Not a Happy End

Last nite, that dastardly stuff (moviprep) didn't prove to be the stuff for me....I was so sick.....cramps, bloating, and vomiting all nite, and then I had to drink it again at 4:30 a.m., and that wouldn't stay down either. Needless to say, they tried but were unable to do the colonoscopy and I will have to do it all again....hopefully with another product. I did have a PET scan after that, but between the two tests, I wasn't done till 2 p.m. I was so sick and weak, poor Janet had to drive me home. I've had a little sussess going to the bathroom this evening, but eating seems to be a problem. I did drink some gatorade my son Bill brought over for me, and I made myself some ramin....but only ate a few bits before I started to burp. So I think I just may have somemore water and go to bed. Tomorrow I have to drive back to Mayo, but Jimbo is taking me. I have a 10:00 appointment to see the ostomy department. I assume to get marked for where they are going to place it.....and I see the nurse practitioner and a surgeon who will be on the team of doctors working on me. Tuesday is still the day I meet the head surgeon Dr Heidi Nelson. Then I will get the plan, and know what is going to happen. More tomorrow. m

And So It Begins

I spent the whole day going from one office and test to another. First, someone took my history, then I had a physical, next blood work, chest xray and CT scan, along with meeting several different doctors and nurse practitioners. I made my way to the pharmacy, to stand in line to turn in the prescription....which was really a line to give you permission to wait and have your name called to go up and really turn in your prescription, and then I move to another waiting area where I waited for my name to come up on a screen, so I could get in another line to pick-up my prescription. All this for a solution to clean me out so that I can have a colonoscopty in the morning, and just as we were leaving the building, I got a call on my cell phone, they asked if I could come in early for the colonoscopy in the a.m.....I said sure without thinking what I was saying, now I have to get up at 4:15 and start drinking somemore dastardly stuff and sitting on the toilet for a couple hours before I go for my 7:30 appointment. When I finish that...I get to go have a PET scan before they will let me eat....so 48 hours later I may get to eat something other than clear liquid....okay, have I complained enough!!! This to will pass!!! Litterly!
Love m

Heading to Rochester

I will be taking off this afternoon for Rochester with Janet. I'm sure she will keep me entertained and laughing. My appointment for assessment at Mayo is at 8:30 tomorrow morning. I don't know what they plan on doing, but will let you know more tomorrow after that appointment. I appreciate all the thoughts and prayers, keep up the good work. Love ya, m

Lunch with the Retiree's and Wantabee's

Had lunch today at Pizza Hut with a big group of my ARCC family....love getting together with everyone. Was so nice to see some that I haven't seen in a long while and get caught up. It reminds me that friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly. Love you all, m

January Blahs!!!

Well, after a fantastic time at Lutsen, I had my last Christmas gathering of the year on Sunday. My friends Barb, Cheri and Jan have been getting together for over 30 years now, alternating between our homes and exchanging gifts and a meal together. So nice to have good friends like that.
Today, I had my cousin Janet come and help me take down the Christmas Tree. Just after she got here, her sister Judy surprised us both and spent the afternoon visiting with us. Judy and I did a good job visiting while Janet undecorated the tree, and after dinner and Judy was on her way, we took the tree down and out to the curb and I vacuumed up the needles. So that job is done. Thanks to the best cousin in the whole world!!! Love ya, m

Happy New Year

Thanks to all who supported me in thoughts and prayers, laughter, tears all 2009 and hope that it will continue in 2010. Love you, m

On my Way to Lutsen!

Good Morning,
I'm closing out the year as I have the last two at Lutsen, skiing with the whole family. Nothing could be better!
Thank you to all who have helped me through this month, and for that matter the whole year, for all those wonderful Christmas presents, the strong prayers, and the abundant love I've been surrounded with. I am the luckiest person I know right now.
My family gave me the most gorgeous pictures. I can't wait to get them hung on my wall. Proof, that Gene and I did good. Priceless! All the other gifts were just frosting on the cake.
Happy New Year, and much love to all of you. m
P.S. I'll tell you all about the ski trip next year!!! 2010?! I can't believe it!

Merry Christmas

And may God bless us everyone!!! It's snowing like crazy in Minnesota, I've packed my bag and Annie and Doug and family and Doug's mom and dad will all go to church together at 4 p.m. this afternoon, and then back to Annies for dinner, where Bill and Kim and family may join us too. But I think midnite Mass is out....don't want the kids to be out or myself in this weather. I'll sleep at Annies and maybe come home sometime tomorrow. Think the get together with Gene's family might not make it either. Just hoping that the roads are good enough for Tom and Karen and family to drive up on Saturday. Progressive dinner on Sunday, and then dessert and Santa at my house. What a crazy weekend. Love and prayers to all, m

Some Good News Regarding Frank

Hi,

Thank you for all your prayers and I am sure Millie, Your Mom and others have been on the beads.

Frank is feeling better, and received good information at the doctors on Monday.

