August 17, 2010

Those incredible Tetons that sustain us.

The Breaking News!

Hello to our wonderful friends.   My family and I so appreciate all your cards, calls, letters,  emails.  It was been so comforting and at the same time energizing to know you are all here for us!  All of you are our dearest friends, whether you are in LA, San Diego, New York or Wyoming!


On July 26, I had a lumpectomy to remove what was supposed to be a 1.2cm tumor in my right breast.  Surprise, surprise, surprise!  It turned to be 6.2 cm and they couldn't get clear margins, which means some cancer remains in my breast.  So what we had thought was going to be a "walk in the park" cancer treatment, has now turned into a "whoa, this is really serious" cancer treatment.  I had an initial appointment scheduled with my oncologist, Dr. Philomena Andrews, in late August.  Abracadabra! Her office was calling me moving the appointment up to August 4!  That's what happens when your surgeon, the head of the breast center at Cedars, calls on your behalf!


We met with Philomena, who is a godsend, on August 4.  She was gentle, patient and incredibly hopeful.  All you could ask for really.  Based on our discussions with her we came up with a new plan.  I love plans!  Now I will have 6 treatments of chemo, a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction and 7 weeks of radiation.  With luck I will be done by Summer!

My wranglers!

We flew to Wyoming and brought Ella back from camp on Sunday.  She is the roping queen of Teton Valley Ranch Camp!  She took the news of the death of her nanny, Silvia, well, but thank goodness for Andie.  She did a great job being a big sister to Ella and comforting her. (Did I forge to mention our beloved Silvia was diagnosed with lung cancer this Spring?  She went so fast.  I was able to visit her several time in her last weeks, but Ella never saw her again!) Ella took my news well also.  One big long hug and an assurance the tumor is out of my body and she’s ready for the rest of the fight.

I start chemo on Wednesday.  First, I go  to Cedars to get a port in my arm to make it easier to inject the chemo and do blood tests.  Then, off to the Oncologists for several hours of “stuff.”  Steve is taking me and staying with me.  Thursday, I return to the oncologists for hydration.   That takes about an hour.  Andie is driving (did I mention she got her license on the first try in Winnetka!!!)  Then we are done for three weeks and resume on September 7 and 8.

So many friends have offered to drive, bring dinners, do errands etc, that Wendy Wintrob and Susan Harris have offered to set up a schedule using a website called lotsofhelpinghands.com.  Please don’t in anyway feel obligated to do something.  I know everyone has very busy lives.  But because so many asked ,we thought it would be easiest to set up a system so I don’t have to schedule or remember.  Apparently, I will suffer from “chemo brain” so if I start forgetting your names, that’s why!!! :)  They will be sending out an email shortly.

I would like to leave you with a parting thought from my dear friend, Father Norm,   “ I am struggling for the sustaining words, but all I can assure you of is that St. Paul said that there are many times that our prayers are sighs too deep for words.  My sighs, too, are yours.”  

My Mom is convinced that with all of our sighs we can become the sustaining wind that will just blow this thing away!

Thank you for all your love and support.  Our family so appreciates each and every one of you and your families!

As my friend Mary Flaherty says “Your life will never be the same, it will be BETTER.”

Here’s to a better life.