Update Oct.6th,2011

Thought I would take a minute and update Jodi's-- March to Victory. It has be 15 months since the breast cancer was confirmed. It has been a long march. She is doing better emotionally Jodi is still having chemo treatments every three weeks, unless there is heart damage, then her treatments are postponed until her heart heals enough to continue. This makes for a long treatment. As hard as it is for her, I want to see her completely kick this cancer with NO CHANCE for it to re-occur, so however long it takes. She was originally scheduled to finish up her treatment program in October 2011, but that is not possible now. I am hoping for Feb. Tom is still supportive and still struggles with having enough work to pay the medical bills. It amazes me that the insurance companies can pick and choose what they decide to pay through a treatment program, but because you have insurance, you are not eligible for any discounts. Lia is doing well.

Latest update

It has been three months since I posted, a really long three months. Jodi is having a set back with her treatment, as her heart is not doing as well as it needs to be doing for her to continue. The medicine that they are giving her now is very hard on the heart, they do a test on her heart every three weeks before her treatment. Her last test numbers were too low , so they have to waite for her heart to heal before they can continue. Apparently the heart is weakened by the medicine, and it does not contract hard enough to pump the blood out of the heart. She is told that time off the medicine will heal her heart, so she just has to wait until her heart is working well enough to start the treatments again. I suppose that it will just extend the treatments past the scheduled October.

I think the whole process of treatments has finally caught up to her. She has been so strong , and it has amazed me how she can keep going and be so happy and positive. She is still very tired, and because of the financial load she is carrying, she has to be working full time. I wish I could just hold her while she sleeps for a whole day.

Any encouragement for her would be appreciated. We love you Jodi! Hang in there!!!

"THIS TOO WILL PASS"

Update.... one more Taxol treatment

I told you all I would update with a picture. It is great to see hair on my pretty little girl again. It hasn't fallen out with this second round of Chemo. Since Jodi only has one more of these treatments, and she is told it will fall out, it will probably be this week. We are hoping it won't, but planning on it. Thursday will be her last treatment of the Taxoll. I am probably spelling it wrong, sorry. She will have 4 weeks before starting radiation. But will keep having the herseptin until November.(that too is probaly spelled wrong)

Here is the nost recent picture of Jodi. Taken last week. The chemo is making her skin break out and changes the color of her skin for a few days. She is having irratation in her insides, but she keeps smiling, and being a joy to everyone.

Chemo again.

Jodi had another Chemo treatment on Wednesday. She is so pale, almost a yellow color. But she is still smiling. She has been so tired with the last few, she can hardly get out of bed. I wish I could be there and help her more. I miss seeing Lia and spending time with her. Been at the hospital for almost two weeks with Kent, (Jodi's Dad). The is having heart surgery today. We are very anxious, lots of emotions. It is amazing to feel her bravery, it is helping me cope.

Three more Chemo

Only three more weeks of this round of Chemo. If you don't count the next 10 months of the hormone blockers. Jodi is hanging in there. It seems each one of these effects her skin more and more. Today she felt like hives. She is so amazing, and makes everyone around her smile. Thanks Jodi for helping me cope with my trials.:)

Happy New Year

I got to spend the last day of 2010 with Jodi. She has a bit of a cold, but feeling pretty good. . She is healing good. Her antibiotic had a reaction with her pain med. so she is not taking the pain med.Because she is not doing chemo treatment now, she can take some aleve or advil which helps with the pain from the drain site. She is so tough! she was able to get out and do some jeeping with Tom on Thursday, which helped her emotionally. Love ya Jodi.... Hang in there.

Surgery again 12-27-10

Poor Jodi had to have surgery again last night, 12-28-10. Her other incision split open and Tom had to rush her to the emergency room. They did the surgery right there in the emergency room and took out her other expander. She is so frusterated and upset. She has endured so much. She is really trying to be strong and positive but it is weighing on her. She got one drain taken out from the surgery last week and a new drain put in. She hates the drains. The medicine they prescribed for her (antibiotics and pain medicine) don't go together and made her throw up so when she spoke to the doctors office she asked that they change the pain medicine rather than the antibiotics because she was worried about the costs to the insurance company. The antibiotics are in the $1000's and she was worried about them. That girl amazes me. Always worried about everyone else.

