Quick Review of Today's Chemo Class (by Melissa Baker)

This afternoon Christy, Dave, and Brent went to the Chemo Class.  They were there for about 2 hours and came away feeling like Christy was in incredible hands.  She's going to be very well taken care of through these chemo rounds.

Some basics of the class:

• Their goal for Christy is that she is just as active, if not more so, after her cancer treatment is finished as she is now.  She should work hard to be active throughout the next year of treatments too--30 minutes of exercise per day!
• Christy needs to eat well and drink lots of liquids.  Her diet should be high protein, low fat, and low on refined carbohydrates; basically all the meat, fruits and veggies she could possibly want.  She will need to eat small meals about 6 times per day.  This will help fight any nausea she may experience as well as temper the increased acidity of her stomach that chemo will cause.
• Christy is not allowed to get nauseated.  :)  They have already given her some meds to take for tomorrow's treatment.  If she vomits more than once in 24 hours, she's supposed to call their emergency number so they can get right on top of it.  Since she struggled with nausea during pregnancy, she faces some increased risk of nausea during chemo, but they don't want her to have to suffer that misery, so bring on the anti-nausea measures full force.
• She needs to avoid spicy foods in general (take note if you're bringing dinners...)
• Christy should not lose any weight.  It will be a difficult thing to manage, but she'll need to keep her weight to keep up the treatment cycles.  This means eating even when she doesn't feel like it and really fighting the nausea.  Any weight loss will be indicated in her blood tests, which she'll be getting lots of...
• Odors will be stronger to Christy than to the rest of us.  And her taste will be altered during the course of treatment.  Not fun side effects, and ones that the rest of us can be sensitive toward.
• Christy must be diligent about avoiding illness.  If you're sick, she can't see you.  If you have sick people at your house, she can't come there.  The riskiest time of infection will be about 10-14 days after each treatment, when her white blood cell count will be the lowest.  But that will be tough for the rest of us to keep track of, so let's just all keep our germs to ourselves--no sharing!

Tomorrow morning is the first Chemo treatment.  Dave and Brent will go with Christy and stay with her throughout the process.  The most painful part will be when they have to hold and push the port in order to administer the drugs--it's still extremely sensitive from the placement surgery earlier this week. 

Brent mentioned Christy didn't seem overly nervous, and that feels like some good news.  Please keep the prayers on her behalf coming! 

And please check out the planner tab--there are still a number of slots available for errands and help next week...

Good News! (by Sarah Brown)

I spent the afternoon hanging out with Christy. We just chilled and watched a movie. While I was there she got a call about the genetic testing. She does NOT have the genetic predisposition for cancer which means she may keep the right breast if she chooses, her girls and brothers are not any more at risk than before. :) good news like this is always welcome.

She's Super Sore! (by Melissa Baker)

I chatted with Christy this morning.  Her throat is feeling better than yesterday, but still a bit sore.  The whole healing process for the port placement has been much more difficult than expected--lots of pain, some difficult nausea, and some overwhelming emotions.  It is especially difficult on her and her kids that she hasn't been able to perform her normal daily mothering tasks.  It's all pretty exhausting, so she has big plans for lots of sleeping today.  Please keep her in your prayers.

She did want me to mention that Dave will be out of town 4 days on business.  She's not sure just what will be needed, since at this point it's anybody's guessing game on how's she'll be feeling next week.  But with the first Chemo treatment just 2 days away, she doesn't like the idea of facing the whole of next week without much help either.

The solution?  I posted in the Planner Tab some on-call slots throughout next week on the days Dave will be gone.  The details are listed in each individual slot, but the basic task is to make yourself available to call Christy at the time specified and to help her out anyway she needs for the hours designated.  This could mean running errands, picking kids up, shopping, etc.  It could also mean that at the time you call she's got everything covered and you just get to chat for a quick minute.  Please sign up for one of these slots if you're available.

PET Scan Results and Surgery Details (by Melissa Baker)

Christy's PET Scan results came back today.  (The PET Scan was the full body scan to identify any cancer anywhere else in her body.)  The scan indicated no cancer anywhere else.  GREAT NEWS!!

This morning's surgery to place the port (for the chemo treatments) went well.  She went back to the operating room just after 8 am and it took about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.  The doctor came and talked to Brent around 10am.  They wanted to put the port on her right side, and it went in with no complications.  Basically it was a very smooth surgery.

Brent was able to see her around 11:15 am and they were able to leave pretty soon after--they were home by noon. Christy rested for a bit, then ate some Chicken Noodle Soup and Pudding and a Pain Pill.

Currently she is really tired and in quite a bit of pain.  The meds and ice have helped her shoulder pain.  But she had to be intubated for the surgery, and now her throat is very raw and achy.  Talking is painful and she is very hoarse.

She is, however, very grateful to have it done and to be home and to have such good news about the PET Scan results.

Out of Surgery (by Melissa Baker)

Just heard from Brent that Christy is out of surgery (for placing the port) and in recovery now.  The surgery went great and she's doing well.

March 30th- Fast Sunday

Today being Fast Sunday, Colter decided he wanted to fast. Last month he chose to fast too; he fasted for Dave who was very sick with the flu. Technically he doesn't need to fast as he hasn't been baptized, but his desire to do this amazes me. He is a boy with simple but strong faith. I know I will be blessed and strengthened through his eager desire to do this thing. I thankful to be reminded of how blessed I am to have the children I do.

May you all reflect on your blessings; you'll find that there are many! Our Heavenly Father loves us and desires to bless us! Happy Sunday to you all!

Love you!
Christy

March 27th- Overview of the next week and a plea for help

I’m starting to realize that I carry my big pink Breast Cancer binder everywhere I go. It’s become my new Franklin Day planner.
Met with the team of Doctors on Wednesday morning. The meeting went really good. Of the three Dr.’s I saw I only liked one of them. The one I really liked was the Medical Oncologist. I still have time to find a different Radiation oncologist, and I’m pretty sure the medical oncologist could recommend one to me. My Nurse navigator made an appointment for me to see a surgeon this morning and after meeting with her I think she and I will get along just great; she’s very knowledgeable and highly qualified.
So a brief outline on my next weeks activities…
The cancer is more involved than originally thought. The size of the mass including the fingers going out from it are about ¼ of my whole breast. Because the mass is as big as it is and because there is known cancer in my one lymph node they want more imaging. I have an appointment Friday morning for a PET scan to see if there is any cancer ANYWHERE else in my body. I feel confidant that there isn’t. I also have an appointment tomorrow afternoon for an Echo cardiogram to get a baseline of what’s going on with my heart before we start chemo. I have an appointment on Monday (not sure on a time yet) to get my port surgically placed. This is done as an outpatient procedure;I should take only a couple hours. Tuesday night Dallas comes home from NewYork- Hurray! Wednesday I have a chemo class and Thursday morning I have my first round of chemo.

Friday at 12:30 Colter is getting the Student of the Month award. I would like someone to go for me.
Friday-I need someone to be here at 1pm, so my boys aren’t’ home alone. I would need them to stay with them until I get home from my Dr.’s appointments (about3:00pm)
Friday-Dinner

Saturday-someone to play with my 3 kids while Dave and I go shoot a Bridal. 5-8pm

Monday- Port surgery day.
Monday-I need someone to pick up Colter from Tutoring at 3:30
Drea has the day off and may need a place to hang out while I’m at the hospital.
Monday-Dinner

Thursday- Chemo Day
Thursday-someone to bring Drea home from school.
Thursday-Dinner