Friday, May 30th

Horray! Susan will be going to a step-down unit today and leaving ICU. She has spent 2 days in ICU and is beginning to actually feel bad, which is actually a good thing. Before she was very sick and not really feeling anything! She may be up for visitors tomorrow, at least someone to go and sit and help feed her drinks, answer the phone, etc. She is still feeling very weak and needs assistance with that. They are good with food this week. If I find out anything else that they need I will let you know.

Another Setback!

This is Keri, posting for Susan.  I just got off the phone with her.  She is in the ICU at Roanoke Memorial.  Evidently, she has developed an infection, possibly a Kidney Infection which has caused her to be very sick.  She  had a very bad night last night so she called the doctor who saw her right away and put her into the hospital.  She is on fluids and antibiotics and should be feeling better soon.  Keep her in your thoughts and prayers.  Stay tuned for more postings to hear how she is progressing.  

...a bit of a setback AND great news!

Sorry it's been so long since I last posted. I've had a bit of a setback the last few days. I woke up early Tuesday morning with a nasty virus and haven't felt up to doing much until now. It really took it out of me! Mom was here with me both Tuesday and Wednesday. Yesterday I managed pretty well on my own for a while and then my dear friend, Kitty, stopped to see me. Due to being sick, I missed my doctor's appointment on Tuesday, so still have the four drains. Hopefully ALL of them will be removed this coming Tuesday! Dr. Davenport (my breast surgeon) called this morning with news from my operative pathology report (the path report from all the tissue sent off after surgery) and the news was even better than she thought it would be! There was no sign of any malignancies in the left breast, they confirmed there were no malignancies in the lymph nodes, AND even the tumors in the right breast were not nearly as invasive as she first thought! She "demoted" this nasty cancer from Stage II to Stage I which is awesome! Whatever it is, at least it's no longer in ME! :-) Dr. Davenport will go ahead and set up an appointment with Dr. Merten for me. I'll continue to post about any further info on that.

A HUGE thank you to those who have brought food for us and for all the cards and emails I continue to receive. It all keeps me going! :-)

I have heard that my kids felt like they did well on the Math SOL test on Wednesday which pleases me immensely. I can't wait to see them all again and should be able to get to the school again before school is out.

I wish all of you a wonderful long weekend ~ I believe the weather is going to be gorgeous!!
love, sj

Another doctor's appointment

I received another good report from Dr. Thomas today. He is very pleased with how things are looking and said he couldn't believe it had only been two weeks since my surgery! (Two weeks!? it feels like forever! :-)) Unfortunately, he was unable to remove any more drains. He said they all had an attitude! Hopefully, next week... He urged me to continue resting and taking it easy. Mom took me to Nawabs down on the market for lunch afterward and we ate too much. :o) (Thanks for footin' the bill, Dad!) I also plan to venture out Thursday evening to hear John Anderson speak. He is the husband of Sharon Rapoport, a friend of mine who is a breast cancer survivor. I am anxious to hear him (and for Lyn to hear him, too) talk about being the male caregiver in a breast cancer situation. I enjoy all the cards, e-mails and phone calls I continue to receive! and all my visitors ~ so give me a call and come see me!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful mothers out there! I am enjoying mine piled up in the recliner...where I spend most of each day. I'm still dealing with a lot of muscle soreness (both from the surgery and from using up-until-now-unused-lazy muscles) but the Vicodin helps with that. I am still receiving so many wonderful messages through e-mails and cards, and I'm so appreciative! We are still being supplied with meals and enjoying all the wonderful food! My next doctor's appointment is Tuesday. Hopefully, he will remove at least two more drains. I would really like to make at least one of Brice's last three lacrosse games this week, but we'll have to see. I am also very anxious to get by the school and see my sweet children!!! :-)

Update

My mom is here today. We just got back from a follow-up appointment with Dr. Thomas (the first of six weekly appts). He was very pleased with how things are progressing. He removed all the stitches so the incision places will no longer need bandages ~ which is a great thing! :-) He removed two of the six drains, and I wasn't sorry one little bit to see those two go! It felt good to get such a good report from him. I still rest comfortably most of the day - moving around every now and then. Sore muscles are probably the worst of it ~ using muscles I'm not used to using to get in and out of the recliner. We have been eating well with all the wonderful donations of dinners. I have enjoyed all the phone calls and many, many cards and e-mails I've received. Thank you all for staying in touch. I just know that my good progress is a direct result of all your prayers. :-) sj

Resting well...

Hey, everybody! It is great to be home. Lyn is taking great care of me (and Brice would be, too, if he were here!), and I am resting well. I only wake once through the night to take pain medication but then go right back to sleep. We decided to attempt a shower yesterday (I couldn't wait to stand in one!) but from the time we started removing the dressings to the time I got back in the recliner, it was nearly an hour and a half. I was wiped out! Slept for almost two hours after that. But it still felt great! :-) The pain isn't bad - I get more stiff than anything. I get up and walk every now and then (Lyn makes me!), and I have to do breathing exercises. I'm up for visitors anytime, so give me a call! :-)

Home at last!!!

It is so good to be home! Dr. Thomas came by my room this morning and said everything was good to go. Lyn came about 9:30 to get me, and now I'm home and settled in the recliner. I've received oodles of cards in the mail (thank you!) and can't wait to open them all. I have sooooooo enjoyed everyone's posts on the blog!!! Thank you for all the prayers and good wishes and fun comments! I'm glad so many of you have written. I'll keep posting my progress. I love you all! sj