Mediport Surgery
Mom before surgery looking fabulous!
Mom’s mediport surgery on Wednesday went “perfectly” as the surgeon put it. Mom’s nurse navigator, Kathy, came to visit her before surgery to give her a pillow that a church group made for the patients. The tag said they had prayed over it for her. It is so useful to keep the seat belt from irritating mom’s mediport incision.
Mom and Kathy before surgery
Mom also received a hand crocheted shawl from another group that makes them and prays over them for cancer patients. As Kathy said when she gave the pillow to mom, “Women take care of women.” We’re so grateful for everyone’s kindness!
Ready for surgery!
New Hair
The day after mediport surgery, mom and I went wig shopping! She ended up buying a wig online that will be here in a couple of weeks. Hopefully her hair can hang on until then! If not, she bought one of these wig hats to tide her over until the wig gets here.
The one she bought is shorter. She also tried on a few more before deciding that she had to look for a different one online. They didn’t have a style + color combo she liked. And some of them were pretty funny.
This one kills me, hahaha
Round 1 of Kryptonite
After wig shopping on Thursday, it was time for kryptonite on Friday. I woke up so happy Friday morning thinking, “today is the day we’re going to do something about this!” First we met with Dr. Juvvadi, and she again assured mom she would be able to go to Mexico for Sadie’s wedding in November. We are so relieved to hear this, because since the surgeon told us she would be able to go at our very first appointment, we’ve been told by a couple people she wouldn’t be able to because of risk of infection. Dr. Juvvadi said it wasn’t a problem at all. Here’s hoping mom will feel well since it will be a week after her next treatment.
Mom sat in that chair and had those meds going into her for over SIX hours. It was a long day for her. Forrest and I hung out with her, but she mostly just slept the entire time. They gave her Benadryl, and it made her super drowsy. She mostly felt fine, but she did throw up for a few minutes towards the beginning. Once they gave her more meds, she felt totally fine and was able to relax. Their chemo chairs are heated, recline, and have massagers, so she was nice and comfortable. Her other treatments will likely be shorter, probably more around four or five hours.
Getting ready to fight!
Because the drugs totally wipe out your immune system, you typically have to go back to the doctor the next day after chemo to get a shot to boost your white blood cell count. Mom doesn’t have to do this, because they stick an injector on her arm, it sticks her, and then 27 hours later it administers the medication. We were fascinated by this. Modern medicine is amazing!
She was so nervous waiting for it to stick her
Today was the first day post-chemo, and mom’s feeling pretty good so far. She’s on medication for nausea, so she hasn’t had many symptoms. She actually got up this morning and made us pancakes. I thought I was supposed to do that for her! She’s definitely a little tired and everything tastes super weird for her. She now hates the taste of her coffee and the pancakes she made us.
Forrest flew in on Thursday night, and Sadie and Jason came today for the weekend. Mom felt good enough to go out to lunch today with all of us and her parents. She didn’t eat much of her food, but we all had a good time together. We’re hoping she continues to feel pretty good. We’re a little nervous for tomorrow and Monday. We hear day 2-3 is when the symptoms begin. Regardless of whatever happens, she can handle it!
We’ll have a follow up appointment with the oncologist on Friday, but other than that, no appointments this week! We’re pretty excited about that over here. 🙂 Her next kryptonite treatment will be in three weeks on the 28th.
Bone Scan
While mom was having the kryptonite, Dr. Juvvadi came to tell us that the bone scan was CLEAN! No cancer in her bones, and we are SO happy about it! Now we know exactly where this cancer is, and it’s not hiding from the kryptonite. We’re so grateful!
I’ll keep regularly updating the blog to let y’all know how she’s doing through treatment. I am also getting a post ready with all of the funny things mom has said while on drugs during the liver biopsy and before/after mediport surgery. I’ve been taking good notes (and video)! That has by far been the best thing about this whole experience. She’s hilarious!
Thank you so much for all of your love and support!
Love y’all,
Sydnie
She is the cutest!!! The “Ella-Mae” wig cracks me up!????
I’m so happy and grateful that her bone scan is clean!!!!! Praise the lord!!
Sending many kisses, hugs, and prayer!
Love you all, Shell
I love these updates and I can feel the love everyone has for Susie. I am so touched by the prayer pillow and Blanket. The bottom line is that love heals. I really like those wigs on you. The third picture was a little over-the-top but the first two were super pretty.we have to think the good Lord that your bone scan came out completely clear. many many many prayers coming from Minnesota to you my dear
I love you all with all my heart and pray for strength , comfort and total healing !! Stay strong Suzi – god is with you !! Kick cancers a**!! Big hugs and love my dear friend !! I’d love to get together with you soon!!
You are still beautiful suzi
?❌⭕️❌⭕️??
I found this and thought I’d share it!!
https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/hydrogen-peroxide-medical-miracle/
Hope you are doing well ❤️ love you!