Memorial Celebration

There will be a memorial celebrating Sharon's life on Saturday, January 12 at Catoctin Elementary School at 2:00 p.m.  Butch would like to invite anyone who has fond memories of Sharon to be able to share. If you find this too difficult, Loren and I will create a memory book where you can share your memory of Sharon for Butch and the boys.  Following the memorial, there will be finger foods and drinks provided. If anyone would like to contribute something for the social afterwards, please feel free to! Also, this spring there will me a garden dedicated to Sharon, if you would like to donate bulbs or rooted plants to place in the garden, please bring those as well.  We hope to see you on the 12th to celebrate Sharon's wonderful life.

LIVE Well, LAUGH Often, LOVE Much

Team Sharon,

It is with great sadness that Loren and I are writing this post.  Last evening, at 7:07, Sharon lost her battle with Pancreatic Cancer.  Words cannot express how much all of your support, cards, well wishes and hugs have meant to us. Really everything that was done for Sharon was incredible. Thank you from the bottom of all our hearts for loving Sharon as much as you did.  Butch and the boys would like to have a memorial service that celebrates Sharon's life, when that is arranged, we invite you, all of her supporters, to come and remember the incredible life that she lived. (I'll try and remember to update a post with details when they are arranged.) 

Last evening, Butch, Bradley, Gregory, Loren and I were discussing the best way to add closure to Sharon's blog.  Loren came up with the idea to share pictures of Sharon, as we will remember her.  Our hope is that as you read this post, it will be more of a celebration of who Sharon was than a sad reminder of the battle she has fought over the past 9 months.  Loren and I spent the entire morning into the early afternoon going through the many, many, many, many folders of pictures that Sharon has collected over the years.  We giggled many times when we would find a folder of pictures titled: "Bradley Cooking Steaks, "Emily Eating Cereal", "Gregory's New Tires," "Wrestling" which we opened and found Butch, Bradley and Gregory wrestling in the living room from a few years ago. 

We hope you find some comfort in remembering Sharon the way we do. 

~Val and Loren

One Day at a Time

I apologize for not updating last night, it was a late night at the hospital. Sharon is continuing to be a fighter. Yesterday was a special day, I think that many of us were able to say everything we needed to say and share. Sharon's youngest brother also arrived and has joined Sharon's support team beside her bedside. Today was a little more difficult, Sharon slept most of the day and took a lot of her energy to open her eyes and spend some time with us this evening. The overwhelming support has been so comforting in such a difficult time, We are so grateful for everyone on "Team Sharon". I'm sorry that I don't have more positive words to share. Keep praying and thinking of Sharon and hope she can find peace.

I'll try to update tomorrow.

~Val

More Visitors!

Sharon has had another very busy day full of loving visitors. Her long time friends Nancy, Tommy and their son Russell arrived this morning and she was so happy to see them as was Butch, Brad and Gregory. Sharon also had another large group of caring colleagues/friends that made the drive to see her. We're pretty sure that between yesterday and today, her enitre school family has been to see her.  That's so awesome and we are all so thankful for their support and love for Sharon. Thoughout the day Sharon had a steady stream of visitors, she has been so happy to see each and every one of them and we can tell with every familiar smiling face she sees, it brightens her mood. She's been getting lots of rest in between visitors and when Butch, Brad, Gregory, Loren and I left her this evening to get rest of our own, she was getting ready to have another slumber party with Colleen, her niece Shanay, and Nancy.

I'll try to give another update tomorrow evening. I do know that Sharon is hearing comments that are left for her.  Her brother Danny read her my last two blog posts and she smiled and was happy to know that 'Team Sharon' is still checking for any and all updates! Oh, and Butch brought her an enormous pile of birthday and well wishes cards today, it was so awesome to see.  Her room is filling with so many thoughtful gifts and kind words, its just spectacular!

~Val

Overwhelming show of love and support

Today was a long day for Sharon. But, it was filled with so much love that I know she would take another day like today tomorrow and the next day and so on. Again, Sharon was surrounded by her family all day.  She was awake and talking and seemed a little more herself.  Her brother, Danny, arrived this evening and she was happy to see him.  Besides her family, Sharon had many visitors who came to wish her well and celebrate her birthday.  She started the afternoon with a visit from a small group of friends and as the afternoon went on, more and more friends arrived to visit with her. I think at one point, Sharon had almost twenty people in her room! it was quite the party! I know that we are so grateful to everyone who came to see her today.  Loren could not have said it any better, seeing how many friends and colleagues that took the time to visit with her is a true testament of the person that Sharon is.

