The latest news......

I am so sick of these drains, and that's all I'm gonna say about that.
I met my Oncologist last Wednesday, and we are on the same page regarding (me also using) the Naturopathic Dr.,and he laughed at my jokes, so I told him he was hired. I also like him because he brought up a new thought for me. There is a drug that most women have to take for Hormonal Therapy (because we have not been through menopause yet.) I informed the Dr. I did not want to take this drug due to the (very bad) side effects and asked him what else I could take (or do). He said that a lot of women in Europe have their ovaries removed, forcing menopause, then there are any # of drugs that you can take (for Hormonal Therapy), that have a lot less side effects. So I think I will do this.
For a time line, this is the plan: I have to wait until I have the drains removed (these are causing me some issues) and a port installed, then I'm set to go. My cousin Jennifer is getting married October 16 and I want to be there, so I'm looking at starting Chemo Friday, Oct. 8th. Unfortunately, James will be out of town three times (October alone), but we have a neighbor girl I can hire to watch the kids if I get too tired, etc. So a total of 20 weeks of chemo (8 on two drugs and 12 on 1 other). Then radiation. Then ovary removal. Then hormonal therapy. After a year (or so), my life should be back to normal. No one is keeping me from the beach next summer! 
I've started thanking people with cards, so I don't use up so much space here, but a (last) big THANKS to my friend Nicole's mom who made me a lap quilt to bring with me to Chemo! Thanks Mrs. Gilbert!!

One other thing I wanted to clear up. I guess I didn't make myself clear as to where I actually was the night before surgery when I was cooking and baking and organizing cupboards. I was at the Hospitality House in GR, which is attached to the hospital, and that's where James stayed while I was in the hospital. On an ending note, here is a pic. of my kids on (Elena's) first day of school. Until next time, Darci
ps - as ppl keep buying things off my wish list, I've been deleting them and adding more!!
pss - forgot to say that my "permanent" numbing was pre-empted, I have more feeling back, but the feeling HURTS!! (at least it feels something!!)

Now that I am off the drugs.............

I am not a "Smiley Happy" person any longer. (Beware: this is going to be a bitch session so if ya don't want to hear it, log off now!) While I am grateful that my cancer did not spread, my surgeon decided because I had 1 (yes, one, not three or ten) lymph nodes that had cancer in it to take 42 (YES,  FORTY F-------ING TWO!) of them. Usually if there is  a lymph node with cancer they take 20, NOT 42! Why am I concerned (or pissed off) about this, you say? Well, first of all because all of this is numb: 1/8th of my upper arm, the back of my shoulder, my underarm, my back where the rib cage is, and my chest all the way to my sternum, and then up to my clavicle. PERMANENTLY. On top of that I will always have to watch out for the left arm -see this:
Lymphedema (also see Elephantiasis) may be inherited (primary) or caused by injury to the lymphatic vessels (secondary). It is most frequently seen after lymph node dissection, surgery and/or radiation therapy, in which damage to the lymphatic system is caused during the treatment of cancer, most notably breast cancer. In many patients with cancer this condition does not develop until months or even years after therapy has concluded. Lymphedema may also be associated with accidents or certain diseases or problems that may inhibit the lymphatic system from functioning properly.In tropical areas of the world, a common cause of secondary lymphedema is filariasis, a parasitic infection. It can also be caused by a compromising of the lymphatic system resulting from cellulitis.
While the exact cause of primary lymphedema is still unknown, it generally occurs due to poorly-developed or missing lymph nodes and/or channels in the body. Lymphedema may be present at birth, develop at the onset of puberty (praecox), or not become apparent for many years into adulthood (tarda). In men, lower-limb primary lymphedema is most common, occurring in one or both legs. Some cases of lymphedema may be associated with other vascular abnormalities.
Secondary lymphedema affects both men and women. In women, it is most prevalent in the upper limbs after breast cancer surgery and lymph node dissection, occurring in the arm on the side of the body in which the surgery is performed. Head and neck lymphedema can be caused by surgery or radiation therapy for tongue or throat cancer. It may also occur in the lower limbs or groin after surgery for colon, ovarian or uterine cancer in which removal of lymph nodes or radiation therapy is required. Surgery and/or treatment for prostate, colon and testicular cancers may result in secondary lymphedema, particularly when lymph nodes have been removed or damaged.
Need I say more?
Just a little more bitching......... I ended up in the ER yesterday because one of my drains was accumulating a lot of dark blood (way more than normal). I was told I had a Hematoma from the surgery and that the old blood that had built up in my chest finally found a way to a drain tube. NICE!

