the last one - and be 100% successful!!
In other news, my Aunt Veta's funeral was on Saturday afternoon. It was a beautiful service. I had always been so "self-centered" when I thought about her and how she touched MY life. It was amazing to see how she touched so many others...
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
I love you....and eat your vegetables!
I have some very sad news to share.
My Aunt Veta passed away this afternoon. While my heart is saddened that's she's gone, I also feel calm about it. I'm glad that she doesn't have to fight anymore. She's been sick and in pain for so long... but now she's in Heaven with God and Jesus, and getting to see her daughter Carla, as well as her dad (my grandfather, who passed away when I was in the 5th grade). It's a nice image to picture in my head!
I'll certainly miss her though. She always called me her "Monday Baby," even as I grew up to be old enough to have kids of my own. When I was a baby and my family lived in Abilene, Aunt Veta would take care of me on Mondays, thus I was her Monday Baby.
I have a lot of fun memories of being at her house as a kid: playing in a big pile of soft sand at the end of the driveway, easter egg hunts (it was at her house the year my basket got so full and heavy that it broke!), being around the horses, and eating Honey Smacks cereal!
Then there was the time she picked me up from our house in Greenwood with my grandmother Memaw, to go stay with her for a week or so. I got in the car, but my luggage stayed in the driveway! Of course, we didn't realize it until we were already in Anson. I had absolutely no clothes - but I remember the trip to the local, tiny department store in Anson (Heidenhamer's? or something like that) for some "essentials" and PJs! I also ended up with some of my cousin Melissa's clothes (including a black bathing suit with rainbow stripes and polka dots on the ruffle!).
I'm very happy that I do have a good recent memory of her as well. When she first went into the hospital, Rick and I drove to Abilene for the night, so we could see her. That evening, she was pretty much out of it due to the pain medications, but the next morning when we saw her, she was very happy to see us, and we talked a bit. She knew exactly who we were then (but didn't remember us being there the night before). She hadn't been eating much so...
...As we said goodbye, my last words to her went something like this, "I love you, take care, and eat your vegetables!"
My Aunt Veta passed away this afternoon. While my heart is saddened that's she's gone, I also feel calm about it. I'm glad that she doesn't have to fight anymore. She's been sick and in pain for so long... but now she's in Heaven with God and Jesus, and getting to see her daughter Carla, as well as her dad (my grandfather, who passed away when I was in the 5th grade). It's a nice image to picture in my head!
I'll certainly miss her though. She always called me her "Monday Baby," even as I grew up to be old enough to have kids of my own. When I was a baby and my family lived in Abilene, Aunt Veta would take care of me on Mondays, thus I was her Monday Baby.
I have a lot of fun memories of being at her house as a kid: playing in a big pile of soft sand at the end of the driveway, easter egg hunts (it was at her house the year my basket got so full and heavy that it broke!), being around the horses, and eating Honey Smacks cereal!
Then there was the time she picked me up from our house in Greenwood with my grandmother Memaw, to go stay with her for a week or so. I got in the car, but my luggage stayed in the driveway! Of course, we didn't realize it until we were already in Anson. I had absolutely no clothes - but I remember the trip to the local, tiny department store in Anson (Heidenhamer's? or something like that) for some "essentials" and PJs! I also ended up with some of my cousin Melissa's clothes (including a black bathing suit with rainbow stripes and polka dots on the ruffle!).
I'm very happy that I do have a good recent memory of her as well. When she first went into the hospital, Rick and I drove to Abilene for the night, so we could see her. That evening, she was pretty much out of it due to the pain medications, but the next morning when we saw her, she was very happy to see us, and we talked a bit. She knew exactly who we were then (but didn't remember us being there the night before). She hadn't been eating much so...
...As we said goodbye, my last words to her went something like this, "I love you, take care, and eat your vegetables!"
Friday, March 7, 2008
Lumpectomy: Check!
The doctor just came and spoke with Dad (while I was away getting a hamburger for Dad!), so I missed it. But the basics are: the surgery is complete and was a success! They removed the tumor, and checked the surrounding area. It was all clear! Praise God!
They also removed a lymph node for testing (I think they only removed one...but again, Dad's hamburger.) but we won't know those test results for a few days.
Mom is wide awake and eating right now. She feels fine for the moment, but they are prescribing some pain medication. Once the nurse is ready, she'll be moved to another area until the anesthesiologist says she's good to leave the hospital.
We'll chill out at Crystal's place for the afternoon/evening and head back to Austin on Saturday. My parents will stay with me at my house tomorrow night, and then they plan to go back to Midland on Sunday.
It's amazing what medicine and techology are capable of accomplishing - all because God gave man the ability to gain the knowledge and figure it all out!
They also removed a lymph node for testing (I think they only removed one...but again, Dad's hamburger.) but we won't know those test results for a few days.
Mom is wide awake and eating right now. She feels fine for the moment, but they are prescribing some pain medication. Once the nurse is ready, she'll be moved to another area until the anesthesiologist says she's good to leave the hospital.
We'll chill out at Crystal's place for the afternoon/evening and head back to Austin on Saturday. My parents will stay with me at my house tomorrow night, and then they plan to go back to Midland on Sunday.
It's amazing what medicine and techology are capable of accomplishing - all because God gave man the ability to gain the knowledge and figure it all out!
Fast Forward...To Now!
Today's Agenda: Mom's Lumpectomy!!
I'm sitting in the waiting room at the MD Anderson Outpatient Surgery clinic. They just took Mom and Dad back to get today's procedures started. At 9:30 a.m. they are going to do a "needle localization." From my understanding, they will basically put a "marker" where the tumor is located. Then, the doctors will begin the lumpectomy. They'll remove the cancerous area as well as a few lymph nodes. This will require two separate incisions.
Please pray for the doctors during this time.
We aren't sure how long the whole process will take. It should be all over with by early afternoon. I think Mom's recovery from the anesthesia will take longer than the procedure itself.
She'll be in recovery for a little while this afternoon at MD Anderson, and once she wakes up completely, we'll leave the hospital, pending no complications. We'll stay in the Houston area through tomorrow and then Mom and Dad will start working their way back to Midland.
Please keep Sherrie in your prayers today!
Update: We saw Mom a little while ago. They had placed two needles in her to mark the spot to be removed. Mom said she felt a little like an alien with things sticking out of her!
We walked with her, while she was rolled to the operating room. Once we left, they began administering anesthesia. She'll be given a local anesathetic (like an epidural) as well as general anesthetic. That's all I know for now. :o)
I'm sitting in the waiting room at the MD Anderson Outpatient Surgery clinic. They just took Mom and Dad back to get today's procedures started. At 9:30 a.m. they are going to do a "needle localization." From my understanding, they will basically put a "marker" where the tumor is located. Then, the doctors will begin the lumpectomy. They'll remove the cancerous area as well as a few lymph nodes. This will require two separate incisions.
Please pray for the doctors during this time.
We aren't sure how long the whole process will take. It should be all over with by early afternoon. I think Mom's recovery from the anesthesia will take longer than the procedure itself.
She'll be in recovery for a little while this afternoon at MD Anderson, and once she wakes up completely, we'll leave the hospital, pending no complications. We'll stay in the Houston area through tomorrow and then Mom and Dad will start working their way back to Midland.
Please keep Sherrie in your prayers today!
Update: We saw Mom a little while ago. They had placed two needles in her to mark the spot to be removed. Mom said she felt a little like an alien with things sticking out of her!
We walked with her, while she was rolled to the operating room. Once we left, they began administering anesthesia. She'll be given a local anesathetic (like an epidural) as well as general anesthetic. That's all I know for now. :o)
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