Continuing On...

My continued Sunday adventure....

Jim dropped me off at a Bridal Store so I had the chance to participate in watching my sister, Ashley, begin trying on wedding dresses. I didn't know what to expect. The first dress was magical. We quickly learned my sister could be a bridal model. She looked absolutely beautiful in everything. I'm glad she is the one who has the responsibility to pick her perfect dress. I felt so honored and blessed to be a part of this moment. I don't know if I'll get this opportunity again due to my chemo schedule, so I can only express my gratitude to my little sister for allowing me to have this experience.

Sunday evening we had a wonderful dinner at Jim's parents to celebrate their new patio cover and walk way to their pool. It came out beautiful and I'm sure they will enjoy it for years to come. We left there and picked up our favorite pooch Jazzy. Our dear friends Karen and Scott offered to have her for the day. She was so excited going and exhausted coming home.

On Monday, I'm not sure who was more tired, me or Jasmine? As soon as I was rested Matthew drove me up to visit my Aunt Katie. Instead of blogging I have been texting to keep everyone informed and asking for prayer for my Aunt. I didn't have time to both blog and text. To quickly update you on the medical details of my Aunt Katie's surgery she had last Tuesday morning (10/18) was to repair a Paraesophageal Hiatal Hernia by performing a Laproscopic Nissen Fundoplication. Trust me all of this I had to get from her - after her recovery.

Paraesophageal hernias are relatively rare, involving less than 1 percent. A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach pushes through an opening in the diaphragm, and up into the chest. There are two categories of hiatal hernias, sliding or paraesophageal. With paraesophageal hernias, the gastro-esophageal junction remains where it belongs, but part of the stomach is squeezed up into the chest beside the esophagus. These hernias remain in the chest at all times. With this type of hernia, complications can occur. Complications of a Paraesophageal Hiatal Hernia are: Incarceration - This is when the hernia is stuck and being squeezed. Strangulation - This results from the lack of blood supply, leading to death of the tissues involved.

Either way it had to be corrected. We were praying it could be corrected laproscopically instead of extensive surgery. Surgery is surgery and my Aunt dealt first with pain and then annoying nausea. She should have gone home on Friday but it took an additional day in the hospital to get the nausea under control. She was released early Saturday afternoon. I thank all my dear friends for praying.

I was so happy to spend a couple of hours with her. I was also getting updates on my Uncle Wayne who had a heart attack on Saturday. Sunday he was in surgery having stents placed in his arteries. Please pray for his recovery. If you can believe it I have another cousin who is battling cancer at the moment. I'm trying to respect his request that nothing be posted through Facebook. He has thyroid cancer that has spread through his throat - God knows his name and situation.

There is a lot happening on my Dad's side of the family. I can say that each one of his sister's and brother need prayer. Not one word can be wasted as each is dealing with a medical condition of their own, or a medical condition of a loved one.

After visiting with my Aunt Katie, Matthew drove me to pick up my mom to take her back to our house for a birthday dinner. My friend Corine was delivering our meal and asked what my mom would enjoy, and Corine's mom treated my mom to a Polly's Specialty Pumpkin Pie for dessert (so sweet of them both). I felt like I got to treat my mom by no effort of my own. Of course for a few laughs we put a trick candle on her piece of pie. I was so glad to get her home and crash again. My energy has no way returned.

On Tuesday, I failed to tell you I received my CT Scan results. The new findings were that the nodules on the Sternum had shrunk 30%. My doctor said we got good results. Not great, but not bad either. They felt they had new results on my hip bone but I remembered those results showing up on my PET Scan that I had done at Stanford. I have to be honest and tell you that I was very disappointed. The truth was I wanted her to say, "It's gone!" Going to chemo the next day was a lot harder.

Di is helping me keep my perspective and helping me focus on the bigger picture. It's hard! The days after chemo have been harder than I expected. My body is done. Each day was an ugly roller coaster. I am so grateful for the pre-nausea meds they give me because I can't imagine what it would be like (unfortunately my Aunt Katie could tell me) just having them makes it tolerable.

I had another doctor appointment yesterday. It was another hard appointment. I just kept crying because of the CT results. My doctor tried to explain that in the beginning she wasn't sure she could get the cancer under control and stabilized. She celebrates that the cancer has reversed even if it is a small amount. Once again it helped me look at it differently. I still don't know how I want to react to, "Your good to go for the next round of chemo." I haven't had one day of feeling well yet. This next round is all about my counts dropping and the continued nausea. I'm sure I have transfusions to look forward to....who would think that's what I have to look forward to,

I'm not sure why any of you want to read this. Truthfully, it's taken me days to write.

As I've thought back through this last month I realized I didn't share something that happened in the beginning of the month that deeply touched my life. Those involved would probably not want me to mention them. One of my long time friends and a true prayer warrior (she spends many hours in battle for me, with others and alone) had arranged that a group from church would gather on our front lawn at 6:30 pm to pray for me and our family. When I mentioned it to Jim he commented that the neighbors would call the police. He makes me laugh.

My friend Dayna had stopped by to check on me and I was getting all the upcoming details of her missionary trip to Nepal (as I type this she should be in a plane returning home - so pray for a safe return). We had a lot of catching up to do. When Jim and I walked her out we saw the most beautiful sight on our lawn (I can only wonder what it looked like from Heaven?) the lawn had a circle of women holding hands and praying. I decided if the neighbors called the police I wanted to be included....just kidding....all I was thinking is I wanted to be a part of their circle. What I didn't expect is what would come over me as I heard their prayers.

They were asking for a miracle...no they were pleading for one. I wish I could repeat each and every prayer. I just pray the memory is never removed - chemo brain or not - from me. I did no way feel deserving of what was being prayed. I was so humbled. I felt loved. I had to go inside and get some Kleenex. I ended up not being the only one crying. What touched me even more was when I was told that there were many others praying around the city right at 6:30 pm for me and my family. Wow!

I thank everyone for your love. I get asked what should I do for a person who is going through cancer?

LOVE THEM. They need your love. Love = time, prayers, meals, cleaning, notes, and just being there. Whatever you can do and however you know how...just LOVE.

That's what I remember why I wanted to have a tea party.


Next up....chemo tomorrow at 10:00 am. I will try and post shorter blogs so you will know how I'm coping. Thank you again for caring.