long awaited update

its been a long time since the last update.. many things have changed and continue to improve. The last chemo was in may and I am so glad I have not had to have another!!! YIPPPEEEE. I am feeling like a million bucks. I still can't believe this has all happened. Maybe I am stilling trying to pretend it did not. The hair is growing slowly and my nails are getting better. They have stopped pealing off. They are not pretty. I have been able to start running again and its getting better each time. Our goal is to run the Hyde Park Blast on June 27th. I don't think I will run the whole race but I am going to complete it. Tim and Sean are going to run the 4 miles also. Shannon is going to run the 1 mile race. She is running an 8.4 minute mile. yikes!!! she told me its because she is so young and I'm not....any more.

I will start the oral drugs the end of July. It has been nice to just take the normal things and recover. I have my follow up surgery appointment July 8th to nip and tuck and make all things " pretty". hee hee. I have also developed an incisional hernia that will be fixed. I am not going to let this surgery get to me like the last.

Thank you to everyone for being a part of your journey. I realize it is just the beginning of the journey. I thought after chemo it would be over but its just begun. There are days I am ready to finish and want to get off the ride for good. But I know God has plans for all of this. Who am I to say no. all our love and kisses. I will try to be better with the updates.

Michelle is doing great and no side effects with the Tamixifin and our dad has recovered. no oxygen and he is getting stronger each day. He is not smoking and I think he is seeing the benefits from the life changes.

Have a wonderful Father's day and love to you all

Lisa

PS The picture is of all of us in Hocking hills on the canopy tours. It was our no chemo celebrations!! we had a blast on 10 zip lines and 5 suspension brides in the tree tops. It was beautiful and suggest you try it.

only 2 more to go

This is a picture of Tim before he was going to play dodge ball with a group of high schoolers. i guess the outfit is as much of an ordeal as the game. His black socks had bugs bunny on them too! My wig is who we call Jo-Jo. she is the shorter of my two and a little more sassy. I think its just the attitude that goes along with it.

I have decided that I really don't like posting the new blog because then I have to really tell the truth. I have decided I don't like Chemo and it doesn't like me and i really don't want to finish. Yes, I will complete the journey but it is getting harder and harder. The side effects come faster and last longer. I am seeing them affect every aspect of my life. I do not like it!!!!!!

OK enough complaining. Every day is better then the last and food is starting to taste a little better. not much. I had my fourth treatment last Monday and tried to work and be effective....I wasn't. Took Friday off and that was a really good idea. Slept most of the afternoon. still trying to walk/run every couple of days. Tim and I have decided to do the Tri For Joe the end of May. It is a good goal to work for. WE are going to do the 5K. I think Sean will do it also. Not sure about the other two. hee hee.

We are going to plan a trip to some where to celebrate the end of chemo this summer. Any one have any good suggestions? Would love the beach setting, cute pool boy, spa, oops my imagination was getting away with me. :) We are open to anything. Just the time to celebrate and be together as a family.

well off to pick up Matt from a camp out and we plan of rest the rest of the day.

Again, thank you for all of the encouragement, visits, meals, and support. I truly could not do this with out all of you!!!

Love Lisa

updated letter from my sister Michelle

This is a letter Michelle sent out and she does such a great job of updating everyone and the details, I thought I would let you all read it too. have a great weekend. Love Lisa

Michelle's letter:

Hello all,

I don’t remember where I left off but here is an update on all that has been happening in the family.

Lisa—after her surgery and biopsy, her tumor was larger than expected (but still small); it was recommended that she have chemo. I was able to be with her in Cincinnati for her first treatment in Jan. She has completed 3 out of 6 treatments and doing very well. She feels a bit crummy after the 2nd or 3rd day and then tired for the next 6 or 7 days and then is good for about 10-12 before the next treatment. They are every three weeks ending the first week of May. Other wise she is doing very well. She has gone back to work, and works around her chemo schedule. From what I hear, everyone has been so gracious to her and her family supporting them through all of this. I know she is ready for the whole thing to be done—as you can well imagine. I know that some big celebrating will be happening in May!!!!

Michelle and Lisa---Lisa decided to have the genetic testing done to see if she had any of the cancer genes. (BRCA 1 and 2). The results of this test were going to determine more treatment for her and myself. Yesterday the results finally came in and all of her tests came back NORMAL! She does not have any cancer genes. That is great news for all of us including her daughter Shannon. What the news means for me is that I do not have to be tested and when I meet with my oncologist in April, I will most likely be put on a treatment of a Tamoxifin-type drug as a preventative measure. I am so happy not to have to go thru anymore testing and surgeries in the future at this point. I will be monitored closely other wise for my annual check-ups etc. The same goes for Lisa too. She may have a little bit more to do for other things but nothing too major.

