The Third Nipple

Mom had her chemo port surgically inserted early this afternoon. She was sedated for the procedure. Suzy said at one point Mom told the doctor, "I love morphine." Well, we all know what that means. Thankfully the doctor must have had the appropriate filters in place and understood that Mom is not an addict.

I spoke with Mom tonight. She said she woke up while the surgeon was still stitching up, but that it wasn't painful. In fact, she said she still feels nothing except the stitches. She doesn't know how many stitches she has, just that she has two layers of them.

The chemo port will serve as an easy access point for delivery of her chemotherapy injections. It is inserted underneath the skin of her chest, and connects to a large vein close to the heart. Placing the port under her skin greatly reduces the risk of infection. We met with the doctor who performed her surgery several weeks ago. At that time he explained the procedure and how the port and the catheter will work. Mom doesn't have any extra body fat to speak of, so he said the port location would be noticable. Since that appointment we have affectionately referred to the port as her third nipple.

You can see how Mom's chemo port connects to her circulatory system here.

The next step is Mom's first chemo injection, which is scheduled July 3. The chemo will treat her whole body, including the primary tumor in her lung. The reason for the delay in treatment is to give her recovery time from her recently completed radiation therapy, and to allow her to enjoy the upcoming family reunion without the side effects of the chemo.

Good News

Suzy found out yesterday that Mom has prescription insurance. She just didn't know it. Mom never pursued prescription insurance through work or Medicare because she's always been healthy - non-smoker, non-drinker, healthy weight, no chronic illness.

When we thought she had no insurance we began to study Medicare Part D. God bless the lawmakers that make government sponsored prescription coverage possible, but it takes an attorney to understand the program literature. Suzy and I spent hours going over the instruction booklet, and what we finally concluded was that Mom was in the gap between open enrollment periods and would have to pay out of pocket until the October-November window.

As it turns out, her insurance through Walmart has her covered and she can now submit for reimbursement for the prescription medications she purchased this year. What a blessing!

Meat, Potatoes and Haute Couture

It's Haley's sixteenth birthday today (how the heck did she get to be sixteen already?) and Suzy is grilling steak and potatoes for dinner. I called around seven and talked to Suzy and Mom. Mom was paying her bills when I called - very intent, to the extent that she forgot I really hadn't called her to talk about her bills. Anyway, I found out that the turbans Mom settled on in the end are as follows:
Ivory
Pink
Red
She also ordered some scarves to wear with her turbans. I don't know the color of her scarf accents, but as soon as I know I'll notify you and the editors of Vogue.

Love is a Strong Word

Mom and I talked on the phone this evening. She sounds great - had a lot to talk about. She got home from the hospital last night. Her surgery to remove the kidney stones went well. She's sore but she says it's nothing compared to the pain she had Friday night and Saturday. Mom says she loves Charlevoix Area Hospital (compared it to a hotel with great service), she loves her urologist, and she loves morphine. She didn't hesitate a bit about loving the morphine.

While Mom was in surgery on Sunday, Billy and Tyler went to Paul's and Suzy's to install the small ramp from the door to the deck. Three weeks ago Billy (with the help of Cody, Paul, Evan and Ben) replaced Mom's bedroom window with a door, and built a deck and a ramp. It looks great and makes Mom's entrance and exit from the house much easier.

Mom has begun to lose her hair - a side affect we were told would most likely happen after the radiation treatments. Jodi grabbed the catalog of hats and scarves we found at the radiation waiting room and she and Mom shopped together. Mom found three turbans: a blue, a pink and a white. She's not crazy about the white, but we'll give it some interest with a little bling.

Mom has been putting pressure on her broken leg little by little. This is necessary, but a little scarey for her because the pain of the break was so bad. She's using her walker more, and her muscles are starting to get the exercise they need.

Corey is making sesame chicken for dinner tonight.

Pattie Darrow is the first official visitor of this blog! Yay Pattie!!

Everything's Rosie

In February 2007, Suzy took Mom to the hospital with pneumonia symptoms. X-rays showed a mass in her lung, but its nature was inconclusive at that time due to her lung congestion. Follow-up tests in March showed lesions in her lung, right leg and brain. In April she received her diagnosis of stage four lung cancer.
Since Mom's diagnosis, she has begun recovery of her broken fibula which occured May 2, finished her first ten-day course of radiation, and today had surgery to remove kidney stones (totally unrelated, but work for her nonetheless).
This blog exists for several reasons.

• To allow family and friends to check in on Mom's progress, to pray for her, and to leave her messages easily.
• To chronicle Mom's progress. This is an important time for Mom and for her family, and we don't want to miss sharing the milestones we reach in her recovery.
• As a vehicle for all of us to express our thoughts, feelings and prayers in this journey.
• As a connection with others on a similar journey of faith.

Mom's progress since April has been peppered with really great moments, some inspiring and some simply hilarious. We won't be able to post daily, but we'll post as often as we can. Any comments you leave on the posts will be shared with Mom, so please feel free to leave comments as lengthy as blogger will allow.

Love,

Pat

Journal Entry

Celebrated Mother's Day at Suzy's. Tina, Mike, Tami, Dan, Devon, Makayla, and Aunt Dorothy came, and Karalyn came from Tennessee. Suzy made a great chicken dinner. Mom had experienced some nausea over the past few days, but she was able to eat and enjoy herself. Lots and lots of presents for Mom. Tina helped me arrange a planter of hostas and geraniums on Mom's new deck.
Olivia was CRAZY about Makayla. She kept her entertained by singing Twinkle Twinkle most of the evening. Makayla was Olivia's biggest fan. Really, Olivia got us all singing at one point!
At the end of the day the kids and Paul lit a bonfire, then gave their Mother's Day gifts to Suzy. The girls bought an ice cream cake for her.
I got tired around 11:00 p.m. and laid my head on the seat of Mom's recliner next to her lap, and she laid her hand on my head and stroked my hair. I could have stayed there forever.