Turning the Tables

Happy New Year!! It was a busy holiday season for my family filled with lots of family gatherings and watching the wonder of Christmas through the eyes of a 4 year old and a 21 month old. Mom is a one year breast cancer survivor. That is the most important thing!

For me, it hasn't started out so well or 2010 didn't end so well. It's been an injury and illness plagued end of the year for me. I twisted my ankle on Christmas Eve when I slid down stairs carrying Christmas presents. That, is thankfully recovering. Then, I was hit with what I thought could have been stomach flu while visiting friends in Columbus on New Year's Eve. I had lunch and soon after started getting a severe pain in my lower chest/upper stomach. I thought that it would go away, but it didn't. I didn't eat any of the lovely spread of food that my friend prepared, but I was able to ring in the new year. I felt better the next day and was able to eat regular food again. The pain came back Saturday night, but not as severe. However, the pain kicked in Sunday night, while I was at my parent's house. I made a promise to the parents and sister that if the pain continues, I would go to the doctor. Strangely, the pain subsided on the way home from my parent's house. I took the day off of work to recover and was feeling better by Tuesday.

Tuesday night, I had another severe attack while at my part time job. I left there and drove myself to Fairview Hospital, not knowing what the pain was. I was admitted right away, as anyone over 30 with chest pain and sweating profusely will be let into the Emergency Room right away. I was hooked up to heart and blood pressure monitors and given an EKG. My blood pressure was sky high for me, which obviously was a concern. The PA came in to see me to ask a few more questions and let me know that he didn't think that it was a heart issue, but something to do with my gallbladder. They were doing more tests to find out. The nurse gave me morphine and an IV of fluids. I had never had morphine before. What a weird feeling! I was given a chest X-ray and then taken for an ultrasound. The ultrasound technician kept having to press on my ribs and chest bone to get an accurate reading. Boy, did that hurt, even with the morphine! My ribs still hurt from that (and that was 5 days ago!) The attending doctor came in about an hour later. He told me that the blood tests were fine. The ultrasound was good, except that I had gallstones. He said that my gallbladder wasn't infected, so I wouldn't have to be admitted to the hospital for emergency surgery. However, I needed to consult with a surgeon right away and get the gallbladder removed. He also said that I had to be on a bland diet, so I wouldn't get another attack. A few minutes later, the PA walked in and said that the doctor forgot to say that my potassium is low and I will need to be on a supplement for a week. Swell. Now what? I was released with a list of prescriptions for pain (if needed) and nausea(if needed)and the potassium supplement. I was also told if the pain came back or I felt feverish and looked jaundice to return immediately to the hospital. My dad drove my car home while Mom drove me to their place for the night. I stayed there, but of course, my mind wouldn't settle, even though I was exhausted. Everything kept going through my mind. I think that I finally fell asleep at 9am for a few hours. I made the appointment with the surgeon for this coming week. We'll see what happens from there. I've talked to many people in the past few days that have had something similar. They tell me that it will be fine and the surgery and recovery is very simple. And that I will feel so much better when this is over.

So, now the tables are turned. Mom gets to take care of me as I took care of her last year. Who would have thought....

In the Clear!!!

Mom had her yearly mammogram this morning. She just called me with the results. She had a good test and they didn't see anything abnormal!! I was holding my breath all morning waiting to hear this news. Getting through this test is a huge next step in the healing process. It was exactly a year ago that we didn't get the good news. WOW, a year! We've gone through and survived so much!

Mom was also asked to be in a focus group for cancer patients at the Moll Center in January. This is perfect for her. If information about what she went through can help another person who is just starting the battle, then this is one of the most important things that she can take part in.

Go Pauline!!!

Happy Birthday Pauline!!!

Today is Pauline's 70th birthday! What a year it has been! It is one that I do not want to repeat! Here's hoping her 70th year is so much better than her 69th year!!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday DEAR PAULINE!!!!
Happy Birthday to you!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! I have so many things to be thankful every year, but even more this year. I am so thankful for my family and for my friends. This is the time of year to reflect and share those thanks. We will be joining the Beutel family for our usual large family celebration later this afternoon. There will be 24 family and friends celebrating Thanksgiving at my cousin's house this year. Aunt Marilyn is determined to make it this year. As a update, Aunt Marilyn came home from the rehab center a month ago. It is good news that she is home and rehabilitating there. Mom has been stopping by to help in things around the apartment.

Of course, the main thing that I'm thankful for this year is that my mom has been so strong and is a breast cancer survivor. The beginning of the year was so unknown and scary. We had no idea what was going to happen, but thanks to the great care of the doctors, nurses and social workers at the Moll Center, the time went by much quicker than we thought it would. Mom handled things so well, I am and will always be so proud of her. She is now in survivor mode. She has her up and down days, but that is going to happen. The good days are out numbering the bad days. Now, Mom is trying to figure out what to do now that she doesn't have to focus on her health as much. She has been helping out Aunt Marilyn and her dear neighbor, Betty as Betty recovers from hip surgery. Mom is putting the word out that she is looking for something to do part-time, either helping someone out or answering phones or what not. This is a big big step, because Mom has been out of work for 2 years now and wanting to get out to do this is HUGE! Another thing to be thankful for, that is for sure!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

It's been awhile

I know, I know...it's been awhile since I have sent any updates. But, no news is good news, right? I am just getting back into the regular routine after being part of the organizing committee for my 25th high school reunion, which was last weekend. Things were really hectic for me since the last time that I posted.

