Wow!
Who knew that there would be a complete night and day difference between a cardiac tower and a woman’s gynecological floor?
Now I understand why they call this floor at Medical City the Angel Floor. Most of the women admitted are there for some type of cancer …and it takes a very special person to deal with cancer – let me tell ya!
I was amazed at how much they celebrated in my mom’s small accomplishments each and every day. It made me feel good to know that she was there. When she got the strength to walk around the nurse’s desk – they gave her two thumbs up. When she got in and out of bed on her own, considering the amount of pain she was in, they told her they wished all their patients had that kind of resolve and outlook.
To the ladies (and gentleman) on that floor – thank you…thank you …thank you …for taking care of our families most precious gift!
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Don’t Make Me Come Up There
Remember when you were little and your mom would utter those words when you were doing something that you were not supposed to be doing?
Well, about day 4 of recovery, my dad received a phone call and he said that my mom sounded upset and agitated, but would not elaborate as to why. I told him I would be in the area of the hospital and would check in on her.
Now let me state that the majority of people that we dealt with at the hospital went above and beyond in the care and compassion department. But like everything in life, you do have a few that are marginal.
Now that I am in my 30’s, I have a lot more tolerance and patience than when I was younger, except when I see that someone is mistreating my mom. I am sure my brother’s would concur – don’t be ugly to our mom if you don’t want to reap the result. (But I imagine most people are like that)
Perhaps it’s because my mom was in pain, and could not really do for herself, but after she explained what happened – let’s just say that after a brief, passionate (yet polite) conversation with the floor supervisor, it did not take them long to move her.
Helpful Hint: It’s okay to ask questions and be an advocate for patient care. If, after a reasonable time the situation has not been addressed or if you still have some concerns, don’t hesitate to request a change. Also, be sure to stay with them until the move is complete. Some may take offense to your request – better safe than sorry!
Well, about day 4 of recovery, my dad received a phone call and he said that my mom sounded upset and agitated, but would not elaborate as to why. I told him I would be in the area of the hospital and would check in on her.
Now let me state that the majority of people that we dealt with at the hospital went above and beyond in the care and compassion department. But like everything in life, you do have a few that are marginal.
Now that I am in my 30’s, I have a lot more tolerance and patience than when I was younger, except when I see that someone is mistreating my mom. I am sure my brother’s would concur – don’t be ugly to our mom if you don’t want to reap the result. (But I imagine most people are like that)
Perhaps it’s because my mom was in pain, and could not really do for herself, but after she explained what happened – let’s just say that after a brief, passionate (yet polite) conversation with the floor supervisor, it did not take them long to move her.
Helpful Hint: It’s okay to ask questions and be an advocate for patient care. If, after a reasonable time the situation has not been addressed or if you still have some concerns, don’t hesitate to request a change. Also, be sure to stay with them until the move is complete. Some may take offense to your request – better safe than sorry!
Recovery
Remember that DVT I mentioned earlier? Well, in order to keep an eye on that and ensure that clotting was taking palce after surgery, my mom was moved to the Cardiac Tower at Medical City.
Now, keep in mind that while they did the best they could, the staff was not trained to facilitate in the recovery that involved female organs. Even though it’s major surgery, they want you up and about and moving so that things don’t settle and form complications.
Needless to say that the first few days of recovery were not pleasant. But things have to get better …don’t they?
Now, keep in mind that while they did the best they could, the staff was not trained to facilitate in the recovery that involved female organs. Even though it’s major surgery, they want you up and about and moving so that things don’t settle and form complications.
Needless to say that the first few days of recovery were not pleasant. But things have to get better …don’t they?
The Pope
Now, hindsight being 20/20, it is probably not a good idea to place any photos, statues, or personal possessions of someone who has passed near someone who is just coming out of anesthesia.
You can see where I am going with this …can’t you?
It appears that during the night, my mom had looked over at the IV pole and noticed an image of , the recently deceased, Pope John Paul II hovering with his arms stretched out. During our visit the following day, she told us that she thought he was beckoning her to him.
No mama….run away from the light….run away! Needless to say, we all had a good laugh after surgery over this little incident.
So, if you are taking notes – this little stop on our journey would be a good one to remember! :)
You can see where I am going with this …can’t you?
It appears that during the night, my mom had looked over at the IV pole and noticed an image of , the recently deceased, Pope John Paul II hovering with his arms stretched out. During our visit the following day, she told us that she thought he was beckoning her to him.
No mama….run away from the light….run away! Needless to say, we all had a good laugh after surgery over this little incident.
