Hysterectomy Update

Sorry I haven't sent out an update lately. I have been sick with an upper respiratory infection, and this past Saturday I woke up with my face swollen. My tooth was abscess, I called my doctor and they called me in two antibiotics. I was told if I started running a fever to call them or call 911. Today all swelling is down and I am doing really good. The kids also had a cold and missed a week of school, Stephanie still has a running nose.

I wanted everyone to know my hysterectomy will be tomorrow at 11:30 pm. The doctor will remove both ovaries and do a biopsy. If cancer is found, he will make incision and remove the uterus and surrounding tissues. Let's hope and prayer that no cancer is found. So I can come home the next day, and start my chemo treatments on Monday.

Please say a special prayer for Steve, the kids, my mom, and my brothers.

Thanks for all the prayers and all the support.

Love In Christ,
Renee

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVE

How do I begin to tell you how lucky I am
to have you in my life?
I'll start by saying what a gift you gave me
the day you walked into my life.

You're my best friend in the good times
and my rock in bad times.
You're the reason for sweet yesterdays
and my promise for tomorrow.

I never thought I could feel this much love
until you became my husband.
You made this year and every year
the best one of my life.


Love always,
Your Wife, Renee

2nd Chemo Treatment

I had my chemo treatment on the 12th of last week, we were there all day. They kids stayed at school and ate lunch and took a nap. That was a special treat for them. I don't think Steven liked laying still for that long, the teacher had to move him for talking.

The sickness started on Thursday, and by Sunday it was at full force. I went Monday morning for my blood work. My White Blood Count was really low, I had to see the doctor before I could leave. We are thinking it is were I was so sick over the weekend. I am just thankful that the kids are not sick right now.
BLOOD COUNT:

WBC: (3.6-11.1) = 1.20
RBC: (3.69-4.88) = 3.99
Hgb: (11.4 -14.4) = 12.0
HCT: (33.3 - 41.4) = 34.7
MCV: (79.3-94.8) = 87.0
MCH: (26.8 - 33.2) = 30.0
MCHC: (33.5 - 35.5) = 34.5
RDW: (12.0 - 15.1) = 14.6
Platelet: (165 - 353) = 185

Today I am starting to feel better. I am still not up to my old self, but a lot better.

All my hair is gone, and the kids are great with it. Stephanie got really upset the first day, she started crying saying "You are a boy now, and you are going to start doing boy stuff." I guess she now knows I am still a girl......

I want to say thank you for all the cards, prayers, and all the wonderful gift I have received from everyone. Your kindness, love and support means everything to me and my family.

Thank you so much and I love each and everyone of you.

Love always,
Renee


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Happy Anniversary!! Steve

Hey baby

I really don't know what to say to you
because you already know that I LOVE YOU
more than life itself.

You have given me the best life
any wife could ever ask for,
A wonderful man and 2 beautiful kids
what more could I ask for.

Steve I love you so much. Thank you
for being there for me, this past couple
of months. Your love and support has helped
me more then I could every say.

Thanks for loving me and being the
best husband every. I cant wait to spend
the next 18 years with you.

I LOVE YOU.

HAIR IS GONE

I couldn't take it anymore, I shaved my hair. It was hurting so bad and hair was every were. I'm not sure if everyone understand why I wanted it off. It is like every time I find a handful of hair it like the cancer is in control. I want to be in control, so with me shaving my hair, it like hi, I'm not letting you win. I'm taken it. Does that make since, it did to me at the time.

I showed the kids my new hair cut, and both of them put their arms around me and told me they loved me so much. Kids are the best medicine every.

BLOOD WORK UPDATE & SURGERY UPDATE

Hello Everyone,

I went in today for this week blood work and talked with the Gyn-Oncology doctor. My blood work was great and they was really happy with them. The doctor was shock on how high my White Blood Count was, I know why they are high, God. My prayers every night is for my Counts to stay high, so I can stay around my kids.

