jathy1125

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  • in reply to: Wait a day (or an hour), treatment will change! #45352
    jathy1125
    Spectator

    Stacie-sorry that your dad has to deal with so many “plans”, but I am proof they do know what they are doing. I had all of the drugs they are deciding on with your dad, I took Xeloda for 5 months while waiting on transplant. If I hadn’t witnessed first hand there knowledge, I would probably be considering new doctors. Trust me you are with the best!! Anytime you need reassurance of there knowledge think about me, I shouldn’t be here, not once but twice!! Feel free to call anytime (618-567-3247) or just ask them about there “miracle” Cathy Dunnagan!! Lots of prayers-Cathy

    in reply to: No insurance and not old enough for Medicare #45267
    jathy1125
    Spectator

    Christine- CC has taught me to never “bitch” about insurance premiums. I was lucky that we had private insurance. I qualified with in weeks for SSD. You have to wait 6 months from diagnose to apply. I was diagnosed July 2008, applied Dec,2008 rec’d yes answer Dec 2008 and got my first check Feb 2009. You don’t get medicare until you have been on SSD for 2 years. I just reached 2 years and am finding out my medicare, supplement and drug coverage will be more than private insurance!! This is the most eye openning expierence. Good luck and lots of prayers- Cathy

    in reply to: Second opinion polar opposite?! #45314
    jathy1125
    Spectator

    Stacey-We did 5 day radiation with 24 hour 5-FU pump. Dr. Parik was my raadation oncologist. It was pretty easy, actual treatment was 10 mins I think. I got extremely tired about 2 weeks after treatments were done. I wasn’t bed ridden just tired. I remember meeting husband at Galleria to do Christmas shopping and being to exhausted. Never good when you can’t shop!! Just keep praying-Cathy

    in reply to: Needle biopsy – BEWARE #32105
    jathy1125
    Spectator

    Mom- I had 2 transplants (both cadaviers) because a month after first one on 4th of July my hepatic artery burst, due to radiation damage. They at first thought they could do a graft but realized it was “like trying to sew wet toilet paper”! They had to cut off liver function and I was given maybe 36 hours to find a new one. My battle is so full of miracles and what ifs.
    You are right about worrying, you can’t stop it, but you can keep remebering I am alive. My family and I always knew that I could be oppenned up to find out it had spread. I will always remember my husband, daughter and sisters faces when I woke up from surgery, I knew it was all good. Focus on that moment. Second transplant was a different story, they had decided to wait to tellme I had been transplanted again, my husband lasted 5minutes!!
    Do you know who your live donor will be. I also had to undergo 2 “fake liver
    calls”, both time I was prepped and just waiting for drip, when surgeons decided new liver was a no-go.
    Keep thinking about your boys, I have a 22 year old daughter. My first question when diagnosed was will I see her graduate college and dr. said yes. May 8,2009 I watched her walk across the stage and receive diploma. I ended up back in hospital next day (I got CMV, something immune suppressed people have to watch out for), but I saw her!! My diagnosis and recovery has been a 2 year journey, but I am alive and functioning.
    Good luck and keep praying, sending prayers your way. Feel free to e-mail Cathy

    in reply to: Teddy is at PEACE #45209
    jathy1125
    Spectator

    Lainy-all my love and prayers are with you. Thanks to your love, Teddy’s cancer was bearable, you made his struggle and pain worth it. God bless you and lots of prayers- Cathy

    in reply to: Needle biopsy – BEWARE #32103
    jathy1125
    Spectator

    Hi- I am 2 time transplanted cc survivor. My care and transplant was with Dr. Chapman at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. One of the first things told (and so much was said), was the fear of seeding. Exploratory surgery to make sure cancer hadn’t spread was a concern. My other option was 6-8 months, so it wasn’t very hard to do the math. I will be immune suppressed the rest of my life and that is the key word “the rest of my life” and once again the math on that was pretty simple! My drug bill for anti-rejection medicine is $2000.00 to $5000.00 a month, but like my doctor said I am worth at least that!! Don’t make yourself crazy with all the what “ifs” focus on the big picture, LIFE!! I am cancer free and alive due to 2 transplants!!- Cathy

    in reply to: Results come back clear #44902
    jathy1125
    Spectator

    Molly- Sorry about diagnosis. The first thing my doctor told me that brushings would come back negative, but he knew what he was looking at. They did finally come back positive after being sent to Mayo Clinic. I am a cc survivor because of his knowledge and expertise, another less expierenced doctor in cc would have taken a wait and see approach. Depending where you are, the Mayo Clinic or Barnes-Jewish Hospital are cutting edge cc hospitals. You might consider a second opinion. Good luck and lots of prayers. Cathy

