A Day of Normalcy

 Nothing to report today other than I decided to go to work despite some breathing difficulties still. Better, but still short of breath and need rx for cough. It was so good to see all my people. This group is truly SO compassionate, SO willing to help, SO generous, SO loving!! Honestly, every person at this office is a true gift from God!! How can I not love my Super Heroes?!

Tomorrow is a BIG day. Got word today that insurance approved the scans! Crazy thing is if they didn’t approve it, the hospital isn’t allowed to do it even if I paid it myself!! Thankful I only have a relatively small portion of the cost to pay in comparison to the total fee. These tests aren’t cheap!

So, I’ll have my PET/CT scan in the morning and should have a report by the end of the day.

 It is my prayer that the spots they saw are nothing of concern and my lung condition is not anything more than me recovering from COVID back in January. I’m praying for this miracle of complete healing and may God get ALL THE GLORY. 

Echocardiogram and blood test results

On the medical side of things today I had an echocardiogram this morning at Christ Hospital Outpatient. Within 30 minutes I got back the results. Everything was normal. Praise the Lord!! Throughout the day I got test results in from bloodwork done last Thursday. The CA27 29 is supposed to be 0-33. Mine was 41! Crazy thing is just 6 weeks ago at my oncology appointment it was only 15!!! Not exactly sure what that meant so I called the oncologist and she explained that it might mean something or it might not. Usually when it is that high they retake it in a month and do a PET scan. Well I’m already scheduled for that on Thursday so it will either  confirm the elevated number or not. Either way, regardless of what they say, I’m remembering to be thankful in all things because God sees me and He has healed me on levels beyond the physical and for that I’m humbly blessed. 

After the test, my hubs and I met my sister, Paula, to get mom to her so she can get back home to Illinois. How incredibly thankful we are that mom came and spent 5 days here with me. 

And how do I begin to thank all my amazing friends who have generously given my their extra Asea? Nicole, Lori & Cindy literally gave me enough liquid and gel for me to bathe in it like I prayed for. 

I don’t even think I can comprehend the level of love shown by so many. Thank you EVERYONE for your prayers and well wishes. God  is using us all to be united as a family as we rally to approach His throne and make our requests known. I trust Him with my everything. I’m ok. 

Today’s the Beginning of Doctors

Yesterday ended on a beautiful Easter note. So lovely having my mama here with us. She’s comforting, helpful, adventurous and willing to do just about anything! So we took her on her first canoe ride. We also hunted for morel mushrooms but only found this patch of wild daffodils. 

The diversion of activity is good for my soul until we have more answers.

I saw my oncologist, Dr Cody, this morning. Nothing was definitive other than he wants me to see a pulmonologist for my lungs. Still very unsure what’s causing shortness of breath and coughing. Says I definitely have plural effusion but that’s not necessarily why everything else in my lungs is showing other issues. He said he’d like to have a brachioscope done that goes into my lungs and looks at them from the inside. Since the diuretic has helped with my breathing, he ordered another rx for that since I ran out yesterday. He ordered an echocardiogram too.

As for the spots on my bones, he said the radiologist he works with isn’t even convinced that’s for sure cancer and since the spots are so small he didn’t want to biopsy them because the risk on my spine. He’s ordering a PET/CAT scan of my whole body but sadly it’s only allowed IF insurance covers it! He did say that while he’s not convinced it’s definitely cancer, he’ll go with what the ER doctors called it as metastatic breast cancer in submitting to the insurance because the chance of them covering it is better. So now I wait to hear back from them on all those things. I do have my echocardiogram scheduled for tomorrow morning and my PET/CT scheduled for Thursday if insurance approves it.

We made Easter as normal as possible with ham, green salad, hasselback potatoes and homemade cannolis. My son joined us and we all enjoyed our time. 

Then some new friends stopped by to deliver pounds of smoked meat so we don’t have to cook all week. We are beyond grateful. Thank you Prunty family. 

Easter Morning

At 2 am I woke up feeling overwhelmed. Noticing I still have restricted breathing, albeit is improved, and knowing I’ve completed one of two antibiotics, I was thinking that my breathing should feel much more normal if this is just pneumonia. Since it’s really not feeling as improved as I expected, my mind raced to all those places of fear. Thankfully I rolled over and asked my sweet hubby to just hold me while I cried. He did and he prayed over me while rubbing my back.  He helped divert my emotional rollercoaster by asking me to tell him all about my walk in the woods with my mom last evening.

Most of the time since Wednesday morning’s findings I’ve been in a place of faith and trust and hope but sometimes I get scared too. Scared I’ll die. Scared I would be leaving behind so many loved ones that will have to grieve deeply my loss. Then after a good cry, I calmed down and thanked God for being there with me through it all. I thanked him for the beautiful full moon. I thanked him for a faithful and adoring husband. I thanked him for the overwhelming outpouring of love and support I’ve experienced in just 4 days! 

I decided not to go to church right now with so many people and possible exposure to any illness. Even though I don’t have COVID, I need to protect my lungs and have less exposure to so many people until this is figured out. 

Breathing Deeper

 I have woken up the last 2 days noticing being able to breathe deeper and deeper. For this I’m very grateful! Although I still have a deep cough unless I take my Rx meds for it. But that cough has caused my rib cage to feel like a knife stabbing me. Muscle relaxer helps a lot but knocks me out too. 

Mom and I went for a long walk today in the woods. Nice being in the fresh air and sunshine. 

Bought lots of organic fruits and veggies and will continue to juice and focus on a healthy diet. 

Reopening My Journal After 5 Years

 April 13, 2022

This first post will probably be the longest. To start I must post a few of the dear ones who were able to visit me just since all this craziness started.

