Kindnesses continue!

Well, today is Saturday, April 16 and I am continually amazed at how good I actually feel. I'm taking very little pain medication and I'm sleeping well at night! I've received visits, cards, and donated movies to watch during recovery. Lunches, dinners, treats [especially "anti" cancer ones!] have been so delicious and appreciated. Visits from my family fills my cup!
Kara, from "Sister survivors", came to visit and brought me some gifts and info on cancer. I feel I am in such good hands. Kent and I took a short walk around Nelson's Grove after dinner. It felt so good to breathe fresh air and not be laying on the couch!! :)

Tomorrow I am removing the bandage. I'm a little nervous as to how I'll REALLY feel about the surgery once I look at it. But . . . .

Surgery

Well, I'm home. All went very well. The doctor was happy. She removed my right breast and several lymph nodes from under my arm. 3 were cancerous - they already knew that - and the rest looked healthy to her. The pathology tests will tell us for certain. I'm wrapped up tight and have 2 drains coming out of my right chest. Kent has learned how to take care of those until they come out. I also have a port under my left collar bone through which they will administer the chemo.
When I had my knee replacement surgery I was SO nervous going in and still get sick to my stomach when I think about going through it again. But, I felt nothing but calm and peace going into this one. I am so grateful for that!
We arrived at the Same Day Surgery at the American Fork Hospital at 9:00 am Wednesday morning. I signed in on this kiosk that works just like a wedding registry. After you check in you get this "restaurant" beeper that goes off when it is your turn. Much more efficient. I have noticed, however, that every office has you fill out lots of forms - some of them a repeat of the previous office visit. Then, when the nurse meets with you, she doesn't look at what you wrote - she just asks you the questions over again. Why don't they just fill out the forms as they ask you the questions? :):)
Even the IV insertion was the best I've ever had. She actually numbed the sight before putting in the IV. At one point there were quite a few people in the little dressing/gerny room - 2 anesthesiologists, 3 O.R. nurses and the surgeon. "How do you do?" "Nice to meet you". "See you in the O.R." Hah, I never even SAW the O.R. Next thing I know I'm waking up in recovery, in considerable pain. It didn't last too long, however - they pumped me full of morphine and took me up to my room.
Kent stayed with me until dinner time and then he went and had dinner with a good friend and I ate dinner while visiting with Becky, Sarah and the Tuomisto kids. Very fun. The rest of the evening, however, was not so fun. I got a terrible headache which eventually caused me to throw up. I waited quite a long time before a nurse could come and help me because there was a cardiac patient having lots of trouble on our floor. [If I were the cardiac patient I would want them to take care of me over some sick lady!] They did finally get me something for my headache but then the rest of the night was spent waking up to my machine or someone else's beeping, nurses coming in to take my blood pressure and check my oxygen level, trying to change some tubing on my IV that actually caused the antibiotic to pool at the sight and require another IV to be put in. Pretty typical night in the hospital. :)
Morning came, they gave me more headache medicine and restricted my breakfast intake. My sweet nurses aide gave me a bath and washed my hair. I felt 100% better from then on. I even walked up and down the hall a couple of times by myself. Best of all, I have been able to lengthen the time between pain meds because the pain isn't too bad. I continue to feel very blessed.
It is good to be home, in my own bed.
What comes next? The pathology results should be done in a few days and Dr. Tittensor [yes, that is the surgeon's name!] will call me with the results. I have an appointment with her for one week from today, at which time she will, hopefully, be able to remove one of the drains and give me some simple exercises to get the use of my right arm back. After another week or so I will meet with the oncologist and set up the next stage of treatment!
I'm looking forward to a night of no beeping, throwing up, or tests! YAY!
Love to all

The few days before surgery

It has actually been a lovely couple of days! Sweet sisters from the ward came on Monday and cleaned my house! Angels. Today, another angel came and helped me begin unpacking the storage area and catch up on all the news I've missed while in Jerusalem. I had lunch with several MORE angels who wanted to listen to and cry and laugh with me. This evening I get to spend time with 2 of my angel-daughters! Thank you to all of those angels and to all of you other angels that I know are praying for us and exercising your faith in our behalf. I had my blood work and EKG today, I have my arrival time for surgery tomorrow - 9:00 am, and I've received a healing blessing by my sweet husband and a dear friend and neighbor! I am ready. I'll let you know how things go. love you all SO much!!! - and if you know of someone who hasn't got this blog address - give it to them, please.

