First Post Op Visit

Donna with her gingerbread medical staff cookie bouquet given to her from our great RVing friends Ralph and Cheryl. Thanks guys....they are great !

It's Donna. Yesterday, I went for my first post op visit to the doctor. The good news is I got the bandages off and I'm healing well. Unfortunately, there is still too much drainage so I couldn't get my drain tubes out, but that's a very minor thing. I'll get them out in a few more days. The really good news is there won't be a need for chemo as all my reports are very good, so it will be just the healing, possibly physical therapy, and starting to take the preventive pill for the next five years. All of those are such small things in the grand scheme of things. I'm so grateful that this was found early and that I'm on the mend. Thank you again for all your support.

This is from Donna

Hello folks! It's me. I am doing great. I haven't had any pain medication since yesterday morning except for Tylenol and nothing for pain today. That would be because I am having no pain! I can't believe it. I don' t know if it's because I'm so happy to be cancer free or what, but I'm enjoying it to the max. I want to do a little bragging here. My daughter, Sarah, has been with me a lot and has done all of my personal care. She's amazing at it - patient (unless I misbehave), knowledgeable, and caring. What else could anyone ask for? Then there's Tom. He would like to be my personal caretaker, but his assignment has been all the other stuff (which he's very good at). He is the cook, dishwasher, housekeeper, laundry man, shopper and any other tasks that he's asked to do. It's working out pretty well. I don't have a crown or a whip to keep them in line, but I guess love works even better.

Thank all of you family and friends who have been sending me prayers, best wishes, cards, letters and love. I could feel all of it for the whole 37 days that I knew I had cancer and I still feel it post-cancer. I'm so happy and proud to be able to say I'm a cancer survivor and no matter what else happens in my life, I feel like I can handle it. I feel so blessed to have so many people who care about me. I will definitely pay it forward in every way possible that I can.

Listen Up To This!

The Dr. called this afternoon and gave us the fabulous news! The final pathology report came back negative! No more cancer! Some of the other high tech test they ran showed it is very unlikely that she'll get cancer again. Praise the Lord in the Highest! See, your prayers are very powerful!

Donna is feeling great and bossing Sarah (daughter) and me around! Ha. That's great. Sarah has been doing all of the personal care with Donna and has been a big help. She is such a natural.

Tomorrow AM Donna is getting her 2 big honkin' pain pumps off and resorting back to the old fashion oral pain medication which is Vicodin! Wish I could do some of them! Ha. We go to the Dr. next Tuesday to get the drain tubes out. Then probably to physical therapy for a little while.

Things are looking up, thanks to our very supportive love ones. Thanks guys! We love you all. Enough for now. Tom

Listen to this!

The Dr. called this afternoon and gave us the great news....the final report on the pathology came back negative! Praise the Lord! See we knew your prayers helped us out! Also, some of the other test they ran showed that she is very unlike to develop other cancers in her body! More great news!



Donna is doing very good! Her spirits are running exceptionally high. She said if she could she jump up and dance the jig, if she could! Meanwhile, she is being a super good patient and doing just as she's told. Donna's daughter has been helping out alot, doing most of the nursing duties, which she is very good at.



Tomorrow we remove the 2 big honkin' pain medicine pumps and resort back to the old style pain medication which is Vicodine. Kinda wish I had some for myself! Ha.

Another Donna Update

You aren 't gonna believe this, but Donna is home in Journey! She is doing very well, but I'm trying to keep her under control a bit. Right now it's only been 24 hrs. since her surgery and she thinks she ready to run a race (not really!). I know the next 2 or 3 days are gonna be challenging with pain management, but it is all expected. Again, we can't believe all pouring out of support from our friends and family. Can't tell you what a difference that makes.

P.S. I've been helping Donna with the chocolates!!!

Tom

Donna' Surgery Update

I just came in this AM and Donna is doing very good. She is cheerful and in little pain. The Dr. has not been in yet this AM but is expected any minute. We are hoping to go home possibly this afternoon. They have 2 pumps that feed pain medicine directly into her chest area. Also 2 drains in the same area, that require servicing every couple of hours. Donna has got up and gone to the bathroom three times since her surgery and had a nice breakfast this AM. All is very good at this time.

The preliminary test came back NEGATIVE for cancer in her lymph nodes, but final testing will not be read until tomorrow. We are very optimistic, though.

Thanks to all of you for all your support!

Tom

Donna's Surgery

Donna giving a smile in Journey a couple of weeks ago!

It's 8:00 PM here in Portland and the Dr. just came out to tell us that Donna's surgery well and she would be in the recovery room for about an hour and half, then into her room. We are so excited to hear the great news! The surgery was a bi-lateral (double mastectomy) as anticipated. Thanks for all the support, thoughts and prayers as they have helped us a lot the past few weeks! I can't even explain how much that helps when going through this situation. We'll still need them in the weeks ahead.

I will try to update here frequently to keep everyone up to date. Thanks again!

Tom

Update from Portland

This is a message from Donna. It's been a couple of weeks and a lot has gone on here with tests, doctor visits, reading, discussing, praying, thinking and even a little crying. I won't go into the whole long decision process I've gone through, but I have decided to go ahead and do a double (bilateral) mastectomy. Although my tumor is small, it is invasive and I just don't like the odds of either a recurrence in that breast or of getting another cancer in the other breast. It was not an easy decision. Not because it bothers me to lose a breast or both, but because of all the options open to me. I decided I would have a much more difficult time living with the fear of recurrence or a new cancer in my other breast than learning to live without breasts. I'm not choosing reconstruction at this time. I'll see how I do and I can always have it done later if I want. I feel good about my decision. My surgery is scheduled for 3:00 pm on October 21. If you pray, we would really appreciate you keeping us in your prayers as we go through this time. Even if you don't pray, we appreciate any positive thoughts you can send our way. Thank you all so much for your kind words and friendship. Donna