Post-Surgery

After my MRI results showed a meniscus tear and loose cartilage on my left knee, it was FINALLY time for surgery.  This knee has been bothering me with pain--off and on---for years now.  Every time I think I'm going to have it looked at, I get sucked into fighting cancer again.  Not this time.  We were going to do something about it!  

Thankfully, Dr. V. had a cancelectomy on Friday morning, the first case of the day.  Stephen counseled me to get the first case of the day, as that is the ONLY one guaranteed to start on time.  I didn't want to be one of the afternoon cases and go hours and hours without anything to eat or drink.  It also worked out that, but some amazing coincidence, that Stephen was off on Friday.  Also, his brother came into town and SAVED us by getting up with our boys and getting them off to school.  This way, Stephen was able to drive me and stay at the hospital for updates. 

Since I'd already pre-registered, I was back in my room before Stephen parked the car.  I had time to change and watch a little tv while we waited.  The nurse came in and BY ANOTHER AMAZING MIRACLE, she ACTUALLY LISTENED when I told her that I'm a hard stick.  And, what do you know?  She nailed the I.V.!!!  This is truly the greatest blessing of the day.  I HATE I.V.s.  Hate them. Usually, I tell the nurse that I'm a hard stick.  He or she then feels my veins and says something like, "this one is great.  I can get it."  I remind him or her that I AM A HARD STICK, but they don't believe me and go ahead....without numbing medicine....and, what do you know?  MISSES.   For every single procedure I have ever had done that required and I.V., the average is me having 2-3 needle sticks before an I.V. gets started correctly.  But, this nurse listened.  She explained that she's learned the hard way to listen.  Now, she stays away from those "teaser veins," as she calls them, the ones that feel like they're great, but are just teasing you.  She used numbing medicine and got the IV in on the first try....WITHOUT ANY READJUSTMENTS!!!!  And, I didn't feel a thing!  This was an answer to prayers, so thank you to all who prayed for this procedure!  Good came from it before the hard part got started!!!

Anesthesia came in....handpicked by Stephen....we rolled back, I moved over the to OR table....and things went black until I was not wanting to wake up from my amazing nap.  

Dr. V. came to talk to Stephen and gave him this pictures of my knee.  The top left picture is from my medial side.  It looks good.  The other pictures show the meniscus tear, as well as some red/pink on the bones.  This is the bad part.  "She's been dealing with this a long time, hasn't she?," Dr. V asked Stephen.  (He's another example of my high pain tolerance NOT always being a good thing.  Should've taken care of this sooner.)  "This is basically bone on bone, so she's going to need cortisone shots.  When those don't work, a knee replacement."  What I've learned from this?  DO NOT PUT OFF going to the doctor!!!  Perhaps if I had taken care of this before hand, I could've saved more of my knee.  

Physical Therapy then came in to instruct me on using the crutches to walk and go up and down stairs.  They also explained and practiced 6 different exercises that I need to do 2-3 times each day.  It's also important to keep in elevated and iced to keep the swelling down.  

After that, we were home before 11:00, and I was able to rest for most of the afternoon!

I'm hopeful that I'll recover well and have some relief from the pain.  Time will tell, but for now I'm grateful that the surgery went smoothly and for the prayers and great care from all the doctors, nurses, and techs who assisted in this procedure and helped make my experience a good one!

Shipwreck Grill Fundraiser

Twelve hours of fun/work.

Amazing opportunity.

Incredible community Support.

Pink Warriors.

So grateful and honored.  

So many local businesses were in a giving mood.  We ended up with TEN packages to give away at the raffle!!!  (I wish I would've thought ahead of time about having someone there to sell tickets while I was eating or mingling.)  I was also able to use the raffle money to sponsor our local support group in the virtual 5K we are doing, as well as to help with our float for the local Christmas parade.

I loved pulling out some of the pink decor I've collected over the year--the pink pumpkin my Pink Warriors made for me last year, the art I won at last year's Pink Alliance luncheon....so fun!

I was able to give out lots of paper cranes and tell the story of Sadako, while passing on wishes of love and hope!

My picture is in this Beyond Boobs! 2017 calendar!  We sold some at the event.  

At each of the tables, we put these thank-yous, along with a little background on the story.  

I was so glad so many of our friends and co-workers were able to come join us for a fun day.  

With all the generous donations from the 20% of the profits of the restaurant's sales as well as those from our gofundme account, we were almost able to raise enough for our deductible and co-insurance for 2017!!!  Thank you!  Thank you!!!

H&P #14 + Flu Shot

This week has been busy, busy, busy!  My fundraiser at Shipwreck Grill was so much fun and exhausting; I feel like it's taken me a whole week to recover.  Thank you, thank you to everyone who came and who was there in spirit.  We are so grateful for the love and generosity of all of you.  (More pictures to come!)  

This is my second treatment in the month of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  At this time of year, more people are aware of breast cancer, and therefore more willing to give to the cause, in a similar way that people tend to be more giving and humble during the month of December, thanks to the spirit of Christmas.  Today is the second day this month that someone has donated lunch to the whole clinic, including patients!  It was sandwiches the first time, and today we're having pizza and fruit.  Someone just said, in response to this donation, "See, having cancer's not always bad!"

I'm having knee surgery on Friday!  This knee has been bothering me off and on for over two years, so I'm excited for the possibilities of having some elimination of once that's healed.  At the preregistration yesterday, the nurse couldn't believe I haven't done something about this problem before now.  As I've explained to several people, "Cancer trumps lots of other things."  That's I am ABLE to have surgery on my knee is a blessing--it means that's the most bothersome health issue in my life right now.  

