#52463 12-16-2007 12:32 AM | Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP  "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 | Yesterday was a nice day for all. My sister came with her two kids, my Nana, and the girls and I were all together for the afternoon. We, Eddie and I, took my parents, his dad and the girls out to dinner after. My mom was able to eat a little of the crab cake she ordered, she had some of Jackie's roasted duck--easy for her to eat!, some of my salmon, and an O'Douls beer.
She amazes me. She has been through so much, still facing different challenges with the lymphedema, and yet, puts on a happy face and goes out to have a nice night--I think she did it for all of us!
Hoping and Praying for more days like these. She does so much better when surrounded by everyone.
From the caregiver perspective: WOW!! It felt kind of normal, and gave me so much hope.
Thanks everyone, I know I couldn't have made it this far without all of you.
Love,
Donna
Donna
CG to Mom, dx 4/25/07 with tongue cancer,T3N0,tx began 7/6/07, 31 tx's of IMRT, 8 cycles of Erbitux. Brachytherapy, surgery, left neck dissection and temp trach placed all on 9/17/07, trach removed 10/17/07. ORN of jaw, late effect of radiation symptoms. **lost my beautiful mother on 5/5/11.
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#52464 12-16-2007 01:03 AM | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 632 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: May 2007 Posts: 632 | So glad you had a lovely day Donna!
Hang on to that if things get rough again.
I hope you got lots of lovely photos!
I bet it felt 'normal' for the rest of the family too, mom included.
A nice reward for all your love and care,
Love Brenda x
Brenda in UK--Diagnosis 30/5/07--undifferentiated carcinoma in right jawbone and muscles. Stage 4
6/7/07--new diagnosis primary is in lung. Finished 4cycles of palliative carboplatin/gemcitabine
therapy September 07
Now dying to live!
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#52465 12-16-2007 02:33 AM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Donna,
Happy to read about your wonderful day. Don't know if Rose told you I called yesterday to wish her a Happy Birthday. She sounded a little garbled, but no problem understanding her.
Were they Canal Street Grill crab cakes? If you haven't tried them, they're the best.
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
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#52466 12-16-2007 03:25 AM | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 221 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 221 | Donna,
So glad that your mother enjoyed her birthday. I hope you get more days like this too. I'm sure it did everyones heart good to see her out and enjoying herself. Not to mention that you needed it too!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Joy
CG to Father, 75 yo with SCC of the mouth; upper maxillectomy and neck diss. performed on 5/23/07. Father also suffered heart attack during surgery and now has CHF. RT complete on 8/28/07. Cancer back 11/27/07. RT and Chemo to start on 12/17. Cancer back 6/17/08. Finally at rest 08/08/08.
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#52467 12-16-2007 03:44 AM | Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 | It really did feel good -- for all of us!! You're right, I am going to hang onto my memory of yesterday. Photos were not taken, mom kind of hides these days and gets very uncomfortable. It's ok, I have so many from all the years.
Jerry, she showed me the birthday card that arrived on Friday and told me you called her yesterday. She was very happy and touched about both, you are a very kind man. Thank you.
Love,
D.
Donna
CG to Mom, dx 4/25/07 with tongue cancer,T3N0,tx began 7/6/07, 31 tx's of IMRT, 8 cycles of Erbitux. Brachytherapy, surgery, left neck dissection and temp trach placed all on 9/17/07, trach removed 10/17/07. ORN of jaw, late effect of radiation symptoms. **lost my beautiful mother on 5/5/11.
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#52468 12-16-2007 04:56 AM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 104 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 104 | Hi Donna,
Sounds as magical as a seat on the Gryffindor bench in the Great Hall to me!
Glad you got to get out and have fun!
Dad had oral lichens planus, and oral leukoplakia before T2 SCC,2 nodes.
DX10/23/03
IMRT 12/29/03.30 rad,3 boost.
Brachytherapy 3/8-3/11/04.
Recurrence Nov07 Stage IV.
4 Surgeries
No rads, no chemo
I have oral lichens planus,
thrush,leukoplakia 2/20/08
6/2/08 biopsies "inflammation"
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#52469 12-16-2007 01:54 PM | Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 | Speaking of Gryffindor....my daughter did buy her a large Gryffindor Spread/throw. (You can get one from the store, Hot Topic!)
Donna
CG to Mom, dx 4/25/07 with tongue cancer,T3N0,tx began 7/6/07, 31 tx's of IMRT, 8 cycles of Erbitux. Brachytherapy, surgery, left neck dissection and temp trach placed all on 9/17/07, trach removed 10/17/07. ORN of jaw, late effect of radiation symptoms. **lost my beautiful mother on 5/5/11.
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#52470 12-16-2007 01:54 PM | Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 |
Donna
CG to Mom, dx 4/25/07 with tongue cancer,T3N0,tx began 7/6/07, 31 tx's of IMRT, 8 cycles of Erbitux. Brachytherapy, surgery, left neck dissection and temp trach placed all on 9/17/07, trach removed 10/17/07. ORN of jaw, late effect of radiation symptoms. **lost my beautiful mother on 5/5/11.
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#52471 12-20-2007 08:00 PM | Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 75 Senior Member (75+ posts) | | Senior Member (75+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 75 | Hello DonnaRose, I wanted to say hi and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from a friend who knows how far a little crab cake and an O'Douls goes! With love and always thinking of you karen (and always Dad-David B)
karen and dad
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#52472 12-22-2007 07:48 PM | Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 | My heart is with you this Christmas Karen.
Love,
Donna
Donna
CG to Mom, dx 4/25/07 with tongue cancer,T3N0,tx began 7/6/07, 31 tx's of IMRT, 8 cycles of Erbitux. Brachytherapy, surgery, left neck dissection and temp trach placed all on 9/17/07, trach removed 10/17/07. ORN of jaw, late effect of radiation symptoms. **lost my beautiful mother on 5/5/11.
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