So the plan for today was to have reduced the drainage enough to get the last two drains out BUT that was not in the cards for today's appointment.....Sarah's drainage on the last two drains is still too high! FRUSTRATING.....to say the least! So per the doctors orders "STOP MOVING AROUND AND KEEP YOUR ARMS FROM MOVING"....yeah let's see how well she follows the doctor's orders. I may have to put her arms in slings to accomplish that directive from Dr. Rhee. So we will follow-up on Friday and hope that we the drainage has gone down to 20cc in a 24 hour period....fingers-crossed.
Everything else is healing well and the sutures look great. She has some inflammation on the left arm where the lymph nodes were removed which is to be expected. Something that we have to continue to monitor. There is a little concern about a vein in the armpit and slight blockage/blood clot that has formed so 1 aspirin per day with warm compress to loosen that.....the good news is it is not a deep primary vein so this should resolve on its own with home remedy.
She did get her last expansion done today so that is good news since pressure and pain always seems to follow each time she is expanded so this is the last time she has to go thru that.
She is in good spirits and continuing to do well! Sleepless nights and upper back pain are still a continued theme so hopefully once the drains are out that she can have a little more mobility for different sleep positions She said she wanted to go to Park Meadows Mall and visit the massage kiosks for a upper back massage....she cracks me up! I will certainly do my best to massage those sore muscles.
So things are still just coming along....the drainage thing appears to be her only hang up at this point. We meet with the oncologist next Tuesday to discuss the results of the OncaType DX test results which will tell us if Sarah will need Chemotherapy. I'm still a little confused how this test can help determine if chemo will be beneficial since in my mind chemo killing all possible cancer in the body seems to be a good thing either way but that's why they are doctors and geneticists....they know best! She has a great team of doctors. Currently she has a 60% chance of chemo so we are just planning on that route moving forward. It's amazing how much genetic testing and involvement has been incorporated into her care and decision-making process. Individualizing her care based upon those test and genetic results is great so she is being treated for her particular cancer and not in a general manner. So I'm conflicted on the chemo stuff...I think we both just want the best option with or without chemo that will prevent and eliminate the possibility of a metastatic situation.
Sarah did go wig shopping last week and selected a wig that almost matches her currently hair to a "T"...almost identical. It was a pretty funny experience and Sarah was laughing about it which is a good sign! Let me tell you some of those wigs are super expensive like $6000 expensive for the premium real hair options......yeah we are going that route....sorry honey! HAHA....She was able to find one that was fairly reasonable and nowhere near $6000. We have a deposit on the wig so if chemo is a go then she has the wig she likes. We know that insurance is not going to help out with any of the expense of the wig....they say we have to use a wig shop in-network which is in another state...yeah that's completely unhelpful!
The kids are doing great and supporting their mom as much as possible...this experience has certainly brought our family closer and I think the kids truly value and appreciate mom more....not that they didn't before but this brought reality into check! Hard lesson to learn at such a young age but a valuable nonetheless! I very proud of both Isabelle and Michael and the love and compassion that they show toward their mother on daily basis. They are two amazing kiddos and very strong in their own way....it's not easy to watch a parent go thru a struggle like this at any age let alone at 6 and 9....God bless them!
God is certainly blessing us every day! Cancer always seems to be the elephant in the room although that elephant is getting smaller and smaller every day. I don't think the concern it will ever completely go away but I do believe one day that it will be to a point where it just an afterthought and just a small little consideration in our day! Perhaps something that we will actually appreciate.....to know what she has overcome! We are grateful that she found the cancer when she did and that everything has been successful up to this point....one day at a time....appreciate and celebrate each accomplishment and milestone!
Thank you as always to everyone for the meals, stopping by to say hello (company is nice), flowers, the wishful thoughts and of course the prayers! We truly appreciate the positive thoughts and prayers for our family...cancer's hereditary nightmare sometimes overwhelms me and that is where I'm the weakest....the concern for my children and what their future may hold....so I ask all you prayer warriors out there to please continue to pray for Sarah and that she continues to heal well and most importantly that she never has to deal with cancer again her in lifetime.....additionally I ask that you pray for my two beautiful children that that the genes associated with cancer have not been passed on to them and that their future is cancer-free. I know that God will answer our prayers the way he deems fit and that he will indeed bless my family every day...certainly there is no guarantee how these blessing will come but they will indeed come!
Thank you everyone for continuing to follow the blog and stay interested in Sarah's journey....it means a lot to us! She is very lucky to have each of you......your love and compassion means so very much.....this helps make the journey that much easier!
Thank you,
Mac
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