In other news, my hair is growing and almost long enough for a "real" cut.  In playing around with different styles, I even tried some bangs.  I laughed at myself the minute I saw this look in the mirror, for it reminded me of an image from my childhood.  It's as if I just met my long-lost twin sister at a summer camp and had her cut my hair short like hers in order to fool our parents and pull the switch on them!  

That's more like it:  

It's hard to believe we are almost through October.  We're going to turn around and be celebrating a new year! That means I'm coming up on 1 year of NEV. (No evidence of disease.)  Part of me wants to shout that from the rooftops, and part of me is waiting for lightning to strike again.  I've been having some headaches this week, pretty bad headaches that I can feel in the back of my head and in my sinuses.  They go away, and they could just be attributed to hunger, stress, or lack of sleep, but that little, questioning voice inside wonders....is cancer back?  These are some of the little things I now deal with---every pain and ache, is that cancer?  I try to not focus on that line of thinking, but it's not always easy.  

For now, I just keep on putting one foot in front of the other and have faith that things will work out--no matter how they work out--and that God will keep taking care of me and my family.  

MRI Results

Instead of having an "old soul," I'm beginning to think I'm a young soul in an old body.  

My left knee has been bothering me for a couple of years.  I planned on finally having it looked at last year after Stephen healed from his surgery.  However, cancer overshadowed those plans.  

I had a steroid shot in it earlier in the year that actually helped, but has worn off.  Now, the pain has gotten so annoying that another shot isn't going to help....it was time to see a doctor to see about fixing it and not just trying to cover it up.  

I had an MRI on my left knee on Wednesday.  Yesterday, I got the results:

there were pieces of cartilage "floating around" in there.

And, oh yeah:

ARTHRITIS.  

See?  Old Body.

This body keeps getting cancer and now is starting to be bothered with arthritis.  (I also have it in my hips.)

So.....I'll be having arthroscopic surgery on my knee next Friday to clean out the cartilage that probably broke off from some type of little injury and could now be getting caught underneath the joint and causing pain.  There will be two small incisions in my knee: one for a camera and one for the tools.  The incisions won't be the cause of pain; they won't even be large enough to need stitches or staples.  The pain of the surgery will be on the inside, from all the digging around to clear out the cartilage.  

I'll be on crutches for 24-48 hours, not able to drive for a few days, and will need about 6 weeks of recovery, with some physical therapy.  

It's always something.      

H&P #13

Breast Cancer Awareness Month has started off with a bang.

Between being nominated as a recipient of a local fundraiser, hearing my book should be coming out this month, attending the Surviving and Thriving luncheon, and now back at treatment, the month already feels much longer than 4 days.  

Last year, I was invited to attend Pink Alliance's luncheon as a guest of a physician friend who owns a local free-standing ER.  As big donors, the ER had their own table in a prime location.  My second cancer diagnosis was still fresh, so much so that I was called on stage as the survivor with the newest diagnosis.  This year, I was barely able to get tickets, as the even was sold out so quickly, and I had been placed on a waiting list.  I was able to secure tickets for myself and some fellow Boobers! I was surprised when all the breast cancer survivors were asked to stand that less that half of the packed room stood up from their chairs.  Then, when the same invitation for the newest survivors to remain standing was made to this year's crowd, my memories from last year immediately flooded back.  It seems like a lifetime ago, yet still so fresh. 

The biggest piece of advice I took from the inspirational speaker, Texan Kendra Scott, was about failure and hardships.  WE HAVE TO HAVE THEM.  All the failures and struggles of her life have actually been bridges that have prepared her for being ready for what comes next.  She lost her step-father to brain cancer, her first business (The Hat Box--hats for cancer patients and more)  went under, she started peddling jewelry in a tea box, also while carrying her newborn son, was told that a major fashion brand could never come out of Texas, has lost close friends to breast cancer.....all of these have prepared her and pushed her into what she has been able to accomplish so far.  She has an amazing philanthropic philosophy and is doing an amazing program for breast cancer this month.  20% of her sales of specific jewelry will be donated to Breast Cancer Research Foundation, AND a second piece of jewelry will be donated to a breast cancer patient.  She will even be sending hand written notes of love and encouragement to those patients.  (We got to write some at the luncheon!)  Go to her website, HERE, to find out more!  She's spreading the mantras: Hope Matters and "You do good."  (The 3-word phrase her late step-father was able to speak after brain surgery in response to her opening her hat store.)  We can all "do good" with what we have been given.

Who knows how long any of us has here on earth.  I know that time is best spent trying to make a difference in the lives of those around us.  Find the things that you are passionate about and talented in and find a way to "do good."

Treasure the Chests

An awesome local couple, owners of two restaurants in our community, do something quite special for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Every Tuesday in October, they hold a fundraiser at each of their restaurants for one recipient, and I WAS CHOSEN AS ONE!!!

My day will be Tuesday, October 18th, at the Shipwreck Grill.  A portion of their total sales for both lunch and dinner will be donated to our family.  I am so touched and grateful for this opportunity, and hope to be able to give back in my own small way.  I'm trying to get together a basket of items to auction off, the proceeds going back to my breast cancer support group!

Another way to help, Shipwreck Grill will be selling these t-shirts, by CC Creations, for $15...the proceeds being donated to Pink Alliance.

I could not be more honored for their opportunity and hope to see lots of loved ones, as well as make some new friends on October 18th!

Don't forget your annual check-ups, as well as self-exams.  My prayer is that one day soon we will not have to worry about this awful disease.  Until then, "Treasure the Chests," and check or get checked often!



**If you are not able to come eat lunch or dinner that day. Go on another Tuesday in October, or consider donating to our family HERE.