Friends and Family,
Almost a full year has passed since I began this blog and almost 7 months since I have written anything. Im sorry. I have no excuses that are worthy enough to write about. After the months of stress, surgery and recovery, it just felt right to not think about the Big C word for awhile.
The long overdue update is as follows:
After completing three rounds of Chemotherapy earlier this year at Northern Inyo Hospital, Mom has continued to get better and is physically strong enough now to go back to work a few days a week. Two weeks ago marked our 2nd CLEAN cat-scan! That is something that was not expected by the doctors and comes as welcome news! As you may know, its finally summer here in Bishop and with last summers events still fresh in our minds, we are looking forward to a summer of fun! Last summer was spent shuttling to doctors offices, driving the freeways of LA, it was time spent in dark, depressing places which can only be looked at now as the summer when Cancer was successful in the battle for supremacy of our souls. This summer is and will be different. This time around, we have the upper hand and are holding tight to this feeling of weightlessness and freedom that two clean cat-scans can give you. With no more surgeries or chemo to occupy our thoughts, the last few months have been spent thinking about Cancer and how it affects not only the person who has been diagnosed, but also the people who are closest to them. I can't speak for everyone in my family, but the last years events have pushed me to reexamine what is truly important in this life. Cancer has pushed me to question my ideas about death and mortality. I have learned that the most precious gift you can give someone is your time. A friend suggested a book to me recently. The book is Refuge, An Unnatural History of Family and Place. In it, the author says this,
"The curse and charisma of cancer: the knowledge that from this day forward, all you have is the day at hand."
The statement is significant because that is all any of us have-the day at hand. So many of us plan for the future, setting goals and time frames for our lives, assuming things will go as planned. I know I have done that. If I have learned anything this past year, it is this-Life is meant to be lived, fully, with your whole heart, knowing that all you really have is today. So, I have let go of assumptions about the future, and I have persuaded my Mother to try to do the same. With each doctors visit and cat scan report, we remind each other to not hold tightly to a specific outcome. We remind each other that tomorrow the sun will rise, just as it did today and we will breathe, just as we did today. Our hope for the future remains rooted in family and the loving relationships we have formed through our lives.
All our love from beautiful Bishop,
Sarah & Cece
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Friday, October 22, 2010
Back from a long absence
Hello everyone,
It has been too long without a blog post. I'm sorry. I have no credible excuses, just plain old busyness! Life over the past 45 days or so has been good, not great, just good. Numerous doctor visits, many phone calls, many days of decisions and thinking. And one day of really bad news. After her last cat scan, a small spot was found on her liver. A biopsy confirmed that the cancer had metastasized to her liver and the cat scan also revealed a spot on a lymph node. Since that day, we have worried, interviewed oncologists, yelled at oncologists and planned for the days of chemotherapy. The last 45 days have been filled with worries; what Chemotherapy will be like, where Chemo will be, will it work, what if it doesn't work, etc.
Today marks day # 5 of chemo. Cisplatin is the name of the drug and Mom has tolerated it pretty well, considering that she has been in the hospital for 5 days, hooked up to a IV dripping poison into her body 24/7. All chemotherapy's attack fast replicating cells; the cells in your bone marrow, stomach, intestinal tract, mouth, scalp, cancer cells......The result is mouth sores, nausea, kidney problems, and a whole range of other possible side effects, including (hopefully) the DEATH of cancer cells! She has started to feel some side effects today, a little nausea and definitely fatigue.
She will be discharged tomorrow morning and will head home to Fish Lake Valley for the weekend, only to return for a blood test on Monday. The doctors are very concerned about her kidneys, which take the brunt of the chemo. A blood test will reveal if she needs any additional care. The next step is a cat scan in Reno, NV on November 4th, which will tell us if the first round of Chemotherapy has shrunk the liver tumor enough for surgery. If not, another round of Chemotherapy is the option on the table.
Through everything, YOU, the readers and followers of this blog, this small circle of family and friends, have been our rock. A shoulder to cry on, an ear to vent to, a heart to love. Thank you again for the phone calls, the emails, the messages. Everything helps, everything is appreciated.
All our love to you,
Sarah and Cece
A picture to prove how much fun the hospital is!
It has been too long without a blog post. I'm sorry. I have no credible excuses, just plain old busyness! Life over the past 45 days or so has been good, not great, just good. Numerous doctor visits, many phone calls, many days of decisions and thinking. And one day of really bad news. After her last cat scan, a small spot was found on her liver. A biopsy confirmed that the cancer had metastasized to her liver and the cat scan also revealed a spot on a lymph node. Since that day, we have worried, interviewed oncologists, yelled at oncologists and planned for the days of chemotherapy. The last 45 days have been filled with worries; what Chemotherapy will be like, where Chemo will be, will it work, what if it doesn't work, etc.