\Now for the good part: my thank you's: To my friends Tami, who (of course) brings over a wide array of food; choc. chip cookie dough, miso soup, enchilada's and cinnamon bread (all homemade, of course), and  Nicole, brought lasagna, blueberries, corn and pumpkin bread, Liese who brought a huge bunch of flowers, Laura H. (again), for watching my kids for 5 hours 2 days ago, Lhara for a pizza and pie (and lots of old cookbooks to look at - which I love), Jenny for cash, in which I am buying new winter slippers, spices, eating at my fav. restaurant in GR, etc...., and Patty for a new datebook for my purse (my old one was shredding....) If I forgot someone, please forgive me.

Last but not least, I will be in GR next monday/tues., staying at Barb and Chuck's. Barb has been gracious enough to let me have a "come see my kids and me less one boob" party Mon. evening. There will be pizza and salad, and for those of you who feel as though you MUST bring wine, please do so, as we will be celebrating me getting my drain tubes out. (WE better be, that is!) Their address is:1920 Ravine Ridge in Caledonia, starting at like 4pm, ending??? Call me w/ any ??, 616-634-1916  And to top it off, here are some recent pic's of the kids: I am now off to meet my oncologist and to get this chemo ball rolling!! D

Good news!!

My surgeon just called and the pathology report came back with only 1 lymph node having cancer (out of 42 taken out). I have an appt. in GR in a week to have the drain bulbs removed (thank god, those are annoying little things!)
Thank you all for dinners and gifts, I still have plenty more people to thank personally (but will do so later - time to cook dinner!). Also, both of my freezers are full, so while I appreciate it, can ya'll hold off till chemo time for more meals? I love all of you, and will always appreciate your loving support! Peace - Draci

Beautiful, unexpected things keep happening...........

An old friend from high school just sent me this email:

Carie Bush Frabotta September 17 at 7:08pm

Hi Darci,

I can't believe it! One of the parents from Gabbi's school was touched by your story. Her husband is a Radiologist and they wanted to give you one of their camera's.

It is a Canon EOS 20D. It is a great camera and will work well for what you are looking for! It is a few years old, but I checked it out and it seems to be working well.

I will get it in the mail to you ASAP :)

Also, if you receive a curious gift from an unnamed source that would be me...I sent you a "T" and there was no where for me to put a note..LOL!!!

I'll let you know when I ship this out and how long it should take to get to you!!

Hope you are doing well and feeling a little less pain than from the other day. Aren't those drains a lovely thing to deal with? Yuck.

Sending you lots of healing karma & love!

♥ Carie

What else can I say but wow, there are some pretty beautiful people in this world. Thank You!

I was going to start this post with "You know you are having a bad day when:", (but I had to post the good stuff first, so)......... when you are pulling so hard on your drain tube (to get the big fat blood clot out) that your drain bulb pulls away and you spray blood all over your bathroom sink/walls/mirror. Then you remember that blood stains to you run to get the 409, but by the time you are done wiping up the blood you also realize you forgot to put the bulb back on the tube so now you have blood running down your leg and all over the floor. This is now my life!! (he he)

I have received many gifts over the past couple of days and a big! THANKS - YOU ROCK! Laura H. - Cinnamon Tea and a homemade pot pie, Laura W. - 4 free months of Netflix (I have all of last season's Grey's Anatomy to catch up on), a Crazy Sexy Cancer Goddess T-shirt from Carrie (and the camera!!), a box of lemon verbana soap, lavender lotion, chocolates and at least 50 barf bags (from a real plane - she is a flight attendant and I personally requested them) from Lisa, and 3 pints of Moomers ice cream from Shannon! Last, but not least is a big HURRAH to my in-laws for spending 6 days here with my kids, while I was in the hospital. They also bought food, took them to Old McDonalds (a big treat), took them on hikes, etc. I don't know what I would've done with out them (or let me say my friends here in TC would've been awfully busy ppl!!) Thanks Jim and Marilyn!!

I totally forgot to thank a couple of more people - first, my in-laws won me (in a drawing) a 50-  gift card to Oryana (our local health food store), and 2, Sonya sent me s head cover and shampoo (for my sensitive bald head, when it becomes bald, that is........)  Thanks!!!

Now that I am home........

I am sleeping! Let me tell, you, three nights in a row w/ no sleep does NOT do a body good! We were able to leave yesterday am (except for having to wait an hour because I had a temp), and it was hard to decide whether I wanted Yesterdog or The Pita House, but a gyro won over. It was worth it!!


I wish I had a camera so I could show you my war wounds - my chest is pretty much black and blue. I have two drains (gross), which will come out in the next week or two. I feel fine (as long as I'm on my vicodin!!) As for pain, it feels as though someone took a sledge hammer to my chest. I also have to wear a large ace wrap around my chest (at least it flattens out the other one so i'm completely flat),to help the drainage into the tubes. As for reconstruction, my thought is (right now, at least) that I cannot believe anyone would put their body through this much trauma (again) in order to have boobs. My body is not happy with me right now, and I am doing everything I can to correct this, but to do this again (to me) is unthinkable.