We are going to take each day one day at a time and enjoy the time that we spend with her. Loren and I left her tonight awake with Butch, her boys, Colleen and Danny. They were getting ready to have one big slumber party. Tomorrow we look forward to more family arriving and another day to share with each other.

Thank you for all the overwhelming offers of help and support, they are so greatly appreciated.

~Val

Update

Team Sharon,

I've decided to take over the blog site again to try to keep everyone informed on Sharon's current condition. On Monday, Sharon went to the hospital in Winchester for the 'Talc procedure' on her lungs. Because of a conflict with the surgeon's schedule, Sharon rested at the hospital on Monday and went in to surgery around 1:00 p.m yesterday (Tuesday). During the surgery, Dr. Saum drained a significant amount of fluids from her lungs. He also went ahead and placed the powder on the kungs in hopes that it will help to stop the fluid build-up.  Unfortunately he also found that the cancer had spread to the lungs in a very advanced stage. Sharon rested in the ICU last evening surrounded by her wonderful friends Debbie and Pam and also by her family. Today she was moved to the oncology floor and met with Dr. Major where she is trying to recuperate from yesterday's surgery.  Dr. Major said that the official biopsy results will return Thursday but he isn't anticipating any surprises and thinks that the cancer on her lungs is in a more advanced stage. after the results of the biopsy, Dr. Major will discuss the next steps for Sharon with her, Butch, Brad and Gregory.

Today was also Sharon's birthday. Even though she was not able to celebrate the way she would like, we tried to make it the best we could for her. Butch and the boys spent the day with her.  Loren and I joined her as soon as we could leave school. Pam stopped in to check on her.  We had presents and cake and sang happy birthday with her friend Anne who stopped in to check on her as well as her wonderful nurse, Mary. Soon after we had cake, Sharon's sister Colleen arrived. Sharon took lots of naps today, when Brad and I left her, she was napping and Colleen was planning on staying the night with her.

After Dr. Major discusses the results of the biopsy tomorrow, I'll try to give another update. I do know that they believe Sharon will remain in the hospital until any remaining fluid left from the surgery stops draining. They aren't quite sure when that may be, possibly this weekend or early next week. Just keep praying and keeping Sharon at the forefront of your thoughts. Thank you to all of you who have done so much already!

~Val

Talc Pleurodesis

After coming home from the Cardio Thorasic Surgeon's, my sister and I did more research on the procedure that I will be having performed on my lung. It's easier to read from the website because at this point, I don't know the specific details myself. I do have a feeling that a biopsy will be part of the procedure. I will be in the hospital a few days. Not sure what lung the procedure will be performed on at this point.

What I do know is that I'm scared about the process but will put everything in God's hands as I've done in the past.

http://www.mactheknife.org/Patient_information/Talc_pleurodesis.html

Thanksgiving Blessings

                       This year's Thanksgiving was certainly one to add to the memory list.

My oldest son and my niece Shanay check out the "fried turkey".

My sister Colleen, myself, and my daughter-in-law Loren

The "Guys" with all pictures courtesy of my brother-in-law

The young kids enjoy dinner in the kitchen.

It used to be that the "kids table" was age 5 and under. Times have certainly changed!    

 

The "Adult Table" we can safely say is age 30 and older! Val's parents and my sister. Bill is our photographer.

Top Row: Loren, Shanay, Colleen, Val. Bottom Row: Cathy, Sharon, Sarah

My Wonderful Sons

My Thanksgiving Blessings

Cardiothorasic Surgeon

Upon our request to Dr. Major, we were immediately referred to Dr. Saum in Winchester.  Dr. Saum’s clinical interests include all aspects of cardiothoracic surgery with specialization in thoracic oncology, chest trauma, early detection and treatment of lung cancer, coronary artery revascularization and mitral valve repair and replacement. He is board certified in surgery and thoracic surgery.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
His office is several floors above Dr. Major's in Winchester Hospital.  After some routine tests, Dr. Saum's reviewed all of the x-rays on file at the hospital. He saw that the latest thorcentesis as last Friday, yielding only 20 m. of fluid. He saw that the right lung had significantly more fluid, needed to be drained as soon as possible. I left Butch and off I went with the nurse for the 6th thorcentesis but 1st one on the right side.

Same procedure as before. My upper shoulder hurt and I wanted to cough to release the lung. As soon as they took the surgical procedures off, I was headed off for a quick x-ray. All turned out well!!! No collapsing o the walls.

