Well, here’s the latest news! I am going for surgery on this Monday the 5th at 1:00 I will be having a double mastectomy. Complete, wipe them out, totally gone!

I will probably have reconstructive surgery done in the future, but since I will have to have at least 4 chemo treatments (more if they find lymph node activity) the implants tend to cause problems sometimes, so I agreed not to have it right now.

They gave me two choices (well actually 3, but I didn’t count a single mastectomy as an option at all). I could have a lumpectomy, which would still leave me with all the fibrous tissues in my breasts, as well as all the risks of having cancer again. Or, I could have a mastectomy, single or double. While it doesn’t 100% eliminate the possiblilty, since they cannot be 100% certain that they’ve gotten every single cell of breast tissue, it significantly reduces any risks that I currently have. So, since I don’t have very large, gorgeous breasts anyway (kinda tiny, and droopy at my age and always kinda painful due to the fibrous tissue, I had no real problem electing for the double mastectomy.

I really kind of had my mind made up before I went in to the consultation that if it was an option, I would probably take it, and had discussed it with Marcus to see how he felt. So, it wasn’t really a difficult decision when we got to that point. When we weigh in the fact that the lumpectomies in ‘99 showed my cells run a high risk of having cancer, then add my mother & sister having it, and then actually getting it myself, I’m in a pretty high risk category, and would have to constantly worry about having it again. This way, I avoid radiation, only have to have chemo (not fun, but only half the problems when you eliminate radiation), and I avoid the major risks of the future. So, I’m very comfortable with this decision.

My oldest son, Todd, will fly in on Wednesday after surgery to help take care of me, and stay for a week, so I will be in good hands between him and the two that are here, plus Marcus. I’m sure I’ll get properly spoiled

Phsycologically, I’m really doing well with this. I’ve managed to stay upbeat, and faithful that God is taking care of all of it, and will provide all the care and medical attention that I need, so there is nothing for me to be concerned with. I can honestly say, I’m not afraid, and that I have managed for the first time in my life to totally put my concerns and worries in God’s hands and let him take care of me! It truly is a wonderful feeling to not worry about what is going to happen. I don’t feel like there’s a big dramatic thing about to happen in my life, I’m just going for a little surgery.

Now, afterwards, that might be a different story! hahahaha I won’t tell you I’m not afraid of recovery! That scares me terribly! I’m a big baby anyway, and don’t tolerate pain well. And since I’m also genetically predisposed to have lymphodema problems with this (both mom & sister had real problems with it) That will be a problem for me to deal with. It is painful, and very inconvenient to say the least. But, I reckon, if I can survive it, by golly I’ll be set for life! I’ll be able to handle anything with God’s help!

He has taken good care of us, providing things just when they are needed and making sure that even tho we have bumpy paths to walk, we always have a good hand rail when the bumps get a little too rough! I believe with the love and prayers, warm wishes and good thoughts, from all of our friends, I will manage just fine!

I promis that myself, or one of my family will post Monday evening or Tuesday to let you know how surgery went and how I’m doing. And I’ll be back as soon as I’m able God Bless each of you as you hold me in your thoughts and prayers, especially Monday and Tuesday as I undergo the surgery and begin my recovery.

Please pray for strength for myself and my family, courage and ease of pain for me. Guidance for the DRs and nurses. And good meds Gotta throw that in

Blessings to you all. Sherry

You know, I guess I can attribute my sons’ surgical humor to my credit. Never really thought about being that responsible for that part of the goofy guys and how they are with surgery, but I often have such behavior, altho mine is often covered up with worry.

The oldest, Todd, went for a vasectomy a couple years ago. They had him on the table in the DR office, and the nurse brought the tray of untensils in, rolled them beside his table, and told him not to touch anything. She left and came back. He told her he touched every item on the tray. She asked if he wanted to know what was going to fall off now? He told her that wasn’t funny! hahhahaha

Second son, Eric, went in to have colon polyps removed. They used that anesthesia that doesn’t completely knock you out. Afterwards, the nurse was checking his breathing & heart using her stethescope on his back. He proceeded to pound on his chest flat handed, and asked her if it made it difficult for her to hear when he did that!!

Both of them did many other stunts and tricks during the episodes which kept everyone around them in stitches! They are quite the clowns, to say the least!

This is my goodnight post before surgery tomorrow. I will hold all of your thoughts and prayers close to me and let them strengthen me tomorrow. You have all been so super caring,and I know with this many people caring about me, I can be strong and will have the easiest surgery ever! Goodnight and watch for an update from Marcus (DH) tomorrow night or Tuesday morning. Blessings to you all, tty soon!

