Update on Progress

I am finally back among the "living" -- or so it feels. The gall bladder surgery went well and I am finally feeling good enough to sit up in a chair at the computer. Today is day 7 from surgery (at 2:45 PM) so I think I'm doing good given it has only been 7 days. Hoping to return to work tomorrow, but will have to see how today goes. Just glad the surgery is over with so I can heal and begin to prepare my body for IVF.

Our RE has given us the green light to proceed with IVF -- I was worried we would have to scrap this cycle due to my surgery, but he agreed to proceed as long as the transfer date would be no less than 5 weeks out from my surgery -- as luck would have it, I will actually be 5 1/2 weeks out! Finally, some good news. Mark and I will travel to Green Bay on October 2 for what is called a "Day 21" appointment. I will have ultrasounds, blood work and then we sign our life away on consent forms. They sent us the forms in advance of the appointment to "read over"-- I think in reality, it was so we would have time to get over the "HOLY CRAP" feeling before the appointment! Then the fun begins. We are both nervous and cautiously optimistic at this point. On a side note, I haven't been able to go to acupuncture since the week before my surgery and I can tell the difference. I can't wait to get back there next week!

Last week in amongst preparing for surgery, mom had her 3rd chemo treatment on Monday, September 15. After a very long worry-filled weekend, Mom, Kathy and I met with Dr. Ahuja to find out the results of her scan. The "good" news is the tumors have not grown, but they haven't shrunk either. Dr. Ahuja kept mom on her original chemo treatment, which was good news for her as she handles the post-chemo effects well (not good news that she still has the 4 1/2 hours of treatment). Now all we have to do is continue to pray that the chemo will start to work and shrink the tumors.

I guess I could truly begin to feel like I'm jinxed given all the bad stuff going on, but I am trying to find a silver lining in all of the "bad". I guess maybe this was God's way of telling me that I needed to stop for a bit and appreciate the "here and now".

Thoughts:

• Day 7 from surgery - on the road to recovery
• Green light to continue IVF
• Most important, Mom made it through her third chemo like a champ!

Progress Update

Many things going on in our world.....

I found out on Monday that I have a gall stone and polup in my gall bladder which requires it to be removed. I'm scheduled for surgery on Tuesday, September 16. Mark and I met with the surgeon Thursday and she was very nice and informative. Hoping that the procedure and recovery goes well. Mark and I have decided to take the next step in our infertility treatments -- Invitro Fertilization (IVF). One of the requirements by my reproductive endocrinologist (RE) was to start acupuncture for 12 weeks prior to IVF. I have now completed 5 weeks and LOVE IT! I highly recommend this treatment method. I have noticed a remarkable improvement in my overall mental health. I feel a lot more calm and relaxed -- which is a good thing going into IVF. We're hoping and praying that this last and final treatment option works for us!

Now onto an update on mom. Things haven't been going so well on this front. Mom had a biopsy done last week in Park Falls as she had 2 skin lesions which required biopsies to find out what they were. This required mom to miss her chemo treatment last week due to her surgery. Today she had what was supposed to have a chemo appointment with Dr. Ahuja and we found out that the lesions are cancer that has spread into her tissue. Since they don't know if the lesions were there when the chemo initially started or if they have since appeared after chemo started, mom could not have chemo today but rather underwent a CAP CT Scan. Dr. Ahuja needs to determine if the prior tumors have shrunk or grown, which will then tell him whether or not the initial chemo treatment worked. If he find that the chemo is not working, then mom will start a new chemo treatment plan. Mom returns for her next appointment on Monday to find out the results of the Scan and what the next step is for chemo. We're praying for a miracle.

Mom is still having the pain in her collarbone. Due to the surgery incision location, she isn't able to wear her harness to keep the collarbone from moving, so she's experiencing more pain now too. The good news is...the collarbone break was NOT a result of cancer. The bone scan showed that there is no further cancer in any of her bones. At least that was good news!

Today was a hard day for Mom, Kathy and me. As mom put it "just when I start feeling good, and my spirits are getting lifted, I get handed another setback." I know that Kathy and I share in those exact same sentiments with Mom. I pray each day that we'll get good news. That mom will feel better, that the cancer will go away. Mom truly has been through so much, yet her will and determination inspire me.

For now, we all put on our "brave face" and pray harder than ever for a miracle.