August 26, 2010

Good Numbers!   

I went for blood tests today and they told me my numbers are perfect!  That means the medication that is supposed to build up white blood cells is working, and they medication that’s supposed to be blasting everything else to kingdom come is working too.  Supposedly, the worst is over until the next round.  I’m feeling about 80% of my normal energy right now, so it that’s what I have for 2 more weeks, watch out world!!

Thank you all for sending warm thoughts and wishes.  Most special thanks to you who have included me in your prayers, prayer groups and circles.  Sooner or later HE is going to get tired of hearing my name and say enough already she’s cured!!!!

August 23, 2010

Our two most important things!

This weekend was lovely!

OK, once we got over the domestic crisis of Steve thinking he should have final approval of my emailblasts, it was great! I went wig shopping on Friday. Luckily I had the presence of mind to bring along a very determined, and focused friend, Laurie McCarthy.  She wouldn’t let me go until the deed was done. So we purchased a lovely short bubble head wig circa 1950.  We then went straight to my hair salon and threw ourselves on the mercy of dear friends, Sean and Jen to cut it and color it into something decent.  I added the extra incentive that Jen could use any colors she wants, it doesn’t have to be gray!  She was so excited,  Watch out Katy Perry blue!

Steve took Ella dress shopping at Bloomingdales on Sunday. She needed a little frock for the Nordie’s opening that is benefiting Chrysalis on Wednesday.  While they were gone, I thought I would slip out to run an errand or two.  After 3 trips up and down the stairs unsuccessfully looking for my car key, (Andie had it in her purse!)  I did what any gal would do.  I lay down on the couch in Steve’s office and took a fabulous nap!

On a somber note, my dear friend Nancy Short, died on Saturday.  She had been ill, but we thought she was on the mend.  She was surrounded by her family, who was the most important thing on earth to her.  If you have time today please send a little prayer up for Nancy.  Thank you!

I have attached a photo of our two most important things on earth.  It is tough to get them in a photo much less a cute one, but thanks to Emmy award winning CNN camera woman, Mary Rogers  here it is! 

August 20, 2010

We made it through Day 2 relatively unscathed!

Day 2 is really just hydration to make sure all the chemicals are being efficiently flushed through the body.  We were at the end of two hours and ready to go, when  they had to remove my needle for a port that is implanted in my arm.  I reminded Steve he didn’t do so well when he saw the needle for Amnio, but being by pillar of strength, he watched anyway.  Down he went with his head between his knees and a can of pineapple juice to drink.  Being a sympathetic wife, my blood pressure immediately dropped to 85.  In came the reinforcements, including my oncologist.  We kept trying to explain it was just the needle, but 45 minutes later we were finally released.

Let this be a lesson to any of you who are volunteering to drive:  1) drop me off 2) go to Barney’s, Neiman’s, Saks, or anywhere on Rodeo and 2) only come and get me with the coast is clear and 3) never look at the needle!

The kids are doing well.  Andie having her license is a godsend.  She’s taking Ella to the beach today! I am going wig shopping!!!!!

Much love to you all!!  We couldn’t muddle through this without you

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.




 

July 14, 2010

My latest club -- the one no one wants to join!

We'll Begin at the Beginning

I started this blog as a way to keep our far flung network of friends and family up to date on my progress as I receive treatment for breast cancer.  Originally, we sent email updates, a series of 14 of them covering August 2010 until February 2011.  Then I  realized putting all the updates into a  blog would allow people to access updates they missed and also honor friend's requests to be added to the list.  Plus, I had the added bonus of editing the photos and captions in.  So that's how this blog began.  I cut and paste all the updates and voila -- you have My Latest "Club."

The Trifectans and family!

My story begins in Jackson,Wyoming in July 2010.  I felt a welt on my right breast, but nothing was visible on the outside.  I mentioned it to Steve and had him feel it.  We agreed I should get it checked out next time I went in for a mammogram, which is typically every 6 months.  I was going to be in LA for one day, July 12, as part of the Trifecta Celebration -- my Dad's 85th, my Mom's 82nd and Andie's 16th birthday celebration.  I don't know exactly what possessed me, but I called up and made an appointment at the Women's Breast Center for that day.  With only one day to spend at home and a million things to do I might easily have put off the exam, but thankfully I didn't.  A mammogram lead to an ultrasound and that fateful declaration, "Jill, you need to have a biopsy, I will make time for you today at 3:00."  Following the biopsy all I could do was return to Wyoming, get Ella ready to go to camp and wait 2 days for the results.

On July 14, I called the Breast Center and received the diagnosis that I had breast cancer.  It was a shock to say the least.  I had always been so cocky when I checked the NO box on physicals that asked about cancer.  There is no cancer in my family.  None!  I was in the parking lot of Foodtown, with Ella at the Main Event getting movies, when I called Steve in LA.  He asked if he could call me right back.  I screamed No into the phone and gave him the news.  The next step was to call my gynecologist and get some surgeon referrals.

Our little bit of heaven.

Our original plan for the Summer was for me to spend 8 weeks in Jackson.  Ella would head off to Teton Valley Ranch Camp on July 15 for 4 weeks and I would hang in Jackson visiting her on weekends and Steve and Andie would visit me.  Now, the whole goal was to get my ducks in a row on this cancer thing while getting Ella packed up for camp without her knowing what was going on.  If we told her, we knew there would be no camp.  So I was on my cell phone 24/7 talking to doctors, friends, and friends of friends with breast cancer, making a plan while packing lariats, cowboy boots and other camp paraphenalia for Ella.  We agreed Steve would fly in the day after I dropped Ella at camp,  help me close up the house, and drive me and Cody (our 95 pound Bernese Mountain dog home).

And that's exactly what we did!  All went smoothly.