The whole thing about blood gasses was much ado about nothing. It sure goes to show that seeing doctors that are not familiar with you and your history can really mess things up. Recently his kidney doctor left and he has a new kidney doctor looking at one test and getting a bit overexcited. Than two weeks ago seeing a doctor he had not seen before in Lung area carrying on with kidney doctors orders.both without knowing that Frank has had this problem for 3 years. His regular doctor whom we saw on Monday said not to worry that those were the same numbers Frank has been having for a long time.

He said doctors and patients get all worked up over numbers and sometimes should just look at how you feel.

We Frank is feeling better and his walking statistics have improved since 2 weeks ago. His oxygen test he did over night showed he could use a slight more but go from 2 1/3 to 3 litters only. Also if he is walking around for a while or exercising turn it up and go on continuous rather than on demand.

He gave us permission to leave town with a couple of easy restrictions we can live with. Reporting in some results from breathing tests Frank can do on his own. just to make sure things continue to improve as they have been until he gets back to normal.

I think we will be leaving about the 6th or 7th.depending on the weather. I am sure you will have your kids and Janet to watch over you.

Love,

Judy

The ball is rolling....but very slowly!!

Okay, they can't see me for the assessment till Jan. 12 and then the radiologist probably on the 13th, but didn't get the time....she said they would let me know on the 12th....anyway then I don't see the surgeon till the 19th (as she only see's patients on Tuesdays) and at that time she will give me the plan. If they want to give me radiation before the surgery, it could take 3 weeks and I probably won't have the surgery till the end of Feb. Talk about the slow boat to China!!! So Kathleen, you can go to your wedding in Texas, and I will have to see about cancelling my trip to Florida....doesn't look like I will beable to fit it into the plan. I'm a little angry about that....but I know I will get good care when I finally get it. Two years ago, I was diagnosed in Oct. and didn't have the surgery till Dec. 12....so I guess this isn't much different. I have to be there at 8:30 a.m. on the 12th, may want to go down the night before and stay over nite at a hotel, and then I won't have to get up in the middle of the night to get there. I have to fast from Midnite on, so I don't know what kind of proceedures they will be doing at that time....or how long it will take....then I have to see the radiologist the next day, so I wonder what time, if it's worth driving home and back again the next day......questions still abound.
One bright note, they already got my daily radiation reports from 1996!

I started the ball rolling!

I got the call from the appointment coordinator this afternoon (after 2 p.m.) and gave her a lot of information over the phone to get me registered at Mayo, and then started gathering the information they want before they see me. i.e. Daily radiation reports from 1996 from a office no longer there....but I did track them down. Ran over to Health Partners Coon Rapids and signed a couple of release forms, so they and North Memorial could send them all my records, and films etc., but still no date yet...hopefully when she calls me back tomorrow I'll have that. I do know that it won't happen till atleast January 4. So I plan on celebrating completely everyday I have with family and friends in the Blessed season of Christmas and the merriment of a New Year.

One step Closer

Dr. Schlafer finally talked to Dr. Nelson at Mayo this a.m. and said they definitely want to see me. They will be calling me around noon he said....and then will set up a time to see them. So I don't know how quickly this will go, but it's a start! Schlafer is also sending me copies of my PET and CT scan reports, so I will have those, and he is drafting a letter to Dr. Nelson, with all the pertinent information about my case history. He said they would definitely use their intraoperative radiation on me, and maybe do some radiation before the surgery as well. So....now I wait for the call from Mayo. I am going to be delivering meals on wheels, so I will take a calendar and pen along with me....incase they call while I'm out. Will update you all this afternoon, when I get back from my deliveries. m

No News Today!!

I talked to Dr. Schlafer a minute ago, and he said he has been patiently waiting for the Dr. at Mayo to call him back, but has heard nothing, and promised to bug them again on Monday and will call me on Monday and/or as soon as he hears something. He also said he really thinks that Mayo will be where I have the surgery and any other treatment. He can't imagine they would say I didn't need their special treatment. So we can relax for the weekend, and see what Monday brings.

Please leave comments

Don't know if you all know you can leave comments at the bottom of each post, and you can also sign up to follow this blog, and they will notify you by email that I have updated it with a new post.
No news from the Dr. yet, waiting to hear from him this a.m. as he didn't respond later yesterday afternoon. The waiting games are always the hardest. Although I am still rejoicing that it is only rectal cancer! m

Good News of sorts!!