I feel great this week, I was able to go to Church last Sunday and go and spend the afternoon with mom. I figure surely God will keep me safe from infection there. My hair is starting to fall out, I probably will get Steve or Mom to shave my hair this weekend. My scalp hurts so bad from were the hair follicles are dying. So far I can brush the hair to cover up the bald spots. Before long I will have a nice comb over.... (ha ha)

BLOOD COUNT:

WBC: (3.6-11.1) = 8.50
RBC: (3.69-4.88) = 4.39
Hgb: (11.4 -14.4) = 12.9
HCT: (33.3 - 41.4) = 38.4
MCV: (79.3-94.8) = 87.4
MCH: (26.8 - 33.2) = 29.5
MCHC: (33.5 - 35.5) = 33.7
RDW: (12.0 - 15.1) = 13.9
Platelet: (165 - 353) = 343

My Gyn-Oncology doctor appointment went well, they have schedule my operation for my hysterectomy on March the 13th. He wants to wait 4 weeks after my next chemo -treatment. Which is on Monday the 12th. So I can get feeling better. He will do LAPAROSCOPY surgery though the belly because my ovaries are so high, if the biopsy comes back cancer he will then make a incision and remove the uterus and the surrounding tissue. Lets hope and pray that the biopsy comes back not cancer.

Thanks again for all the cards, email, and prayers. I greatly appreciate everything everyone has done for me, they mean the world to me. Thanks again and I love everyone so much.

Love Always,
Renee

Chemo Update

I made it though my first week after chemo. This weekend was a rough one, I started getting sick on Friday night and by Sunday, I couldn't get out of bed. Steve and the kids was on their on. I even think it started getting to Steven, because he woke up Sunday night sick also. I called the doctor on Sunday and they called me in more medicine. On Monday I was feeling a lot better, but didn't feel up to going and getting my blood work done, I schedule it for today.


BLOOD COUNT:

WBC: (3.6-11.1) = 4.30
RBC: (3.69-4.88) = 4.45
Hgb: (11.4 -14.4) = 13.1
HCT: (33.3 - 41.4) = 38.2
MCV: (79.3-94.8) = 85.9
MCH: (26.8 - 33.2) = 29.5
MCHC: (33.5 - 35.5) = 34.3
RDW: (12.0 - 15.1) = 13.2
Platelet: (165 - 353) = 226

They doctor was happy with the counts since I was so sick this weekend. She feels she might have to adjust the nausea medicine for the next round of chemo.(2-12)

I go next Wednesday 7th to see the Gyn-Oncology doctor and we will then set the date for my Hysterectomy surgery.

So far my hair hasn't started falling out, they said it could start within two weeks, which will be next Monday. It's hair and it will grow back., Now my hair is straight and gray. I think I am grayer then my mom.

Thanks again for all your love and support.

Love Always,
Renee

First Snow of 2007

Here are a few pictures Steve took of the kids Thrusday the 18th. North Carolina doesn't get much snow, so we have to take picture when it happens....

CHEMO AND SURGERY UPDATE

I went to see the Gyn-Oncology yesterday for a full exam. We talked about my ovaries, and the spot that showed on the PET Scan. He feel I need to have Laparoscopic Surgery to remove both ovaries , the mass will be tested while I am under. If the mass turns out to be cancer he will then make a small incision and remove the uterus and look around and remove anything looking funny. Dr Nycum was worried if we did the surgery first I will half to delay chemo for 3 to 4 more weeks. He was going to get with my other Oncology Doctor and they were going to talk and find the best steps for me and they had me return today to see Dr. Shearer.

Today we meet with Dr Shearer and she thinks I need to start Chemo, which I will start on Monday. I will have two sets, and then have surgery to remove my ovaries in late February.