I have received many flowers and gifts - thank you all who thought of me while in the hospital. I know I had a huge "facebook" fan base too, thanks to all of you praying for me! I'll write again soon - D

Update on Surgery

Darci met with her operating surgeon this morning and we learned some positive things, particularly after getting the rather alarming news that there were six tumors on her left breast. According to the surgeon's preliminary post-operative observations, she believes that she got all of the cancer out, and that Darci is at stage 2. This of course is subject to further laboratory analysis of Darci's removed lymph nodes. Once all of the lab work has been evaluated, we will know what needs to be done next, and just how far the cancer has spread. Apart from these clinical observations, Darci is doing very well. Her nurses are commenting on how quickly she has bounced back from the operation. She is staying positive, and the effects of all of the sedative drugs have completely worn off. We are expecting to check out of the hospital tomorrow (Thursday). Please keep Darci in your prayers, and thank you to everybody who has helped us during this difficult time.

James

You know it's the night before your surgery when:

it's 12:30 am and you are wide awake. And you know you are me because you are already talking recipes with the night staff (at the Renucci house) and just printed off a copy of your favorite Butternut Squash Bisque for her.
We had a good dinner at Olive's in EGR, and I was asleep by 9pm (didn't sleep last night either).

I saw my surgeon today and learned something new. She was very nice, showing me all of my MRI reports, and then proceded to do an ultrasound of my left breast. She was measuring the tumors, and repeating the lengths to a nurse who was typing them into a computer. She got to the third, and I said "are you re-measuring the 1rst tumor?" She said no, this is the third." I said "how many are there?" She said "SIX". (I thought there were 2!) Then i said "do most ppl have this many tumors?" and she said "no, but this makes you UNIQUE." So now I'm unique, but I don't really think that's a good thing in this case?!?!

I'm going to go and find some more recipes for my new 3rd shift friend - I'll have plenty of time to sleep tomorrow!! James will post after my surgery. Peace and love, Darci

NEW POST: it's 3 am, and you know you are me when you (still) can't sleep so what do you do? COOK! I made chicken noodle soup and have blueberry struesel muffins in the oven. I've already started organizing the pantry too! One of the other ppl staying here has already called me a saint (a saint with 6 tumors in her left breast, but that's only for 7 more hours!) D

Two days and counting.....................

But at least we got a beach day today! (I think it will be the last). This morning my friend Tami and I took the kids to "Pancakes with Pirates". There was a maritime boat expo thingy dwtn, and this was part of it. The kids really enjoyed themselves. Gama and Papa are on their way here now, and my friend Laura H. is taking me out to dinner tonight (Thanks ahead of time!!). We are off to GR tomorrow. James will post here on Tuesday as to the results of my surgery - everyone just pray for NO CANCER IN THE LYMPH NODES!! I will be home Wed. or Thurs.
I have three people to thank this time -1) Amy, my nurse navigator in GR found me a (post-op.) camisole (not the pretty kind, it has 2 bags for drain bulbs on the inside) FOR FREE! 2) My friend Tami did not want me to get stinky wearing one camisole day after day so she bought me another one! and 3) My friend Jarka brought over a lemon meringue pie (for the in-laws, but it's 1/2 gone already) and some cool, kinetic go green type of tupperware. Just in time for me to put all of my RAW food in! Peace! Darci

And the kids are back in school........

It was a lot easier than I thought, they just said "bye!". Elena did cry on and off through the morning, so we'll see how she does today. What did I do while they were in school - you say? I fall cleaned and moved my bedroom around. Today I'm doing the windows and all baseboards. It seems to have gone from a 92 degree summer to a 60 degree fall overnight (at least over a week!), so I have lots of time to be inside cleaning! (vs outside watching the kids).
One other thing is I had an appt. with a naturopathic doctor yesterday. For those of you (which will be most of you, including me until 3 days ago), who don't know what this is:






























 I have to fill out a 2 week diary of what I eat, a 14 page questionnaire, and he has to read all of my medical stuff. Then he figures out what  millions of herbs and supplements I have to take. What joy! He will also help me be (rhetorical, I know) be drug free during chemo. I'm excited to take this new healthy journey!

Everyone is still asking what they can do. Well, do what you do best! If you like to cook, so be it. If you like to watch my kids, then do so! If you like to buy me new flannel sheets, then go for it! I have taken most of the medical items off of my wish list - most of them are covered by my insurance (thanks to Kristin, who pointed that out!)

