Margie went to St. Luke's on Friday, the 19th of Feb., and had 28 staples removed~
She is doing wonderfully and is as strong as a horse! She is planning on returning to her hubby, Wendell, and her pets, Peggy Sue, Foxy and Alfred after celebrating her 57th BIRTHDAY here with family including her 2 grandchildren, Jandro & Livvy!
Margie is so grateful for all the prayers that went "out" for her from her family and friends~
I wish all people who have to have the "C" could get thru it like my baby sister, God bless her
(and HE did~)
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Good News!!
On January 7, 2010, Mom met with Dr Wall and received excellent news. After examination, he told her that he could no longer see any visible tumor in her cervix. There were still a lot of after effects seen from radiation but that will heal in time. We were ecstatic!
Today January 12th, Dr Dudzinski met with Mom and scheduled a total hysterectomy (removal of uterus, tubes, and ovaries) on Monday February 8th.
Mom has come so far since diagnosis. I truly believe that her great attitude has saved her life. That and God. We always have to give thanks to Him.
Thank all of you who have kept her in your prayers. Her work on this earth is not done.
Today January 12th, Dr Dudzinski met with Mom and scheduled a total hysterectomy (removal of uterus, tubes, and ovaries) on Monday February 8th.
Mom has come so far since diagnosis. I truly believe that her great attitude has saved her life. That and God. We always have to give thanks to Him.
Thank all of you who have kept her in your prayers. Her work on this earth is not done.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Final Fletcher Implant
Mom undewent her second Fletcher implant procedure today. Once again she is radioactive! This time the stay will be shorter since it is a higher dose of radiation. They plan on discharging her tomorrow after everything has been removed. She is doing quite well. Dr Wall commented that she is one of the most positive patients he has ever met. I told him that there is definitely no one else like her. She has the right attitude to fight this!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Follow Up with Dr Dudzinski
On Wednesday 12/2/09 we followed up with Mom's sugical gyn-oncologist, Dr Dudzinski. She examined Mom and determined that her cancer had shrunk 50%. The CT scan that was performed on Tuesday looked really good. No metastatis was seen in any other organs. The doctor did express that she had hoped that the tumor would be much smaller. She recommended that Mom continue with her second surgical procedure next Tuesday 12/8. She will undergo her second Fletcher implant and receive further radiation directly to her cervix. After that, the plan will be to proceed with a hysterectomy 4-6 weeks later. Dr Dudzinski gave us a prognosis. If there is no more observable tumor at the time of surgery, then her survival rate will be 85%. If there is still any evident tumor left then her rate will be reduced to 50%. She will remove all signs of cancer at the time of surgery but do to the aggressiveness of her tumor, the chance of spread is still high. IF there is still tumor left, then after surgery she will endure more chemo at a stronger dose. We will fight it with all we have!
Mom is staying very upbeat and positive. So am I! If Mom would have continued to ignore her symptoms her survival rate would have been 0%. She has already lengthened her life by seeking help when she did. The doctor told her that she has the right attitude to fight this. That is the attitude that they want to see.
Please pray that Mom's tumor is completely obliterated by this last dose of radiation. She has many plans for the future including traveling abroad to Europe soon. I know that she is going to make it through everything. I have never known a stronger person.
Mom is staying very upbeat and positive. So am I! If Mom would have continued to ignore her symptoms her survival rate would have been 0%. She has already lengthened her life by seeking help when she did. The doctor told her that she has the right attitude to fight this. That is the attitude that they want to see.
Please pray that Mom's tumor is completely obliterated by this last dose of radiation. She has many plans for the future including traveling abroad to Europe soon. I know that she is going to make it through everything. I have never known a stronger person.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The Mammogram
On November 3oth, Mom went for her second mammogram. Her first scan did not rule out metastatis. Luckily, she received good news. The mammogram was negative for anything suspicious. I knew all along that there was nothing to worry about but Mom was anxious. She can rest easy now. Today she had another CT scan performed of her entire body. Tomorrow we meet with Dr Dudzinski to hear the results. We look forward to proceeding with plans for a hysterectomy.
Please continue to keep Mom in your prayers!
Please continue to keep Mom in your prayers!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
It Takes A Village
I just need to shed light on what my Mom has done for me for the last 6 years. She has been the caregiver to my children everyday when I go to work. In the beginning I would work only 2-3 (12) hour shifts as a nurse. In the last year, I took a full time job 5 days a week. My Mom has been there everyday without complaint. She never gets paid although I have rewarded her with a vacation to Vegas last year. That still does not take care of all of the time that she has spent caring for her grandchildren. They love and adore her so much. My daughter, Olivia, is constantly asking about when she will return. The kids seem to think that this is just a passing flu that she should just recover from quickly. I love the way kids think!
I have to give thanks to my wonderful in-laws. As soon as Mom was diagnosed, they stepped forward and offered to care for my children. They have always worked full time and have never been able to devote the time that my Mom has. It worked out perfectly since my Father-in-law is just recently retired and my Mother-in-law is off work through the holiday season. They have been such a blessing to my family! I love them dearly and I don't think they will ever realize how much this has meant to me and my Mom. It has brought such joy to Mom just knowing that the kids are cared for by Ciria and Ralph. Olivia talks of them often although she tries to make them think otherwise. We love you Ralph & Ciria so much! Thank you for all that you have done.
I have to give thanks to my wonderful in-laws. As soon as Mom was diagnosed, they stepped forward and offered to care for my children. They have always worked full time and have never been able to devote the time that my Mom has. It worked out perfectly since my Father-in-law is just recently retired and my Mother-in-law is off work through the holiday season. They have been such a blessing to my family! I love them dearly and I don't think they will ever realize how much this has meant to me and my Mom. It has brought such joy to Mom just knowing that the kids are cared for by Ciria and Ralph. Olivia talks of them often although she tries to make them think otherwise. We love you Ralph & Ciria so much! Thank you for all that you have done.