It is rectal cancer....the lab report came back, and I don't have to go in and have another biopsy. The doctor still hasn't gotten a hold of the surgeon at Mayo, but hopes to get a hold of her today, and will call me back after talking to her. He said if he doesn't call me back this afternoon, it's because he hasn't talked to her yet. But either way he will call me in the morning.
I am so thankful that it is just the rectal cancer back and not my liomyosarcoma!!! The lesser of two evils! Keep praying, Love ya, m

Wednesdays update

I spoke with the surgeon, this afternoon, and they are not sure yet which cancer has returned, as the lab work hasn't come back yet. So we are waiting on that. However they have decided that when they do surgery, they are going to send me to Mayo Clinic to have it, as they have a special kind of radiation there that they can do during the surgery, and one that I could have even though I've had my lifetime supply of the regular radiation. Will know more tomorrow. The doctor has promised to call and keep me informed as to what is going on. He is contacting a surgeon at Mayo by the name of Heidi Nelson. I may be in her care there. I promise to keep this site up to date, as it is the easiest way to keep everyone on the same page. It's hard to know who I emailed and/or called, so this will help a lot. Love, m

Christmas Greetings

Dearest Family and Friends December 2009
The holiday has ascended with the news my cancer is back. Most of you have responded with such love, prayers and support. I feel overwhelmed with the amount of love and calmness that fills my soul by numerous e-mails and phone calls all of you have made. God is actually carrying me through this and whatever comes, I know he’ll be there at my side, sometimes in the form of family and sometime as friends.
The year prior was incredibly fun with travel. Sedona in March with my traveling companion and friend, Bonnie, Sass, Southern Utah and many National Parks with my sister Kathleen, husband Gary, cousin Karen and husband Ruedi (from Switzerland). I spent the summer at the cabin with many friends and family visiting. During the fall, I was able to travel to Williamsburg, Virginia and Washington D.C. with 3 other women, and in October I topped it off with a trip to California to celebrate Aunt Loretta’s 90th Birthday. Many cousins from all across the country were there. Getting to know those California cousins was the greatest. Needless to say, I have the world’s best family and love them all. I also spent a couple of great weeks in Naperville, watching Tom and Karen’s kids while they were in New York on Business. So, I didn’t let any grass grow under my feet and don’t plan on it in the future either.
My children are all doing so well. Tom and Karen, now have a 16 year old daughter Emily, along with Kennedy 9, Will 6, and Presley 3. I have so much fun doing crafts, attending their school programs and sporting events when I’m there.
Bill and Kim have a superb long distance runner in Katie, age 13. Tommy, age 12, is active in scouts and little league. Luckily for me Katie, Allie and Nicole all play hockey and last year were on the same team, so I could watch all of them at one time.
Annie and Doug, are busy with Nicole 14, Allie 12, and Matthew 4. Nicole is a sprinter in the spring, runs cross country in fall and now is playing hockey. Allie does the same and excels in all. Matthew is in love with trains, cars, having Thomas and Lightening McQueen as his favorites.
Jimbo and Ann are now the proud parents of a 17 year old Jack, who is not only driving, but has a lovely girlfriend. Other than girls and cars, he plays baseball. Nick, soon to be 14, is also a baseball player, and runs cross country. I had the opportunity to watch 4 grandkids, all at the same time, at the same event this fall.
All the grand kids seem to be taking after their parents when it comes to sports, keeping their parents busy coaching, and managing their various teams. I’m really proud of all of them.
Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
Love and prayers,
Mary

Golfers Needed

Frank & I belong to an organization, Hope Chest News. Each year we have a GOLF fundraiser that brings out the best and the worst golfers wanting to help Heart and Lung Transplant patients. As always we are looking for Golfers July 27th. and donations for our Silent Auction. It looks very promising that our son-in-law Lloyd White, Cathy's husband will be able to play. He needs some more to join him.

This year we have a great RAFFLE also. Don't have to be present to win, 1st. $1000.00, 2nd. $750.00 and 3rd. is $500.00 tickets $5.00 each. We could all use a bit of extra cash.

If you are interested in any of these opportunities please contact me (Judy) javfpv@aol.com
or 952-445-2497

We really would appreciate your help.

New Chapter of my Life

Hi everyone, (or those who read this)
I started a new chapter in my life on Saturday as I am now officially a senior citizen! Never thought I would be doing this alone...or being retired before doing the things retired couples do...but here I am!
I am thankful and greatful for what I do have....a lot of great friends, some who find themselves in the same situation, and a family that spoils me rotten....or just on the verge of getting that way. I don't know what I would do without them.
As I just came in from trying to clean out the gardens around the house, I'm sure the yard and gardens will never be as nice as Gene kept them, so I do know what happens without Gene.
But the sun is shining and I am smiling as I know Gene and Mom are both laughing with me and at me!!!
Can't wait to get to the cabin...looking forward to a great summer...of sun and fun and family!!! Love Mary, Mom, Grandma, Cuz etc.

Great News

I just thought I'd update you on my health....once again. I had my annual colonoscopy on Tuesday and today got the results of a biopsy that they did. It was negative!!! Hurrah!!! So I have atleast another year till I have to prep for that test again. The prep is the worst!!
I spent the first week of April with my sister and her husband and my cousin Karen and her husband Ruedi (from Switzerland) traveling from one National Park in Utah to another. We had a great time even thou it was still chilly and snowed a few times.
Easter Sunday was great....for the first time since before Gene died we were almost all together. Tom and Karen and kids could not make it....but the rest did. Even had two of the families with me in church! My brother Phil joined as for brunch, and it was a beautiful day. The week has gotten continually warmer with lots of sunshine!!! I'll attach a few pictures from my trip, and one from Easter.