Gotta love Morphine

ok so it's about 7:05 and she is finally getting some sleep....she has only been able to sleep about 30 minutes since coming out of surgery!  They have been trying to control the pain and maintain some consistency on her pain scale level.  Currently she is at about a 5-6/10, which is where she needs to be.  She was shot to eat some jello and chicken noodle soup from Noodles&Co, they would like to see more water consumption but we will take what we can get.  She is very sore and can barely move her arms upwards more than 6 inches.  She is working on taking oral pain medicine (Percocet) so that maintains the pain better than the IV pain mess since those fluctuate a lot. The morphine definitely works well so she is requesting that for home.....yeah good luck Sarah on that request! Movement definitely makes her pain go higher....she needs to move up and around 3 times per day to be discharged so we will see if she can go home tomorrow.  Well it's been a long day and Sarahs quote for the day is "THIS SUCKS!" But she is relieved that bad tissue is out of her body....

Sarah is warrior and has done great today! Hopefully she is able to get some rest tonight and feel a little better tomorrow! The kids got to come see her and they know that their mom is okay!  We need to break through the morphine need to control the pain and rely on controlling the pain with Percocet.....I will keep you all posted and let you guys know where things are tomorrow.  Good night all!

Surgery Complete

Yay.....Surgery is complete and she is in recovery! The cosmetic surgeon said everything's went as planned and she did great. I will be able to go in and see her shortly. She is still a little sleepy but once she is more alert we can go back and she her....

Thank you so much to everyone that has been praying and sending is text messages and FB messages today wishing Sarah luck and a successful surgery! She is loved by so very many people and we appreciate all of you! It's great to know that we are not alone in this battle!  Keep you guys update on her recovery and healing process....step 1 (surgery) COMPLETE in this process....we can check that off our checklist!

Thank you again and God Bless!

Reconstructive Surgery Update

As of 11:45 they finished one side and started on the other side....this portion of the surgery is for the tissue membrane for support of the expanderrs and tissue expanders....everything going as planned! Stay tuned....

Surgery Update

The surgical portion of the procedure is done and Sarah did very well. The surgeon was very pleased with the results....now the cosmetic surgeon is taking over and beginning his portion!  The surgical portion went fairly fast so that's good news....keep everyone posted!

Mac

Surgery has started

Sarah is back in surgery start time 8:30....anticipated duration of the surgery is supposed to be approximately 6 hours so until about until 2:30! What a long time to wait....she is in good spirits and looking forward to getting this part over with.  There was much anticipation and nerves this morning which is to be expected.  Please continue to pray for her throughout the day....we need all the prayers we can get! Thank you everyone

Meal Train Update

For those of you signed up with "Meal Train", everything has been uploaded for the days that we need meals so if you would like to provide meals you can do so through the calendar on the website at this time.  If you have created your account then you should have received an updated email......either way you can now go and select a day that you would like to provide a meal.  The calendar has been updated through the month of April as we are not completely certain of the needs after April since it will depend on when chemotherapy treatment.  We know that meals will be needed during chemotherapy and will update the "Meal Train" once we have more information.

Just a reminder there are coolers on the front porch for you to put the food in, also based upon how Sarah is feeling we will have sign out front for "visitors welcome" or "unfortunately no visitors as this time".  Thank you again to everyone for your support and kindness as we begin this journey!

If you have any questions about the meal train please contact Theresa Perry at tmmperry12@gmail.com

Thank you,

Sarah, Mac, Michael, and Isabelle

Surgery Next Week

Update before surgery on Tuesday.....

Everything is ready to go, Sarah's surgery is planned for Tuesday check-in at 6:30am and surgery starts at 8:30am.  The surgery is planned for about 6 hours start to finish (that includes post-op and cleanup) so most likely the surgery will take about 5 hours or so.  I will try to keep everyone up to speed on the surgery date through the blog if you want to check it periodically.  Sarah will stay over night on Tuesday in the hospital and return home on Wednesday and then let the good times roll! 

We want to thank everyone again for all of the support, love, prayers, and warm-wishes coming our way!  We are so fortunate have such a strong support system....thank you as well for everyone that has signed up for the "meal train" we know how important that is during her healing to eat well and not having to worry about meals everyday.  Lord knows Sarah wouldn't want me cooking for her everyday!! 

I also want to send a special thank you to all of my AMAZING co-workers and their support, I feel so blessed to have so many amazing people supporting me at work during this difficult time.  Here is picture of them in their "Pink" today and wearing pink on Fridays in support of Sarah and I......it means a lot and I'm so appreciative everyone at CU School of Dental Medicine!

 

 

We are planning on just a low-key weekend, movies with kids and dinner out tomorrow night!  Then Sunday preparing for this week....Sarah is concerned that I will forgot about a lot of things necessary to keep the house running so she wants to try and prepare me on Sunday for everything...I'm sure she right about half of them but as long as I don't burn the house down I think that we will survive. 