From Marcus:

Surgery went well……the leading up to it wasn’t so good. they tried 3 times to get a picture of her lymph nodes without any success. The Dr. said he would just have to take some to see what they looked like. Surgery was schedualed for 1:00 pm but they were running a “little behind” ……. she finally went in around 3:45. the Dr came out about 6:00 said all went well. His only concern was the lymph nodes under the arms were somewhat swollen, but not to get excited as they will know more after they look at them. Also her sugar went a little crazy. Before surgery it was 222, but afterward it jumped to 451 She is on an insulin drip now until it comes back down. She also has a morphine drip in for the present time.

Sorry to say this old farmboy with coke bottle glasses couldn’t see the clock when I posted this earlier this evening. It was only 9:55

Thanks for all your support and prayers, Marcus

From Marcus:

Good afternoon to all. Thanks for all the hugs and prayers! They are very important right now. I am in the family waiting area at the hospital. There is a ‘puter here for internet access only so families can do email, etc. Isn’t that great!!! Sherrys sugar is down into the good range now but I don’t know how much insulin they are giving her. She still has the mophine drip and does push the button some. The DR was in this morning before I was here, but told her he took too many lymph nodes to count. I’m medically challanged, but to me that doesn’t sound good.

If anyone wants mail or phone info PM me and I will give you that info.

God Bless all of you, Marcus

From Marcus:

Sherry was doing better today, sugar was down in the 80 to 120 range, but still was getting 10 units insulin every hour. Tonight they took her off the drip and were going to see if the shots would keep it under control. The quicker that that happens the sooner she can come home. She wants to come home to her own bed instead of the lumpy ones they have. Between 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm, when I left, she only punched the button 6 times, a big improvement from every 10 to 15 minutes that it was earlier. She was up in the chair for about 3 hours this afternoon and again for a while at dinner time. Before she got back into bed she walked to the door and back to the bed. She is all tied up with 3 different IVs, leg cuffs, bp cuff, and cath tube so getting out of bed and moving around is a chore.

I need to go wrap some books to go out in the mail tomorrow so Thanks and hugs to all, Marcus

From Marcus:

Sherry had a good day today, she walked down to the family room and was out and about a lot. I think she is starting to go stir crazy. She thinks she will come home tomorrow. Her sugar is still in the 180 to 240 range most of the time. She is giving herself the shots(this is a person with severe needle phobea) so from that stand point is ready. Still has the morphine drip but only used it twice from 4 to 8 pm today. She said she is ready to come home to her own bed instead of the lumpy thing they have and to wear her own clothes in place of the one size fits NOone gowns

Good night, I think I will go to bed early tonite, WOW its not midnight yet, Marcus

From Marcus:

Just a short update tonight. Sherry came home yesterday afternoon and I have been busy and not able to do this earlier. She is still having some pain but she is doing OK. Sugar is a little high yet and she is having to use a bit of insulin before and after every meal. We are watching what she eats closely, which means the chocolate is off limits for right now and some of you know how she likes chocolate. Hopefully it will come down as soon as she gets off some of the short term meds. We got the pathology report in the morning before she left. Unfortunately it wasn’t what we wanted to hear. There were 16 lymph nodes on the left side that were bad. She will need to have radiation treatments along with chemotherapy. The bad part of that is radiation is 45 minutes one way and chemotherapy will be an hour away the other direction and the surgeon is 25 minutes another way. 3 Doctors, 3 counties, in 3 different directions. All this because our local hospital (they have a very high ranked cancer center) and family Dr aren’t in the new system for our health care plan, they are working on getting into it. The DR said it is definately stage 3. We were hoping it hadn’t spread to the lymph nodes and that it would only be stage 2. I know God will take care of us and it will be in his hands. He is the greatest healer and with him all things are possible!

Thanks for all the cards, chocolate, flowers, and most of all the Prayers,

Both of us feel the great power of all the prayers. Words can’t describe the love that we feel.

We have the 3 F’s

Faith in God, great Family that continue to support us, and the most wonderful Friends in the world.

God Bless all and thank you, Marcus

From Marcus:

Happy Mothers Day to all you mothers on here.