My Dad—I don’t think anyone knew but while I was getting ready to go to see Lisa, my dad had a biopsy on a spot on his lung. It turned out to be lung cancer, so while he was under, the doctor took out the top left lobe of his lung. He was in the hospital for 9 days and came home on oxygen. Lisa and I were able to drive up and see him the day before he went home and then spend another two days with him before I had to go back to Washington. His prognosis is very good. He has stopped smoking and so has my mom. This is wonderful for everyone. He was taken off the oxygen at the end of February and is pretty much back to work also. My mom was a wonderful caregiver for him and I know they also had a wonderful support group surrounding them. My brother Mark flew in the day after the surgery and stayed with my mom for the week my dad was in the hospital. I know he made it much easier for my mom by just being there. ‘Thanks again, Mark!”

All in all, we have come through this better and stronger. God is amazing and a great comfort. I feel blessed and thankful for all our recoveries and for all the people who have been there for all of us---family—friends—medical personnel etc.

Thank you again for all of your prayers and thinking of us through all of this. May the rest of 2009 be healthy and relaxing.

Hugs and Love,
Michelle

half way there

only 3 more to go. I am so thankful that its almost over and yet it seems to be a life time away. The 3rd treatment was uneventful. I received an extra liter of fluid the day after so hopefully, I will not have another run of SVT(Heart rate over 225) and a trip to the emergency room. I think I didn't get enough water the Saturday after my 2nd treatment and my body reacted. all is well now.
i ran today for the second time since the beginning of surgery. I am sure its not a pretty sight but it feels great. working towards a mile and trying to improve my time. I really can only go up. I have been walking and its nice to push a little harder. Tim is my constant cheerleader. Work is going well and its nice to be back to the normal grind.(most days) the kids are doing well and we are adjusting to physical changes much better these days.
My dad is back to work and off his oxygen and no chest tube. So far, no chemo or radiation for him. He is very thank ful and continues to struggle with the desire to smoke. Its a hard 50 year old habit to break!!! We love you all and continue to say thank you for all your love and support.
Lisa

2 down, 4 to go

I can't believe its been about 4 weeks and how much has changed. Well not really, I still don't have hair, its back to work which is the same as I left it, kids are still in school, and I am a little tired. its nice to have some normalcy in my life. I am really feeling great other then the chemo yesterday. I am more tired than before. Could be the build up of poison in my system, working again, or all of the above. Shannon is doing better everyday. She is still having a hard time seeing me bald so I am wearing something on my head all the time. The wigs names are Samantha(Sam) and Jolie(Joe). Love the bandanna's and do-rags(sp). Thanks Tracie for the skull and cross bones one. That is our favorite. We are trying to find humor everyday and its amazing how God gives you little laughs. I had a skull hat on so Tim put on my wig and looked really funny since it was on backwards. He makes me laugh. Well off to bed i go.
Love you all
Lisa

new hair cut

OK they say it will grow back but do you realize how weird it is to lose your hair....everywhere? Yes, I am truly blessed to have such wonderful people in my life to come over and cut my hair to be as short as Sean's. Thank you Sue so much. You are wonderful and such a blessing. I am sure you didn't expect to be doing this more than once in your life!! Can't say I reallly like short short short hair but it will do the trick. It is falling out as we speak. I love the baseball caps. They keep my head warm and hide the rest. The kids were here and kept me laughing. Its only hair and it will grow back. At least I know what it will look like as it grows back and that I don't look good with really 1/2 inch hair!!!! I did wear the wig " Samantha" today and she and I seemed to get along fine. It was different. I came home and put the baseball hat back on. Tim has a Bengals hat and I just can't seem to make myself wear that one. I need to get a Brown's hat!!!!! Tim is away in Texas and seems to be doing well in the warm weather. I would like to be there as it is still snowing here and starting to ice. Kids did not have school and I haven't seen them all day. They have been playing outside and with friends. They are loving it.
I have a genetics appointment in the am. Will probably be cancelled due to weather and then I have a 12:15 and 3:15 appointments with surgeons. I plan to go back to work on Thursday. Life is continuing on and we are embracing what is around the corner! Next chemo is Feb11th.
I pray for all of you and continue to thank you for all you do. You really don't know how much the little things mean.
Love to you all
Lisa

