Home again, Home again....

Just wanted to update you all that Pam is back home from the hospital. I'm sure she'll check in soon!

Chris

Pam's back in the hospital....she'll be back soon! We hope!

The Margins Are Clear!

We got the word today, the margins are clear on the biopsy of my mom's breast tissue. This means that they got ALL of the cancer! No radiation.

No better Christmas present than that!

F. U. Breast Cancer!

What is hopefully the worst part of my mom's breast cancer is behind us. Her mastectomy was successful on Tuesday and the cancer

has not spread to her lymph nodes!!

She has truly been more amazing then I ever even knew. The only pain medicine she's taking is Tylenol, not even prescription Tylenol!

She spent Tuesday night in the hospital and came home yesterday. I went over and helped her take her first shower today.

She does not need any chemo & we find out on Friday if she will have to have any radiation.

This has brought my parents closer together and also our family as a whole.

My gastroparesis is still in full swing, leaving me with literally no appetite. 30 lbs. gone in 3 weeks. All of those times I was dieting, feeling so overweight (about 50 lbs. when this started) and I wished to just not be hungry, well I've learned to be careful what you wish for, lol! Some days all I can force down for the whole day is a yogurt and a handful of crackers.

I'm struggling to find foods I can force down and also with with *icky detail to follow* constant diarrhea, but today I was able to eat more than usual and I bought some Ensure drinks to try to keep my calorie count up. (Just typing the words "keep my calorie count up" is so weird for someone who has struggled with being overweight!)

There are so many of you who have been there for me and my mom with notes, cards, prayers...I am amazed and blessed and she is so surprised at the kindness that my blog readers have shown her. She has never read my blog (probably a good thing!) & her and my dad say they "just don't get the whole blog thing", but are thankful and greatful for the many of you who sent cards and prayers.

I could never have known, when I started this blog, the kind of love and support I would find here, but I am thankful for it every day. I have survived many dark days knowing that you are out there.

Hello Again!

Hello friends,

It's Mimi here, not Chris this time. I have been in & out of the hosptial a couple of times, but now I have a new diagnosis. Gastroparesis. I made that a link so you guys can check it out, but it mainly means that I have a lazy stomach that does not process the food when I eat it. The stomach muscles don't contract nearly as much as they should, so food just sits there for too long and causes pain. This is usually associated with diabetes, which I don't have, but probably will in the future.

The good news is that I've lost 25 lbs. in 3 weeks, the bad news is I'm never hungry and eating makes me want to barf. I don't know how many times in my life I wished "just make me stop being hungry!" Well this time it took and I'm finding out that I need to be careful what I wish for!

I had botox done on my pylorus (the muscle that moves food from your stomach to your intestines) this morning and that's supposed to help. There's only a 50% success rate with the botox though and it could take up to 2 weeks for me to notice if there's a difference.

Tomorrow is my mom's mastectomy, so I may not be posting a whole lot again in the next few days, while I help to take care of her.

I'll keep you updated as much as I can.

I want you all to know how much your comments, prayers, and love have meant to me and my mom. It really is more than I can say. Hopefully I'll be by to see you all soon!

Pam is Sick Again

Pam's husband here. Pam went in the hospital last Wednesday- not sure when she'll be out. She can't wait to get back to reading all of your blogs.