First, an update on how Aunt Marilyn is doing. She bounced back from her stay in the hospital, yet again. She is now back in the rehabilitation center working on getting her broken arm to heal and to regain her strength. She is doing rehab exercises everyday, in fact she really looks forward to doing that. She is having issues with eating and digesting what she eats. She needs to eat in order to have energy to do her rehab. So, this is a constant battle. She vows to be back to her apartment. Let's all hope that she can be.

Mom is plugging along. She has her good days and she has her bad days. But, that is usual. The good days are out-weighing the bad days now. Her hair is coming back in quite nicely. It is actually a bit darker brown than it was before she lost it mixed in with gray and white. It looks like the curls came back too. She is now going out without a hat on. She is comfortable in herself and that is most important. She is still going to classes at The Gathering Place and The Moll Center at Fairview Hospital. I really think that the support groups are a godsend for her. Now that the drug situation has been resolved, the next thing is getting her payments (that weren't covered by insurance) set up with The Cleveland Clinic. This has been a back and forth process since May. She sent her financial information to two different people, who then lost the information and her files. Then, she set up a face-to-face meeting with someone at the Moll Center and she is still waiting for the outcome of that meeting. In the meantime, she was told not to pay the bills she is receiving until everything is set. She has another meeting tomorrow morning with the billing/finance person. I hope that this gets sorted for her soon. That is the one last thing that she needs to worry about right now.

I wanted to comment about an insight that I had from the reunion weekend. So many people that are my age are touched by cancer in some way. For me it has been through friends (Barra and Andi) and obviously my mom. But, I found out that one classmate is a 4 year survivor who had a double mastectomy. Other classmates are helping their parents through treatment right now. This horrible disease affects every one of us. I always knew that, but talking to classmates brought that realization home for me. It is definitely an eye opener.

Aunt Marilyn

Aunt Marilyn is back in the hospital. She fell Wednesday after turning off a light in her room and broke a few bones in her upper right arm. We didn't know that this happened until late Thursday, when my uncle called family. They can't do surgery to re-set the bones as Aunt Marilyn is really too weak. (She hasn't really fully recovered from her trip to the hospital in February of the year) Aunt Marilyn was in intensive care through the weekend because she was having difficulties breathing. She has recently been moved to a step down room. She is having issues with too much carbon dioxide in her system making her hallucinate. I'm getting the news second hand from my mom. I've been battling a cold for the past 2 weeks. I don't think that going to a hospital is the best thing for me or for the patients, so I'm waiting to see Aunt Marilyn. I'm sure that she will be going back to the Normandy for rehab. We'll just be waiting to see what happens. More info to come.

Race for the Cure

Yesterday was the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Cleveland. It is always a huge event and yesterday's event was the same. There was an estimate of 25,000 participants in the run and walk yesterday! It was a sea of white and pink t-shirts everywhere. This was my second time doing the walk. I walked in it in support of my friend, Barra Terrigno and her team, Barra's Backers, in 2008. Barra was in the middle of her chemotherapy and she did the entire walk. Doing the walk was emotional for me, but it felt so good to be there. I was amazed at the turnout of 20,000 people, even in the rain. I knew that I would do what I could to be in future walks in support of Barra. I didn't expect to be doing the walk in support of my Mom.

It turned out to be a gorgeous day for the walk. You can tell the excitement and emotion of event just walking in the crowd of the participants before the run/walk. Our team, Pauline's Posse, met in a great location at the start of the race. We could see all the activity going on. The team was 19 members strong-from long time friends, to family to co-workers of my dad's. I got flower leis for Mom, Dad, Sue and I and the rest of the team got pink leis. We were all getting excited for the race/walk. As we were lining up, we saw the mayor of Cleveland, Frank Jackson. Mom will talk to every and anyone. She went up to the mayor to say hello and they had a little chat!

The race started and of course the team got separated. Everyone was walking at their own pace. I walked with mom, so we walked slower. Her goal was to get to Tower City, which was about a mile from the starting line. She got there and decided to stop. We thought that there was a trolley to take people between Tower City and the starting point of the race. However, the trolley didn't show up and Mom had to walk back to the Wolstein Center to meet up with the rest of the team. She nearly walked the amount of the entire walk by walking back and forth! She probably could have walked it with us. But, that is okay. I'm proud of how far she walked. She has come so far in the past 9 months. There was a big group of people that got ahead of the pack. I stayed back and walked at a leisurely pace with Jen and Larry. Then, we all met up at the end of the race. Some of us went out to lunch and enjoyed the wonderful weather. It was a great way to end a really nice morning. Mom mentioned this evening that she has been to 3 breast cancer events in the past 3 months-a retreat with That Gathering Place, cheering on the walkers in the 3-Day Walk and then participating in the Race for the Cure. It has definitely been a big 3 months for her.

Thanks to everyone for supporting Pauline's Posse and thanks to the members of the team who walked yesterday!