And now let the games begin

Hello everyone!

First of all, I want to send out a very special thank you to everyone who sent so much love and support to both me and my family over the past few weeks. It has been amazing and I am so overwhelmed at what I received. I hope that I can give it back ten-fold at some point in my life. Gals from work, Lodge Southern Cross, friends from afar and near - Thank you again!

This picture was taken just prior to the start of surgery - sort of the deer in the headlights look. Not sure what to expect for sure.

This is Friday afternoon just prior to Dr. Mutat taking the dressing off and with Diane - of the best nurses that I had while in - she had a tough job ahead of her and handled it with such professionalism and kindness.

This one was taken by Shannon once they put me in the ICU ward. I think I was awake and as soon as she went to take the picture, out I went!!! The hockey turban helped keep everything inside - hard to believe that less than 24 hours later it was off of my head! And yes, there are tubes coming from every which direction and yes, like the dressing, were all gone within 24 hours and it felt great and being able to just get up and walk around. When Dr. Mutat came to see my Friday afternoon, he told me I could go home Sunday - I said nope - I was not ready - emotionally or physically.

The Sunday morning stoned look!!!

For those of you who have been asking, here is a bit of information about the three tumours which Dr. Mutat removed on October 14th. One was the size of a half a pear - if you have a can of pears you can get the idea. That was the one that has been causing the most trouble and it all now makes sense to me. The other two were the size of creamers. They also found two on my spine - one at T-11 and one at V1 and the other is on my hip. These all now make sense in respect to pain I have been having.

Dr. Klimo is calling the BCCA to set up an appointment with the radiation oncologist for the brain and back and this will be done at the Fraser Valley Centre in Surrey. This will be all new to me and it is a little scary with what to expect etc. And he is also going to change my chemo protocol. I did not know but the brain blocks chemotherapy via the blood system. So it is going to try and think of another way to get in - like bloody hell it is!!

I go and see Dr. Mutat on the 28th for him to remove the 41 staples in my head - and I will be so glad once these are gone and I can go back hopefully to my normal sleep pattern. All in good time and one hour at a time.

I must say, that the medical care that I received while I was at Lions Gate Hospital, was the best I have ever received in any hospital. The nursing staff were fantastic, I can't say enough good things about them. Two of them stand out in particular - Diane and Kelly - you were great!! Diane had the hard part of taking the drainage tube from my head and that was the most painful thing that I have had done, but she just held my head, told me to press the medication button and let me cry. Even the food was decent - and that is saying a great deal - yummy meatloaf! Sure there was the odd nurse that wasn't quite ready for that floor but she will grow in time and will move elsewhere within the medical field. Kelly is a one year grad from Douglas Collage and is going to be a great nurse - she asked me if I would like a shower!! Chair showers are far too underrated......LOL..... they are awesome! It sounds like it would be easy, but you need three hands when it comes to juggling the nozzle, facecloth and soap - it is not as easy as one would think it would be. I managed to sneak the bottle home!! I even got a room with a view - not kidding. I requested a semi -private room and I got it on Saturday night - they needed my bed in ICU for a critical care patient from Emerg and I was the healthiest one on the ward and I could walk. Off Diane and I went to a sleepover! I got to pick my bed - by the window and by the bathroom. I had an inlet view and for those of you from the lower mainland will understand that. And had the room to myself till Sunday evening and it was perfect.

Thank you to Shannon's co-workers for making food packages for us - greatly appreciated. Anita's banana/blueberry loaf has been a hit with everyone who has had it! Peggy for the wonderful soup and lunch yesterday. I know there is more coming and just an early thank you very much. NJ - your cake is wonderful as usual - just attacked it today - and hopefully will last for company on the weekend!

I also received a bouquet of flowers and a beautiful note from a young lady I have not met but will do so this week. It brought tears to my eyes, but tears of happiness and joy - thank you so very much Selina!

I owe so much to my family - Brian, Shannon, Meghan, Patrick, Lindsay, Matt and CW - you were with me every way of the step and for this I thank you and love you. Not sure how I would have made it through this ordeal without you by my side!

There was to be another picture but will add it later, I want to get this out to people so that they know I am ok and looking forward to what my future holds!

This was taken with Dr. Mutat after he had removed all of my staples and he asked if I wanted to keep them - no thanks!!! There are a couple of titanium clps which will stay in to hold the brain intact (Good thing!)

Love

Roni

Quick update

Just a quick update here....

Mom is being released tonight from the hospital. I'm sure she will love to have visitors once she has settled in. Just call first is all she's asking, to make sure she is up to having company.

Surgery Updates

Hi Everyone,



Sorry to have not gotten this up sooner, it's been a bit busy the last couple of days.



Mom went in for surgery between 9 and 9:30am on Thursday morning. The surgery was supposed to last about 6 hours, however, it didn't end up taking quite that long. After a VERY long day waiting for news, the surgeon came out to talk to Shannon, Lindsay, Brian and Patrick to let them know how the surgery went. He was able to remove 3 tumors from the right side of her brain and she was stable the entire time. Mom then went into recovery for the next hour and a half and then was taken up the Neuroscience Critical Care Unit.



