Hi!

Isn't God awesome??  I'm feeling fine. Of course I'm quite tender and the armpits are uncomfortable. Thank goodness for my magic button and ice packs.

As Shelly posted previously, the preliminary results indicate the lymph nodes are not involved.  I should have the final results in a few weeks.  This is very good news.   

Dr. Kiluk just stopped by with some students. He is so kind. Have you ever had a doctor tell you that he loves you? He told me a few times. I know he means as a child of God but it was so nice.  Everyone in the hospital seems to adore him. He treats everyone so kindly.  

I'm not thinking very quickly so I think I'll end this post.  Thank you all for your love and prayers.

Love, Terri 

P.s.  I'm wearing a tube top for the first time in my life!  It is pink with tiny roses and has Velcro down the front and acts as compression.  Dr. Kiluk said some people wear them w short shorts, haha.  I won't be sporting that look.  : )

Surgery

Surgeon just came out  and advised everything went as expected.  Terri came through beautifully and is going into recovery for about 1 1/2 hours.  Surgery was "boring" with no detours or roadblocks is how Dr Kiluk put it.  I can only take that as great news as surgeries go. We have Been blessed with a great sugicaal team that took good care of Terri, and we are now on the way to a full recovery.  Thanks to you all for your thought and prayers.  Will update we / I know more,  Shelly

My Last Day Of Work

It was my last day of work before my medical leave and I spent the day with my replacement going over the plan for seeing students.  I composed and sent a letter to the parents to let them know I will be away and to introduce my substitute. I really wish I could have seen all of the students to tell them that I'm going to be on leave, but time didn't allow it. I know they are in good hands.

It felt odd saying good-bye to my kids and colleagues, almost like I'm  preparing to go on a trip to outer-space. I guess if feels like outer-space because what lies ahead is so foreign to me but I know that God is going to be with me for the entire journey. I have no real worries, I have faith. 

I'm going to miss being at school and the homecoming festivities. Hopefully, someone will take some pictures. I had planned to volunteer to be a chaperon for the dance, but I guess I'll have to wait until prom. 

We will drive to Tampa tomorrow so I can receive my pre-op injection. I'm staying at my sister's house in Zephyrhills tomorrow night to be able to be at the hospital at 5:15 on Wednesday morning. Since it's Halloween, I have my costume ready for surgery. I bought a set of fake glasses with the big nose and mustache. I had thought of trying to find something a little more related to the issue at hand, but in the end even though the idea was funny, I am just far too modest to wear pasties with tassels, even for a joke.  Besides....... where in the world does one find such attire???? I guess the question is moot now, eh?  : )


  

Blessed

I am more than blessed. My handsome brothers and their lovely wives ran and walked the Komen Race for the Cure in Knoxville yesterday. My awesome nephew ran the whole 3+ miles with his daddy! My sweet sister and brother-in-law were there too in spirit. They even had a poster with their team name on it and included a big orange T (go VOLS!)

I'm fortunate that I have a family who loves me and who faithfully prays for me and joins me in thanking God for my healing.

I am more than blessed. My friends are my family too. We laugh and cry and praise and encourage together. We pray for each other and we believe for one another when we have difficulty believing for ourselves.

I am more than blessed. I work with a phenomenal group of people who I consider to be my family. Together we care for the students of our school. We educate and encourage them. We provide safety and security for them. We worry about them as they are "our" children and we hope to be a positive influence on their lives. My work family and I pray for, encourage and uplift each other.

I am more than blessed.

Faith Big Enough

I had to be reminded today that my faith is big enough to cover my worries about my job, my students and financial concerns. I've never doubted that I'm going to be healed of cancer and that in the end, the whole thing will be used for God's glory. Not once did I doubt being triumphant over the disease. I just temporarily forgot that my faith is more than enough to cover the other issues as well. My sweet sister reminded me this morning and she is such a blessing to me.

I really miss being at school. I miss my kids and my work family. I pray everyone there is doing well.

I thank you all for your continued prayers and positive thoughts. They sustain me when I'm too tired to pray for myself.

Love to you all, Terri

Pre-Op Day

It was a long day. I know that I had no reason to be nervous but I felt pretty tense all day.

Everyone was very kind at Moffitt (as usual). I received lots of information and answered lots of health and medical history questions. The EKG technician said I have a "beautiful heart". I suppose that means it functions well. I didn't have to have more blood taken because I had a number of labs done yesterday at my general practitioner.

I'm all set until I have to go back next Tuesday to receive an injection into the tumor site to facilitate sentinel node mapping. Blue dye will be used in the lymph nodes on the left side.

