Good to be home - Mar 31

Hello Everyone,

It was good to get home yesterday.  There is nothing like sleeping in your own bed, unless it is in Priano, Itay where you can take a ferry to the Isle of Capri, which is where today's photo is from.  For a few of us, it is our own private "Blue Grotto".

Everything went well leaving the hospital, my doctors and nursing team were just amazing.  I did have an MRI which I was not quite prepared for (if you are claustrophic - take drugs!!!) but we sucessfully finished the test and headed home.

Today, I am quite mobile...well, as mobile as  one can be on  a cane but quite pleased at how well I can move.  Tomorrow brings a few more routine tests and then it is just rest to prepare for the next leg of the journey that starts April 12.  I understand that the first day of  Chemo is not so bad, if possible, I will post how  that went.

Thanks again for prayers and good wishes,
Fran

An Extra Day - March 30th

For all of the well wishers that had asked to see me at the hospital and graciously accepted that I declined, this is what you missed...lol, blue was never a favourite colour of mind and I assure you I feel stronger about that now.

As the blog title states...an extra day.  I will be leaving to go home tomorrow.  Before I dive into that subject let me tell you how difficult it is to give up a room with a view.  Although, I did get a private room, it in no way compares to what I had...large spacious room, wall to wall windows, the CN tower....and a new roommate!!!

Don't let anyone convince you otherwise, your neighbours, no matter where they are can make or break an enviroment.  And that is exactly what happened.  It was horrendous...from her rudeness to her know it all attitude...being so large that they had to hang her from the ceiling in a sling to be weighed (383 lbs - curtains are not soundproof)  (ok, that was kind of funny) to having sleep apnea and a mask the "squeeled and vibrated in the night"  - go  figure.  Anyway, one night was enough for me to re-instate my request for a private room, which gratefully took place last evening.

As mentioned, I am here for one more night.  We had a consultation with the Oncology team today.  I will be skipping radiation, at this point, and moving directly to Chemo which will begin on April 12th.
We have found some small tumors on my arms that did not appear on the PET scan as they were so tiny.  Moving directly to chemo will address those issues as well as the lung and bone tumors.

I am moving around REALLY well, and as a result, the Ortho doctor and Onc doctors believe that my healing will progress quickly enough to meet the April 12 date.

So, it is on to the next stage.  Home tomorrow, continue resting, healing and preparing.  I am focused and determined to beat this.

The war has already started...and the next battle is about to begin.  I know I have won the first round, just in how quickly I have bounced back.  The next may take a little time but I can do it.

Take care, I will post when we have an update or I am just bored.
Fran

March 27th - Day 3

I would like to say thanks for all the calls and emails that I have received.  I would like to share the view from my "suite".  Granted, this is a picture I grabbed from the internet, but I really have a wall of windows at the foot of my bed and am looking at the CN Tower.

Don did a great job posting the day of surgery, thanks.  I had every intention of putting something up yesterday but I had no idea just how busy it is to lay around on your back...be catered to, have every whim attended and not fall asleep, my day just got away from me.

Today was a little different.  I did manage to get out of bed...(without the help of physio) who apparently didn't see me on their list.  I knew that the only restriction to movement was my own pain tolerance so I successfully managed to get out of bed and stand by the edge...much to the surprise of my nurse.  Apparently, this got the attention of physio who quickly came and supplied a walker.  So, I am somewhat mobile...not running a marathon but pleased that I can get up and move.

Thank you to everyone that wanted to come visit,  is very much appreciated.  It will be so much better to visit when I get home. 

I am enjoying great food, all caterered in (thanks to my boys) great care both medically and personally (thanks to Don) and great sleeps, (thanks to drugs)

I expect to be home by Tuesday and will touch base then.

Thanks for checking in,
Fran

Surgery Day

On behalf of Fran. Here is how the day went. Not so much sleep last night but now it is time to be up, bag packed, quick bath to ease the pain and then off to the 10:30 checkin for the 12:30 appointment with Dr. Ferguson. Check-in was very smooth and then off to 5th floor for the change into hospital gown and one last check of vitals. Right on time she was taken into surgery. Three hours later Dr. Ferguson reported that the operation went well to stabilize that thighbone. After a couple hours recovery she will be moved to 11th floor to her room. He said she will be working with physiotherapists who will have her up on her feet this weekend and looking at a release from hospital early next week.
So when I got the chance to go into recovery to see her she was still groggy but able to talk clearly about how things went. Having seen the x-rays she said she was glad that the surgery was done and that she had been so careful not to put weight on the leg.
So something to drink and eat and farewell to the boys. I stayed a little longer until I could see she was settled and drifting off to sleep. The effects of the anasthetic are still there and sleep comes easily. This is the end of a very busy day for her and tomorrow looks to be much better.
I expect Fran will be well enough and inspired to post to her journal tomorrow.
Best wishes to all, thanks for your ongoing support.
Don

March 24th - Many Thanks

Time to pack for my upcoming adventure.  I know that everything is mindset. No matter what the situation may be or what the task you are faced with, the only thing you really can control is how you view the whole thing.  In that,  you have a choice... So I will choose ....

Therefore, tomorrow is an adventure...  my flight time has been changed from 12 to 12:30...check in  gates close at 10:30 am and the expected flight time remains at 2 hours.  There will be a 2 hours layover before moving to my suite for the next few days.

