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!

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

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

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

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

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

Hump Day

Its Wednesday, the sun is shining, Mom just passed the room on her third lap around the floor with the physical therapists. She even walked up the fake stairs!

The best moment of the day though was Miss Abigails visit:



The smile on my Mothers face was just what she needed and just what I needed. Through that smile, I know that she is still in there-still willing to fight and survive any battles that may lie ahead.

Her pain is being managed very effectively, the doctors say she is healing beautifully and she should be able to come home sometime next week. What an amazing day for all of us! I would not be as happy and relaxed as I am today without the endless love of my family, the support of my friends and the astonishing kindness of strangers. Thank you.

My love to you all.....

Sarah

FOOD!

Veggie Broth + Lemon Jello + Apple Juice = Happiness in Rm 4111!

Goodnight from Duarte, CA.

Just keep swimming

Its Monday and all I keep saying to myself is, Just keep swimming! You know, from Finding Nemo, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. Its the start of the work week for many of you but here at City of Hope, the days are blurred, the hours drag on, we've hit a plateau. Not much improvement today.

Although there is alot going on today. The physical therapists started off the day with the stand up routine, and a new exercise; rolling onto her stomach for a short time. The walking was next, today was at a quicker pace and for a longer distance. There has been some improvement in the digestive region, but they want more before eating or drinking. The great news of the day; they removed the tube that was in her nose and down into her stomach! One step closer to eating and she is sooooo hungry. Today is now 7 full days without food.

A CT scan has been ordered for today. The doctors just want to get a better look at their handiwork. The xray is the easy part-getting to the department on the 1st floor is the hard part. Her bed is so heavy, it takes three people to move it through the hallways!

I am standing guard at her door for the next hour-no one in or out for one whole hour. Lets hope she can get some rest before PT comes back.

Before signing off today, I wanted to thank a few people. It would be impossible to list everyone, but here goes:

My dear sister-thank you for your ear. I trust and love you so very much.
My beautiful AF friend who took me in for a night and ordered me to rest (and drink a little wine!) and let me use her laundry room!
The universe for finally bringing in a good looking doctor for my Mom to smile at! He was so adorable, married, but adorable!
To our 11 followers who are keeping up with Moms status-THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

To all our dear friends, family members and strangers who have sent me emails, Facebook comments and phone calls-it is what keeps me going during the day-thank you!

All our love,

Sarah

A day of rest?

It's Sunday, the Beatles are playing in the background and the day is going good. I thought Sunday was a day of rest here at City of Hope. The parking lots are empty, the waiting rooms are empty, but room 4111 is NOT empty! Not by a long shot. Bryn, our amazing physical therapist, came in first with a whole laundry list of demands. Move your legs this way, lift your legs this way, stretch your arms this way. I know its great for Mom to keep moving, but she is very tired today and can't seem to stay asleep for any stretch of time with all the people in and out. Its quiet for the time being-except for the fire alarm testing they do on the first Sunday of each month. I guess we have bad timing.

Still no improvement in the fart department. This is a big deal, not only will she get to eat when she starts farting, but the doctors will remove the tube that is through her nose going into her stomach. It is there to remove excess fluid, but it is irritating her throat. A big THANK You to everyone who sent us well wishes for farts-I guess we are going to need a little more!

Finally, for my dear Aunt Linda and for anyone that wants to send a card, please mail to the address listed under the donation button. Please note that Mom is not allowed to have flowers or plants. I know that will come as a disappointment to some, but flowers are too damn expensive anyway and I snuck in one little wildflower to show her earlier.

Thanks for reading. See you all tomorrow.