Today marks day # 5 of chemo. Cisplatin is the name of the drug and Mom has tolerated it pretty well, considering that she has been in the hospital for 5 days, hooked up to a IV dripping poison into her body 24/7. All chemotherapy's attack fast replicating cells; the cells in your bone marrow, stomach, intestinal tract, mouth, scalp, cancer cells......The result is mouth sores, nausea, kidney problems, and a whole range of other possible side effects, including (hopefully) the DEATH of cancer cells! She has started to feel some side effects today, a little nausea and definitely fatigue.
She will be discharged tomorrow morning and will head home to Fish Lake Valley for the weekend, only to return for a blood test on Monday. The doctors are very concerned about her kidneys, which take the brunt of the chemo. A blood test will reveal if she needs any additional care. The next step is a cat scan in Reno, NV on November 4th, which will tell us if the first round of Chemotherapy has shrunk the liver tumor enough for surgery. If not, another round of Chemotherapy is the option on the table.
Through everything, YOU, the readers and followers of this blog, this small circle of family and friends, have been our rock. A shoulder to cry on, an ear to vent to, a heart to love. Thank you again for the phone calls, the emails, the messages. Everything helps, everything is appreciated.
All our love to you,
Sarah and Cece
A picture to prove how much fun the hospital is!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Home again in Bishop
Friends and family,
We spent a few days at City of Hope in Los Angeles gaining weight, but are home now in beautiful Bishop. Mom gained 10 pounds in 2 days! She looked so great after the two days, the doctors said, GO HOME! So we did and now we are back in Bishop for a week-gaining more weight!
Next week we will return to City of Hope for another check up.
Wishing everyone love and peace this Labor Day,
Sarah and Cece
We spent a few days at City of Hope in Los Angeles gaining weight, but are home now in beautiful Bishop. Mom gained 10 pounds in 2 days! She looked so great after the two days, the doctors said, GO HOME! So we did and now we are back in Bishop for a week-gaining more weight!
Next week we will return to City of Hope for another check up.
Wishing everyone love and peace this Labor Day,
Sarah and Cece
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Home is where your heart is?
Greetings from Duarte,
Yes, thats right, we are still at City of Hope. The doctors decided to admit Mom based on a few factors.
1. Weight-She lost a bit more weight than they anticipated. They are giving her an appetite stimulant and I am driving all over creation trying to find delicious mac and cheese and amazing apple pie!
2. Her blood pressure was low and her heart rate was high-Not too much of a concern, but the doctors are cautious and they just need to rule out any chance of infection etc.
So, we will be here in our tiny hospital room, hopefully for just a few more days. Hope to have good news for everyone soon.
All our love,
Sarah and Cece
Yes, thats right, we are still at City of Hope. The doctors decided to admit Mom based on a few factors.
1. Weight-She lost a bit more weight than they anticipated. They are giving her an appetite stimulant and I am driving all over creation trying to find delicious mac and cheese and amazing apple pie!
2. Her blood pressure was low and her heart rate was high-Not too much of a concern, but the doctors are cautious and they just need to rule out any chance of infection etc.
So, we will be here in our tiny hospital room, hopefully for just a few more days. Hope to have good news for everyone soon.
All our love,
Sarah and Cece
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
City of Hope
Dear friends and family,
Here we are again at City of Hope Hospital. We have follow up appointments today, all day long. Mom has been doing ok, still in pain, but each day is just a bit better than the last.
The really good news-the benefit dinner last weekend was a huge success. Even in this depression, the people of Bishop and Dyer generously donated over $3,000.00 towards our medical expenses! Truly amazing.
Thank you so very, very much for all your love, thoughts and prayers. Hopefully City of Hope will be as big of a success today as the benefit dinner.
All our love,
Sarah and Cece
Here we are again at City of Hope Hospital. We have follow up appointments today, all day long. Mom has been doing ok, still in pain, but each day is just a bit better than the last.
The really good news-the benefit dinner last weekend was a huge success. Even in this depression, the people of Bishop and Dyer generously donated over $3,000.00 towards our medical expenses! Truly amazing.
Thank you so very, very much for all your love, thoughts and prayers. Hopefully City of Hope will be as big of a success today as the benefit dinner.
All our love,
Sarah and Cece
Friday, August 13, 2010
TGIF-AGAIN!
