Treatment Update

We have visited many oncologists over the last couple weeks. Every one of them has a different opinion on how to move forward. It ranges from nothing to a chemo/radiation combo. At MD Anderson they redid my scans and found 2 small lesions on my liver. Unfortunately, they can not tell if it is nothing or a reoccurrence of the disease. My surgeon is waiting for the films and he is going to weigh in. Regardless, they are too small to biopsy so we have to wait and see what the next scan shows (2 months from now). I am trying not to worry too much about it and focusing on all the upcoming holiday fun. That is easier said than done but I am getting better at it :)

A Great Week

We have had a great week. My Mom and I went shopping a few times and it was great to do normal activities. The girls now have most their winter wardrobes! I may have over done since it has taken two days to recover from all the shopping. So worth it though!

I spend a great deal of time everyday eating and trying to take in as many calories as possible. After not eating for 3 weeks, I have to gain back 10 pounds. It is a lot harder than you would think. The liver regenerating eats up a ton of calories.

Next week is full of doctors appointments. Monday we are going to San Antonio for a follow up with my surgeon and getting a second opinion on follow up treatment from another oncologist. Tuesday we meet with the radiation oncologist in Austin and the rest of the week we will be in Houston consulting with MD Anderson. After getting three opinions, we will decide what treatment I will do. While I am not looking forward to chemo and/or radiation, I am ready to have a plan and move forward. The sooner it starts, the sooner it will be over!

Today is Eric's 30th birthday! We had a good day full of snacks, BBQ, and cake!

Home Sweet Home

We got home to Austin this morning! I got discharged late yesterday and we stayed one night in San Antonio to make sure all was ok. We have missed the girls so much so we left super early this morning to get home and see them. It had been a week since I had seen them and they seemed to grow so much, esp. Addison. Addison is actually sleeping through most of the night now! I swear I didn't do this so I didn't have to wake up in the middle of the night with her :)

I am feeling pretty good and look forward to a relaxing weekend with the family. It will take some time to get my strength back but the goal is to take a couple 15-20 minute walks a day to get my body back in shape after the last three weeks of in and out of the hospital.

Eric is thrilled to be able to watch football and have a few beers this weekend. It is well deserved too; I don't know how he stays so strong. I truly could not have made it through the past few months without him. I feel so blessed to have him in my life.

(OU still sucks)

Maybe Not Another Surgery...

Stacie's body decided that it didn't want to go to another surgery and the blockage resolved itself literally moments before she was supposed to go the operating room (the OR nurse was waiting with her bed outside of her room!). i texted Dr. Almeda and he ordered another xray to confirm the blockage had passed - he used an x-ray taken at 8:45am as the baseline. he said that the blockage had definitely passed and she could hold off on the surgery for another 24 hours. he thinks there is an 80% chance no surgery will be needed at all!

i guess he thought this series of events was "cool" because we could hear him talking with the nurses and staff as he showed them the differences between the two x-rays (three hours apart).

Stacie will continue to be monitored and try to drink liquids and walk as much as possible to ensure the blockage doesn't come back.

thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!

- eric

Another Surgery

well, Stacie still hasn't been able to keep any food down, and the doctors think that surgery is the only solution. the problem is a blockage in the intestines that is acting as a bottleneck for fluids passing through. the blockage then causes severe nausea, bloating, and pain.

right now, she is scheduled to go in the operating room at noon today, but they don't know exactly how long the procedure will take. depending on what they see, it might be as simple as a laparoscopic operation or they may have to do an open surgery. we still have lots of questions before the surgery, but trust the doctors here to do the right thing.

- eric

Headed back to San Antonio

Unfortunately I have been in the hospital since Thurs. I have not able to keep down any fluids. This afternoon I am being transferred back to University Hospital in SA so my surgeon can help me.