I am pleased to report that Mama is having a better day today. She was able to get some sleep last night. The doctors are very pleased with her progress. The surgeon told her to expect good and bad days even when she goes home. We are thankful that today is a good one.
The surgeon have asked her to go very slow with the clear liquid diet to prevent other problems or setbacks. The epidural is doing a good job with her pain control for her surgery site. She got a little behind in her pain for a while, but is doing better now. She has had some back and shoulder discomfort and of course abdominal discomfort when she moves or gets out of bed. However, this little lady is so determined to get better. If they ask her to walk a certain distance, she walks farther. She is bound and determined to get stronger and better soon. She continues to struggle with some nausea. Because of her allergies to so many medications, they really don't have much more options to try other than the meds currently being used to give her relief. The medication in her epidural makes her restless. It has been frustrating for her because she dreams odd (usual task oriented) dreams and wakes up with her hands fussing with the blankets, searching under the blankets or making motions with her hands that correlate with the dreams. Unfortunately, these hand movements end up waking her up over and over.
Mama's is real tired, but her smile is coming back. That is good medicine for all of us. :) Prayers are being answered. Thank you so much for keeping her covered in prayer. It's the best medicine of all!
With love,
Carmen and family
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
Friday, Aug.5th - Rough day
Last night and today had many turn of events. The feeding tube turned out to be a real problem. It continued to make Mama sick all night and all morning. The object of the feeding tube was obviously to give her nutrition, but because it was causing so much nausea, it proved to be more of a problem than it was doing her good.
The doctors made the decision to remove the feeding tube this morning. Three different people tried to remove it and failed. (I will save everyone the unpleasant details.) Other measures were taken and the fourth time worked. It was a long 5 1/2 hours, but it is over and behind her now. She is slowly being introduced to a clear liquid diet now.
Since the feeding tube was removed, she is more comfortable and nausea seems to be better controlled. Her oxygen was put back on last night, but they are considering taking her off of it again later this evening or tomorrow. They discontinued her Insulin drip and have pushed out the blood sugar tests to about every 4 hours. Her catheter was also removed and she went for her first short walk down the hall this evening. So there have been some noticeable improvements in recovery today.
It has been a very hard and long day. Mama is exhausted. I believe the worst of today is behind her and hopefully she can get a little rest now.
All of today's challenges were very hard on Daddy. After all, he is her protector and there is little he can do in these circumstances to shield her from the pain.
God has carried us through yet another rough day. We feel your prayers and are very grateful for each and everyone of you. God bless you.
With love,
Carmen & family
The doctors made the decision to remove the feeding tube this morning. Three different people tried to remove it and failed. (I will save everyone the unpleasant details.) Other measures were taken and the fourth time worked. It was a long 5 1/2 hours, but it is over and behind her now. She is slowly being introduced to a clear liquid diet now.
Since the feeding tube was removed, she is more comfortable and nausea seems to be better controlled. Her oxygen was put back on last night, but they are considering taking her off of it again later this evening or tomorrow. They discontinued her Insulin drip and have pushed out the blood sugar tests to about every 4 hours. Her catheter was also removed and she went for her first short walk down the hall this evening. So there have been some noticeable improvements in recovery today.
It has been a very hard and long day. Mama is exhausted. I believe the worst of today is behind her and hopefully she can get a little rest now.
All of today's challenges were very hard on Daddy. After all, he is her protector and there is little he can do in these circumstances to shield her from the pain.
God has carried us through yet another rough day. We feel your prayers and are very grateful for each and everyone of you. God bless you.
With love,
Carmen & family
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Evening Update - August 4th
I cannot express how grateful we are for all the prayers for Mama and our family. We are seeing many answers to prayer.
She also has a really sore throat. It could be partly from the breathing tube during surgery, but they think it most likely is from the oxygen drying out her throat. They unhooked her oxygen tonight and her levels look good. So hopefully they will stay up and her throat can recover quickly.
We appreciate your continued prayers.
With love,
Carmen and family
- Doctors feel the surgery went well and Mama's progressing well.
- Mama's pain is moderate and under control.
- Her nausea is much better controlled as well.
- Her blood sugar is stabilizing, so her pokes for blood sugar testing have been extended to every 2 hours. (It was every 15 minutes for several hours today, which was exhausting with everything else going on as well. Not to mention her poor little fingers are getting sore.)
- She is getting a little bit of sleep now. With everyone coming into her room all night and day, she didn't sleep much. They expect to not have to come in and disturb her but every 1 to 2 hours. It's so good to see her resting.