 

Thank you,

 

Mac 

 

The power of the Lord will get us through this difficult time....

 

Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 55:22  Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Plastic Surgeon Talk...boobs, boobs, boobs!

March 11, 2015

Monday was the day to discuss the options with the cosmetic plastic surgeon, we went into the appointment thinking that it was going to be simple and easy......yeah we were wrong!  Information overload for sure, so many questions and decisions to make.  To give everyone an idea of what this 2 hour consultation was like.....the plastic surgeon had to present all possible options with percentages of what most woman do and the type of surgery that is performed.  Then the detailed questions....where will extra skin come from if needed, how that surgery will be performed; if a muscle is needed to support the implants later, where that would likely come from; what's involved with saving the nipples and how blood flow comes into concern; to use expanders or go straight into implants, success rates.....lots and lots on information.  The nipple conservation issue seemed to the big topic...to save or not to save, tattoo options, can we use Mac's nipples (just kidding not an option)!  After all was said and done it was best to go home and think about it.  Sarah had an opportunity to talk to some woman that have already been through this process to help understand pros and cons to the various scenarios for the reconstructive process.  After much contemplation and discussion a decision was made....we would proceed forward with the recommend 4 phased surgery.  First surgery will consists of double mastectomy with placement of expanders.  Expanders will be filled weekly for about 5/6 weeks.  After chemo and possible radiation the second surgery will be completed where they exchange the expanders with implants.  The third and fourth surgery will be removing fat from other areas of the body (yes she will get liposuction) and injecting the fat into the breast area.  Keep in mind the mastectomy will be removing ALL tissue so Sarah will have nothing left other than outside skin and expanders and then implants.

Sarah attempted to contact the plastic surgeon's scheduling assistant the next day to coordinate the surgery with the general surgeon but no such luck, she was OUT SICK!!  Talk about frustrating when we just want to get moving on this, so we call again today (Wednesday) and she's still out sick....okay can someone else help us get appointed.  This delay in the process was difficult to handle since the cosmetic surgeon was the part that was holding up the surgery date.  They finally they were able to coordinate things and tell Sarah "Well the cosmetic surgeon (who will remain unnamed) is going on vacation for two weeks starting on the 25th so we can get your surgery scheduled for April 11th"....ok what the heck just happened and why wasn't this explained on Monday when we were talking about expediting the surgery because of the importance of the treatment.  Ok, what about his partner....is that an option???...apparently not even worth discussion at this time.  Long story short we have found another highly recommended Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon Dr. Rhee in Castle Rock who made accommodations to get us in tomorrow night for a consultation and pre-surgical procedural consultation.  They have tentatively scheduled the surgery 3/31....not even meeting us and yet they have gone above and beyond to help get Sarah's surgery scheduled sooner and made us feel like a priority!  What a great feeling!

So there you have it people....3/31 the TaTa's will go and Sarah will begin this journey!  Each day will be one step closer to the end of this chapter of our lives.  Sarah can look in the rear view mirror and the image/memory/experience of going through this is further and further away!

We are encouraged by how things are now progressing and falling into place.  We know that the post-surgery process will be difficult but it's great to know that we have such a huge support system with all of our friends and family....we know we will need help when that times comes after surgery!

We want to send a special thank you to all of the parents of Michaels' friends, his buddies have been so supportive of him at school and making sure he is okay and telling him sorry that his mom is sick.  He came home the other day and said that his friends have been supportive of him.  It's great to hear that he also has that support by his friends and they are thinking of him, we appreciate that they are helping him out too.

As far as the donation fund http://www.gofundme.com/nlv6tk goes we are so close to our initial goal of $8,500 so thank you to everyone that has donated to Sarah's upcoming medical expenses, your contributions are greatly appreciated. 

Again thank you so much to everyone for the support, love, and generosity coming our way!  We feel so very blessed to have such wonderful support group and so many wonderful friends that are here supporting us in so many different ways!  Words can't express our deep appreciation to everyone....

Hey cancer..you messed with the wrong bitch!: Telling the kids

Hey cancer..you messed with the wrong bitch!: Telling the kids: Some of you have been asking about the kids and how they are taking the news since we recently told them about Sarah.   I wanted to let ...

Telling the kids

Some of you have been asking about the kids and how they are taking the news since we recently told them about Sarah.  I wanted to let everyone know how the conversation went.

Sarah and I looked at the internet for some tips on how to tell a child that you are diagnosed with cancer just to help us prepare for this difficult conversation.  Everything told us to be honest about what Sarah is dealing with, tell him what type of cancer Sarah has, do not get to detailed, give general information about the treatment and reassure him about the prognosis.  To be honest I wasn’t sure how he would react and what he would be thinking……it’s hard to remember being 9 let alone having to be told your parent has cancer.