It’s been almost 6 years to the date since I started this blog that I faithfully kept on a daily basis for about a year until all my breast cancer treatments were completed and I successfully battled cancer and won with God - miracle after miracle! 

Today it seems this Journal is being reopened and now we can watch God at work once again in a way that came very unexpected. 

Three weeks ago I started experiencing lower back pain and a tightness in my chest when breathing.  I would have coughing fits that would trigger more unproductive coughing. It reminded me of a croup cough that kids get… barky and deep. I was short of breath and keenly aware that something was amiss. 

At first I thought it might be allergies or a chest cold but then after not getting any better after 2 weeks, I decided to see my PCP. Thankfully the muscle relaxer for my back helped however the inhaler for my restricted feeling in my lungs made no difference. Another week goes by and the soreness in my right rib cage was often quite achy and breathing was shallow and restricted. The cough and shortness of breath was unchanged. Back to Dr Fisco this past Tuesday to try a chest X-ray and Z-pack. Perhaps pneumonia?

I was informed by my oncologist’s nurse that the Tamoxifen I take may cause pulmonary embolisms so I immediately contact Dr Manders, my surgical oncologist and ask her what to do. I explain it all and Dr Manders and she said it doesn’t really sound like a PE, because my pulse and O2 saturation is normal among other things. So I don’t run to get a CT. I just love Dr Manders. She’s one of God’s angels walking around on this earth! Here we were shortly after my surgery.

Then the next morning, this past Wednesday, I saw my first patient at work and noticed I stopped to catch my breath at least 3 times while cleaning his teeth. After completing his appointment, I took a pulse-ox and my pulse was 114!! I wasn’t doing anything that should have elevated it so I kinda freaked out knowing this was the sign Dr Manders said to be aware of. As I sat down with one of my sweet and loving co-workers, my pulse continued to rapidly increase until it was 140!!! I knew then that IT WAS TIME! I told Gaby to call the squad. Before I knew it, I was whisked off and the next 2 days have been a blur and frenzy of tests, tears and yes…a re-rediagnosis of cancer! 

The UC West Chester ER did an ultrasound and CT scan on my lungs and the ER doctor sat down and informed me that it’s recurrent cancer in both my lungs and bones. She saw cancer spots in my vertebrae. She confirmed that the ultrasound and CT did not show pneumonia or an embolism. She call my medical oncologist and discussed it and I have an appointment this upcoming Monday with Dr Cody to do more tests. HOWEVER, Dr Cody’s nurse said she showed the CT and ultrasound to her radiologist and said it’s definitely suspicious in the spine but he didn’t agree with the lung cancer diagnosis. Said it looked like fluid or pleural effusions and they put me on a diuretic for 5 days and want to retest things. 

In the meantime, some dear friends whom I won’t name, called and said that they’re donors to The James Cancer Center in Columbus, OH and would I be interested in getting a second opinion if he could arrange it? Of course I said yes as second opinions are always a great idea! With in 24 hours The James called and got me registered to be seen!

This afternoon I cried because I was laying down to nap and realized I could take a full breath in for the first time in 3 weeks!! Never have I appreciated breathing so much!

My hope is in Jesus! My healer and comforter. God brings people into our lives for different reasons and I have literally an ARMY of praying friends. Whether it’s my cherished family, beloved friends, faithful coworkers or my sacred mountain biking ladies group, I am not alone. I have people I’ve never even met praying over me! It’s an amazing and holy experience to realize how much love people have for me and offer whatever I need. My mother and one of my sisters immediately got in a car and drove 7 hours to be with me that very night!

My kids have been so sweet in loving and grieving this shocking news with me. Even my former spouse lovingly offered to buy my Asea to help with my healing! My sweet boss, Nicole, offered to forgo work and take me to my doctors appointments if needed! There are countless acts of kindness from so many that I could go on and on. God’s so good to me. 

Now I approach His throne and ask for healing and watch His miracle after miracle unfold! To God be all the glory!

Was It Really Me Who Had Cancer 2 Years Ago?

It has been over 2 years since I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Since then I have learned more than I probably wanted about having it, and I have grown much more sensitive and comfortable talking to others about their cancer. There have been many gifts that having a cancer diagnosis delivered. Primarily, my fear of dying has been addressed and it truly is no longer a fear.  That's a HUGE gift! Thanks to meeting Dr. Mary Neal, and hearing about her story, God graciously helped me realize that death is not what I once imagined it to be (even as a Christian).

I also can very easily approach someone who is going through cancer treatment with a comfort and understanding that only someone who has walked in those shoes can do. Recently I met a sweet 30 something who is currently in chemo treatment and she was days away from her hair falling out. I couldn't wait to see her and rub her cute head and hand her lipstick, earrings, and an eyebrow pencil and tell her that those were the essentials for me to feeling feminine looking when the eyebrows and eyelashes finally go! But I assured her that the free Brazilian for 5 months was a huge plus!! When you can help someone just by talking about our own experiences so they don't have to feel alone or afraid, it turns my own journey into a mission. For that I am especially thankful.

And now that I have long curly hair growing back in and have energy back to normal and the brain fog has definitely lifted, I can say that I really, honestly and truly don't even think of myself as having had cancer. I know it when I see my tight chemo curls or see my deformed breast tissue, and I realize it every day when I don't have to put on scrubs and go to work as a dental hygienist, but rather put on heels and a dress to do dental consulting. The words come out of my mouth that I had breast cancer, however, I am very thankful that I don't identify myself as a cancer patient. I'm just me, the same me who has learned much and am taking life one precious day at a time until my sweet Lord calls me back home.