Well, we learned one thing, an OR minute is equivalent to 2-3 hours. We went in at 11:30 for the scheduled appointment, Sara went in at 4:20. They were very thorough, each person that came in asked the same questions 10 times.
We all took turns staying with Sara until she was wheeled away in a dramatic moment to the OR. Then we waited. The surgery took 5 hours. Then an hour in recovery. By then we had eaten all of Chelsea's cookies and had passed them around to all the 'waiters'. {Thanks Chels!} Finally, Dr. Park came out with a big smile on his face and told us everything went even better than expected. Her liver was clear and anything left on it was probably scar tissue and there was no reason to even touch it, which was very good as the liver can present all kinds of compications. The big tumor was alive and well, feeding off a giant vein that provided it with a nice blood flow. Also, to back up, they gave her the octreotide shot before the surgery to basically 'drug' the tumor. Kind of like smoking a bee hive so they don't get mean when you disturb them. Then, he took off the major portion of the tumor on the pancreas, having to cut through the vein which he cut and repaired twice during the procedure. They could then see the tumor was encapsulated, which is the MO of the neuroendocrine tumor, so they just scooped it up and that was it. The surgery was done by a robot, didn't catch his name, {who was that masked man?} and required 5 small incisions. {That if connected form a happy face flipping the bird} Sara was sent to a regular room to recover. Actually, it is the same floor she was on before so we knew some of the people and of course they remembered Sara. Trevor stayed with her the first night, Sarah Hess stays tonite, then me till she no longer requires someone there overnight and/or she gets released. Then, Dr. Park wants her near to monitor her for a week, so she will stay with Shanna.
Dr. Park expects her to make a fast recovery since the surgery was not so invasive. As of this morning, she is awake and walked a little. She is tired, but happy. We are all super excited and so thrilled.
One resident came in and told us he was so impressed with Sara's whole story, he had stayed up late to read her whole chart. He said her progress was remarkable. I am writing this because we all truly believe the prayers, energy, good vibes, call it what you may, was an integral part of her AMAZING recovery. Thank-you is just two little words, but the gratefullness behind those two words is huge and cannot be measured.
Love to All! Merry Christmas and here is to a fantastic new year.
posted by Colleen, a very happy mom
Friday, December 23, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
December 20, 2011
This is a Pre-op post update from Seattle. Sara, Shanna, Trevor and Sarah went to the pre-op appointment which turned out to be a 7 hours.
The surgeon, Dr. Parks, said that they expected positive results by removing the tumor from her pancreas. The extent of the surgical procedure will be determined when it actually occurs. There are possible complications, involving the spleen. Possibly removing part, if not all of the spleen. Worst scenario. Dr. Parks said the recovery from the surgery will be 2 to 5 days. After that, he wants her to stay in Seattle for at least 7 days so he can monitor her as some complications can show up later. She will be recuperating for a month, at least.
I will post Thursday sometime for a post-op update. We will all be there for her and know you all will be with us in spirit. Thanks amazing friends and family!
posted by Colleen
The surgeon, Dr. Parks, said that they expected positive results by removing the tumor from her pancreas. The extent of the surgical procedure will be determined when it actually occurs. There are possible complications, involving the spleen. Possibly removing part, if not all of the spleen. Worst scenario. Dr. Parks said the recovery from the surgery will be 2 to 5 days. After that, he wants her to stay in Seattle for at least 7 days so he can monitor her as some complications can show up later. She will be recuperating for a month, at least.
I will post Thursday sometime for a post-op update. We will all be there for her and know you all will be with us in spirit. Thanks amazing friends and family!
posted by Colleen
Thursday, December 1, 2011
December 1, 2011
Well, here I am to report to y'all that Dr. Lin has given the go ahead for surgery for Sara D. Sara and I went on Monday and stayed in Seattle for 3 days so she could get scans done. Wednesday was the appointment with Dr. Lin when he reviewed the scans and declared her liver was 99% clear of tumors and the big tumor on her pancreas was shrinking but still there. At the beginning of the appointment he was inferring the surgery could happen soon, by the end of the appontment after looking at everything he was calling his surgeon friend to get her scheduled. Sara said you mean like as soon as my next 6 week appointment? Dr. Lin said no, I mean like right now. Shanna, me and Sara kind of started hyperventilating. He also said she was textbook material and would probably be written up. I always figured she would be famous, but her pancreas?