one down only 5 to go

OK, Wednesday wasn't to bad. In fact, the treatment went well and Michelle was with me. She came in on Tuesday night. We were at the oncology office for about 5 1/2 hours and laughed and cried. Learned a lot and hopefully, I will remember it all. HA HA. It was wonderful to have Michelle here. She was such a great help. She reminded me when to take my meds and to drink lots of water. Now, I only have 5 more to go. I should be done by May. That is really not to far off.
Michelle and I went to Hudson to visit my parents on Thursday. It was wonderful to see dad and to be able to hug them both. He seemed to be doing well and enjoyed having us there. He was able to come home on Friday. He came with home oxygen and a chest tube. After all the anxiety and a good nights rest, Saturday was a really good day. Mark went back to Texas and Michelle and I took over. Actually, Michelle did everything because the chemo set in and Dad and I laid on the couch all day and did nothing. I felt like a truck had run over me. Dad is getting around well and breathing easy. He is sleeping well too. Mom has become is personal nurse and has done a great job. We don't know how long he will have the O2 but hopefully, the chest tube will come out by the end of the week.
I don't know when I will go back to work yet. I have appointments on the 28th with both surgeons. Hopefully, I will be cleared to return.
Thank you again for all your love and support.
Lisa

chemo changed to Wednesday.

OK, I should be better about the updates and I should know better then to confirm dates until I really talk to the nurse from the doctors office. Chemo has been changed to Wednesday. But there is good news. Michelle, my sister is coming in on Tuesday and she will be able to go with me to the treatment. I am so grateful and thankful she has been able to change here schedule. It means so much to me.
We will then go to Hudson to be with our parents towards the end of the week. We are both very anxious to get there. Mark is still there with my mom and is driving her to buy her new cell phone and 37in flat screen TV for their room and a new dish washer and he has set them up for her. She loves having him home. He is very handy with those things.
Dad is progressing slowly. Still has the 2 chest tubes and oxygen which he will have when he goes home. Pain has been an issue and sleep too. no one is able to get sleep in a hospital. He is eating OK and up walking which is huge. Everyday is a new day and new challenge.
Again, i can't tell you how much we appreciate all of the encouragement. just the few words can change my day or my attitude. Tim and the kids love to eat and appreciate everyones help. You are all an amazing group of people. We love you all and are truly blessed.
Happy Monday.
Love ya
Lisa
PS thank you for praying for my parents. They need more then just physical healing. Pray for their hearts too.

chemo will begin

Well, they say God truly only gives you what you can handle. I have decided in the day and age of technology we should be able to contact anyone, anyplace and any time. Well, yesterday my mom's cell phone broke. No big deal but it was the day my dad was having surgery. The initial thought was only a lung biopsy to see what kind of infection was in his lung. But the outcome was a lobectomy(removed the upper lobe of his left lung) and its positive for cancer. So when you can't get a hold of your mother, you can't drive and your anxiety level is through the roof, what does one do? clean, pray, scrap book(should go and look at those pages) and call your sister thirty times while she's at work and pray some more, oh and I seemed to have cried a bit too.
I did finally call the hospital ICU and the unit secretary was wonderful and she gave me the update that Dad was off the vent( breathing machine) and drinking fluids. All wonderful signs, I cried again. My brothers Jammie and Mark are going to stay with my mom over the weekend and Michelle is coming into town on Wednesday. We will head up there too. I did finally get to talk with my mother late last night and she is doing better. She spent time with my dad and and friend took her out for dinner. She had a wonderful sense of humor and made me laugh. See God is good. Oh by the way she is going to get a new cell phone today. hee hee
I did finally get the plans for chemo yesterday too. We start on Monday. Will have 6 treatments once every 3 weeks. Will get a new wig soon and Tim has decided to get a red one and a cutie little outfit to go with it. i think he should look really interesting in a red wig and outfit. LOL Matthew asked if he could shave Tim's head and Tim had to really think about that since Matthew doesn't shave yet....yes he has facial hair all ready. OH help me. why do they grow so fast?
I want to point out that God did not give me more than I could handle. Well the lack of communication with my mother was terrible but i talked and laughed and cried with my sister all day. The diagnosis of CA with my dad was awful but now I will have a bald friend to go through treatment with. They think they got all of it too since they removed the upper lobe. Lastly, we have a plan. It is so hard to wait and not have a direction. Now we do. I will be done by May. I will have hair by the fall. This will all be behind me and yet I do see the foot prints in the sand and KNOW God has been with me during this journey and will continue.
I am so blessed by all of the wonderful people around me. I can't tell you all enough how grateful we are. The meals, the calls, the laughter, the taxi service, the everything means so much to us. It is such a help and we couldn't do this without you. Thank you
Love, Lisa