So, if you are taking notes – this little stop on our journey would be a good one to remember! :)
Where’s Mom
Because it was so late, and apparently it had been a busy surgery day at Medical City, they decided to keep my mom in the post-op area for the night – more people to keep an eye on her.
Two of us were allowed to go in and give her a little kiss on the head and let her know we were there. My brothers unselfishly elected me to go with my dad. But on the way in, my brother Billy pulled me aside and handed me a statute of the Pope that he had bought downstairs in the gift shop and aksed me to give it to her (were Italian, as if being anything other than Catholic would come as a shock to anyone reading this blog.)
Now, in post-op recovery, you don’t have all those nice little tables and shelves to put your stuff on/in. So the attending nurse offered to hang the Pope on an empty IV pole next to my mom’s bed – Great and I did not even second guess that decision.
Gave mom a little smoochie on the head to let her know we were there and that everything went well …and off we went.
Two of us were allowed to go in and give her a little kiss on the head and let her know we were there. My brothers unselfishly elected me to go with my dad. But on the way in, my brother Billy pulled me aside and handed me a statute of the Pope that he had bought downstairs in the gift shop and aksed me to give it to her (were Italian, as if being anything other than Catholic would come as a shock to anyone reading this blog.)
Now, in post-op recovery, you don’t have all those nice little tables and shelves to put your stuff on/in. So the attending nurse offered to hang the Pope on an empty IV pole next to my mom’s bed – Great and I did not even second guess that decision.
Gave mom a little smoochie on the head to let her know we were there and that everything went well …and off we went.
The Envelope, Please …
Once we knew that my mom had been moved to recovery, we patiently waited for the doctor to make his appearance and provide us with a synopsis of what he found.
The doctor came in and escorted us into the hall and started explaining what he had found. Now, up to this point we had been praying that the cancer would be contained and removed, thus offering my mom a reprieve from any further treatment.
I can honestly say that I could not recite, verbatim, what the doctor had said. All I heard was the surgery went well but there was possible metastasis. The next thing I recall was being in a group hug with my brothers and not wanting to let go.
Once again, we were in a holding pattern until the lab confirmed what the doctor suspected.
The doctor came in and escorted us into the hall and started explaining what he had found. Now, up to this point we had been praying that the cancer would be contained and removed, thus offering my mom a reprieve from any further treatment.
I can honestly say that I could not recite, verbatim, what the doctor had said. All I heard was the surgery went well but there was possible metastasis. The next thing I recall was being in a group hug with my brothers and not wanting to let go.
Once again, we were in a holding pattern until the lab confirmed what the doctor suspected.
Follow the Yellow Brick Road
Or in this case, the dotted line on the floor taking your mom to surgery.
Again, anyone that knows my family will tell you that we never miss an opportunity to utilize our sharp wit and comic relief. So as they wheeled my mom down the hall to surgery, we all took our positions against the wall and saluted as the family matriarch was rolled on by. Come to think of it, I do believe she put her hand out so it could be kissed as she went on by – Big Hambone! :)
After they took mom in, they directed us to the surgery waiting room with a guestimation that surgery would be over around 6:00pm or so. We were also directed to the fancy computer monitors on the wall that allowed you to monitor the progress of the surgery. They had these little picture icons that popped up for each step in surgery – scalpel when it stared, needle and thread for closing and a band-aid when they were moved to recovery – pretty nifty!
Now, I don’t do well in hospitals. I think they are nothing more than a giant Petri dish of sick people and germ encrusted door handles. Let’s just say that the waiting room was packed to the gills, so some of the family moved outside where there was more room to pace.
Every now and then, we would check the surgery board to see how things were progressing and after 3 hours and a half empty waiting room, I found myself glaring at that board wondering why the heck those little icons would not change. Then the family would glance at each other and while you could tell we looked worried, no one uttered a word.
Finally, at 8:45pm, as we all gathered around the surgery board, our icons quickly jumped from one to the other and I think we all breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Again, anyone that knows my family will tell you that we never miss an opportunity to utilize our sharp wit and comic relief. So as they wheeled my mom down the hall to surgery, we all took our positions against the wall and saluted as the family matriarch was rolled on by. Come to think of it, I do believe she put her hand out so it could be kissed as she went on by – Big Hambone! :)
After they took mom in, they directed us to the surgery waiting room with a guestimation that surgery would be over around 6:00pm or so. We were also directed to the fancy computer monitors on the wall that allowed you to monitor the progress of the surgery. They had these little picture icons that popped up for each step in surgery – scalpel when it stared, needle and thread for closing and a band-aid when they were moved to recovery – pretty nifty!
