March 25, 2011

Zapped!

The zapping finally started this week!  On Tuesday at 2:00, I began the first of 35 radiation treatments.  It is really incredibly civilized and runs like clockwork.  I have a standing appointment everyday at the same time.  I chose 2:00 because it allows me to get things done in the morning (or putter) have lunch (hopefully with friends) and then go get zapped.  I am home before the kids get home.  For those of you who are good at reading between the lines, you know that means, I get home in time for a quick nap!

The technicians do seem a little over the top with their felt markers.  I have all sorts of lines drawn on my chest!  Then they cover them with tape to protect them from disappearing.  So much for that little strapless number I had planned to wear!

You may wonder why I started on Tuesday instead of Monday.  Well, Steve and I took a little field trip to Sacramento on Monday.  I was honored as Woman of the Year from the 41st Assembly District.  It was an amazing and humbling experience.  Two weeks ago I received a call from Assemblywoman Julia Brownley's office asking how I was doing and when would I start radiation.  I was a little stunned they new so much about my schedule, but became speechless when they told me why they were asking.  Monday, March 21 the State of California would be celebrating the centennial of Women winning the vote in California by honoring one woman from each Assembly District.  Julia was asking me to be her Woman of the Year.  Humbled, dumbstruck, floored.  You name it, I felt it!  

Assemblywoman Julia Brownley and her WOY!

Needless, to say I accepted, postponed radiation by one more day, and flew to Sacramento with Steve.  It was truly an incredible day meeting Julia's staff, other Assembly members and hearing the accomplishments of the 79 other Women of the Year.  My family now refers to me as WOY!


Here is a link to Julia's website so you can see the "official portrait."  I am the one in the middle holding the plaque!!!
http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a41/Photos/default.aspx


So that's how my first week of radiation went.  I don't know what we will do for an encore.  I am still on Cloud Nine!

March 16, 2011

My Magical Moose

It has been just over 2 weeks since my surgery and I am feeling fine!  I do take a little nap every day (thank you Dad for teaching me the art of napping)! And I do feel little like a Barbie doll with those plastic you-know-whats.  I am sure it will start getting better now that I am back in physical therapy. 

I am feeling so fine, that Steve and I decided to take a quick trip to heaven  (aka Jackson!) for a little R&R before radiation. There's something about Jackson that brings us peace and comfort. We had no real plans.  Steve did some skiing while I puttered.  (Puttering is the ultimate relaxation for me.)  The one big plan that was realized -- seeing my moose.  There is something magical about moose for me.  They are incredibly gangly and awkward.  But they have incredibly soulful eyes.  I will drive miles out of my way to see a moose, just ask my kids!

On Saturday, our dear neighbors  called to report a moose in their yard.  Try as I might, I couldn't see him.  And as much as I wanted my moose, I wasn't going to post hole through 5 feet of snow to find a view point!  On Sunday, as I was trying to sleep in.  Steve called from the living room "Look out the window, a moose!"  I leaped out of bed grabbing for my glasses and camera.  Low and behold, a moose, MY moose, right there in our little pond!  This moose was in no hurry to go anywhere.  He just nibbled on our willows, then bedded down in a snow bank.  This went on for hours. I know because I planted myself in the living room and watched!  I didn't even have to go looking -- the moose came to me!  

Almost as exciting as the moose I went for  my first post-surgery walk with "the girls."  No I don't mean my new breasts, I mean my neighbors, Jean, Sally and Carol!  It was a gorgeous sunny day.  The view was breathtaking.  Thirty minutes of exercise for the body yields infinite value for the soul!

The last thing I want to mention about our trip is the wine.  On two successive nights we had a favorite red, Shafer's Relentless.   There's just something about that name that keeps us going.  Relentless describes so many things right now: the relentless support of my family and friends, the relentless determination to fight, and the relentless optimism we all share.






I relentlessly love you all,

February 27, 2011

A Slight Change in Plans!

Valentine’s Day brought us a little change in plans. In fact, within hours after I hit “send” with my update, we had a three-way Doctor confab and decided to postpone radiation for 3 weeks and do a little surgery instead.  It is really a good thing.  I had surgery, Thursday, February 24, to replace those @#*&ing (pardon my own little oscar F bomb) expanders with permanent implants.  I am recovering nicely at home.