We had all our kids and granddaughter here for a few minutes last night before our daughter went to work. She is a nurse and works nights here in town but lives 45 minutes away. She called yesterday afternoon to see if I would watch the baby over night so when she got off this morning she could spend time here with us instead of driving home and then coming back. Of course, I had to say yes, so I can play with the granddaughter more. After she was here our son and daughter-in-law decided to watch her over night. I was fine with that and was much more so when I had a hard time getting up and moving around this morning. My Fibro is acting up today, but I just can’t pass up a chance to see and play with the grandbaby. She does like her grandpa to talk to her, she will smile and coo and wiggle and squirm all around when she hears my voice. We just spent several hours at our sons house for dinner. All of our kids and the baby were there. We now are home and Sherry is resting for a while. It was a little hard on her, but she was glad to be able to do it. It was 50 degrees and raining when we left and she said “whose bright idea was this, anyway, for me to go out in this?” On the way home she said she was very happy we did it that way. We could leave and come home to quiet house, but if they all came here it would still be noisy and she wouldn’t be able to rest. She is sleeping right now so I thought I would hop in here and get a little uplift. It does help a lot to know so many people are praying for us.

Thanks bunches and Hugs to all, Marcus

Hi, Everybody!

Well, I felt well enough to get a decent letter written to all of you and let you know how I”ve been doing the past few days, but then didn’t get it copied into here for all of you to read. I sent to my email list, but didn’t post here. We apologize for not doing better at keeping you up to date, but with our oldest son, Todd, here, Marcus wanted to get a few things done, and they did.

I now have new steps on the front porch, nice long-lasting vinyl ones! A new coat of tar on the back roof, so that maybe when it rains next I won’t have six buckets in the dining room. And a bunch of other things straightened around and changed. While I’m always thrilled for Todd’s company, I’m also tremendously grateful for the amount of time he puts into getting things done for us that need caught up. (OH! And he mowed the yard and transplanted a few flowers for me too!)

We had dinner with Eric & Ana, and sometimes Karen, nearly every night after I came home. It’s wonderful to have so many great cooks in the family

I am still having an awful lot of pain, which I don’t know if that’s bad or normal, but I’m hitting the pain pills pretty heavy still. My range of motion seems to be fair with my arms, but still a little limited, and that seems normal. The drainage is still pretty heavy, but I think it’s still within the normal range. We will find out this AM as we have an appt with the DR.

What isn’t normal, is still my sugar!!! Unbelievably I am still taking a 13 units of insulin base with a sliding scale (meaning before each meal I take 13 + how ever much the scale says, depending on what my sugar is). Now, it hasn’t been running terribly high, nearly always below 200, and often below 160, but, geesh, since I’m taking 2 MetaGlip plus insulin, I’d certainly hope it was at least that low! Criminy where’d this come from???

I knew it was high over the winter. I did have it checked 4 times during the past year, and it was over 200 a couple times, and 170-190 or so the other two times. So, I just figured I needed to watch my eating a bit better. I can usually tell when my sugar is high,since I crave water (plain from the faucet water, which I never drink otherwise), but without testing supplies I had no idea it had gotten this bad.Now if we can just get it back under control we will be alright I am monitoring my food with great care now. And as I start feeling better, will be able to get a little exercise in before the chemo starts to get a small handle on the sugar.

Speaking of Chemo, no I don’t know when I start, but I do know it will be more than originally thought. They first thought with mild involvelment, I would only have 4 chemo and no radiation. But, when the DR got the pathology report back, and of the “two many to count” lymph nodes he removed, 16 of them were bad. He said with such extensive involvement, I would need more chemo than anticipated, and would need to have some radiation as well. Bummer. I hear they both are crappy, but I’d have rather just had one instead of both! Hahaha

My feet are now swelled like little pudgy balls on the ends of my legs, not sure where that’s coming from, hopefully the DR will have a clue.

Well, I’m back, did you miss me? I took off, headed for the DR appt, and since Marcus forgot his phone, Todd couldn’t get ahold of us when they called 10 minutes later to tell us the DR had an emergency and they needed to reschedule us! So, I’m back with you, and unfortunately none the wiser for the trip!

We take off this afternoon to have Todd at the airport to go home to FL at 1:00 and then the DR appt is not until 3:45, so we will have a couple hours play time in between. Not sure what we will figure out to do, but I imagine there ought to be something that doesn’t take a lot of energy Riding in the car isn’t too bad, the pothole bumps hurt a bit, but mostly the swaying of the car bothers me and pulls at my incisions. The pain meds seem to keep it at bay tho, so I’m game for the ride.

Many of you won’t get this until I have a second one out after the DR visit, so you will be a little overwhelmed with reading, sorry about that, but just know that I appreciate every single one of you reading and writing to help me thru this. I’ve gotten lots and lots of cards, and plan to make a map showing where they have all come from. I’ve got no less than a half dozen churches with me on their prayer lists, and with physical, emotional, and spiritual support like that, how can I possibly go wrong?!?!?!

Blessings to each and every one of you, and may you share in God’s Love, Strength, and Courage with me,
Sherry