- Mama has had excellent nurses and care. The staff has been wonderful. Everyone is so kind and compassionate to her as well as the family.
- We are experiencing God's peace in the midst of our storm.
- Even though we didn't get much sleep, God has given us strength.
She also has a really sore throat. It could be partly from the breathing tube during surgery, but they think it most likely is from the oxygen drying out her throat. They unhooked her oxygen tonight and her levels look good. So hopefully they will stay up and her throat can recover quickly.
We appreciate your continued prayers.
With love,
Carmen and family
Aug. 4th - Day after surgery
Mama finally got out of recovery about 9:45pm last night and was moved to her room. Low blood pressure and nausea were the main culprits of keeping her in recovery so long. They are keeping a real close watch on her, so she didn't get much sleep last night. Between blood draws, taking her normal vitals and hourly blood sugar tests, the interruptions were about every 15 minutes to a half hour.
The consent interruptions have continued today, so she still is not getting much sleep. Mama is extremely weak and talks with a whisper. The doctors felt everything went well in the surgery. They are adjusting her pain and nausea medication and treatment to try to get her more comfortable. Due to her allergies to so many of their most commonly use medications for nausea, they are also trying an acupressure treatment along with her current meds. Moving induces nausea, so their request for her to get up and at least sit on the side of the bed or a chair is yet a challenge. She sat on the side of the bed once this morning. I read her the comments posted on her blog while she was sitting to help distract and encourage. She gave little smiles and soft words of appreciation. Thank you for your notes of love and encouragement. They mean so much.
Even in the midst of the storm, we know and trust God is in control. We appreciate your continued prayers, notes of encouragement and gifts of love.
With love and appreciation,
Carmen and family
The consent interruptions have continued today, so she still is not getting much sleep. Mama is extremely weak and talks with a whisper. The doctors felt everything went well in the surgery. They are adjusting her pain and nausea medication and treatment to try to get her more comfortable. Due to her allergies to so many of their most commonly use medications for nausea, they are also trying an acupressure treatment along with her current meds. Moving induces nausea, so their request for her to get up and at least sit on the side of the bed or a chair is yet a challenge. She sat on the side of the bed once this morning. I read her the comments posted on her blog while she was sitting to help distract and encourage. She gave little smiles and soft words of appreciation. Thank you for your notes of love and encouragement. They mean so much.
Even in the midst of the storm, we know and trust God is in control. We appreciate your continued prayers, notes of encouragement and gifts of love.
With love and appreciation,
Carmen and family
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
August 3rd, 2011 Surgery
"I will not despair, for God is always good" Psalm 27:10
Today has been a long day for mom in surgery.
She was really sick all day yesterday and nauseous throughout the night.
We had to be here by 6:30 AM,she was taken back at 7:00.
They got the iv in on the first try. (a major victory as this is a multiple try ordeal every time) Dad stayed with her during her consultation with the anesthesiologist and surgeons.
They told mom and dad that there was a possibility they would not even address the right kidney today if the surgery was too long and would cause too much stress for her. The kidney surgeon said that they could address the kidney at a later time either laproscopicly, or with a cryo treatment or inject chemo. In any event it is less worrisome than the large mass so they needed to make sure we understood that they would address it later if today's surgery was too extensive and they needed to spend the majority of the time on the pancreas / stomach area.
We got calls every two hours to update us from the OR. The end result is this:
They took the lower half of the pancreas,they took the spleen,there was stomach involvement so they took a section of the stomach as well. The thing we were not expecting was that they also had to take part of her colon. The mass was really invasive and they had to take particular care in dissecting around blood vessels to not interrupt circulation. This was tedious and took the most time. Since it was all on the left side and it took so long in that area they elected to not cause trauma to the opposite side as well.
She has a tube in her side draining fluids. The surgeon says this is his main concern. Tissue has to be sewn together and may leak. There was so much done that now it can be leakage from the pancreas, stomach or colon. Please pray for healing of the areas. Please pray that all cancer on a cellular level will disappear.
She has a tune down her nose that bypasses her stomach and goes into her intestine. She will be given some nutrition through it later if she is doing well.
She has an epidural to help manage her post operative pain. Please pray that she has relief from pain and is able to rest comfortably. She has degenerative discs in her neck and laying in bed can be miserable. This is an area that would be merciful for her to have relief so I am going to ask specificly for prayer over her in this as well.
She had an excellent surgical team, she did not need any transfusions and her vital signs were good throughout surgery.