When I was at my plastic surgery appointment on Valentine’s Day, Dr. DaLio mentioned it would be great if we had three more weeks, so we could get the implants in and be done with surgery now.  The alternative was keeping the expanders in until Fall.  Just hearing the word, Fall, got my engines going and we got on the phone to the radiologist and oncologist.  After that first call it was decided to  just leave the schedule as it was since we were ready to start Wednesday.  Well, you all know me, and the die had been cast, the line had been set, the eggs were cooling, the fat lady had sung . . .  I had a bee in my bonnet now about the thought of being DONE with surgery so I went into Advertising Account Executive mode as only I can.  Following some further social networking among my oncologist, radiologist and plastic surgeon, and guess what? Now, they were all in agreement there was no risk in postponing radiation, and in fact, the outcome will most likely be better radiating with implants rather than the expanders.  So we went full speed ahead with the change in plans.
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One of the reasons I chose Dr. Da Lio is that he has access to cohesive  breast implants, better known as gummy bear implants.  They are approved in Europe and Canada, but remain under study by the FDA.  They are shaped in a more anatomically correct fashion than standard silicone or saline implants, don’t leak when cut and will, most likely, have less scar tissue build up after radiation.  UCLA is part of a clinical study so I just needed to fill out a little paperwork and we were good to go.  The little paper work turned out to be three legal documents so I had my attorney, Mr. Grossman, go over them with his fine tooth comb.  Then, there were two 10 page questionnaires with unusual questions about lifestyle and reasons for the implants  including “on a scale of 1 to 10 will gummy bears improve my dating life”  and "on a scale 1 to 10 how is my health" — I chose excellent, of course!.   Once the paperwork was completed, Dr. DaLio wanted to be sure we were completely comfortable with the gummy bears so he very generously offered Steve the opportunity to feel the implants “in situ.”   While Steve was grateful for the offer, he politely declined, even though the Dr. insisted it was a “really great patient who wouldn’t mind.”

To hear more about these gummy bears click here for a quick take by Maura Tierney on Ellen DeGeneres.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlpIMlR1P5U    Very funny!

So that is how we came to postpone radiation and have surgery.  It’s now 3 days since surgery and I am doing really well.  Just 2 drains this time!  Steve, Ella and Cody gave me a little rest today and even returned from Malibu with a banana milkshake for me (which goes well with gummy bears)!

Thank you to everyone who has called and emailed to see how my zapping is going.  It will most likely start mid March.  Thanks for all your positive thoughts. We are acceptng visitors so give us a holler and came by

February 14, 2011

Happy Valentines Day!

This is an especially auspicious Valentine’s Day!  We are sending tons of heartfelt hugs to all of you who have been such pillars of strength and support for us!

Cupid is shooting this Valentines wish with his trusty bow and arrow as I prepare to get the last round from that healing quiver.  I start radiation this week.  I will go in every day at 2:00 for the next 7 weeks to get zapped.  They put 4 tiny little tattoos on my chest to make it very easy to find the right spot each time.  There goes my righteous stand against tattoos!  The side effects from radiation are supposed to be nothing like chemo — a little redness and a little more tired — but that’s it.

None of you will be surprised to hear, my doctors’ reminders that my recovery from surgery has been swift has fallen on deaf impatient ears.    I want to be back on that tennis court, or at least able to put my hands over my head!  And I am chafing at having to ask for help to reach that top shelf in the grocery store!

I was forbidden to work out for the first 4 weeks following surgery, but now it’s full speed ahead.  I actually went to the gym today.  I am working with a trainer to get a program going to improve my overall strength and energy, and also to increase the range of motion in my arms.  It felt great, but I am wondering how I will feel tomorrow!!

We are sending lots of love back to each of you.  If it does not feel quite as strong, it is only because I cannot yet pull back the bow with full strength!

January 12, 2011

New Year, New Breasts!

Finally, we can put 2010 behind us and celebrate the New Year, in oh so many ways!  My January 6 bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction was successful and without complications.  My parents came up and hung out at the hospital with dear friends, Margot and Joe, Laurie and cousins Randee and Ken. ( I really felt I was missing a party!. ) I spent four and a half hours in the OR  on Thursday afternoon and got to go home on Saturday, pretty fabulous!  Both doctors seem to have been extremely pleased with the results.  The following Monday the plastic surgeon removed  2 of the 5 drains  and on Wednesday received the final pathology report that indicated there was only cancer in one of 24 lymph nodes removed and in the duct where they were unable to get clear margins last time.  In each case the cancer cells showed the effect of the chemo. Yippee!   Thursday, just a week after surgery, the plastic surgeon removed the remaining drains.  Not to be too graphic, but walking around with 5 hand grenade size drains clanking on your tummy isn’t the most wonderful feeling, so you know you are moving ahead when they go bye bye.