Glorious News!

I never thought I would be so excited to face surgery and chemo! Funny how life can change your perspective!! Kent and I met with the surgeon this morning and found that the cancer has NOT spread beyond the breast/lymph nodes. I am scheduled for surgery next Wednesday, March 13. I love the surgeon - she makes me feel very comfortable and she was about as happy with the scan results as we were! Doctor Rich, my oncologist, called me after the surgeon's visit and told me that the biopsy tests also came back. What they showed: How fast the cells are growing - stage 2 (low is 1 and high is 3); Her2neu - negative, which is really good. However, the doctor said that it was "completely" negative and they want to run another test on the tissue they remove in surgery to make sure. Hormone receptors: estrogen + -- so estrogen stimulates cancer growth - I will have some kind of treatment for that. Surgery: lumpectomy and axillary dissection [remove the lymph nodes], followed by 6 weeks of radiation. 5% chance of local recurrence mastectomy and axillary dissection, followed by radiation. 2% chance of local recurrence I'm still pondering that one insert a port to administer the chemo through possibly begin some reconstructive surgery I will spend overnight in the hospital [American Fork Hospital] and then come home with 1 or 2 drains in. After about 2 weeks I will meet with the oncologist to set up the next stage of treatment. Prayers have already been answered - thank you SO much. I love you all.

PET & CT scan

Ever had a PET scan? Me either, until this morning! Basically, they injected radioactive glucose into me veins and had me wait for 90 minutes to make sure I was nice and "glowing". While I waited I had to drink about 24 oz. of diet Sprite with some kind of chemical in it, so they could do the CT. A CT takes a picture of all the organs and where they are in the body. The PET scan shows where the cancer is. Hopefully, it won't be anywhere besides where they've already found it! :( Note to self - bring a book to read or an Ipod to entertain oneself.This has nothing to do with today but I love this picture from Egypt. We passed this family on the highway. They loved it as much as we did.You can't see it real well - but there are SEVEN people on this little motorbike!

Back home in Utah

Dear all, Most of you probably already know that Kent and I have had to end our 2 years in Jerusalem after only 8 months. I have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Yesterday we met with the oncologist and he set up an appointment for me to have a PETscan tomorrow morning. Thursday morning we meet with the surgeon, so by Thursday we will know what comes next. I will do my best to keep people updated through the blog. Of course, I ask all of you to keep me in your prayers and hope for the best!!! I have already felt such strength and love from all of those we love! I have been overwhelmed by it, in fact. When we first got the news that I did, indeed, have cancer we were in Galillee. The doctor did not feel that it was necessary for me to return immediately to Jerusalem so kent and I had a working vacation for the next week. I found myself enjoying the beauty more than usual, loving the students and the time spent with them and Kent and I did a lot of praying and soul searching about what lies ahead for us. These are a few of the beautiful sights we were blessed with while in Galillee.

Neither of us understands why the events of this past year have occurred as they have - but we know that God knows and we trust Him. I love you all and ask for your continued prayers in our behalf.

Back to Egypt days 7 & 8

I think I should mention an oversight of mine from the day that we took the train from Luxor back to Cairo. There was, of course, concern from our bosses here that the train would not be safe or that there would be delays etc. But, our sources in Egypt assured us there would be no problems -- and there weren't. BUT, the very next day the trains were all shut down! Just one more evidence that "someone" was watching over us!





Now, back to Day 7 - our drive from Cairo to Mount Sinai. Normally, we would spend the morning in Cairo and then drive. This time we just stayed at the hotel and left following breakfast. As we drove across the bridge, out of Cairo, we saw some burned-out police cars. That was our only "contact" with the revolution.


The change between the green of the Nile and the desert is dramatic and almost instantaneous! Below is one of a few oasis - very likely one that Lehi and his family would have stopped at, since any travelers in the desert will go from oasis to oasis. In the background you can see ships in the Red Sea.