Chemo Information:
They are going to give me three types of chemo (Taxotere, Cyclophospamide, Adriamycin) all at once. Taxotere will be in a shot form, that will take 10 minutes to give to me. The other two chemo will be an IV bag that will drip into me slowly. I will have my chemo treatment every three weeks. I will go in the following day to get a Neulasta shot that will help boost my white blood counts. I will go in every week to have blood work that will check on my white Blood Cells (WBC), Hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), and platelets (PLT). My doctor will see me every three weeks.

There are a lot of side effects that I will have include Nausea, so the doctor is putting me on 4 types of Nausea medicines, one of them will have steroids.

I will have the total of 6 treatments.

After all my treatments and surgery, I will have 5 weeks of radiation treatments for 10 minutes a day. Then start reconstruction surgery.

I want to thank everyone for all the prayers, all the cards, gifts and most of all, the support and love.

Love Always,
Renee

PS: The Breast Cancer was Stage 3, this is way they didn't want to keep putting off my chemo treatments, the cancer was the fast growing kind and already was spreading to the lymph nodes.

They did tell me it is easier to treat the fast growing type cancer..

PS: Please feel free to pass this email along to any family member or friends I have missed.

Love all of you......

Doctor Appointment Update

Some days I feel like I am on a roller coaster Ride.

I went to the Oncology Appointment yesterday for all my follower ups. My appointment wasn't what I hoped it would be.

I had a PET Scan done on the 19th of December before my surgery on the 22nd. A PET Scan will light up any cancer in the body, my breast lit up like a Christmas Tree, and a spot on my left ovary lit up also. We went on with the surgery to remove my left breast and the two enlarged lymph nodes. They removed a total of 14 lymph nodes, 12 from under the arm and two in the chest area. Their was only two that was cancer, which is really good.

I had blood work done before Surgery and a week after surgery, which both time cancer levels was in the normal range.

I found out yesterday, that my cancer in the breast was the fast growing type, and isn't like the normal breast cancer. They are worried now about the ovary.

I go this Friday, the 12th for an ultra sound for the ovary, and a scan of my heart. The scan for the heart is to make sure before starting chemo that everything is working correctly. Both my Oncology doctors are worried that the cancer has spread from my breast to my ovary, if this is the case they may need to adjust my chemo treatments. If it is cancer in my ovary we are hoping it is different type of cancer.

Either way it looks like I may have have my ovary removed and also my uterus. Which my baby making days are over, since Steven was 11 lbs.

So far I will start chemo the week of the 22 nd with four arounds (or 4 months not sure) of Adriamycin every two to three weeks, then start Taxol and Cyclophosphamide every two to three weeks four rounds or 4 months not sure. Then I will have to do radiation treatment then Reconstruction .

Please pray for Steve, Stephanie, Steven, my mom, and my brothers. That God will help them with all I am going through, plus pray for my doctors. I know with God on my side and all love and support I am getting from all that loves me I will be fine. But my family is who I worry about, I love them all so much.

Love Always,
Renee

New Christmas Outfits

These outfits was given to the kids for Christmas from a dear friend I work with. They were really proud and keep looking in the mirror at themself. Thanks Almer for the outfit.

Steven on a tag-along

Seinfeld Land

I went back to the surgeon, to have incisions and tubes looked at. My surgeon wasn't there so I had to see the other doctor. I was sore and could hardly move my arm. I had two drainage tubes.

On the way to the doctor Steve was joking with me about the doctor and told me it was going to be like the doctor on Seinfeld when Elaine got bit by the dog. As soon as the doctor walked in it was like I walked into a episode of Seinfeld.

Steve was siting in the chair on the other side of the room with his eyes closed and I was trying my best to lay flat on the table, which I haven't laid flat since the surgery. When the doctor ask to look at the site and tubes, the doctor told me I need to raise my arm higher, I told him I couldn't raise it any higher. The next thing Steve heard was me moan loudly, he showed me I could raise it higher. The doctor told me he was going to remove both tubes, all I can say it hurt worse than the surgery. I thought he was pulling my insides out. I know everyone in the waiting room heard me loud and clear.

