In the breast cancer community besides all the obvious words that nobody wants to hear, there is another word, Lymphadema. This is a condition that can occur as a result of removing Lymph nodes from under the arm because the cancer has moved from the breast to the lymph nodes or they suspect that this is the case. Lymphadema occurs because the Lymphatic System is compromised and can no longer move the fluids around the body correctly, resulting is swelling in the arm and hand and can become quite severe resulting in infections and other problems. Unfortunately there is no cure for this condition and so prevention and immediate intervention is important. Today I had to meet with a therapist to educate and train me on dealing with this problem. She took one look at my arm and said, "It looks to me like you have some "L" word. I told her that I wasn't feeling any symptoms and my arms are chronically fat because they match my hips and thighs." Well, we spent a couple of hours together and I must admit that I learned a lot some of which could prove to be very helpful. Apparently, repetitive motion is not a friend of "L" word. Some of the activities that she listed were vacuuming, ironing, scrubbing, washing windows, anything where you repeat the motion. (Darn!) Of course you could use your other hand, simple solution. Way too simple, therefore it must be flawed!! Besides this is my right arm we are talking about and I am right handed. No more heavy lifting with that arm, so I can quit training for Mrs. Universe - That's a relief!! I had to downsize my purse. No more backpacks and heavy purses. This required the purchase of a really cute purse. (Medically necessary!)
The Lady that I met with this morning sent me over to Stella, the lady who was going to fit me for this lovely compression sleeve and glove. Stella took one look at me and said, "Looks to me like you have some "L" word." What? She left the room to get some sleeves for me to try and I felt the tears well up in my eyes. Oh, how I was hoping to avoid this problem. I wanted that first lady to be wrong. By the time Stella returned with the sleeves I had regained my composure. Now this sleeve goes from my wrist to my arm pit and it has a very fashionable fingerless glove that comes with it. Of course, it is flesh colored so I doubt anyone will ever even notice it. (Even I'm not that delusional.) I feel a little like a rock star, "Yo Yo down in the hood!" One final kicker to this amusing day. I have quite large varicose veins on my legs so they thought I should also get thigh high compression socks. Oh will the fun ever end!!?
I have divulged my secrets and you have seen me at my worst! I felt a little like crying today but tell me, what good would that do besides I am now focused on the fashion industry. You can't tell me that with some of the fashion out there that I couldn't have a chance to make my compression socks (they really suck the fat in) and my compression sleeve (it looks like you belong in the hood) popular!!?? Kelly, Tracy, Megan and Morgan you are fashionistas, can you get on this?
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
I'M GOING TO BRAG FOR A MOMENT.....
Okay, so this might be a string of moments but I figure that I'm a mother and that is what mothers do.
Morgan has been attending The University of Utah this past year as a freshman on a soccer scholarship. Freshman year is traditionally known to be a challenging year because of all the adjustments that must be made but I really must say that her freshman year while having all the standard challenges was fraught with many additional difficulties.
The soccer season started off quite well and she was starting and playing every game. We were fortunate enough to fly up to Utah for several games and also attend some of her away games. In October while playing in a game against Utah Valley University she tore her ACL, partially tore her LCL and Meniscus ending her freshman season, requiring surgery and necessitating a 6 month rehab.
It was in the very same week that she was injured that I made the painfully difficult phone call to tell her that I had been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. This was very troubling news and she seemed much more worried about me than the pending knee issues. Oh, the lengths we mothers will go to to help our children. (Just kidding) We both ended up having surgery the same week so neither Doug nor I were able to be with her to help her get through that first very painful week. Thank heavens for Megan and Ryan who came to the rescue. They brought her home to their tiny apartment and even gave up their bed. Boyfriend Ryan was Johnny on the Spot trying to meet all her needs. I found solace in knowing that she was in such good hands. She has wanted so much to be here with me and that has been difficult but I get my multiple phone calls every day.
The University of Utah has turned out to be a little more of a commuter school than she had hoped and at times this has been quite challenging to deal with. Fortunately, Ryan her boyfriend and best friend, who she had also dated in high school, was also attending U of U for the Fall Semester but he was leaving to go on a mission at the end of January so it was about to get more challenging. The first two weeks we had tearful phone calls every night and we had to call her in off the ledge. She spent a lot of time with Megan, Ryan and Addie which helped a lot along with numerous phone calls to all of her other siblings. It would be much harder to raise your kids without the help from brothers, sisters and brother-in-laws. We are passed the "jump lady jump" stage and she has settled into a routine of writing, reading and dating.
Here is the bragging part - in spite of all these issues she managed to make the Presidents Honor Roll, be inducted into the National Honor Society and the NCAA Student Athlete Award. Tim said, "There must be a mistake and he has started an investigation". (He is just kidding.)
Typically an injury like the one that she sustained would take up to a year for recovery to be cleared to play again. She was just tested and her knee functions rated into the high 90% range and so she has been cleared to play and it has only been ( I say "only", she feels like it has been an eternity) 6 months. This required considerable effort and focus on her part. She has done physical therapy and strength training nearly every day for 6 months and it obviously paid off.
I had a long conversation with her tonight and she was explaining to me how difficult this year has been and that there were many times when she really wasn't sure that she could do what needed to be done. She told me how up until this year her life had been sailing along quite smoothly. She hadn't really had many trials to overcome. This year, while she will be glad to see it come to a close she is very grateful for all the things that she has learned.