Here are a couple of bedouin women near the oasis. As we got off of the bus, we were immediately surrounded by children and their mothers asking us to buy their wares. I bought 3 bracelets and 2 necklaces - very cute!

Another oasis stop called Elim. Here the students reenacted the story of

Israelites fighting the Amalekites. The one where the Israelites won as long as Moses had his arms raised. It was quite entertaining! Here we were out in the middle of the desert and we drive by this little road-side mosque.

Here come the mountains of Sinai:

The tree in the above picture is called a Shittim wood tree. It is what they made boats out of.

This is the Morgenland Hotel, where we spent the night. Well, those who hiked Mount Sinai didn't spent much of night :)

This is what those who hiked the mountain, experienced: a beautiful sunrise on the top. Cold in Fall, freezing in Winter.

Some were so exhausted after getting up at 2:00 am and then hiking for 1.5 to 2 hours that this is what they did:

Somehow I've deleted one picture. Kent is the Elder's Quorum president and one of his 2 counselors was set apart on top of Mount Sinai in the Fall semester. I had a picture of the Kent and his 2 counselors. Sorry. You'll just have to imagine. But, look at this sunrise!!!!!

These little shops are all along the path up the mountain. Winter Semester, Kent took a camel most of the way up. He was with 2 sick students and one of the service couples. It was the camel ride from hell! The camels were really unruly and dumped dear Shari off. One of the girl's camels walked into one of the shops and about beheaded her in the doorway! Kent was so cold by the time he reached the top that the faculty told me he was physically shaking as he tried to get out his notes. He got very sick the following day! The service couple and one of the 2 girls stayed in a little place like this where they could be warm and have hot chocolate as they waited for the rest to come back down.

Kent has told the students several times that camel drivers are wicked and evil. Here he is - becoming his own worst nightmare:

The camel driver was terribly ill and at one point on the way back down the mountain he just handed Kent the rope and left him to lead the camels. The woman in the red is Shari who got thrown off her camel. She refused to get back on even after she fell and sprained her ankle. Kent and the tour agent had to force her on the camel. Like I said - the camel ride from hell! Kent just came in and is complaining that I'm telling this story when I wasn't even there. But, I figured you'd like to hear the story before we come home ;)!

The woman in red is Shari - the one who got dumped off her camel. She's even smiling. She's such a good sport!

This is St. Catherine's monastery at the bottom of the mountain. Unfortunately, it is closed on Sundays so the students couldn't go inside.

This is looking back up the hill.

Close up of the monastery.

Now, here's what I did. I slept in and then took a leisurely stroll around the property: The pool was great for the fall semester students but way too cold for winter.

In the background you see the hotel where we stay now. In the foreground - where we used to stay. The stone structures have ledges inside where we laid really scary-looking sleeping bags and then there was a tent top that went across. Boy, those were the days! In fact, the structures are an upgrade. Jeff Chadwick remembers just sleeping on the ground.

More hotel.

In the Winter semester, one of the docs didn't hike up either. She and I went for a walk after we woke up. We strolled by the restaurant, which was closed, but the manager saw us and let us in and brought us plates of cheese, breads, fruit and hot chocolate. We had a lovely breakfast and a nice chat.

The picture above is looking out the front gate of the hotel complex. If you turn to your right you see the little shops: Christine and I had lots of fun in them. I bought a couple of brightly colored tops. These places were very popular the night before - the students/faculty were buying hats, scarves and gloves for the hike!

After shopping in the outdoor shops, we went inside the main building where there were MORE shops. We had fun buying little gifts for children and grandchildren. We made the owners very happy. Christine bought a couple of beautiful wall hangings. One of the last supper and the other of the Madonna and Christ child. Really lovely.

After everyone's return, and showers, and lunch, we drove home. We had a very quick and fairly painless border crossing. About 40 minutes across the border is a kibbutz/restaurant. It is called Yotvata. We had an early dinner here. Their milk products are home made so yummy chocolate milke and 1 scoop of delicious ice cream for dessert! Here we are waiting in line for dinner.

This is where we ate.

It was a hard decision on the ice cream - so many yummy choices!

This was one of our nicer rest stops on the way home. Just wanted you to see the women's sign, close up.

Our next stop was home! Yea, our own beds, drinkable water, clean bathrooms! :)