Our prayer now is for her blood pressure. She is in recovery but her BP has tanked and they are working on getting it back up to an acceptable level. This is normal for mom as she has done this after every other surgery she has had, but it still needs to get turned around soon.
Please feel free to leave comments for her here. When she is awake and out of pain we will be reading them to her.
We have truly felt your love and prayers during this incredibly long day. We have had peace even in the midst of anxiety. For that we are grateful.
We appreciate and love you.
With a grateful heart,
Kimberly and family
Saturday, July 30, 2011
July 30, 2011 Update
Here is the latest update from Mom's visit at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.
She met with Dr.Pillarisetty (abdominal surgeon,specializing in pancreatic surgery) and he stated that they will do pre op on Tuesday and then she will be the first surgery of the day on Wednesday. They will start with scoping mom first to see what all is involved. They will be looking to make sure they have not missed anything in the scans. Normally with a pancreatic surgery they access from the left side, but since the right kidney is involved as well they will go through the center. They will either take a part of the right kidney, or will remove it entirely. From a week ago the mass in the pancreas has grown 1cm by 2cm in the last week. They do not believe it is a psuedo cyst, but a tumor. Either way, they say it has to be removed. He feels he will most likely take the lower half of the pancreas. He says that it is hard to see what all is involved. If he feels the spleen is involved, or at a great future risk, he will remove it as well. He does not think there will be a problem with the stomach, but again if the stomach has any involvement, he may have to remove a small section of the stomach as well. The abdominal surgeon will be doing the scoping, pancreas, spleen and stomache part and the kidney specialist/surgeon will be operating on her right kidney. The surgeon is estimating about 6 hours for surgery and then a few hours in recovery. She will get a drain tube from her side to drain any fluids after surgery. It comes out when it stops "draining". No estimated time frame for that, she may even go home with it if needed.
They expect her to stay at UWMC hospital for at least 5 days, and after that they want her to stay at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance housing for another 5 days so they are close to UWMC in case she needs some additional after care.
We are definately asking for prayer for protection, healing, comfort, skill for the suegeons and peace for all of us as we restart this journey with Mom. Please pray for dad. This has been tough for him. He is so strong and a wonderful encourager to mom. We kids are so incredibly blessed to have them as our parents and we thank God for allowing us to be able to walk with them through the storm.
Thank you ahead of time for your words of love and encouragement. They have always meant so much.
Kimberly and family
She met with Dr.Pillarisetty (abdominal surgeon,specializing in pancreatic surgery) and he stated that they will do pre op on Tuesday and then she will be the first surgery of the day on Wednesday. They will start with scoping mom first to see what all is involved. They will be looking to make sure they have not missed anything in the scans. Normally with a pancreatic surgery they access from the left side, but since the right kidney is involved as well they will go through the center. They will either take a part of the right kidney, or will remove it entirely. From a week ago the mass in the pancreas has grown 1cm by 2cm in the last week. They do not believe it is a psuedo cyst, but a tumor. Either way, they say it has to be removed. He feels he will most likely take the lower half of the pancreas. He says that it is hard to see what all is involved. If he feels the spleen is involved, or at a great future risk, he will remove it as well. He does not think there will be a problem with the stomach, but again if the stomach has any involvement, he may have to remove a small section of the stomach as well. The abdominal surgeon will be doing the scoping, pancreas, spleen and stomache part and the kidney specialist/surgeon will be operating on her right kidney. The surgeon is estimating about 6 hours for surgery and then a few hours in recovery. She will get a drain tube from her side to drain any fluids after surgery. It comes out when it stops "draining". No estimated time frame for that, she may even go home with it if needed.
They expect her to stay at UWMC hospital for at least 5 days, and after that they want her to stay at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance housing for another 5 days so they are close to UWMC in case she needs some additional after care.
We are definately asking for prayer for protection, healing, comfort, skill for the suegeons and peace for all of us as we restart this journey with Mom. Please pray for dad. This has been tough for him. He is so strong and a wonderful encourager to mom. We kids are so incredibly blessed to have them as our parents and we thank God for allowing us to be able to walk with them through the storm.
Thank you ahead of time for your words of love and encouragement. They have always meant so much.
Kimberly and family
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
July 20, 2011 Update
It's been a while since I have posted anything. I am not even sure anyone checks here at all but have been asked to post an update. I have been of the mindset that no news is good news in regards to this blog. Needless to say, I would have preferred to have retired the site altogether than to have to reactivate it.