As her Mom I am impressed by all that she has accomplished but I am most proud of the growth that I have seen in all aspects of her life. Growth through trials is ground hard fought for and you have to leave some on the battlefield. You have to dig deep into your soul and find the courage and strength you need to do things that you don't think you can do. You have to put to the test your faith that The Lord knows and loves you and understands and cries every single tear with you. In our conversation tonight it was clear to me that she has walked this path and the things that she has learned and are still learning have changed her life forever.
I love you, Morgan and I am very proud of you.
Morgan has been attending The University of Utah this past year as a freshman on a soccer scholarship. Freshman year is traditionally known to be a challenging year because of all the adjustments that must be made but I really must say that her freshman year while having all the standard challenges was fraught with many additional difficulties.
The soccer season started off quite well and she was starting and playing every game. We were fortunate enough to fly up to Utah for several games and also attend some of her away games. In October while playing in a game against Utah Valley University she tore her ACL, partially tore her LCL and Meniscus ending her freshman season, requiring surgery and necessitating a 6 month rehab.
It was in the very same week that she was injured that I made the painfully difficult phone call to tell her that I had been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. This was very troubling news and she seemed much more worried about me than the pending knee issues. Oh, the lengths we mothers will go to to help our children. (Just kidding) We both ended up having surgery the same week so neither Doug nor I were able to be with her to help her get through that first very painful week. Thank heavens for Megan and Ryan who came to the rescue. They brought her home to their tiny apartment and even gave up their bed. Boyfriend Ryan was Johnny on the Spot trying to meet all her needs. I found solace in knowing that she was in such good hands. She has wanted so much to be here with me and that has been difficult but I get my multiple phone calls every day.
The University of Utah has turned out to be a little more of a commuter school than she had hoped and at times this has been quite challenging to deal with. Fortunately, Ryan her boyfriend and best friend, who she had also dated in high school, was also attending U of U for the Fall Semester but he was leaving to go on a mission at the end of January so it was about to get more challenging. The first two weeks we had tearful phone calls every night and we had to call her in off the ledge. She spent a lot of time with Megan, Ryan and Addie which helped a lot along with numerous phone calls to all of her other siblings. It would be much harder to raise your kids without the help from brothers, sisters and brother-in-laws. We are passed the "jump lady jump" stage and she has settled into a routine of writing, reading and dating.
Here is the bragging part - in spite of all these issues she managed to make the Presidents Honor Roll, be inducted into the National Honor Society and the NCAA Student Athlete Award. Tim said, "There must be a mistake and he has started an investigation". (He is just kidding.)
Typically an injury like the one that she sustained would take up to a year for recovery to be cleared to play again. She was just tested and her knee functions rated into the high 90% range and so she has been cleared to play and it has only been ( I say "only", she feels like it has been an eternity) 6 months. This required considerable effort and focus on her part. She has done physical therapy and strength training nearly every day for 6 months and it obviously paid off.
I had a long conversation with her tonight and she was explaining to me how difficult this year has been and that there were many times when she really wasn't sure that she could do what needed to be done. She told me how up until this year her life had been sailing along quite smoothly. She hadn't really had many trials to overcome. This year, while she will be glad to see it come to a close she is very grateful for all the things that she has learned.
As her Mom I am impressed by all that she has accomplished but I am most proud of the growth that I have seen in all aspects of her life. Growth through trials is ground hard fought for and you have to leave some on the battlefield. You have to dig deep into your soul and find the courage and strength you need to do things that you don't think you can do. You have to put to the test your faith that The Lord knows and loves you and understands and cries every single tear with you. In our conversation tonight it was clear to me that she has walked this path and the things that she has learned and are still learning have changed her life forever.
I love you, Morgan and I am very proud of you.
GRANDKIDS ARE OUR BLESSING FOR GETTING OLDER
Caden, Taylor and now Carter have all learned how to call me on their Mom's cell phones. This came as quite a shock to their Mom's when I told them how much I appreciated the cute phone calls that I was receiving. Tracy asked Taylor, "Do you know how to call Grandma?" " Sure that is easy, " was the reply. You just have to push the one that says "M-o-m". Well, the cat's out of the bag, but I d my secret phone calls. Caden and Taylor call me almost every Wednesday to see how Attitude Adjustment (aka Chemo) went that day and today was no exception. Taylor was delighted to learn that everything went well and I was feeling great! She wanted to know if I could be around people again and I told her that I could but that I still had to be careful. She then said, " You have to be careful because you don't want to get them sick?" "Well not exactly," I said. "I have to be careful because I don't want them to make me sick". "Oh," she said. The next thing she wanted to know was if I was eating blueberries everyday because they are very good for me and they will make me healthy. I told her that she was absolutely right and that I was trying to eat plenty of fruit, including blueberries, and lots of vegetables. She seemed to be relieved to here this and then when I told her that I was also trying to walk everyday she was more than a little proud. Tracy, you have obviously done a good job teaching the importance of nutrition and exercise. Caden and Carter have been in Orlando, Florida for the week having a wonderful time so I didn't get my usual phone call from them, I am assuming that the cell phones are more closely guarded or maybe I just can't compete with Disney World and Epcot. I choose to believe that the cell phones are unavailable. (Delusion a side effect of Chemo!)
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