Within 3 weeks, I should be able to start expansion and by early February I should start radiation.


Thank you all for your cards, COOKIES, emails, COOKIES, flowers, COOKIES, books, fruit, and well wishes. We love you all and thank for keeping us in your lives, thoughts and prayers. 

January 1, 2011

Finally, It's 2011!

We had a wonderful holiday in Jackson Hole.  As much as I  missed being with my folks, sister and brother-in-law over the holiday, an extended vacation in Jackson was just what I needed to put things behind us.  We had a blast.  Some highlights include  

Look Ma, no tree top!

No problem, we'll just hammer one in!

1) arriving in Jackson to find out there are no Christmas trees anywhere, zero, zip, nada, totally sold out.  Never one to be deterred, I put out an APB to my local network.  Within minutes I had several offers.  One from our landscaper who offered to go in the woods, cut one down and have her goat drag it from the forest.  The second, from a woman who had 2, her sister in law was taking one and we were invited to take the left over for FREE.  You can imagine what it looked like.  If you can’t I am including a photo.  It didn’t have a top, so we nailed a branch to the top.  Very Charlie Brown.  But we loved it!

Cody and friend on the dike!

2) Cody was in dog heaven.  He returned to his native climate of snow and had so much fun.  (Almost as much fun as we had, toweling him off after every adventure).  He found plenty of dogs to play with on our daily 2 mile walks.

3) Ella received an early Christmas present of a banana snow board that she was able to use for the 3 days prior to Christmas.  She did her first Tram run this year in negative 6 degree weather.  It took me two days to thaw her out!

Our favorite things!

4) Steve gave Andie a driving lesson in the snow and we allowed her to take 6 kids to dinner in the Suburban!  What were we thinking!!!! They had a marvelous time!

5)  I decided that downhill is not my sport this year.  I went out for 2 short runs, figured out I had no stamina or lower body strength (no upper body strength for that matter either), had a “yard sale” and went in to hone my apres ski skills

Steve as he looked at Stanford!

6) Steve wearing his 80s moustache stocking stuffer and Santa boxers all day long, including on a 5 mile walk, until   his friend Bill could see it!  

Our beautiful Charlie Brown tree!

My children and husband have been truly unbelievable.  They have maintained their sense of humor.  Shown incredible patience.  And been rock solid in supporting me.  May those traits carry over into 2011 !

December 17, 2010

 Thank you for your thyme!

It’s been two weeks since my final chemo treatment.  Yahoo!  Steve took me to Cedars to get the port out of my arm the moment we finished.  That was also a great relief!  Because it was the sixth treatment I was a little slower to recover this time.  So we are especially grateful to our private chefs: Tracy, Amy, Elizabeth, Diane, Kim and Rob. Huge kudos to Laurie who drove me to all 6 chemo appointments and accompanied me to doctor appointments when Steve was in NYC, and of course, thank you to Margot who kept me laughing through my final hydration!

I have a double mastectomy scheduled for January 6 at St. John’s hospital here in Santa Monica.  The surgeon is Dr. Armando Giuliano, a very highly regarded doctor and head of the breast center there, and the plastic surgeon is a Bruin, Andrew Da Lio.  Had to give a nod to the blue and gold somewhere in this!  I will be in  the hospital for a couple of days and then home recuperating.

This past week has been a flurry of doctor appointments because I want everything done and out of the way so we can enjoy our holiday.  The girls have been just as busy.  Andie got her braces off, hooray!  But of course is camera shy so I can’t show you her beautiful smile.  Ella looked like a Cirque du Soleil performer in her trapeze recital that Tom and Jan got a chance to witness!  And, poor Steve has been in NYC for more than a week trying valiantly to close deal.

Our trapeze artist!

Today is the last day of school for the kids.  Andie has survived 4 finals and a paper.  Ella had to complete two projects!  We all can’t wait to pack up and head for Jackson.  Ella, Steve and Cody are driving on Sunday.  Andie and I are flying on Monday.  We anticipate some wonderful time alone with just the 5 of us and just as wonderful time hanging with our friends and neighbors in Jackson.

Every friend who brought a meal or drove received a little gift from us — a little thyme plant thanking them for their “thyme.”  As the year and the first chapter in this journey comes to a close we want to thank you all for your “thyme” spent thinking and praying about us.    So here is a little thyme for each of you.