Where do I start? Well, as many of you know, mom has been doing well with each follow up at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. She goes several times a year and the last visit was great. Shortly after that she started having intermittent discomfort in her side. She did not think much of it as it was the same side the half lung and rib was removed. She has been tender there since the surgery. The pain started to become more frequent, then more intense. After a while she felt she should have it checked out and went to her primary care Dr. Last Thursay, her Dr. ordered an ultra sound of her side. She was to have a follow up visit to review the findings a week later. Thursday night they called and told her they had found a mass on her pancreas and would need a CAT scan the next morning. Friday she had the CAT scan and had to wait until Tuesday (yesterday, to meet with her primary care provider(PCP) for the results.) She found out that she has a 8cm x 9cm mass on the tip of her pancreas that appears suspicious. There is a possibility it could be a cyst, but they are unsure. In addition, they found another mass on her right kidney that they say is very suspicious for cancer. This was not the news we were hoping for. Mom and Dad have contacted Seattle Cancer Care and have an appt next Tuesday 7/26/11 with her Oncologist.
We are asking for prayer that in that time we will have answers, have a plan for treatment and a wonderful prognosis. This is a hard set back to hear at this time so we are still processing and trusting the Lord for His hand of protection and healing to stay on mom's life.
If you would also remember mom's 2 siblings in your prayer as well, we would be grateful. Her sister Donna is battling cancer and has it in her bones and breast. It was in her liver and lungs but as of yesterday that is gone. She has damage to her liver from the cancer / treatment so it is a huge concern as is the fact that she needs a masectomy in the next few months. The bone cancer is serioius, so we need God's intervention on her behalf. God can and has removed the cancer form the liver and lungs. Please pray for the continuation of her whole body healing.
And unbelievably, a second sibling, her brother Dean has bladder cancer. He is having a high risk surgery Thursday morning 7/22/11 at 6:30 AM. Please pray for success in the surgery and healing for him as well.
Cancer may have a grip on this family, but God holds us in His mighty hand.
A friend reminded me of His love and one of His promises in this verse this morning.
Isaiah 41:10 " Do not fear, for I am with you. I will strengthen you and help you."(This I know very well, yet some days I need the reminder. Thank you sweet Carrie)
With love,
Kimberly and family
Where do I start? Well, as many of you know, mom has been doing well with each follow up at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. She goes several times a year and the last visit was great. Shortly after that she started having intermittent discomfort in her side. She did not think much of it as it was the same side the half lung and rib was removed. She has been tender there since the surgery. The pain started to become more frequent, then more intense. After a while she felt she should have it checked out and went to her primary care Dr. Last Thursay, her Dr. ordered an ultra sound of her side. She was to have a follow up visit to review the findings a week later. Thursday night they called and told her they had found a mass on her pancreas and would need a CAT scan the next morning. Friday she had the CAT scan and had to wait until Tuesday (yesterday, to meet with her primary care provider(PCP) for the results.) She found out that she has a 8cm x 9cm mass on the tip of her pancreas that appears suspicious. There is a possibility it could be a cyst, but they are unsure. In addition, they found another mass on her right kidney that they say is very suspicious for cancer. This was not the news we were hoping for. Mom and Dad have contacted Seattle Cancer Care and have an appt next Tuesday 7/26/11 with her Oncologist.
We are asking for prayer that in that time we will have answers, have a plan for treatment and a wonderful prognosis. This is a hard set back to hear at this time so we are still processing and trusting the Lord for His hand of protection and healing to stay on mom's life.
If you would also remember mom's 2 siblings in your prayer as well, we would be grateful. Her sister Donna is battling cancer and has it in her bones and breast. It was in her liver and lungs but as of yesterday that is gone. She has damage to her liver from the cancer / treatment so it is a huge concern as is the fact that she needs a masectomy in the next few months. The bone cancer is serioius, so we need God's intervention on her behalf. God can and has removed the cancer form the liver and lungs. Please pray for the continuation of her whole body healing.
And unbelievably, a second sibling, her brother Dean has bladder cancer. He is having a high risk surgery Thursday morning 7/22/11 at 6:30 AM. Please pray for success in the surgery and healing for him as well.
Cancer may have a grip on this family, but God holds us in His mighty hand.
A friend reminded me of His love and one of His promises in this verse this morning.
Isaiah 41:10 " Do not fear, for I am with you. I will strengthen you and help you."(This I know very well, yet some days I need the reminder. Thank you sweet Carrie)
With love,
Kimberly and family
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