Sarah

Praying for Farts

Good Evening again from City of Hope,

Today was a great day in Duarte, CA.! Beautiful weather, beautiful sunrise and sunset, even amidst the smog colored skies. Today at 3 pm, Mom was moved from ICU to a regular room with a better view (mountains instead of the 605 freeway) Our nurse today, Miss Sue, was amazing and made the transition super easy. They have an award program here called The Daisy Award, which is given to exceptional nurses-Mom wants to nominate Miss Sue-I guess I have a letter to write! The nurses here in 4West are equally amazing and to top it off, this wing is QUIET-the bells and whistles of the ICU are gone. Well, most of the bells and whistles, Mom is still hooked up to a dozen different wires.

The physical therapists are beginning to realize that Cece Green is one of the strongest women on the planet, as well as stubborn and independent! She not only stood up twice today, she walked down the halls of the ICU 8 times! Seriously, that is crazy, considering the extent of her surgery. They also took her oxygen off during the daytime, her blood pressure and oxygen levels are looking great!

The next big hurdle is the reason for the title of this post. She has not eaten any food since Monday morning-tomorrow will be six days with no food and five days with no water. She is allowed to eat ice chips, but nothing else until the farts begin....which seems to be taking quite a long time. Her attitude is incredible, especially because we all know how it feels when we skip a meal. Personally, I can go from calm, nice Sarah to super bitch if I miss a meal! Hopefully, tomorrow we will see some action in the fart department. Wish Mom luck!

Love,

Sarah

Life in the ICU

Good Evening Family and Friends,

Today was a pretty good day, as good as it gets in the ICU. City of Hope hospital has the most caring and competent staff. Mom is in good hands here.

I have received many phone calls asking how she is doing, so I wanted to give you a run down of what a typical day looks like for Mom in the ICU.

The Doctors have placed her in a special bed, it is designed to not put any pressure on her bottom. She HATES the bed, she tells me every single moment, she hates that damn bed. She is not allowed to bend at the waist for two weeks, but the physical therapists have to stand her up twice a day. The first time was scary, unknown and scary. How do you move someone from lying to standing without bending? Its actually quite simple (with some strong people) They make her stand up for about ten minutes while she is bear hugging someone. She LOVES it. She feels great to be out of bed and on her own two feet. Pnemonia is very easy to catch after surgery, so a couple times a day, someone comes in and does breathing exercises with her. She likes that too. The Doctors come in periodically to check on her incisions and flexibility and pain. They gave her a pain button she can press herself-it is really helping. Then there are the nurses that come in and change everything, drainage lines, change IV's, change her position in bed, everything, they change everything all the time. Sleep is getting better, but not great. Hopefully tonight she will get some rest. I slipped the on call nurse a $100 and asked him not to bother her (thanks for the donation Mike Minnis!)

Lastly, I am there to bother her, braid her hair, and massage her feet. She sends her love to everyone. Thank you for all the warm wishes and prayers. Checking my email during the day maintains my sanity.

Tomorrow, they may move her out of ICU and into a regular room-that means she is getting better!

All our love from Duarte.

Sarah and Cece

Some were asking where to send cards-please send to:

Sarah Green
350 Academy St
Bishop, CA. 93514

Recovery!

Just a quick update. The surgery concluded last night around 9 pm - a 14 hour surgery!

She is in the Intensive Care Unit and will remain there for a few days and then be transferred to her own room for the remainder of her stay. She is strong and stable, but not awake yet. She will be sedated pretty heavily until later today.

The cancer had spread to the bladder, the surgeon removed it, as well as the rectum and her sacrum. The bladder removal was unexpected but you can live without one. Modern Medicine is very interesting. The rest of the surgery went pretty well, any surgery where you wake up and you are still breathing is good for me.

Recovery is the next obstacle. If you are planning on visiting, please call me prior to driving to the LA area and we can work out accommodation arrangements.

THANK YOU for all the love, energy and prayers. Keep it coming!

More information to follow as she continues to get better. Thanks again.

Sarah

All you need is love, and maybe a 12 hour surgery and some chemo....