Dr. Saum's met with us for his recommendation for next step.I can't remember the name o the procedure ??? That will happen is the lungs will be "roughened" up and a type a type of powder will be put on them so that fluid doesn't continued to build on them. I would be in the hospital for several days for this process to occur.

It has taken me all morning to write this blog. I don't know why my thought process is so slow. It is what it is..

Happy Thanksgiving EVERYONE! May you have the richest of memories to share with each other today!

Where is your Sleep of Choice?

Last night, Butch tucked me into my lounge chair in my rec room so that I'm closer but far enough away from the propane stove. Off to sleep I went. Sometime during the nigtht, mother nature called and I made my short journey to the bathroom. What I found was that i fell asleep in the bathroom for an unknown amount of time. Woke I up and I came back to my chair, giving a few short giggles here and there along the way. At 4:00 a.m. not only was it time for my medicine, it was bathroom time again .Well, this time, I must have fallen asleep for a much longer period of time because when  I went to stand, all of my extremities were numb and I fell onto to floor. One loud yell sent Butch downstairs to help me up from the floor. Thank God Butch was home to hear me and come to my rescue.

Two Days Rolled Into One

Left home at 7:30 a.m. and didn't get home until after 4:00 with MANY fun filled activities to fill the hours in between.

Started with lab work, saw the doctor, had oxygen evaluated with finger oxygenizer, went for a chest x-ray, returned to the doctor, had chemo, had 4th thorocentesis, came home, oxygen delivered, got sick while oxygen men were teaching us about system, called after hours doctor because pain out of control, went to sleep.

My lab work allowed me to receive the last dose of round 2 chemo. That's a great accomplishment because it seems like chemo may be the only way to get control of this "lung thing" that is going on.

Thorocentesis is becoming unsuccessful, with only 20 ml. of fluid drained. The fluid that is in between my lung is becoming like a "honeycomb", although the radiologist said there wasn't a whole lot of fluid to drain. Why the intense pain then in my back?

My doctor was very involved yesterday with what is going on with me. When I thanked him for helping me, he said that the pain that I'm in is not acceptable and not to thank him until we figure out what's going on to cause this pain and cause the lung incidences.

I now have 2% of oxygen on a 24 hour basis. While it is certainly helping to get my breathing under control quicker, it doesn't take away the struggle. I have been prescribed a medication to help my diaphragm relax. Hoping the combination of the two make moving a little easier.

I was able to up my medications last night to help with the pain. The increase certainly helped to take the edge off and allow me to get some much needed sleep. It also allowed my husband some much needed sleep. He was at the edge of his rope last night. He has literally not sat down in 3 days, doing all of the house chores, yard work, grocery shopping, and 500 other countless things he has to make our life run. He has picked his fingernails to bleed and is in pure exhaustion mode. I ache for him.

Please give my husband a special place in your prayers today.

Just Killing Some Time

It's 10:30 at night and I'm trying to occupy my mind and find a comfortable position for my body until it's time to take my 12:00 pain medication.

Tomorrow is full of questions:
Will I get my 3rd dose of chemo in round 2????
Will I get fluid drained from my lung????
What will the doctor say about his medical feelings????

Chemo Went Well

On Friday, even though my numbers were on their way down, I was able to get chemo. The traditional pattern of my blogs after chemo is no postings for a few days because I am so tired.Didn't see a doctor on Friday...just got the treatment.

On Saturday, my breathing was very scary during the night even when I wasn't moving. I got a very panic feeling and kept wondering if there was going to be an ER trip in my near future. I was able to calm myself midway through the night. My breathing continued to be more stable during the day when at rest. I was able to get my back pain under control.

On Sunday, my breathing leveled out. Thank goodness because that panic feeling is unnerving. I am out of breath walking very short distances. As a result of reduced movement, my right leg is developing the superficial blood clot again. My mission today is to move my leg as much as I can to aid in blood circulation. I'm between a rock and a hard place. Can't breathe when I walk but develop problems when I rest.

When I watch T.V., I cannot tell you how much I envy people who I see carrying on their normal life. Walking is such a treasure. Please appreciate all the things that you take for granted. When it's taken away from you, life changes in an instant and things are never the same. Appreciate life! It's so precious!

A Cough Here and a Cough There...

I feel like I'm handling my 3rd dose of chemo pretty well. I'm extremely tired. I slept on and off ALL morning.

My breathing continues to be the culprit. It's so difficult to find the energy to just walk across the room. Scary feeling.