Last but not least, my thank you's. To Aunt Jo -Jo, who sent me a large bag of Essiac Tea (anti-cancer fighting tea) and to Amy, my nurse navigator in GR, who got me a post surgery camisole (it has special pockets and such) for free!! Thank you both!!    

5 days and counting until surgery. Then I'll be one boob less.  D

An update - my long lost friend Sonya, whom I found again living in TC, just paid for my visit to the Natruropathist! YOU ROCK,  SONYA!! Thank you!!

Naturopathic Doctors are general medical practitioners trained in family practice with a specialty in natural medicine who treat disease and restore health. In practice, the licensed Naturopathic Doctor has the ability to perform physiological examinations, laboratory testing, nutritional and dietary assessment, blood based allergy testing, and other clinical and physical diagnostic testing.

Naturopathic treatments may include:

1. 
   
   
   
   • Botanical Medicine
   
2. 
   
   
   
   • Homeopathy
   
3. 
   
   
   
   • Hydrotherapy
   
4. 
   
   
   
   • Nutrition
   
5. 
   
   
   
   • Supplementation
   

An amazing person (who happens to be a Chef in this city)................

whose name is Eric Patterson, was kind enough to give me a gift certificate to his restaurant, The Cooks' House. Here is his (and co-chef Jennifer's) bio's:
Biographies of the Authors:
Eric Patterson is current co-owner of The Cooks’ House in Traverse City. Patterson spent much of the past fifteen years at Andre's, Las Vegas' Michelin-starred French restaurant, including a three-year apprenticeship under the legendary Andre Rochat. At the end of his Vegas tenure, Patterson was Andre's head chef. He currently lives in Traverse City with his wife Theresa and their three sons. Eric is a sub-deacon in the Greek Archdiocese.
Jennifer Blakeslee is current co-owner of The Cooks’ House in Traverse City. She is a Traverse City native and culinary school graduate from the prestigious Johnson & Wales University. Blakeslee addressed her travel itch by taking chef positions in Italy and Mexico earlier in her career. She spent three years working at the Michelin-starred Las Vegas restaurant, Andre's, with Eric Patterson, her current business partner. She lives in Traverse City with her daughter Abbie.

I emailed him asking about putting a gift certificate to his restaurant on my "wish list" (on this blog), explaining why, and he was so nice to respond with a dinner for two (a seven course dinner, that is!) Eric, YOU ROCK!! Their book is shown to the right, and by clicking on it you will be taken to their website.

That reminds me, (because so many ppl have been asking what they can do to help), I now have a wish list for those who want to do something for me but live far away. (Those of you that live close are cooking for me and watching my kids - HA!). It's located on the right side of the blog. That's all for now - surgery is 10 days and counting. Peace, Darci

Surgery date

But first I have to start with this:
<You know you live in northern Michigan when: on August 31 it's 92 degree's, and 4 days later it's 62 degree's>
<You know your Grandmother is old (94, actually) when: you call to let her know when you are having surgery and she say's "why are you having surgery?". I say to remove my breast (due to cancer) and she say's "You have cancer?! Oh no!" And I've already told her (two weeks prior).>

OK, enough of that. I have to next go to my thank-you's (lest I forget). Due to Laura W. and Laura H. I was able to go to Meijers yesterday W/O CHILDREN!, and had a pumpkin spiced coffee from Starbucks! Cudos to you two! "  Laura W. also sent me meditation (relaxing) CD's and 2 movies. Thanks! And last night "Miss" Kelly invited me out for one last hurrah before the s---t hits the fan, so thanks to you for initiating it, and thanks to my friend and fellow MOPS mom Nicki for buying my dinner (actually 80% wine, 20% dinner)!

Now on to the important stuff. It's pretty simple, really. Surgery will be at Spectrum Blodgett (EGR) on Sept. 14. I will be getting into GR on the 13th for a couple of things that need to be done before the surgery. I will be in the hospital overnight, but possibly 2 nights. We will stay at The Renucci house (kind of like the Ronald McDonald house but for adults!)  James' cell is: 616-550-7076 if you want info during that time. My MIL and FIL will be staying in TC with the kids. I will be giving them all you local ppl's phone #'s in case they have any questions on the area, etc.

I have had a lot of ppl ask what they can do to help. In the next couple of days I'm going to be adding sidebars to the blog. One will be for local ppl who can sign up for dinners, watching the kids, etc. The other one will be an Amazon "wish list", for things I will need/want after surgery and during chemo.  Everyone (neighbors included!) has been so nice and helpful already - I just feel grateful to ALL OF YOU for your love and support!
If anyone has any questions about any of this just comment or email/call me.
Peace, Darci