Well my mom had her port implanted today (I almost wrote 'installed'-haha) and chemo should begin on Monday, March 2nd. She will be going in every 2 weeks for treatment, for 4 treatments. The hospital suggests that she has meals brought to her the day she goes in and 4 or 5 days after for each time she goes in. (That's a lot of cooking ladies)!
My dad is going to take off work the first week of her treatment (March 2-6) and I think they'll need meals every other day (instead of everyday) for that first week (my dad can cook some mean pancakes!). They said my mom's going to be very tired.
As for the second, third and fourth times she goes in, she'll need some sisters to help take her to her therapy and then drive her back the next day to receive a shot. My dad will be at work during all of this.
Laura Schneiber created a CARE CALENDAR to organize all of this (thanks Laura). Please sign up by clicking on the link below!
http://www.carecalendar.org/logon/12640
Security Code: 7035
I'm jealous that you all get to be so close to my mom to help her out during this time. Thank you so much for being the angels that I've been praying for!
“People wonder what we do for our women. I’ll tell you what we do: we get out of their way and look with wonder at what they are accomplishing.” Pres. Hinckley
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
WIGS!
So as most of us know, my mom will start to lose her hair over the next few months. It's a harsh reality and I'm VERY grateful for her sense of humor. Comment and tell us which wig you like the best!
This is her normal hair
This is her normal hair
What is that? I think it's a doo-rag gone wrong.
Yes! Daniel Boone! Or are you trying to pull off the 80's side pony tail? haha!
ooooh! The jewel hat!
Well you are into very colorful things...
I like the tongue, mom! 
Pucker up!
Goldie locks
We'll call her Jeniferiqua. You look dominican! (well, the hair anyway)
(this is not a wig)So which one was your favorite? My mom will be very interested in the comments!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Brief History
My mom went in for a routine mammogram in November and after some questionable films, went back for a tissue biopsy. “Abnormal cells were discovered.” From this diagnosis and much consultation, surgery was the next and best option for quick and further healing. A mastectomy was the only option for Jennifer. It was scheduled on Dec. 23rd.
Jennifer chose to do a procedure called a tramsrectis abdominis miocutaneous; “a Trams flap.” This was to take the muscle tissue from the lower abdomen and move that muscle tissue up to the breast. The surgery takes about 8-10 hours and was done at the same time as the mastectomy. The recovery is long.
During the surgery the general surgeon found that the tumor was much larger than was found in all the prior tests and that the cancer cells had traveled to many of the lymph nodes. But all was removed at that time.
Jennifer had a CAT scan and a bone scan several weeks after surgery to see if any cancer had found its way to other spots in her body and all the tests were clear. This was very good news to the doctors and a huge relief for our whole family.
The next steps are to have chemo therapy, then radiation, and then hormone replacement therapy to keep any microscopic organisms from forming. The chemotherapy will begin in Feb. as soon as moms incision on her abdomen has closed up and healed thoroughly. We do not have the exact date to when that will happen. My mom cannot drive yet, or pick up anything larger than 5 lbs. The oncologist is targeting the 19th or 20th of February.
The Cancer center recommends dinners and help the day of and 5 days after the chemo therapy because of the fatigue levels that will affect my mom due to the medication. She will be doing a lot of napping.
My mom wants people to know that this is all very weird for her and she understands if you feel uncomfortable around her or don’t know what to say. She feels uncomfortable herself and often doesn’t know what to say either! She loves to hear from people by e-mails or by letters, and by phone to talk about their lives, since this has taken over a huge part of her own life and she gets sick of telling others about it. She does have another life that does not involve the “C” word!
Thank you to everyone who has sent their prayers, love and support to all of the family at this time.
Jennifer chose to do a procedure called a tramsrectis abdominis miocutaneous; “a Trams flap.” This was to take the muscle tissue from the lower abdomen and move that muscle tissue up to the breast. The surgery takes about 8-10 hours and was done at the same time as the mastectomy. The recovery is long.
During the surgery the general surgeon found that the tumor was much larger than was found in all the prior tests and that the cancer cells had traveled to many of the lymph nodes. But all was removed at that time.
Jennifer had a CAT scan and a bone scan several weeks after surgery to see if any cancer had found its way to other spots in her body and all the tests were clear. This was very good news to the doctors and a huge relief for our whole family.
The next steps are to have chemo therapy, then radiation, and then hormone replacement therapy to keep any microscopic organisms from forming. The chemotherapy will begin in Feb. as soon as moms incision on her abdomen has closed up and healed thoroughly. We do not have the exact date to when that will happen. My mom cannot drive yet, or pick up anything larger than 5 lbs. The oncologist is targeting the 19th or 20th of February.
The Cancer center recommends dinners and help the day of and 5 days after the chemo therapy because of the fatigue levels that will affect my mom due to the medication. She will be doing a lot of napping.
My mom wants people to know that this is all very weird for her and she understands if you feel uncomfortable around her or don’t know what to say. She feels uncomfortable herself and often doesn’t know what to say either! She loves to hear from people by e-mails or by letters, and by phone to talk about their lives, since this has taken over a huge part of her own life and she gets sick of telling others about it. She does have another life that does not involve the “C” word!
Thank you to everyone who has sent their prayers, love and support to all of the family at this time.
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