I'm coughing today. It's one shallow cough but has been throughout the day. I don't know whether to take that as a good thing (my lung trying to expand) or a bad thing (my lung trying to collapse). I'm keeping an extra close eye on this. When they take fluid off my lung during the thorocentesis procedure, coughing is expected as the fluid is removed and the lung has more room to expand.

I feel an afternoon nap coming on, after all, I have been awake for 2 whole hours already!

Two for the Price of One PLUS a Blue Light Special

Yesterday, our day started early. I began by having a chest x-ray at the diagnostic center. We then proceeded to the oncologist office for lab work.

Met with the oncologist to go over results. My platelet count was back up so I could get chemo. The chest x-ray showed fluid again on my left lung and a little on my right. That certainly wasn't a surprise to me because I definitely was having trouble breathing all week. I would be scheduled to have that drained after chemo.

Chemo went well. I use that time to think. I haven't read a page from a book or more than a few pages from a magazine in quite some time. I rested with my eyes closed for a little while.

We left chemo and headed to the hospital for the thorocentesis. I had a different team this time...new radiologist and new doctor. First the injection to numb the area. They compare it to a bee sting. Next the insertion of the needle to drain the fluid. Bad news...only 20 ml. of fluid was draining. They said that they don't have to do this often but they could insert a wire into the tube and work it around to break up any strands and scar tissue that was causing the fluid to not drain. I gave the go ahead...after all, my road is never the straight one. The wire procedure wasn't making a difference because fluid would still not drain. That meant another decision. Did I want them to reinsert the needle into a new area and try again. Road is more curvy but because I was systematic and having trouble breathing, I knew that I had to get as much fluid off as possible while I was there. Gave the go ahead to begin the procedure all over again. Second bee swarmed in for another sting, new needle inserted in between rib bones. I gave a cheer, well more like a command.  "Come on fluid....drain". They got 320 ml. out total. That's all that would come out. From using the wire, they actually showed me the "strands" that were in the fluid. The doctor that watched the radiologist do the procedure was wonderful. He held his hand on my shoulder the entire time as he told me each and every step. I actually raised my head from the pillow during the procedures and told him how much I appreciated him. His hand on my shoulder gave me such comfort. My two thorocentesis for the price of one and the wire blue light special was over. Off to get an x-ray.

I wasn't able to go home for a couple of hours because the lung had air that had accumulated in the bottom. I had to stay in recovery to make sure that the lung didn't collapse. Off for another chest x-ray. Things looked the same so I could go home. It was again stressed that if I had any difficulty breathing as a result of the lung collapsing, to call 911 right away. Homeward bound!

Got home, threw up and settled in for a nice siesta!

Reubens Anyone?

Checking in to say that all is about the same as it has been the past week. My back continues to hurt intensely. The cause is still unknown. Last night I increased the ml. of pain medication so that I could get a halfway decent nights sleep.

I have to say that it has been very nice NOT having to go to the doctors or hospital for tests for over a week. My husband commented how relaxing it has been not having to run to appointments this week. He really needed the break; however he asks me about 15 times a day if I am breathing okay. He worries so much about my lungs. I gauge that if I'm breathing okay when I'm sitting or talking, then all is the same. It doesn't take much for me to be out of breath after a very short walk up and down the stairs.

Yesterday I made Reubens for my husband for dinner. He was so very appreciative and praised me over and over again for making them for him. Everything tastes so much better when someone else makes food. Through this time, he has become a jack of ALL trades. It felt so very, very good to be able to do something special for him...even if it only entailed putting a little of this and a little of that on 2 pieces of rye bread!

I hope that everyone does everything they need to do so that they stay safe during this storm. We're all ready here. Be safe!

Blog-Less

I have not intentionally abandoned my blog. From past posts, you can tell that when I have energy, I have frequent entries. The opposite is true when I have had a rough week.

I haven't posted for two reasons.  I have been very tired and have been sleeping a lot. The thought of getting the computer to post becomes a mammoth task. The other reason I shy away from posts is when I hurt.  I hate always complaining and when I hurt, it's hard to be positive.  My back has been in a lot of pain. I don't know the reason for the pain...lung filling up with fluid again ???, removal of chest tube ???, or pulled muscle from sleeping in a sitting up position in bed ???. The home health nurse didn't hear any fluid when she was here Wednesday, but neither did the one that was here 2 days before I had 600 ml. of fluid drained from my left lung.

I look forward to the day when I can wake up having energy, feel great and be productive. Until then, I will listen to my body and sleep/rest to build up my white platelet count. 