It has been one week and one day since we left City of Hope. Recovery is slow going, but each day brings new accomplishments. Mom obvioulsy loves being at home in Fish Lake Valley. It really is beautiful here, but very quiet, especially without internet access! Yesterday was a huge accomplishment-she sat down. Yes, she bent at the waist and sat down on her bottom for the first time in 3 weeks! It was a bit scary, but her recovery will be much quicker with every scary step she takes. My sister and I are here, helping to clean, cook and nurse the sometimes stubborn patient back to health. We will return to City of Hope next week for follow up appointments. Thank you all for the continual positive comments and emails. If I had internet access for the last week, the comments would have brightened every day! Thanks!
Sarah
Please send cards to this address:
Cecelia Green
HC 72 Box 3506
Dyer, NV. 89010
Sarah
Please send cards to this address:
Cecelia Green
HC 72 Box 3506
Dyer, NV. 89010
Friday, August 6, 2010
TGIF!
Tonight is our last night at City of Hope. The doctors have cleared Mom for a Saturday afternoon departure and she is ecstatic. Ten days in Duarte has taken its toll on the both of us and we are beyond ready to depart. We have said our goodbyes not only to the doctors, nurses and staff, but to the Fluid Air bed that has made Mom feel like she is shaking 24 hours a day for the last ten days. Did I ever explain the bed to everyone?
The bed is designed to equalize the pressure on all parts of the body by using air and sand. Yes, sand! According to the nurses, the bed costs around $200,000. Dr. McDreamy may be hard to forget, but the bed will fade easily into the blur of a 10 day hospital stay. My bed, on the other hand, was a bit more comfy:
She is still not able to bend at the waist, so Physical therapy has prepared me to assist her for the next few weeks. This will also make the drive home more interesting. Our plan is to inflate an air mattress, carefully transfer her to the mattress, drive carefully for 5 hours and then somehow, unsupervised, transfer her from car to house. Sounds like a pretty interesting Saturday! She actually is very strong and is already able to do much of the work herself, needing only minor support.
Thank you again for your support over the last few weeks. Astonished really is the best word to describe the amount of support and kindness given to my family and I. Just last night the manager at Chipotle comped my meal after I mentioned I was sordof living in a chair bed at City of Hope (I really did look that pitiful!). The teller at Chase Bank here in Duarte gave me her card and personal phone number to call if I ever needed a place to stay. It turns out her mother was treated here for many years. Sometimes the universe brings you exactly what you need.
I will continue to blog and update you about her recovery and the fun that awaits us in Chemotherapy. The doctors were able to remove all the tumor, but as stated in a previous post, cancer cells are sneaky little bastards, hiding out where you would least expect. Chemo, here we come.
This blog gave me consistency for ten days, it gave me something to look forward to, something else to think about during the stressful days and sleepless nights. The endless stream of positive energy, thoughts, prayers and donations gave me so much more-it gave me HOPE.
Thank you so very much.
Sarah and Cece
The bed is designed to equalize the pressure on all parts of the body by using air and sand. Yes, sand! According to the nurses, the bed costs around $200,000. Dr. McDreamy may be hard to forget, but the bed will fade easily into the blur of a 10 day hospital stay. My bed, on the other hand, was a bit more comfy:
She is still not able to bend at the waist, so Physical therapy has prepared me to assist her for the next few weeks. This will also make the drive home more interesting. Our plan is to inflate an air mattress, carefully transfer her to the mattress, drive carefully for 5 hours and then somehow, unsupervised, transfer her from car to house. Sounds like a pretty interesting Saturday! She actually is very strong and is already able to do much of the work herself, needing only minor support.
Thank you again for your support over the last few weeks. Astonished really is the best word to describe the amount of support and kindness given to my family and I. Just last night the manager at Chipotle comped my meal after I mentioned I was sordof living in a chair bed at City of Hope (I really did look that pitiful!). The teller at Chase Bank here in Duarte gave me her card and personal phone number to call if I ever needed a place to stay. It turns out her mother was treated here for many years. Sometimes the universe brings you exactly what you need.
I will continue to blog and update you about her recovery and the fun that awaits us in Chemotherapy. The doctors were able to remove all the tumor, but as stated in a previous post, cancer cells are sneaky little bastards, hiding out where you would least expect. Chemo, here we come.
This blog gave me consistency for ten days, it gave me something to look forward to, something else to think about during the stressful days and sleepless nights. The endless stream of positive energy, thoughts, prayers and donations gave me so much more-it gave me HOPE.
Thank you so very much.
Sarah and Cece
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