Funny, seems like a much better thought than going to the hospital.

I will close my eyes and see the above photo...was the most wonderful evening...warm breeze, no bugs  and the perfect end to a perfect evening.

I would like to say THANK YOU to everyone that has taken the time to wish me well.  I appreciate every prayer, every good wish, and every encouraging thought.  I truly am one of the luckiest people in the world.

Don will post tomorrow and give the latest update.

Have a great night,

Fran

March 23 (or Dec 23?)

Ok, if I have to look at snow on March 23rd, it will be of the lake !! 

Today, my nephew said  "someone should punch that groundhog in the head"  I agree, I think that when we see this last snowfall of the year (hopefully) it reminds us how much we are awaiting spring. The upside is that it won't be long, no matter how much snow falls over the next day until the days will be warmer and the sun will feel great.

Today was pre-admission day...Mt. Sinai in the morning and a "nuclear heart test" this afternoon at Toronto General. (I really am going to glow in the dark.)  A well laid out plan...we could use the tunnel system to get back and forth between the two hospitals, combine both  appointments and save a trip downtown. Perfect!!  Well, if I thought walking the "PATH" was confusing - navigating through a construction zone is quiet another experience.  Top that off with the fact that neither Don nor I have succcessfully passed our "wheelchair" licence.  I must remember not to take my feet off the footrest (seems my feet get stuck underneath the chair during unexpected movement)  and Don must remember that the walls of the elevator do not give when struck by the unsuspecting feet of his passenger.  Oh, and speaking of footrests...I lost one today as well.  Good thing I remember to put my feet on them before we went too far.

It was certainly a long day but all is in place for Friday.  We will arrive by 10:00 am, surgery at noon, recovery for 2 hours and then to my room.  I suspect that time will go quickly for me...not so much for Don and the boys.  I suggested that they run over to the Hockey Hall of Fame for the "4 hour window"  I don't think they are going to take me up on it.

Hope everyone is home save, sound and warm and that your snow tires are still on.

-Fran

March 21st

Well, if you are coming to read my journal, I guess you will have to put up with a little "home photo" show.  It is good for my soul.

This was taken at a restaurant on the boardwalk of Barcelona...it was amazing to have the sand and sea in the background.  What a beautiful walk back to our apartment.

It is hard to believe that it is Monday already.  Wow, how time flies when you have nothing to do..lol.

Today my chest felt a little tight, knowing that I have surgery on Friday, I contacted PMH and Bakker's office.  If there could be an infection of any kind, I want to catch it right away...delaying this surgery will not make me very happy.  (Lol)  Heard back from 2 of the medical team at PMH, they want me to monitor my temp and check in immediately if there is any fever.  So much for just being a number.  They were great.  I am also going to see the GP, just for a quick check..there is no way that I will let this surgery be delayed.

I am a little nervous about Friday, I guess anyone would be, but I am anxious to get it underway.  It is the first step to putting this all behind me.  "Step"  funny, how easy that sounds until you have to walk around on crutches.  I have a new respect for all those  people that have a lifetime of struggles just to get around.

I remember reading somewhere when I first found out about having LC, that in many ways it can have a positive affect.  I am already appreciating the very small things in life that we take for granted.  A lesson that I will remember for a very long time.

Thanks for checking in,
Fran

March 19th

Before I begin this journal I would like to say how truly fortunate I am.  I have the most incredible husband and four of the finest men to call my sons...I could not have faced this journey without you and I know that it is the strength of the six of us that will bring me through to tell the tale through the eyes of a long term survivor...LM/LF.


As a family,  would like to say thank you to everyone for your love, support and prayers.  Although it is not the best of times, it has allowed us to see just how blessed we are to be surrounded by so much love.  Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

We thought that this will be the easiest way for us to share the news of this journey with those that been so kind in calling and inquiring about how I am doing.  As you can imagine, it is difficult to share news with everyone so we hope this will be the answer.  Please continue to call, we would love to hear from you but this may answer some of the medical questions.

Let me tell you about the picture at the top of this page.  This was taken on my 50th birthday.  It was one of my happiest moments...and it was this photo that I have used as my "letterhead"   It reflects how I feel about life.  We should enjoy every second, laugh as often as we can and always have a second glass of wine...I think I was at about 4 when this photo was taken and the night had only started.

I am hobbling around on crutches right now waiting (impatiently) for next Friday.   It was discovered last Monday that I have a lesion on my left femur.  This has weakened the bone and in order to make sure there is no interruption with Chemo or an unexpected emergency fracture, we decided to proceed with surgery.  This will be done at Mt. Sinai on the 25th at noon.  I expect to be in the hospital for 3-4 days and home on crutches (not going to be happy about that) for a couple of weeks. 

We know that there will be 1-5 radiation treatments but are not sure when that will take place.  What we do know is that Chemo will begin 3 weeks after radiation is complete.  I have been accepted into a trial that my Oncologist believes is perfect for me.  I have no further complications and this trial uses some of the more aggressive drugs right from the beginning.

I know that I am feeling good right now (part from the leg issue) and therefore will be in the best position to blast that crap right out of me.  So, bring it on....it can't be over until it starts.

We will continue to post as we move through this journey.  Please feel free to email me:
Fvanwyn@rogers.com

Thanks,
Fran