How did we get here?

— A conversation with my husband, shortly after arriving home this afternoon with fresh oxygen tanks, spots on my liver, fluid pushing around my lungs (likely filled with cancer, as are the tumors inside) and at least one broken vertebra that must be healed before we resume any kind of treatment. —

How did we get here? I asked my love, across the bed strewn with children’s toys, books, and an oxygen tank.

We got here because of your amazing strength, commitment, and love for your family that you have shown since you were diagnosed – almost 5 years since diagnosis, 4.5 years since we were afraid it would end, 3 years after most IBC patients make it, all because of you. The medical details don’t matter. Our life has been a nonstop adventure.

Nonstop. I agree. And because of you, always at my side, supporting me, joking with me, taking me to yet another appointment and holding my hand. Kidding me about the speed I drink the contrast shakes, and raising eyebrows with me as the tech’s hands jiggle as he tries to place the line.

…

What, aren’t you going to blog anymore goodbyes?

I am not blogging goodbyes. I am not saying goodbye to you yet. I won’t.

You will have to soon. Hospice comes in an hour, and since I need Pallative radiation to fix the latest spine fracture, I can’t go to treatment anymore. We need hospice, at least for a time.

No matter what, you deserve to feel better right now, and you deserve a chance to enjoy family and friends, and if that means we use hospice, or go to the moon, or paint you green, then we will do those things. I have dibs on the paintbrush.

Green’s really not my color.

I have not yet encountered a color you could not make yours. Purple?

Purple. I’ll change clothes and listen to her when she comes, but I can’t promise that I’ll be sparkly to the hospice lady.

I’m willing to bet the hospice lady is not expecting to be greeted with confetti and song.

Good point. More tomorrow, my friends. I hope.

A little trouble

I’ve been having shortness of breath for several weeks, which we chalked up to the pneumonia, but it’s just gotten worse. Yesterday I had trouble just walking from one room to the next. Today, just sitting on the couch with a friend. In fact, I’m still having trouble, even though I’ve been hooked up to the oxygen all day.

We’re going to the ER now, to get scans, at the direction of my oncologist. Please pray for us tonight.

Love to you all and all whom you love,
Susan

Looking for help? (cancer)

I’m still fighting pneumonia and the associated fatigue, but I received the most beautiful scarf in the mail from the people at L. Erickson’s Good Wishes program, which sends a silk scarf or head wrap to anyone losing their hair as a result of illness or treatment.  I’m assuming they mean cancer only and not alopecia, but it couldn’t hurt to ask!  Thank you, Good Wishes!

I’ve updated a resource page at Mothers With Cancer accordingly — check there if you’re helping a cancer patient and looking for resources for cleaning, cooking, hats and scarves, lymphedema sleeves, wigs, makeup, and how to organize to help a friend with cancer.  I don’t know what I’d have done without my friends this year and in 2007 – consider yourselves hugged!

Mothers With Cancer: Help page

Pneumonia.

Pneumonia. Again. Still. Unable to stop the coughing, I asked the chemo nurse this week who I should see for it – my primary care doctor, who tends to overreact and send me to the ER for lung trouble, or my oncologist, who is primarily concerned with the cancer, not other worries. She responded that I did the right thing already, as she didn’t want to give me chemo if I was already sick.

The nurse popped back in a little while later, letting me know that my doctor had ordered a chest x-ray, which we could do at the hospital before we left that day (after chemo, which we could have).

My oncologist called last night with the verdict: pneumonia. My lungs still have gunk in them and I have to lay low for a little while, taking more antibiotics, using the inhaler and such to
recover. What a lovely addition to chemo this week.

I’m very tired. Slept til 1 pm yesterday, but today I was awake a little longer, if not any more productive. Just tired. and drenched from the return of the hot flashes, which reappeared when I restarted chemo this Fall.