Happy Fall...be safe if Hurricane Sandy comes our way.

Two More Test Results...

I had another x-ray this morning before my scheduled chemo to compare results from yesterday after having the chest tube taken out. It looks like things are about the same...my left lung is still not all the way inflated but no worse. The doctors have stressed to me in a very stern way that if I have any trouble breathing, I need to get to the emergency room asap. I certainly will if that becomes the case.

Today was my 3rd treatment to end my 1st cycle of chemo. I unfortunately could not be given the treatment. My white platelet count should be 5000 to 6000. After 2 treatments, my count is 1000. The doctor said that my body has been through so much. My white platelets may be responding to being beaten down from radiation, chemo and then surgery. It may be responding to the infection that's going on. He's not sure why the count is so low but sure enough that I will not be getting treatment today. Next week is my scheduled "off" week so that means 2 weeks without chemo. It's kind of scary that my body is doing this already in the very first cycle. 

Too Many Procedures For One Day

The doctor wanted to make sure that I didn't need an IV antibiotic so the oncologist office asked us to come in on Thursday. We knew I was getting better because I was able to actually put my feet on the floor and stand on them without pain. We didn't want to take another day to go to the doctor but we also knew that we needed to figure out what was going on with the chest tube. Off we went to combine the visits and kill two birds with one stone. (You know, after typing that saying, I decided that I really don't like it. I'm going to change it to "kiss two birds with one peck.")

The PA left it in our hands to determine if my legs/feet were getting better. Because we told him that they were, I wouldn't need the IV but my antibiotic prescription would need to be increased from 7 to 14 days. We told him that the chest tube hasn't drained anything for 5 days; however I was still out of breath. He called over to the Diagnostic Center and got an appointment for a chest x-ray and evaluation by the radiologist of what was going on with the tube.

So off to the Diagnostic Center we went. Luckily everything is in the same Winchester Hospital Complex so it's a matter of going from the front where the oncologist is to the back where the x-rays, sonograms, etc. are. In the car on the way there, I popped a nausea pill because I wasn't feeling well.

Another chest x-ray...completed. I really think that I've had 25+ since having this thing with my lungs happen. Grab my husband and head to where the radiologist is so that they can tell us what is going on with the chest tube. Now, here is where my mistake came in to play. I thought it was going to be as simple as...left lung no longer has fluid in it so the chest tube isn't needed. I was wrong. The x-ray showed that there was very minimal fluid in the right lung! Yeah...my body must have absorbed that fluid! The left lung, however, still has fluid. So now the radiologist had to figure out why the chest tube wasn't draining it? Maybe the tube has a crink in it? He did a sonogram and saw that the tube was in a pocket but that there was no fluid in that pocket. The fluid was in another part around the lung. Our option was to do another "thoro something or other" which is putting the needle in around the lung and drawing fluid out. This is the dreaded procedure that I thought would one day have to be done to the right lung. I didn't think that it would have to be done AGAIN to the left lung.

You have to do what has to be done so I said to go ahead with the procedure. I sent my husband out of the room because he doesn't need to see me cry in pain.

Procedure underway. It hurt, but not nearly as much as it did the last time. They took off 600 ml of fluid again from the left lung. That's the same amount as they took off last time. On my way back from another x-ray, I saw my husband in the waiting room so I waved to him to come back to where I was. Procedure over. Fluid out. The x-ray showed that the lung still had not come back completely but that I could go home. Time to take the chest tube out. They said that it was a quick and easy procedure and that my husband could stay in the room.

Did they not know that it was me and nothing is quick and easy. The string that is suppose to release to be able to pull the drain out did not do what it was suppose to do. When I say I cried out in pain, that is an understatement. It was excruciating. I feel so bad that my husband had to hear me cry out in pain. I was trying to spare him from that. After that was done, the radiologist hugged me and said that never happens. I have to say...I was in sort of a traumatic state for a little while. That pain was one of the most intense I've ever had. I told my husband to please expect that once we got to the car, I was going to cry for more than 3 and a half minutes. I wouldn't go a whole 5 minutes but I WAS GOING TO CRY!

All Over the World

I find it so interesting that I have had hits on my blog from all over the world. The comments that blog followers leave touch so many lives!

Romania  1

Egypt  2

Sweden  2

Ukraine  2

Australia  1

Russia  202

Germany  40

Malawi  22

United Kingdom  21

Canada  11

Mexico  11

France  8

Brazil  5

India  5 

United States  25757