Now, I don’t do well in hospitals. I think they are nothing more than a giant Petri dish of sick people and germ encrusted door handles. Let’s just say that the waiting room was packed to the gills, so some of the family moved outside where there was more room to pace.
Every now and then, we would check the surgery board to see how things were progressing and after 3 hours and a half empty waiting room, I found myself glaring at that board wondering why the heck those little icons would not change. Then the family would glance at each other and while you could tell we looked worried, no one uttered a word.
Finally, at 8:45pm, as we all gathered around the surgery board, our icons quickly jumped from one to the other and I think we all breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Houston, We Have Lift-Off
It’s September 14th and surgery day. My husband and I drove with my parents to Medical City in Dallas, where we met up with my brothers (Andy and Billy). Anyone who knows my family can attest to the fact that we have a unique sense of humor that really helps us get through those difficult moments – and this one was no different.
We spent the morning getting my mom checked in and prepped for surgery. And she was looking a little nervous when they were taking her vitals so I leaned over and whispered, “Last chance to give us another little sibling or at least make the front page of the Enquirer.” I told her I could se the headlines now, “Baby Hubert Blesses Senior Woman in The Colony.) I thought she was going to bust a gut.
For the next hour or two, we took turns visiting my mom in the holding area. Up to that point I was doing well and I vowed not to cry in front of her. But anyone who has a mom knows that when they start spurting out their momisms sprinkled with words of love and wisdom – all bets are off. While some things are not meant to be shared, but rather kept as a special gift …I will tell you that I turned into a complete pile of goo, complete with dripping snot and mascara – Thanks Mom! :)
We spent the morning getting my mom checked in and prepped for surgery. And she was looking a little nervous when they were taking her vitals so I leaned over and whispered, “Last chance to give us another little sibling or at least make the front page of the Enquirer.” I told her I could se the headlines now, “Baby Hubert Blesses Senior Woman in The Colony.) I thought she was going to bust a gut.
For the next hour or two, we took turns visiting my mom in the holding area. Up to that point I was doing well and I vowed not to cry in front of her. But anyone who has a mom knows that when they start spurting out their momisms sprinkled with words of love and wisdom – all bets are off. While some things are not meant to be shared, but rather kept as a special gift …I will tell you that I turned into a complete pile of goo, complete with dripping snot and mascara – Thanks Mom! :)
I Just Knew
Even though we were in a holding pattern until the tests from the oncologists came back, I knew in my heart that it was cancer. By no means, was I thinking worse case scenario, but have you ever felt like you just knew something?
Later on in the week, I accompanied my mom and dad to the oncologists consultation, where he confirmed that we were facing cancer, yet once again. (Flash back to 1998 – my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and she kicked ass back then, so my faith was strong that she could, and would, do it again.)
The oncologist recommened surgery and the rest of the treatment would depend on what he found and if the cancer had spread. But considering endometrial cancer is common in woman over 60, we felt some reassurance that we could beat it.
A lot of people have asked me how I felt when my mom was diagnosed with cancer. This may sound odd to some, but I was more upset when she was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 1998. I am not saying that I was not sad and scared, but I think back in 1998, I had so many things that I thought I had not yet done that I wanted to make sure my mom was around to see – does that make sense?
This new battle would see a daughter who was more mature, married, settled and at peace with the relationship I had with my mom. Everyone knows that mother/daughter relationships can be complicated at times, I think it’s because daughters grow up to be the caregivers and foundation for their own families, so when you are trying to find your way to becoming an adult, you want to do it your way even if it means butting heads and not always seeing eye to eye.
Now I look at my mom and see an amazing woman who has the strength and faith of a thousand angels.
But little did I know how much I had changed since the last time my mom faced cancer.
Later on in the week, I accompanied my mom and dad to the oncologists consultation, where he confirmed that we were facing cancer, yet once again. (Flash back to 1998 – my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and she kicked ass back then, so my faith was strong that she could, and would, do it again.)
The oncologist recommened surgery and the rest of the treatment would depend on what he found and if the cancer had spread. But considering endometrial cancer is common in woman over 60, we felt some reassurance that we could beat it.
A lot of people have asked me how I felt when my mom was diagnosed with cancer. This may sound odd to some, but I was more upset when she was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 1998. I am not saying that I was not sad and scared, but I think back in 1998, I had so many things that I thought I had not yet done that I wanted to make sure my mom was around to see – does that make sense?