I signed consent to have my tissues, blood and medical information to be used for research purposes. I would like for this "experience" to help someone else one day.

I'm still very tired. Hopefully, the doc will figure it out with all the blood work that is being done.

Thank you for your continued prayers. Terri

Twelve Days, But Who's Counting?

Surgery is on Halloween, in twelve days. I hope the recovery room staff at the hospital aren't in costume that day.... can you imagine waking up from surgery to some monster or crazy character??

I'm doing well other than being extremely tired. I have spent a lot of time resting and praying. My body is tired, but my brain is fully charged! I'm told it's "normal" but my understanding of normal only relates the the washing machine :)  I'm not depressed. I do have moments of fearfulness but I pray for courage and the Holy Spirit comforts me. I have a great deal of faith and the prayers of my family and friends (and their families and friends) provide an assurance that could be provided by no other.

It's been hard to be at home. The weather looks beautiful but I don't feel like venturing out even to the patio. I want so much to be at school. I NEED to be at school. I need to tie up some loose ends and I need to see my kids before I have surgery. I ask for specific prayers for energy to be able to work all next week. I need to be there.

Thank you all for your love, compassion, encouragement and prayers! Terri 

My Second Date With Dr. Kiluk

I finally have a date for surgery. I will have my pre-op appointment on the 24th at which time I will meet my anesthesiologist and have some routine tests (EKG, etc.) I go back on the 30th to receive an injection that will enable sentinel node mapping. I have to be back on the 31st at 5:15 a.m. to get prepped for surgery at 7:15. I'm glad to be his first surgery of the day.

Dr. Kiluk estimates my recovery to last from 2-4 weeks as long as the sentinel nodes are negative. If they are positive then chemo therapy will become part of the plan.

I'm relieved to have the dates scheduled and only wish I could get it over with sooner. I'm tired of being tired and ready to feel well.

I know I'll be okay. No worries, this too shall pass. Thank you for your continued prayers for abundant energy! 

Terri

A Rough Go

It's been a rough 5 days. I've been very tired and in pain. Thank you for your continued payers and positive thoughts.

The Doctor is Very Young

It's good news. Dr. Kiluk was very optimistic. I will have a double mastectomy as soon as I can get on his schedule. It will most likely be 2-3 weeks. During the surgery he will remove a few sentinel nodes from each side and they will be tested. If they are negative, I don't have to have further treatment! If they are positive, I will have to have chemo therapy.

When my general doctor told me that it was bad and that I would have to have radiation and chemo, I was prepared for the worst. A double mastectomy isn't necessarily good, but I feel like my prognosis is better than I was first told.

After holding it all together for a few weeks, I'm emotionally and physically exhausted. I guess any celebration will have to wait until later. In the meantime, I'm thanking God for His favor and healing.

Thank you all for your prayers and positive energy!  Terri

Moffitt Eve

The week feels as though it's gone quickly. I haven't been very nervous about the appointment with the surgeon until today and I'm unhappy that I have to miss work tomorrow but there is no way around it.

I'm driving to Zephyr Hills tonight to stay at my sister and brother-n-law's place which will make my drive much shorter in the morning. I have to be checked in by 7:30 and will meet with the doctor at 8:00.  The Moffitt website indicated I may have a number of tests tomorrow and I should come away with a treatment plan.  I'm ready to get on with it! 

I'll post again after my appointment.  Send me your positive thoughts and remember me in your prayers

Terri

Chapter One

I have discovered it's difficult to talk about receiving a diagnosis of cancer over and over. I'm blessed to have so many people who care about me and I know they want to know how I am and about the progress of my healing so I decided a blog might be a good way to share information efficiently.

It all started with a sore spot followed by a mammogram and ultrasound on 9/28. Stereostactic biopsy on 10/2 and summons to doc's office on 10/4. With the help of someone I hold in high regard, (Thank you so much Bill M.) I figured out the wisest move is to go straight to Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. I will see the surgeon there at 8:00 a.m this Friday 10/12. My surgeon is John Kiluk and from his credentials on the Moffitt website, he looks like the guy to see. I don't really know what to expect Friday but I'm certain it will involve a plan to get treatment started.

At this point I'm okay. I still have daily headaches but they are manageable and I haven't had a serious migraine since early July.  I'm tired, but that too is manageable. I'm very grateful for God's tender mercies.

I know I will be okay. I have a great deal of faith in God who is so much bigger than cancer. I appreciate your prayers and positive thoughts more than I can express here.



When I know more, I will update you with another entry here.  Of course I will see you at school and I am always uplifted by your words of encouragement.   Terri