It was difficult to even get the first sentence out without cry……so much for not crying until the end of conversation, we both failed at that!  Sarah simply told Michael that she has breast cancer and that is why she has had to see the doctor so much lately.  We could see fear and concern on Michael’s face immediately.  It didn’t take long before he was crying and didn’t know what to say.  It was the hardest thing to see and watch our little boy try to register and understand what his mommy is going through.  We asked him what he was thinking to help console him, he said “I don’t want you to die mom”.  I guess at that age you relate cancer to death, totally understandable….Sarah and I were quick to reassure him that mommy is going to be okay and that the doctors have told her that this is 100% treatable and that mommy is not going to die from cancer!  By far one of the most difficult conversations we have ever had with our son Michael.  You just want to protect your children from feeling pain or distress…..he’s just a kid he shouldn’t have to worry about these things!  It took some time to get him to him to understand what the process is going to be and how this is going to affect Sarah. 

We were able to get a small laugh and chuckle out of him when we told him that he gets to cut mom’s hair if and when the time comes during her chemo treatments.  He felt that Mohawk would be appropriate before all her hair falls out.  We did tell him that it will all grow back some day.  We told him that Sarah is going to have surgery and that she will have to take medicine for the next 5-10 years to make sure that the cancer does not come back.  We also touched on how she will be sick sometimes and not feel well but that will only be temporary. 

We told him it’s ok to cry when he is sad and that we are here for him no matter what and that he can come talk to us about his feelings anytime!  We emphasized the importance of supporting mom over these next 6 months and helping out in the little ways but to remember to still be kid and not worry so much about mom’s cancer.  At the end of the conversation he was still worried and concerned about Sarah, I hope that he doesn’t worry too much about his amazing mom!  I know that things will be hard for Michael as we move through this process and as he begins to see the physical effects of this battle but we know that we have a great support group that will help all of get through this…..we reminded him that we will just take one day at a time “ODAAT”, not to worry about tomorrow and to just love mom as much as possible.

Now I didn’t forget Isabelle…our beautiful Belle!  She being only 6 really didn’t understand much at all of what was going on other than serious concern over mommy losing her hair, let me tell you she was VERY concerned over mommy’s hair!  Bless her sweet little heart….we told her that she will have a wig and that the hair will come back! 

Overall I think the kids are in a good place and understand what Sarah is going through.  We check on Michael often and just ask how he is doing.  He did the sweetest thing yesterday and wouldn’t allow Sarah to carry his and Isabelle’s backpacks to the car, he said “no mom, let help you and I will carry these for you”.  He’s a great kid….

I did want to send a special ‘thank you’ to some of Michael’s teaching staff at Wildcat Mountain Elementary and how wonderful they have been.  Sarah has notified his principal Mrs. Milley, his aftercare program director Mrs. Lori Hickerson and his teacher Mrs. Sheehy.  Everyone has been absolutely amazing and supportive.  His teacher Mrs. Sheehy was so compassionate and caring….she assured Sarah that Michael will be well supported at school and they will take great care of him.  It’s nice to know that he is in great hands and being supported at school during this tough time.

We will keep you all posted after the appointment on Monday with the plastic surgeons. Till then……We’re staying strong and Sarah is looking forward to just getting start so she can begin the healing process….every day that passes is one day closer to being cancer free!

-Mac-

Determining a plan of attack...Get ready cancer we're coming for you!

March 4, 2015

Today we got to meet with the oncologist, she is wonderful and well informed!  She helped create a sense of calm and confidence about moving forward....as she put it "You will look back on this time and understand it to be just a another chapter in your life!"

So here's the down and dirty.....THE PLAN TO KILL CANCER!

A couple fun facts about my cancer for those of you that love the details and technical jargon:

• The current classification of the cancer is Stage IIA
• Tumor size still believed to be less than 1cm but still not completely known until after surgery
• Isolated to left breast and currently the information shows only 1 lymph node involved
• Surgery along with path will help give definitive information if it's only that 1 lymph node (prayers for just 1 lymph node with cancer!)
• Grade of the tumor is a Grade 2 (scale 1-3)
• Progesterone and Estrogen Receptors - POSITIVE (Good thing)
• This allows for hormone blocking treatments.....yay!
• HER/2New - Negative (Good Thing)
• This means its a less aggressive cancer
• Growth rate - 17% (this is from 1-100%)
• So relative slow growth rate, ideal range between 1-10% but under 20% is still good

So moving forward, we meet with the cosmetic plastic surgeon on Monday to discuss the reconstructive surgery that they will be involved in after the surgeon completely removes the tissue from the left breast....yes I will get new boobs!