Mom's First Surgery
After receiving 5 chemo and 25 radiation treatments, Dr Wall said "It's time for surgery!" On Monday 11/23/09, Mom arrived at St Luke's Hospital early in the morning for her first surgical experience. Although she kept a smile on I could tell that she was very nervous. (We all know Mom's fake pasted on smile by now!) She was terrified of anesthesia and has always been convinced that one time would kill her.
The "terrifying" surgery that awaited her is called a Fletcher Implant. During this procedure they implant radioactive isotopes into the cervix. At the same time they place a large amount of packing around the other pelvic organs. The idea is to provide direct radiation to the source of the cancer. After proper placement, the isotopes stay in for 36-48 hours and the patient is considered highly radioactive. That means NO VISITORS.
Mom was taken into surgery at around 10am (She had been waiting since 6:15 that morning). Aunt Lucy and I kept each other company in the waiting room. We felt confident that she would do well but we felt so bad about everything she has had to go through. We were able to follow her progress on a digital video screen in the waiting room. It told us when she was in surgery and how many minutes she had been in there. After 1 hour and 41 minutes, it showed that surgery was complete and that she had finally made it to the recovery room. We were so excited for her!
Shortly afterwards, the volunteer took me back to the recovery room where I found Mom lying on the bed looking just as pink and healthy as can be. She was breathing fine on her own without any oxygen and her vital signs were perfect. I remember laughing because she was still a bit doped up from the anesthesia. She kept grabbing my hand and telling me that she could feel my "energy". She told me that I should start bottling it up and selling it. Mom has never taken a pain pill stronger than tylenol so I knew she was feeling good. It was such a relief to see that she was doing so well.
Aunt Lucy and I met her up in her hospital room. We visited with her for awhile. She was in good spirits as she spoke with us and also received a few calls from family members. Her only complaint was her annoying catheter. By 3pm, they kicked us out. It was time for her to go RADIOACTIVE. Dr Wall arrived with a radioactive physicist who was preparing to measure the radioactivity within the room and on Mom. They had giant lead shields ready to be place at the sides of her bed. She would remain on complete bedrest until discharge. 2 nights may not seem like very long but when you are confined to bed it is an eternity.
Her surgical oncologist, Dr Dudzinski, came to visit Mom on Tuesday. Mom asked about future plans for a hysterectomy. The plan will be to pursue that 4-6 weeks after her final inpatient radiation treatment. So we are looking at late January to early February. Good news!
Dr Wall arrived to Mom's room early this morning in order to remove the isotopes and packing. She was discharged shortly afterwards. I talked to her this evening and she is very tired but doing well.
It has been 5 weeks since diagnosis and she has been through so much. 5 chemo's, 25 radiations, 8 units of blood, and 1 Fletcher Implant later and she is still going strong. Way to go Mom!! Although you always believed you could never make it through any anesthesia, you have proved yourself wrong. You are a true fighter after all!
The "terrifying" surgery that awaited her is called a Fletcher Implant. During this procedure they implant radioactive isotopes into the cervix. At the same time they place a large amount of packing around the other pelvic organs. The idea is to provide direct radiation to the source of the cancer. After proper placement, the isotopes stay in for 36-48 hours and the patient is considered highly radioactive. That means NO VISITORS.
Mom was taken into surgery at around 10am (She had been waiting since 6:15 that morning). Aunt Lucy and I kept each other company in the waiting room. We felt confident that she would do well but we felt so bad about everything she has had to go through. We were able to follow her progress on a digital video screen in the waiting room. It told us when she was in surgery and how many minutes she had been in there. After 1 hour and 41 minutes, it showed that surgery was complete and that she had finally made it to the recovery room. We were so excited for her!
Shortly afterwards, the volunteer took me back to the recovery room where I found Mom lying on the bed looking just as pink and healthy as can be. She was breathing fine on her own without any oxygen and her vital signs were perfect. I remember laughing because she was still a bit doped up from the anesthesia. She kept grabbing my hand and telling me that she could feel my "energy". She told me that I should start bottling it up and selling it. Mom has never taken a pain pill stronger than tylenol so I knew she was feeling good. It was such a relief to see that she was doing so well.
Aunt Lucy and I met her up in her hospital room. We visited with her for awhile. She was in good spirits as she spoke with us and also received a few calls from family members. Her only complaint was her annoying catheter. By 3pm, they kicked us out. It was time for her to go RADIOACTIVE. Dr Wall arrived with a radioactive physicist who was preparing to measure the radioactivity within the room and on Mom. They had giant lead shields ready to be place at the sides of her bed. She would remain on complete bedrest until discharge. 2 nights may not seem like very long but when you are confined to bed it is an eternity.
Her surgical oncologist, Dr Dudzinski, came to visit Mom on Tuesday. Mom asked about future plans for a hysterectomy. The plan will be to pursue that 4-6 weeks after her final inpatient radiation treatment. So we are looking at late January to early February. Good news!
Dr Wall arrived to Mom's room early this morning in order to remove the isotopes and packing. She was discharged shortly afterwards. I talked to her this evening and she is very tired but doing well.
It has been 5 weeks since diagnosis and she has been through so much. 5 chemo's, 25 radiations, 8 units of blood, and 1 Fletcher Implant later and she is still going strong. Way to go Mom!! Although you always believed you could never make it through any anesthesia, you have proved yourself wrong. You are a true fighter after all!
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