The one scan she had was like a real photograph, totally cutting edge. It has only been out for a month and Sara was one of the first to get to use it. The other scan was a radioactive scan where the remaining tumors light up like a golden orb. She has to carry a card to prove she is medically radioactive and not a terrorist. {Even though some of her shoes could be used as weapons.}
The surgery has to happen fast because her liver is clear, this happened way faster than Dr. Lin anticipated, and he does not want the main tumor to start shooting off more tumors to the liver. So the surgery will be to remove the main tumor from the pancreas and possibly any left on the liver. Which will be determined by the surgeon, who Dr. Lin said will be "jumping up and down" to do this surgery because he "loves neuroendocrine tumors". To which Sd replied, "I love that he loves neuroendocrine tumors so he can get rid of it!"
Sara will continue to do maintenance chemotherapy and will still be battling cancer. Hopefully, the dose can be reduced so she does not suffer the terrible nausea and other yukky symtoms of chemo. This is not considered a cure. Dr. Lin's analogy was even if you kill all the dandelions and can't see them, there are still seeds underground. He also was fascinated that she has a full head of hair. He did not explain this, just did the Doctor thing like "uummm.."
We are ecstatic over this turn of events and are very grateful to Dr. Lin, the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and everyone who has been rooting for Sara D. throughout this experience. As Sara's Mom, I want to say how impressed I am with how much love and support is out there. I am so proud of Sara and love her more than I can say. "That's my daughter!!"
Posted by Colleen
The one scan she had was like a real photograph, totally cutting edge. It has only been out for a month and Sara was one of the first to get to use it. The other scan was a radioactive scan where the remaining tumors light up like a golden orb. She has to carry a card to prove she is medically radioactive and not a terrorist. {Even though some of her shoes could be used as weapons.}
The surgery has to happen fast because her liver is clear, this happened way faster than Dr. Lin anticipated, and he does not want the main tumor to start shooting off more tumors to the liver. So the surgery will be to remove the main tumor from the pancreas and possibly any left on the liver. Which will be determined by the surgeon, who Dr. Lin said will be "jumping up and down" to do this surgery because he "loves neuroendocrine tumors". To which Sd replied, "I love that he loves neuroendocrine tumors so he can get rid of it!"
Sara will continue to do maintenance chemotherapy and will still be battling cancer. Hopefully, the dose can be reduced so she does not suffer the terrible nausea and other yukky symtoms of chemo. This is not considered a cure. Dr. Lin's analogy was even if you kill all the dandelions and can't see them, there are still seeds underground. He also was fascinated that she has a full head of hair. He did not explain this, just did the Doctor thing like "uummm.."
We are ecstatic over this turn of events and are very grateful to Dr. Lin, the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and everyone who has been rooting for Sara D. throughout this experience. As Sara's Mom, I want to say how impressed I am with how much love and support is out there. I am so proud of Sara and love her more than I can say. "That's my daughter!!"
Posted by Colleen
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
October 19, 2011
Sara saw Dr. Lin yesterday and he is taking over fulltime as her oncologist. It was too complicated to have other doctors involved. Dr. Michelle Anderson will be her on site doctor for now. Since, she now can fly, she will just fly herself over to his office, which is right across the street from the harbor, go to the appointment and fly back home. Anyone need to go to Wholefoods? She had back pain which he attributed to her recent stunt activity. Her markers are good, the tumors are still lessening and surgery is still on in the spring.
He is stretching out her chemo administration so she will not continue to have such low platelet levels which lead to blood transfusions. This is really good because it was so hard on her healthwise.
We all had to know about Steve Jobs because he had exactly the kind of cancer as Sara D.
Dr. Lin said Steve Jobs treatment was totally different than hers. It is because of the extensive research done for him that this neuroendocrine cancer treatment is so advanced. We are grateful for that.
Sara is doing fantastic and we can all take a lesson from her. {not flying..} Kind of stretching out the blog, but I hope you are all staying tuned in. Love to all!!!
He is stretching out her chemo administration so she will not continue to have such low platelet levels which lead to blood transfusions. This is really good because it was so hard on her healthwise.
We all had to know about Steve Jobs because he had exactly the kind of cancer as Sara D.
Dr. Lin said Steve Jobs treatment was totally different than hers. It is because of the extensive research done for him that this neuroendocrine cancer treatment is so advanced. We are grateful for that.
Sara is doing fantastic and we can all take a lesson from her. {not flying..} Kind of stretching out the blog, but I hope you are all staying tuned in. Love to all!!!
Friday, September 9, 2011
September 8, 2011
Well, I finally got through to post on here. I intend to print all these and put them in a book so we can all remember what true friends are.
Sara found out they won't let her get a pilot's license if she is on chemo. Even though she is doing so well. The chemo does make her feel woozy, but not like she cannot function. So, all I have to say is look out Aviation rule-maker people, because you just picked the wrong person to tell what to do.
