Tuesday, September 29, 2009

i have had 2 doses of radiation. no side effects yet. those probably won't start until next week, maybe the week after. elisabeth and i went to something called "kids together against cancer" tonite. it was put together by a social worker at my rad office and a social worker from st. vincents. we have dinner and then kids go in a group with a volunteer and we adults go to another area and work on a craft and discuss our feelings. then we get back together and talk to the kids about what they did. it was fun. we have 3 more to do. i am looking forward to them. my incision is still draining a little. i keep thinking it's done, but it still does enough that i have to keep it bandaged. there is part of my radiation treatment called accu-boost that i can't do until this heals so please continue to pray about that. thanks so much, jennifer

Saturday, September 26, 2009

we had a blast in orlando for elisabeth's 6th b-day. then it was time to get back to real life. i went to my rad. office on friday for a "dry run" of what will actually be happening when i start on monday. it's pretty simple. i just lay down with my arm over my head for about 12-15 min. and the machine slowly rotates around me. last nite mom and i went to a survivors party at the beach. it was fun and made me realize i really should get into a support group. i feel good emotionally, but it was nice to be with others who have gone through all this. please pray for my treatments. they start mon. and go for 6 1/2 weeks. thanks to all of you on board for staying with the girls. it is a real relief to not have to worry about that. love, jennifer

Monday, September 21, 2009

i met with my surgeon today. my incision is finally looking like it's done draining. yeah! i go back to see him in 2 weeks. i start radiation on monday. please pray that everything goes smoothly and that my skin responds okay. i am looking forward to the cancer walk on oct. 10th. the website is makingstrides.acsevents.org/firstcoastbeaches. i would love to see alot of you there. thanks, jennifer

Thursday, September 17, 2009

my incision is still draining. now it seems to have a strange odor as well. i go tomorrow to pick an antibiotic. please, please pray that it stops soon. i am so tired of it and having to wear bandages all the time. it doesn't hurt, which is fortunate, but i have to careful with things like bathing or blood starts dripping everywhere. it's just aggravating. please, please pray! thank you, jennifer

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

i am still draining from the incision. my surgeon says it should stop soon, but if it doesn't he'll have to try something else. he says it healing well so hopefully it will stop in the next few days. i had my port flushed today. i had to go where i got my chemo treatments. it was nice being there and not getting chemo but it did bring back the reminders of that time. the smells and all made me anxious to be out of there. i start radiation on the 28th and go for about 6 weeks. i am looking into a program similar to the "make-a-wish" foundation called "memories of love". sid, the girls and i can go to orlando for 5 days, all expenses paid, including several theme parks and all meals and accomedations. we will probably go early next year. there is also a program for children of cancer patients to help them explore their thoughts and feelings on what is going on. i'm going to be doing that with elisabeth pretty soon. thanks so much for the continuing prayers and encouragement. when i feel weak, i think of what the has done for us and am able to gather my strength and go on. love you all, jennifer

Friday, September 11, 2009

i went to the radiation office this morning. they put marks where the beam will go and took pictures with a CT scanner to get the position correct. i go back on the 25th for a dry run and then start treatment on the 28th. i also talked to one of the social workers who told about some volunteer opps. at their office. she was saying they have meetings sometimes and people share their survival stories. they also have groups where survivors are matched with newly diagnosed patients to help them through the process. so much of what she said was exactly what i've been praying about. i was so excited! after radiation is finished, i plan to look further into it. i've also been thinking alot about some things i have learned in this journey and one thing i want share is to not hold resentments. our lives are to precious and sometimes too short to hold grudges. forgive and let go. you will be happier for it. just give it to god and he will carry it for you. i did and it made all of this so much easier to bear. love jennifer

Sunday, September 6, 2009

the incision is still draining a little. it is a nusiance, but it doesn't hurt. sid changes my bandage everyday and each day has a little less blood. hopefully it will stop pretty soon. i go get marked for radiation on friday. after that i don't have much in the way of treatment plans for a while. i am planning for elisabeth's 6th b-day. we are going to the magic kingdom. i'm very excited. we haven't been to disney in a while. i am also trying to set up my making strides team. i'm not sure how to get it so that friends and family can sign up on-line. i'll keep you posted about that. love, jennifer

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

a bit of excitement here tonite. my surgeon told me to watch for any swelling and if it started to hurt to let him know. well, i have had some swelling, but no pain. around 7:00, i went to take a bath and noticed that the incision where the tumor had been was very swollen and stretched so much my skin was shiny. i had sid look at it and he said i would be fine until tomorrow when i see dr. hagan again for a check-up. i got in the tub and a few minutes later i look down and see blood pouring into the tub. i yelled for sid. he said everything was okay, it was dark red and probably an abcess. we called my surgeons call service and a doctor called back and suggested i hang over the sink and let the blood drain out. i did and eventually it slowd down and finally stopped. sid put a new bandage on and then about an hour later, i looked down and my shirt has a big bloody spot on it. sid cut off the shirt and now i am re-bandaged and hoping for no more bleeding! thanks for listening. love jennifer