Good Evening Friends and Family,

Twas the night before surgery and all through the hotel room, not a creature was stirring, except for Cece's digestive tract.....Oh yes, anyone who has had a colonoscopy can relate to what has to happen the night before to "clean" you out in preparation for surgery. Enough jokes Sarah, this is serious business.

Ok, I would first like to thank everyone who came together for the Cancer loves my Mommy Benefit Yard Sale held in Bishop this past Saturday. The community of Bishop never ceases to amaze me-the generous donations that were given to my Mom are causing my eyes to tear up right now (or maybe that's the smell coming from the bathroom, ewww!) Ok, I lied, one more joke! I'm finished now. Seriously, you know who you are, there are too many of you to list, but THANK YOU so very much!

On a more serious note, surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning at 7:30 AM. The doctors have informed us the surgery should last anywhere from 10-12 hours. A little more detail on the surgery, its actually 3 surgeries in one day. Three separate surgical teams will be performing different procedures.

The first team will work on preparing the rectal area for removal of the tumor, moving blood vessels and that sort of thing.

The second team will remove the sacrum, rectum and all surrounding tissue that looks suspicious -sneaky cancer cells like to hide out!

The third team is plastics, Dr. Andersen. I was hoping for a McSteamy, but got a Dr. Weber (all you Grey's fans will hopefully get that) He will rebuild some of the walls she is losing to the cancer with a really cool procedure that deserves its own post.

As soon as we get word, I will post so everyone knows how the surgery went.

Please keep her in your thoughts tomorrow. As much as I joke, this is a very serious and complicated surgery. The risk of infection is very high and there is no guarantee the doctors can remove all the cancer. I have to find hope and laughter-the stress is overwhelming and I would be losing my mind if I stayed serious all the time.

Thank you for your love and support during this very difficult time. You really do only need love.....all our love to you from Duarte, CA.

Goodnight.

Sarah

My Mom has Anal Cancer-What a pain in the ass

Literally, a pain in the ass. That is a phrase I will never again use lightly. For those that know me, publishing a blog about cancer may seem totally out of character. I'm not a writer and I would rather keep life's little bumps private, but this is different. Life's little bump this time is Cancer, Cancer we thought was gone, Cancer with major surgery attached. My first question three years ago when my Mom, Cecelia, was originally diagnosed was WHY? Why her and why now? It was November 2006 and her husband (my father) had just passed away. How many depressing events have to happen in one year? Our initial reaction was Holy Shit, my Mom has cancer, but once we accepted it, we were off to see Oncologists and Radiation/Chemo technicians. After 4 months of treatment, the Cancer was gone, but my Mom was left with a "temporary" colostomy (poo in a bag!). Fast forward a few years and here we are today. Its back and its aggresive. The only treatment option left is surgery-she will have her Rectum, all surrounding tissue and her tailbone removed. Hopefully, the surgery will remove all the cancer. If not, Chemotherapy is in our future. So, what do I hope to accomplish here?

I need HELP.

I don't usually ask for help. I'm a Libra, strong willed and independent, but I know I am not alone in this fight. My family has given everything to fight this, but my Mom needs more. I need advice from everyone in my life, friends and strangers. My Mom has to spend 2-3 weeks in the hospital. How do you keep someone happy and hopeful after surgery? I am not a comedian, but I do know that laughter is the best medicine. Cancer jokes anyone? I'm trying to compile a list of great songs to add to my IPOD for my Mom to listen too-any suggestions? What about book recommendations, movies? I told you I needed help! My old military friends always have said "Its not what you know, but WHO you know". I am reaching out today for help - remaining hopeful that the bonds I have made in the past will come back to help me now in my family's time of need.

I have done so much research the last few weeks and would like to share some of that information today and continue to learn and share more each day. Here is a link to a Time Magazine article from May of this year, entitled Cancer, Cancer Everywhere. [TIME]
Lastly, I realize that generosity can be given in so many different ways. Please know that my family is incredibly thankful for all the love and donations that have already been given and anything that will be received in the future. Thank you!