Sara continues to respond favorably to the chemo and the octreotide shot she is still getting once a month. The worst problem I see is that we forget to keep a close eye on her because she is doing so well. She is still getting acupuncture, eating as organically as possible and spending as much time on Lake Pend d' Oreiile as possible which has healing powers of it's own. Keep sending those good, good, good; Good vibrations because I think they are bouncing back attcha. Love to all!!
Posted by Colleen
Sara found out they won't let her get a pilot's license if she is on chemo. Even though she is doing so well. The chemo does make her feel woozy, but not like she cannot function. So, all I have to say is look out Aviation rule-maker people, because you just picked the wrong person to tell what to do.
Sara continues to respond favorably to the chemo and the octreotide shot she is still getting once a month. The worst problem I see is that we forget to keep a close eye on her because she is doing so well. She is still getting acupuncture, eating as organically as possible and spending as much time on Lake Pend d' Oreiile as possible which has healing powers of it's own. Keep sending those good, good, good; Good vibrations because I think they are bouncing back attcha. Love to all!!
Posted by Colleen
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
August 16, 2011
Sara and Sarah went to the Doctor appointment in Seattle today and yesterday for Scans and bloodwork. It is all good news. The tumors have shrunk 50% since the last CT scan 3 months ago. Her bloodwork is fine now but she definitely has to stay on regular blood testing. Dr. Lin said to come back in 3 months and possibly in 6 months she could have surgery that would remove whatever tumors are remaining and to get rid of the main ones. His analogy was "they are trees and we want them to be seeds." She will have to continue chemo for an unspecified amount of time to keep it under control, but Dr. Lin freely passed around the word 'remission'. Also her chemo will be cut back as much as possible so she won't have the super bad side effects.
He also told Sara D that she was no longer a priority patient. For once Sara is happy to be considered boring. This is all such wonderful news and we are all so grateful and relieved. All the support and energy and good vibes are DEFINITELY a contributing factor. Lauren's persistent acupuncture treatments and sound advice. All the help Sara recieves from everyone, her strong will to overcome this nasty disease,{"to hell with it!!"} I should hope we all can be this strong in the face of adversity. Also, the lesson in friendship we have all learned from Sara and Sarah and their entourage. Can't even begin to express how much our family means to us. Nurse Erin is amazing. Okay, okay, I can't take anymore.....
posted by Colleen
He also told Sara D that she was no longer a priority patient. For once Sara is happy to be considered boring. This is all such wonderful news and we are all so grateful and relieved. All the support and energy and good vibes are DEFINITELY a contributing factor. Lauren's persistent acupuncture treatments and sound advice. All the help Sara recieves from everyone, her strong will to overcome this nasty disease,{"to hell with it!!"} I should hope we all can be this strong in the face of adversity. Also, the lesson in friendship we have all learned from Sara and Sarah and their entourage. Can't even begin to express how much our family means to us. Nurse Erin is amazing. Okay, okay, I can't take anymore.....
posted by Colleen
Sunday, August 7, 2011
August 7, 2011
One thing for sure, time flies in the summer in North Idaho. Sara did end up getting a blood transfusion and spent the day at BGH in Sandpoint getting 2 units of blood and a dose of platelets. Her platelet levels were at 16,000 and 20,000 is very low. Her hemoglobin level was 6.6. The Doctor in the ER said that chemotherapy can cause this to happen. She is going to Seattle again later in August.
Sara has been otherwise enjoying the summer. Got her pontoon boat, "The Dalaboat" running and has been on it as much as possible. It is probably the most relaxing place to be in the world.
Also, she went on her first flight lesson. Dr. Lin told her to just go out there and do whatever she wanted, which she has done since she was two, but now she has a license from a doctor. So, heads up {or not} about the flight lessons. She is fine. The transfusion is like getting your tank filled, Erin said. But we are keeping a close eye on her so we catch it sooner. If anyone sees her turning funny colors, call me! She is not a very good complainer. She didn't get that from me. Enjoy the summer. Love to all!!
Posted by Colleen
Sara has been otherwise enjoying the summer. Got her pontoon boat, "The Dalaboat" running and has been on it as much as possible. It is probably the most relaxing place to be in the world.
Also, she went on her first flight lesson. Dr. Lin told her to just go out there and do whatever she wanted, which she has done since she was two, but now she has a license from a doctor. So, heads up {or not} about the flight lessons. She is fine. The transfusion is like getting your tank filled, Erin said. But we are keeping a close eye on her so we catch it sooner. If anyone sees her turning funny colors, call me! She is not a very good complainer. She didn't get that from me. Enjoy the summer. Love to all!!
Posted by Colleen
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