Preparing for biopsy surgery

I had a wonderful week with my son, during his spring break.

Then I headed off to Atlanta to do Christmas buying for Topiaries.

Buying trips are fun and exhausting at the same time.  I got it all done, I just had to take naps during the day.  I feel it is very important to keep my future going.  I got back home last night. I also had lots of helping hands, you see I have been going there two times a year for 18 years so I have made some great friends.  Gary and Frank came up from South Carolina to help out, again.  Frank squeezed limes for me daily while Gary helped me spend money.  We had a blast.  Jackie made sure I had homemade soups everyday, and muffins, cuties and bananas, to take back to my hotel, and to the airport.  Awesome friends!!!!

Today, I had my meet and greet with the surgeon that will be doing my surgical biopsy next week.  When Carolyn and I got there the receptionist said we have you down for two weeks from now.  OMG!!  I have been off chemo for 6 weeks now, another 2 weeks to meet the doctor and then another week or two for surgery.  This means my biopsy wouldn't even get to Boston until the end of April.  REALLY!!

Most of you know I have run my own business for over 20 years.
If the scheduler had said you can meet the Doctor in April, my response would have been, I should fly to Boston and get it done quicker!  Back to today, I told the receptionist I may look healthy, but I have stage 4 lung cancer and I can't wait weeks!!!!!!!  I told her I am staying here until I talk to my oncologist.  She came back out to the waiting room and said they could squeeze me in.  We waited another two hours (he is the best in this area) and he came in and discussed the surgery.  He will cut a two inch opening, entering just above my breast and remove some cartilage and then cut off a peice of the tumor to send off to Boston for testing. Since lung cancer can mutate, they need a current sample.  After a trying day, I was sent for labs, 5 tubes of blood, EKG, x-ray, and the special of the day, a painful draw of blood from my artery.  Very long day to say the least.  My surgery is scheduled for next Tuesday.  I will be in the hospital 1 or 2 days.  At least the ball is starting to roll.  The Bug is not for SISSIES!!!

Good News...Bad news...

Bad News.....I have been waiting for today's doctors appointment for my results of my recent scans.

I was feeling really great lately, certainly breathing better and coughing less.

So of course I am thinking the chemo is working and I am going to get a good report.

The bad news the chemo is not working and in fact the bug really likes my bones and is spreading that way, and the tumor has not shrunk at all. Wow that was a shock I was not ready for. Next I will be going to go into clinical trials. My Doctor is going to confer with the leading doctor in lung cancer at the Boston cancer center. If needed I will go up there for treatment.

Good News... no chemo today yeah, my son is home from college this week so we can do a lot more together since I won't have the "flu". I am also going to Atlanta to buy Christmas, the following weekend, for Topiaries (since I could not go in January due to treatments) and again all my blood will be normal without the chemo, and not have the fatigue. That is also where I see lots of friends and enjoy buying. So the break for chemo could not have come at a better time so I can really enjoy the next two weeks. Then when I come back Monday I will start my new treatments on the Wednesday in two weeks.

Please keep praying for these next treatments to remove the cancer from my body. I do believe in miracles and medicine working together.

 I am ready to get back to the fight when I get back from a real break from all this.

Thank you so much for all your support xoxo

Gail

This bug is not going to keep me down!

Today chemo 4hours, and then new furniture shipment at Topiaries....

This bug is not going to keep me down:)

Great day at work, it sure feels good to feel good!

Today I went back to work at the shop, it felt great!!  It was as if I never had the bug.  I had to stop myself from working all day. Sooo much to do, but really displaying is what I really enjoy.  Topiaries and all that comes with it is truly a big joy in my life, from the wonderful people I have met, the buying, the florals etc..  The shop is going on 19yrs.  I truly believe today was such a dramatic change for the good, it must be all those prayers.  I mean dramatic. I have not felt this good since September. It sure feels good to feel good!

Thanks so much for all the cards and prayers. xoxo

Kudos!

Thanks so much to everyone for your prayers, gifts, cards, and food!

A Special Thanks goes out to Gary and Frank from S. Carolina

(incredible designers and the best friends any girl could ask for)

They heard I was sick, not yet diagnosed with the bug and wanted to help, I was too sick and having so many tests at that time to go into work.  I usually refill the store as it sells thin throughout the season.  I was wondering what was going to happen to all the inventory that would not be made up or put out or made up into wreaths or arrangements in time.  Well they got in their car, loaded up for three days, got a hotel and took over the shop!!!  Amazing!!!

They not only refilled and refilled but redisplayed like a beautiful showroom, and did I mention how much fun they are. I never really came in, I was able to rest and take in the news of what my near future would hold. 

They ended up staying 8 DAYS!!

They saved Christmas!

My First Treatment, January 4th

I had my first Chemo treatment yesterday, lasted 4 hours.  As most of you know,  I don't sit for more than 10 minutes.  I brought tons catalogs to order from since I had to move my buying trip down the road until March, instead of next week.  Turns out the lady next to me and her friends love Topiaries and have a couple mutual friends.  It was her first time too...newbies.  So I handed out catalogs.  We talked about how the room we are in with 20 lazy boys filled patients all hooked up to IVs, the atmosphere could use some Topiaries touches etc..  

Not a bad experience for my first time.  Not sick or tired yet, they say that comes in three or four days.  My next treatment is in 3 weeks.  I am going to fill in some of the other tabs too..