As the anaesthetic wore off and the pain meds kicked in (she was on patient controlled medication), Mom was quite the source of amusement. She even told Patrick he had to leave because he was too hot. . .



We have all been taking our turns to go in a visit with Mom and bring her anything she needs-magazines, pillows, chocolate, etc.



The nurses have been quite happy and surprised with how well Mom is recovering. The plan was that Mom would be in the NCCU for 48 hours and then in different ward for another 3-5 days, depending on her recovery. Well, the surgeon came by early last night to change the bandages and remove the iv/drainage tubes, (she had a central line in her neck, a line in her
port, an arterial line in her wrist, and a drainage tube from her brain about the size of an old style mouse cord), and was very happy with how well she was healing. So happy that he has said she may be able to come home on Sunday.



So what this then means, is that she won't be able to have any hospital visits from anyone other than immediate family. Mom will however be able to have visitors at home, once she has settled in and is feeling up to it.. For those who would like to come by and visit, please call first to make sure Mom is feeling up to it.



Mom wanted me to say a HUGE thank you for all the prayers & thoughts!!! And that she is looking forward to being home, in her own bed and talking to all of you again soon :)

Unexpected News

Hello everyone,

This is not a blog I anticipated writing after seeing Dr. Klimo on Thursday. When I sent to see him, first thing is off to the exam room and he checks for lumps and bumps (as he calls them) and asks me if there is anything new I should be telling him. Unfortunately, there was something I had to tell him. Told him that I had been having some issues with my eyes - seeing funny lines and other things along that line. He took me back to his office and we chatted a bit more - and then he said, I needed to go and have a CT scan of the head immediately. So, off I went down to the CT department and was taken immediately to the set up area - IV's etc. Because my veins play hide and seek, they had to call for an IV technician. She did a great job and got it in the first try, Once they put a bag of saline through you it is into the room where they keep the CT scanner. I lay on the bed - opposite way of normal - head where my feet normally are. I was put into a head brace and given the contract dye immediately. Then told to just relax and lay still! I was so comfy - and then they took a second set of scans - that worried me right off the bat. But once they were done, I lay a bit till I got my bearings an then sat up - and again had to sit for a few minutes as I was a little dizzy. No comments from the peanut gallery!

I went back upstairs, had a little lunch and then waited for Dr. Klimo. He called me into his office and he pulled up the scan - first response - "uh oh not good, bring your chair over to me" - that way I could see the screen and I knew what I saw was not good. Large dark spot the shape of an egg on the right side of my brain and several smaller "tufts" as I call them scattered around. Paul said that I needed to see the neurosurgeon on call immediately. I burst into tears as I knew the cancer had spread. You don't know how to react or think. The call was put out for Dr. Mutut and I waited. Called Brian and cried - but he said 'Roni, we have made it through stuff like this before, we will make it again." Then called the kids - that was hard to do. Shannon and Lindsay left work and came directly to the hospital and was so glad that they did. The nurses were wonderful - lots of comforting hugs and head rubs. Laura brought the social worker to meet with me and I was glad that she did. After waiting a while, I asked when the surgeon would be here. He was in surgery the rest of the day and was booked for Friday as well. The earliest I could get in was 9:45am on Saturday. It would be a hard wait, but we made it through it.

Thursday night, I had all my kids at the house - we had some wine and some munchies and just talked and cried and said we would be ok. I thank my kids for coming over - meant the world to Brian and to me. They are great kids. And they also got me two dozen beautiful pink roses - they look stunning!

Then it was time for phone calls to people who should know - and a few tears were shed - but tears of love and fear. I have contacted my family and most of my immediate friends.

Saturday came - Brian and I met with Dr. Mutut - we both liked him. He explained what he was going to do and what the large lesion had affected - some of my dexterity had been compromised. He is going to talk with Dr. Klimo tomorrow to discuss some items which I won't go into detail here. He thinks I should meet with the guy who puts you to sleep (brain not working to spell it!!) to see if my lungs are going to be able to handle the stress of the surgery. Good idea. He went through some of the things that could happen - bleeding from the brain, infection, seizures and stroke. Scary to hear but necessary. He said that he would take the main tumour and if he could he would try and remove the smaller ones. They don't like to expose the brain for too long and risk infection.

Sounds like surgery will be later this week - 3-5 days in the hospital. I will have my bag packed with my own pj's and such - might as well be comfy in there! Messes up Thanksgiving - but someone can cook the turkey and still have a family dinner. I won't be posting here during my time in the hospital.

Meghan or Shannon will more than likely put information on my Facebook wall as to when I can have visitors, what room I am in etc. I will be in Lions Gate Hospital - which is in North Vancouver for those of you not familiar with the area. I am kinda hoping that they will drain the right lung - will make breathing easier for sure. Two drains - one for the brain and one for the lung - ok that one is a chest tube.

I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed and hope that all goes well. Thank you so far for all of the good wishes and love and hugs. And from Sandy in England, the beautiful flower arrangement which arrived on Friday.

Remember to think of Brian too - some cooked meals would be great for him - subtle aren't I?

That is all for now.

Love
Roni