After he was done I was trying to ask him question about the lymph nodes and the surgery, all he kept saying was two was involved. I could never get him to understand me.

It wasn't funny at the time, but now since it is all over I have to laugh about it. This doctor was just like the doctor in this episode of Seinfeld(The Glasses), from his manner, glasses, accent everything. You must watch the clip of the show to get a good picture of how my doctor visit went.

Christmas Pictures

I was unable to go to all the Christmas Eve service at Church this year, but Steve took the kids to all of them, except for the Candle Light it was to late for them and he was scared to leave me at home by myself. The kids had a wonderful Christmas, they woke up around seven and was ready to open gifts. We went to my mom's house to open gifts and eat breakfast. Everyone was going to come to our house this year, but Stephanie wouldn't have that, she wanted to go to her maw maw's house. Everyone was their but Sharon (sister-in-law) she had to work this year. After we left my mom's we went to Steve's parents and ate supper and open more gifts. All in All it was a very nice Christmas.

Surgery Update

This is the first time I am able to update anyone, surgery went really good. They removed the left breast, an they took out only two lymph nodes. Plus they put in the porter catheter for chemo. I feel like I was ran over by a truck. I should find out about the lymph nodes tomorrow.

They sent me home the very next day, with no stitch or staples, they only used tape.

The kids are doing really great with everything, they want to watch Steve drain my tubes. So we let them, Steven ask if it is time to drain my blood. Mom stayed with us for two days, she went home Christmas eve. Steve has been wonderful, helping me with everything and when I mean everything I mean everything. I am typing with one arm now. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and thanks so much for the prayer and all the wonderful emails and calls. When i am able I well update more.

Love always
Renee

Surgery Update

Friday I went to the Oncology and Surgeon, Surgery is next Friday the 22nd.
I will be having an Modified Radical Mastectomy and removal of any Lymph
Nodes that are affected.

Prayer has been working, I did have 10 Lymph Nodes swollen, but today
they only felt two... So please keep the prayers coming.

I will spend the night and go home the very next morning, I will start
chemo two to three weeks later.

They doctor has already wrote me out of work, I have appointments every
day next week to get me prepared for surgery.

I will keep you updated as time gets closer.

Thanks so much for the prayers,
I love everyone,
Renee

MRI UPDATE

I want to say thank you to everyone for all your prayers. It really means a lot to me.

I got the result from my MRI on Friday, it was what I was hoping for but
with God on my side I am going to be fine.

One of the mass was 3.5 cm with a baby growing from it which is .6 cm. They
said my Lymph nodes was very suspicious and enlarged, they want know for
sure if the cancer has spread until the day of the surgery. They said I am
in Stage 2.

They fax all my test to an Oncology for appointment for Monday or Tuesday,
if they are unable to see me before Wednesday, the Surgery is going on with
the operation.

The doctors suggest I have the breast removed, maybe both.

I will let everyone know the day of my surgery, I told them it has to be
before the 20th or after. That is when they kids are having their Christmas
play.

Please continue to pray for me, my doctors and for Steve and the kids.
Please say a special prayer for my mom and brothers, they are having a hard
time also.

UPDATE & PRAYER REQUEST

I got my result back from my test on Wednesday, it wasn't what I wanted to hear. I am asking everyone to please pray for me and my family. I go next week for a MRI to check both Breast and to check to see how deep the mass is. Depending on what the MRI say will depend on what type of surgery I will need. Please say a special prayer for Steve and the kids, I haven't told the kids just yet. I am waiting to see how my MRI turns out. Thanks for all your love and support.

Love in Christ,
Renee

PRAYER REQUEST

I have been under a lot of stress this past week; I had to have a biopsy done yesterday. I found a lump in my breast a couple of weeks ago, plus my lymph nodes are enlarged. They are hoping it is just infection. I should have my test result back today or in the morning.

Please say I prayer for me that my test will come back good.

THANKSGIVING PARADE 2006