#50703 04-14-2004 06:51 PM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 47 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP  Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 47 | Thank You everyone for all your doing for people here. I'm almost too TOTALLY drained to tell you everything right now but I can't sleep so here's the best!!!The Dr. said...with confidence..."it was a good day" ...(Monday April 12th)...it was larger than anticipated but I got it ALL...If he's right people,(I'm guardedly "dazed" with optomisim but right now), we got our miracle! It was supose to be just the right side nodes when we went in a week ago for dissection, only to come out of surgery 45 minutes later and have Dr tell us the tongue was still possitive. 2/3 tongue base soft palate, tonsil and I don't know what all...are gone now.. flap doing well, red counts went from 33 to 25 AFTER surgery. Got blood. THANK YOU DONOR # *****
I'm concerned about that. He didn't lose much during surgery. Nothing could have truly prepared me for this last 3 days. This board came the closest. And Dee...YOU ANGEL! for hanging through it while he was in surgery only to have me "bail" leaving her in a cliff hanger because after surgery there was no computer access! He went to the TLC "Trama Life Center" (Like ICU)right after surgery and we are 2 hours away from my computer!I just came home tonight... terrified to leave him, but needed one day home. He made me go and I had to bring his elderly mother home. He's cleared to go to the regular floor but they don't have a bed yet so he "gets" the extra attention yet tonight! Throught all the terror, he's so beautiful and so strong... I can't help but marvel at work they did. I can't wait to hear his voice again. Dr said swallowing will be our BIG issue. Voice and speech should come back fine. Amazing...ALL nerves working. He even shrugged his shoulders! And Flexed his fist! I expect there will be some set backs we've had a few already, but for now I have to thank GOD and all the prayers for getting us this far. I'm still terribley depressed, and I know he is, that he has to go through this...no one should ever... but we have to celebrate this time. Sorry for rambling but I needed to vent and wish each of you happy, healthy days, one day at a time!
Karen
Caretaker/Longtime Girlfriend of Don. Dx 10/31/03 SCC Stage IV T2N3bMO right tonsil/tongue base. 35 IMRT w/8 Chemos,Biopsy 4/5/4 STILL pos. Radical rightside 4/12/4 Reoccurred late August 04 God took his hand from me November 23rd, 2004
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#50704 04-15-2004 12:32 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 143 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 143 | Karen ,forgot to mention Frank got transfusion too. I freaked, but doc told me no big deal......like I said, you`ll learn to go with the flow.......I thought of the whole thing as a road with big boulders we had to get around.........I explained this to my shrink, who was as he said keeping me in the middle of the road..........Love and Hugs, Dee | | |
#50705 04-15-2004 03:31 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Karen,
I am glad to hear the news about Don and you (and his mother)! I think the post I read a while back about sedating the people in the waiting room makes a lot of sense. I had to sit through two 8 hour surgeries with my mother and both times they got over 40 lbs of tumors (in a 95 lb woman). The first time they said they got it all and the second time they gave her 4 weeks to live, almost exactly a year apart. Even though it was in 1999 and 2000, it still feels like yesterday every time I hear stories of people in the surgery waiting room.
Situational depression is something everyone in life experiences and with the cancer life, I am not sure it ever goes away as much as becomes manageable.
You are a strong woman and Don is truly blessed to have you in his life. During times like this, God promises us rewards for taking care of our loved ones unconditionally. May He continue to bless you, give you comfort and peace and watch over you and Don!
Ed
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
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#50706 04-15-2004 05:16 AM | Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 194 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 194 | Hi, Best news is Good day and Got it ALL. They told me that and it was true! They took my blood before surgery, then put it back when they needed it. I guess recycleing at its best there. Good Luck , each day will get better.
gnelson, StageIV, cancer free since Nov.9,2000
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#50707 04-15-2004 06:22 PM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 458 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 458 | Karen, glad to hear everything went well. The waiting that happens in this type of situation is definately the toughest part. Now for the recovery, one day at a time, it gets better and better.
Bob
SCC Tongue, stage IV diagnosed Sept, 2002, 1st radical neck dissection left side in Sept, followed by RAD/Chemo. Discovered spread to right side nodes March 2003, second radical neck dissection April, followed by more RAD/Chemo.
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