This new battle would see a daughter who was more mature, married, settled and at peace with the relationship I had with my mom. Everyone knows that mother/daughter relationships can be complicated at times, I think it’s because daughters grow up to be the caregivers and foundation for their own families, so when you are trying to find your way to becoming an adult, you want to do it your way even if it means butting heads and not always seeing eye to eye.
Now I look at my mom and see an amazing woman who has the strength and faith of a thousand angels.
But little did I know how much I had changed since the last time my mom faced cancer.
Turn Back Time
So, as I pointed out in my Preamble post, we thought we were dealing with a DVT back in August of 2006 – while concerned, not too worried.
During this time, I had been point man for planning a surprise birthday party for my mom. Things were coming together for the big celebration and best of all she did not have a clue. Come to think of it, we really had no clue either.
The party went off without a hitch, and my mom was truly surprised to see all her family and friends’ waiting for her, at what she assumed was a small family dinner. But even during the party she seemed a little off and pre-occupied.
Three days later, the family was called together and she explained that she had gone to her physician a week before the party with what she thought was side affects from the DVT therapy and the blood thinners. She explained that she had been referred to a gynecological oncologist for an additional consultation and would not know the tests results for a few days.
In true form my mom quipped that she wished she could turn back the clock and hold at birthday number 79, since 80 wasn’t so hot thus far! (and for the record, my mom neither looks or acts her age - she's totally cool!)
During this time, I had been point man for planning a surprise birthday party for my mom. Things were coming together for the big celebration and best of all she did not have a clue. Come to think of it, we really had no clue either.
The party went off without a hitch, and my mom was truly surprised to see all her family and friends’ waiting for her, at what she assumed was a small family dinner. But even during the party she seemed a little off and pre-occupied.
Three days later, the family was called together and she explained that she had gone to her physician a week before the party with what she thought was side affects from the DVT therapy and the blood thinners. She explained that she had been referred to a gynecological oncologist for an additional consultation and would not know the tests results for a few days.
In true form my mom quipped that she wished she could turn back the clock and hold at birthday number 79, since 80 wasn’t so hot thus far! (and for the record, my mom neither looks or acts her age - she's totally cool!)
Preamble of Things to Come
2006 started out as a non-eventful year, health wise that is. My mom had been having some swelling in her ankles that we thought was attributed to arthritis, but after a visit to her doctor, he thought it might have been some type of blockage.
So after a sonogram of her leg, they saw some narrowing of the artery that might be a DVT (deep vein thrombosis), but could not say with 100% certainty. Her doctor decided to take a proactive approach and treat it as such. My mom started on blood thinners in the hopes that it would alleviate the blockage and swelling in the leg.
While she was feeling a little tired and had to keep off her tootsies, things seemed to be going well.
So after a sonogram of her leg, they saw some narrowing of the artery that might be a DVT (deep vein thrombosis), but could not say with 100% certainty. Her doctor decided to take a proactive approach and treat it as such. My mom started on blood thinners in the hopes that it would alleviate the blockage and swelling in the leg.
While she was feeling a little tired and had to keep off her tootsies, things seemed to be going well.
ChemoSabe vs KemoSabe
Before you get too involved in my thoughts and commentary about being a cancer patient supporter, I would like to comment on my blog title – The ChemoSabe Chronicles.
Even though the Lone Ranger was before my time (really it was!), I have seen it when channel serving through one of my insomniac moments (which have been frequent as of late.) I found the entire Kemo Sabe reference rather interesting. Did it actually mean something or was it a made up word that just stuck?
Thankfully, googling provided me with that answer. It is believed that Kemo Sabe, roughly translated, means trusted friend or scout.
Cancer and its subsequent treatment can be overwhelming. From the medication schedule to the side affects, from hydration to nutrition and all the simple tasks in between, you really do need someone to scout ahead and keep the patient on point.
Thus was my transformation into my mom’s ChemoSabe and the thoughts and commentary on the following pages chronicles that journey.
High Ho Cancer …AWAY!
Even though the Lone Ranger was before my time (really it was!), I have seen it when channel serving through one of my insomniac moments (which have been frequent as of late.) I found the entire Kemo Sabe reference rather interesting. Did it actually mean something or was it a made up word that just stuck?
Thankfully, googling provided me with that answer. It is believed that Kemo Sabe, roughly translated, means trusted friend or scout.
Cancer and its subsequent treatment can be overwhelming. From the medication schedule to the side affects, from hydration to nutrition and all the simple tasks in between, you really do need someone to scout ahead and keep the patient on point.
Thus was my transformation into my mom’s ChemoSabe and the thoughts and commentary on the following pages chronicles that journey.
High Ho Cancer …AWAY!
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