    in reply to: More Questions than Answers! #44615
    jathy1125
    Spectator

    Wow that is an awful lot of information to get all at once. Try being thankful with all that,” but” thank god you are at Barnes. Does it kinda of amaze you that they want another opinion, you have to love a doctor who doesn’t have a God complex!!
    We will keep you in our prayers for a Barnes free thanksgiving. ( I can personally tell you that the holidays wern’t so bad there, in 2009 I spent Valentines, Easter, MothersDay Memorial Day, 4thof July and Labor Day there. Our family joke was if the post office is closed Cathy’s going to Barnes).
    Hang in there and thanks for the stock tip!! Lots of prayers-Cathy

    in reply to: Irritable, crabby, grouchy? #44526
    jathy1125
    Spectator

    Margaret, I am here to say there is no right or wrong behavior with this disease. I was the patient and apparently very difficult at times. I have the most laid back sweet daughter and all that went out the window after a few months of taking care of me, i had never heard such language out of her. My husband and her threatenned to put in a nursing home, which I said OK!! This was just a blurp in all there caretaking and now is told with so much humor! Another “moment” of this disease. Don’t worry about any evilness during this time, you won’t remember it and if you do it will be with love. Just stay focus on whats important and thats waking up to share another day, good or bad. Lots of prayers-Cathy

    in reply to: Mom was diagnosed Sunday 11/21 #44596
    jathy1125
    Spectator

    Hello Julie, sorry you had to find this site. I am a cc survivor. I live in southern Illinois and am alive today because of Dr. William Chapman and Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO. Barnes and Mayo-Clinic are both top hospitals for cholangio, it just depends which part of Indiana you are in. I was 53 when I was diagnosed and my only main sympton was being itchy. My tumor was inoperable and my only hope was a transplant. I had to do chemo, chemo pump-radiation and oral chemo before I could qualify for transplant. I ended up having 2 transplants. I was given the last rites twice. I am alive and celebrating my first healthy Thanksgiving in 2 years!! Thanks to God, he put me in the best care for cholangio. Feel free to e-mail me for more info or numbers if Barnes is closer for you. There is hope and lots of prayers going your way, I am proof of miracles. Cathy

    in reply to: The Holidays and CC #44576
    jathy1125
    Spectator

    Hello Gracefulmeadow, as a cancer survivor I have learned to let people do things. My chemo and radiation really didn’t “knock the wind out of my sail”, so I could still take myself, but people really wanted to do that. They just want to be there for you, this is as much there disease as is is yours. Your parents can use there gift certificate to host a family dinner for all the aunts and uncles who gave, I am sure it would help them feel good. You have to step back and let people help, its a great circle. Keep you in our prayers- Cathy

    in reply to: My CC stiry #44556
    jathy1125
    Spectator

    Yea Rachael! I am s cc survivor due to not one but two liver transplants!! I received my first transplant May 24, 2009 and my second July 4, 2009!! I am also a mother to a 23 year old amazing daughter (a little older than yours, haha!!). I was given only 36 hours to live, unless a new liver could be found. I was in a coma and on life support for 3 weeks and ICU for a month. I was in the hospital for another 3 months. Thanks to the most amazing doctor, Dr. William Chapman I am alive. I always tell the story how he told me I would see Cates, graduate from Murray State University, KY and on May 8, 2010 I did. Dr., Chapman is an american hero!! I am so excited to celebrate my first healthy holiday season in 2 years!!
    I am kinda of curious why chemo now, are you not cancer free? All my chemo and radiation was done prior to transplant as per protocol for trial.
    Congrats and lets keep reminding everyone to be a donor, you will save someones life, we are living proof!!! God’s miracle-Cathy
    (P.S. another interesting coindence was I received my official diagnosis Aug 5, 2080)

    in reply to: Mayo newsletter – Bile Duct Cancer #44413
    jathy1125
    Spectator

    Amazing that people have to aggressively persue transplant option. I am a cc survivor, due to not one but two transplants. When I was diagnosed in July 2008, transplant was the first and only option discussed. Dr. Chapman said we would discuss other options if and when I did not qualify for transplant. Transplant was not a last ditch option. Thank god I had knowlegable cutting edge doctors and hospital. Transplants should be ruled out, not an alternative treatment. I am a survivor and cancer free thanks to this treatment. Be a donor!!! Cathy

    in reply to: Mayo newsletter – Bile Duct Cancer #44410
    jathy1125
    Spectator

    floridamom-If you are qualified for a live donor transplant is that a partial rescect. I could not qualify for transplant till I did chemo, chemo and radiation, and surgery to make sure it hadn’t metastaside. Good luck -Cathy

    in reply to: moms end stage #44385
    jathy1125
    Spectator

    Codergirl- I was in a coma for 3 weeks with second transplant. I have now learned that so many of my “dreams” were related to my what my family was talking to me about. I don’t remember hearing them but apparently I did. One vivid memory is my littlle sister rubbing my head and saying she loved me, I remember thinking what a sweet voice she had. So believe me that your mom is feeling you and all your good thoughts. You are making a difference for her, you are helping her be at peace. Many many prayers-Cathy

Viewing 15 posts - 526 through 540 (of 574 total)