A Whole New Meaning

I hate doing these, but today warrants a bulleted list. I'm tired. First day back after 2 days off last week.

- Took Ethan back to his old daycare today. No problems. Got him in and me out the door in 10 minutes flat. He was glad to see his old friends.
- Work. Trying to catch up, but everyone checking on how I'm doing and my mom. Must get MANY things done before I leave Thursday evening.
- Left work at 3:15 to head to a dentist appt. Ethan was supposed to go with me, but because he's got a cold, I canceled his. I went. Nice- stress not only causes headaches, but apparently gum issues. I had my gums irrigated. Not bad - but not too fun in those irritated places.
- Home for dinner. Left Ethan with Rob while I headed to hospital. (6 p.m.)
- Got to hospital at 6:15 - left at 8:15. Dad and my sister were there too.
- Got home, Rob had washed dishes - left me pots and pans. Finished them.
- Ethan to bed.
- I'm checking email and relaxing a little bit before bed. What a day !

FIVE (5) doctors came to see mom today. The surgeon, cardiac surgeon, oncologist, cardiologist and radiologist. The radiologist goes first. He's doing the procedure to cut off blood flow to the kidney Wednesday and said the doctors haven't decided quite yet, but may also be putting in an 'umbrella or filter' in her upper neck to trap the clots incase they travel during surgery which he would do at the same time.
Mom's had so many phone calls and visitors - it's tiring her out and blood pressure getting high (for her). I told her she just needs to tell people she's tired and they're going to have to step out for awhile. They'll understand.

How are all of you doing ?!?

Labels: cancer

I spent my day like this:
- got up at 9:30 a.m.
- mom called from the hospital asking if I was up. I was worried. She was just bored and wanted to talk :) We talked for an hour! So nice to have a mom and daughter talk. I was in need of it too. She updated me on the doctor visits. One came last night at 6:30 p.m. and one this morning at 6 a.m. (and so didn't the hospital trash lady - at 3 FREAKIN' AM !!!!!)
- Mom had asked me to go change my grandmothers bandage on her toe. Got to my nanny's and my aunt/uncle had already been and taken care of it. However, helped my Nanny with a few dressing issues (she'll be 88 this May!) Then, she surprised me with enough money to pay for almost two months of Ethan's daycare - what a blessing (even though I didn't 'need' it - she said 'he's worth it' and it's not like I don't have it).
- Ethan and I stopped and got lunch.
- Ethan and I went to Food Lion and bought my mom a few things for the hospital (cereal since she doesn't like their breakfasts, bowls to eat cereal in and tic tacs since she ALWAYS has one in her mouth and a magazine to read)
- Went to hospital and spent 4 hours. Ethan stayed busy coloring, drawing and playing his hand held Leapster.
- Doctor came in and talked to mom as Ethan and I were about to leave. I stayed some more to try to calm her down and get her to eat the oh so yummy (end sarcasm) dinner (catfish, hush puppies and mixed veggies with lemon maringue tart).
- Doctor has rearranged his schedule, along with a cardiologist surgeon and another surgeon and urologist oncologist on his team. Here's their current plan. (she won't be going home as she had hoped before surgery)
-----> Sunday: checked out by another doctor on his team
-----> Monday: EKG (heart check up) by her cardiologist
-----> Tuesday: some test I forget...
-----> Wednesday: go to radiology for them to go in (almost like a
heart catherization) to cut off blood supply to the cancer
ridden kidney
-----> Thursday: cleansing of the colon, etc. to get ready for surgery
-----> early Friday AM: stop the heparin and coumadin blood thinners
-----> Friday: SURGERY - 5 hours. It will be quite extensive and
a 'very difficult maneuver' according to the urologist
oncologist (Dr Franks). If all goes well and she makes it
through okay, she'll be in ICU atleast 2 days and then in step
down for 7-10 days.
** He also informed me of everything: she has cancer in the right kidney, cancer in the upper lymph nodes in the chest, clots in the vena cava, small clots in the lungs and upper abdomen) They're new plan of attack is now no chemo until after surgery to get the cancer in the lymph nodes.... But, the doctor said the main thing is to get her to make it through the maneuver of getting the clot out of the vena cava. The blood loss can be anywhere from 1 liter to 10-20 liters.


I called Rob and I stopped by the house and picked him up. We went out to a nice dinner at a local Italian restaurant, Sergios. I had shrimp marinara, a glass of red wine and unsweet iced tea. Nice dinner and now home to rest. Tomorrow...up in the AM, over to cousins to hand over my old maternity clothes (she's expecting in August) and then up to hospital in evening (after getting some laundry done).


Hope you all have a wonderful weekend - and, stay warm !

Labels: cancer

Ethan and I headed to the hospital after a quick lunch out after his daycare. He did wonderfully for his first time visiting the hospital.


He didn't want to get near my mom ('Grandma') at first because she was in a strange bed and had things coming out of her (just an IV). But, I took him over there and put him in the bed with her and he lightened up. But, he still stared at the IV like it was something foreign.


The doctor FINALLY came in that will be taking care of her now (a general oncologist). She's currently on 'Heparin', a blood thinner and they'll be adding on 'Comadin' another thinner. It seems that the 'stuff' in the vena cava isn't cancer, but instead it's a clot and the clots have broken off into little clots in her lungs and abdomen. But, it seems that this is also part of kidney cancer and par for the course, unfortunately. They also want to start her on chemo ASAP. She'll start off with a pill form called Nexavar which is relatively new (or had the option in an injectable kind - none of the IV drip stuff is used regularly for kidney cancer). One doctor mentioned a biopsy (since they haven't done one), but this doctor didn't. At this point mom said she's just going to do what they want her to, that it's their field of speciality and she's not going to question it.


Anyways, I'm heading back to the hospital tomorrow afternoon sometime. She'll be in over the weekend into the first of next week as they monitor the blood thinners, etc.

Labels: cancer