Lauren’s Surgery
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Lauren had her MRI on Sunday and we met with Dr. Sonnenday today at U of M. He said he was happy with the way the scans looked. Her liver had filled in where he removed tumors and there were no signs of any more tumors on that side. He said her liver hasn’t regenerated as much as he’s hoped, but considering how much chemo she has had and the Theraspheres, he is happy. Her labs were all in the normal range which is great. He told her she can quit taking the Lasix, potassium, and Lovenox. He thought she looked much better since losing her fluid and her incision is healing nicely. He informed us that Lauren’s next surgery will be on May 15th. That just so happens to be my birthday, and what a great birthday present that will be to have my daughter get the bad part of her liver removed!!! I couldn’t ask for anything better! So, she will be having the right side removed, possible inferior vena cava reconstruction, and portal lymph node dissection. He said depending on the extent if any vena cava reconstruction, this surgery will be between three and eight hours. She will probably be in the ICU for one night and in the hospital for around a week. Lauren’s oncologist, Dr. Zalupski popped in today for a quick visit too, and thought Lauren looked great. We asked Dr. Sonnenday if someone could take pictures of her tumor when it is removed and he said yes. This is the huge one that when first discovered was 17cm. x 19cm. It has shrunk some, but is still quite large. We just really want to see what it looks like. I will probably post a pic on the blog. Lauren is psyched for this surgery and knows now what to expect. Thanks in advance for your prayers. We wouldn’t be nearly as strong if it wasn’t for your support.
Love,
-PamPam,
I am just logging on as I’ve been gone a while… Just wanted to send more healing wishes Lauren’s way and tell you I’m glad her health has improved SO much.
WillowPam…Susie made me do it – glad she did – I love reading the blogs on our site.
It is wonderful to see that you have become such great buddies with Lisa and are able to keep up your lunch dates.
Lauren is bound to be tired – the liver can be quite unforgiving and the surgery is adding quite a bit more – but she will regain her strengths and will enjoy her wedding as any bride should.
Good luck on Monday. Loving thoughts are accompanying you to the visit with Dr. Sonnenday.Hugs,
MarionI just read your latest blog entry. I love all the dog pictures! They are cuties.
Glad to hear Lauren is improving and look forward to hearing her surgery is set.
So glad to hear she lost so much weight.
Take care,Susie
Well Pam, sounds like things are ‘flowing’ nicely. I hope the visit this weekend goes swimmingly well! Oh, and I know the pounds are floating, oh don’t I know. Out here in Phoenix people are starting to put towels at the base of their doors! All kidding down the drain, you know I try to make you smile even while your shoes are getting damp. I have everything crossed for your visit Sunday and Monday….keeping everything crossed is the only way to stay dry. LOL
Hi everyone. I thought I would update on Lauren for those who don’t read my blog or get on FB. She is doing much better. In the last two weeks, she has lost 30 pounds of fluid. The last couple days she has lost 3 and 4 pounds each day overnight!! She is still tired and loses energy fairly quick and her appetite has not returned very much yet. She is starting to do a little more. She walks when she has the energy. We went to lunch with Lisa yesterday and Lauren and Gio went to his house tonight and had friends over for the first time since her surgery. We will be heading back to Michigan for an MRI on Sunday and labs and a visit with Dr. Sonnenday on Monday. We will probably learn her next surgery date at that time. That is about it for now. I will update when I hear anything new. Thanks for all your nice replies.
Love,
-PamPam…so glad to know that Lauren is loosing some of the fluid retained. It is understandable to not want to move around much when pain is involved (legs) but the crazy things is that often times it is the answer to a problem.
At least things are on the upswing.
Hugs,
MarionPam, I’m sorry Lauren isn’t feeling so hot yet, but it’s great that her blood work is normal. And I’m so happy the dr’s don’t think it’s ascites. I was so worried she was going to be readmitted. Glad she gets to recover at home instead of in the hospital.
Take care and keep us posted!
Susie
Hi Faith, I am so glad to see your smiling face and thanks for catching up around here. I HOPE you take your Doc up on that other opinion, you never know how someone else will see things. If stubborn is working, then stay stubborn! I love comfort food. Teddy did well on it too. Like homemade chicken soup, tuna casserole, chicken stew with dumplings. Now I am getting hungry, Wishing you the veru best and please let uf know if you go to OSMC.
Pam, I’m glad to hear Lauren is doing as well as she can. I will pray for her to get back to a life where things are half way to normalcy. I understand how you can loose so much weight. I went from 169 to 113 pounds in 8 weeks. Time is what it will take to get her strength back and some good old fashioned cooking if she is able to handle it. I am fortunate to have a husband who stepped up to help me. I laid on the love seat during the day and in bed at night. I don’t remember a whole lot from back then. I’m glad they were able to remove some of the cancer from her body. My cancer is in operable. It is in my biliary tree and it has metastized to other parts of my body. The good thing about my cancer is my CA 19-9 is only 36. I’m doing better than they expected me too and I’m told it is because I’m too d__ stubborn to give in so I’m glad Lauren is stubborn as well. My doctor has suggested I go to Ohio State Medical Center to see about some options I may have to improve my outlook. Oh and I should say I don’t log on to this web site as often because I do try to pull a full time job and I’m on the computer at work all day so I don’t particularly like coming home and getting on the computer here. All of you take care of yourselves and each other for in that is where you will find hope and a little understanding of what is to come. Take care.
Thanks, Lainy, Mary and Gavin. Lauren feels better today and her legs look a little less puffy. She went downstairs and walked on the treadmill for 15 minutes. She is trying so hard to feel better.
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