We have made a decision to go with a double mastectomy and take both breasts at this time, essentially having a 98% assurance that there will not be a reoccurrence in my breast tissue.  Plus it certainly helps with peace of mind!  And the boobs will match and be symmetric :)

Surgery will be first and the date of the surgery will depend on when the plastic surgeon and general surgeon can provide treatment simultaneously.  We are hoping here in about 3 weeks.....just get that stuff out of my body!!

There is still question on whether I will definitively need chemo because of the uncertainly of the true size of the tumor and how many lymph nodes have cancer present....we have decided even if there is any question about chemo that I will move forward with chemo just to be certain.  If I do need chemo it will consist of 4 separate treatments 3 weeks apart starting sometime between 4-6 weeks after surgery...so much for dying my really blonde for the summer months!  Bummer....Keep in mind that in some situations chemo statistically does provide advanced results because of the low factor of spreading, hence the surgical part first to see if the cancer has spread into the more than (1) lymph node.  This also applies to radiation therapy...again all depending on the findings from the pathology of the tissue after surgery....the oncologist just wants as much information as possible to make a good recommendation for the therapy moving forward!

Overall today has been a good day and we appear to be on the right track and God is pointing us in the right direction.  After Monday hopefully we will have surgery date soon and get ready to rock n' roll!

I would like to take a moment to THANK everyone for their support, donations and words of encouragement.  Mac and I are truly blessed to have all of you in our lives and to care so much about me and what we're going through.  There are not enough words to express our gratitude and appreciation.

We have made a decision to also tell Michael tonight about what is going on with his mommy so that he can ask many questions as possible and understand what's going on.  We don't want him to be afraid or fear what I'm going through.  Obviously there is no easy way to tell someone that you have cancer especially your little boy but we want to give him as much time as possible before I undergo surgery.  Wish us luck!

As mentioned before if any of you would like to provide financial support for the medical expenses coming down the road please got to: http://www.gofundme.com/nlv6tk

We have decided to donate any overage amount of donation money that exceeds my medical expenses once everything is said and done to a Breast Cancer Awareness Charity (Susan G. Komen, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, etc) so please keep in mind that ultimately the money will go toward my medical costs and to advancing cancer research and supporting other cancer patients!  We appreciate everyone's kind donations!

Well that's about all for today...ODAAT "One Day At A Time"....overall we are in a good place today and feeling good about the plan and moving forward...

We will keep you guys posted after Monday!

Day One of Sarah's Journey

February 24^th 2015, the day my life was forever changed…

It began as any other day, getting up and ready for work and hurrying the kids out the door to make the bus!  Off to work and praying for good news from the pathologist.  I had discovered a lump on my left breast and the doctors were uncertain and felt it was borderline between calcified tissue and the dreadful “C” word.  However, a biopsy was necessary to rule out CANCER!  Mac and I were hopeful and expected to hear good news but unfortunately not everything goes as planned.  I was at work and received the phone call...the results came back cancerous!  I was devastated, couldn’t catch my breath as my entire world came crashing down around me!  I was hoping that God would spare me from having to go through this since I had to watch my father struggle with cancer himself.  God has different plans!

Since the diagnosis there have been a range of emotions from fear, anger and anxiety to hope and optimism.  We are simply trying to take one day at a time and deal with all the information as it comes.  I have been poked, prodded for biopsies, mammograms and MRI’s more in the last 2 weeks than I can every remember.  The doctors have been able to determine that the cancer is isolated to the left breast Stage II-A.  Two additional biopsies were performed yesterday (1st) of the interior left breast and the (2nd) Axillary lymph node.   Great news is that the interior biopsy came back negative however, the Axillary lymph node came back positive.  There have been no easy days in the last couple of weeks, plain and simple cancer sucks!  I’m hopeful and optimistic as I know this is only temporary and I will fight every day and give everything I have to beat this disease.  I have a lot to live for and a long life to enjoy!

Moving forward the plan is surgical intervention along with chemo and/or radiation…we should know the full plan tomorrow when we meet with the oncologist.   I understand that this will be challenging, I know I am going to have good days and bad days however, I know that with the support of my family, friends, and loved ones that I will get through this and am able to look back one day and say “I kicked cancers ass!”……

For those of you that would like to help out in any way please contact my mother-in-law Theresa Perry as she is putting together a meal calendar, she can be contacted at tmmperry12@gmail.com.  We have also set up a GoFundMe account at http://www.gofundme.com/nlv6tk since we are uncertain of the full financial costs coming our way.  Our insurance should pick up most of the expense but we do have a $3500 deductible which goes from July to June so we anticipate that the treatment make going into the next fiscal year.  Additionally, we think that a nutritional counselor would be ideal to help create meals that support my healing process and aid in the treatment.  I want to thank everyone for the kind words, the support and help…..I truly appreciate it during this difficult time!

“Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you, he will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Deuteronomy 31:6