Surgery on 12-21-10

Tylia and her mommy at the hospital awaiting surgery. She had just got her IV put in and they had to poke her so many times. Her veins kept rolling and they were hurting her. But she still fought to smile. She is my hero.

Up date on setback

Just a quick message to let everyone know, Jodi had to have another surgery on Tuesday Dec. 21st. One of her incisions came open again and exposed and contaminated the expander. It was removed and the Chemo treatments will be post poned for at least a month. Hopefully that will give her skin a chance to heal. She is amazing!

Jodi' healing progress

Jodi is healing from her second surgery. It has been 12 days. She is not healing as fast, I think for a couple of reasons: #1 She is undergoing Chemo Treatment each week, which slows down the generation of new cell growth. #2 She has had to work enough to keep her insurance, so she is not getting the rest she needs to heal. She has not been able to remove the drains from the surgery yet, which indicated she is not healed enough. She is in pain most of the time, and amazes me with her upbeat attitude. The report came back form the infectionious desease control lab. Everything lookes good, but Jodi shill has to take antibiotics for the next three weeks. Her hair is still growing, she said, "It will probably fall out on week 12". who knows .... but she is assured it will fall out again. It does not seem to be curly at all. Got a new hat!! Cute and not as itchy. Lia told Santa all she wants for Christmas is for her Mom to get better. That was a surprise, I'm sure she still want toys too, but it is good to see her recognize the different gifts that make life more meaningful. We love you Jodi, and are thankful for sharing your MARCH TO VICTORY with us.

Jodi's Surgery Update

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

It seems like I am the only one who ever updates Jodi's progress. Well this last weekend she had a set back with her expanders. The incisions came apart, and she had to go back into surgery on Tuesday,yesterday Nov.23rd, and have them replaced. So she is back to where she was the end of September. Her healing time should be less. Knowing which medications to stay away from really helped to keep her pain under control. She Came out of the hospital Wed. pm, and is doing wonderful. Surgery went great and accomplished what the Dr. wanted. The infectious desease dontrol dr. is culturing the swabs and we will have to wait for about 5 days for results, in the mean time, Jodi is taking 2 oral antibotics, and an IV drip antibiotic. She will skip the Chemo this week, YEA!! Besides it was scheduled to Thanksgiving Day..Yuck! We are grateful for insurance!

Week 3

Week Three in the Chemo treatments, and Jodi's body seems to be handling the poison well so far. Her anxiety at treatment was not as bad this time, she took some anti anxiety medicine that really helped. Her hair had not fallen out again, yet, the nurse says that is very unusual, and assures her it will, in deed, fall out again. Even though it is only about 1/8 inch long, it has been kinda fun to have it. It does make her head itch. The nurse assured her "there will be no Paul Bunion beard". We love you Jodi. Congratulations on passing your second EMT Course!!!

Week 2 done ready for week 3

Jodi has completed her second Chemo treatment. These treatments are just as hard on her emotionally, but not as hard physically. Jodi has not been nauseated, just tired. She is working as much as she can, and spending as much time as she can with Lia. It is hard to get caught up on housework and things, because of the fatigue. It is great to see her being able to do a few more things that she couldn't do months ago. Healing from the surgery is going well, although it has slowed since the chemo has started again. Her hair is fuzzy and eyebrows are grown back a little. She is always cold!!! Except the occasional hot flash!

Started Chemo

Jodi started Chemo again, and after two days,... she is still feeling pretty good.

Treatment #4

Yesterday Jodi had her 4th Chemo treatment. It took a lot longer than it has in the past. After three treatment, and knowing what is ahead the next few day, the anxiety attack came hard. Her heart was monitored, and exrays of her lungs all seemed ok.

I know she is worried about Lia also. Lia is having a very hard time coping with her mom being sick, never knowing what to expect has got to be hard. Tylia is compassionate and caring and wants to help, but there is not much she can do, to help her mom. We are seeing a lot frustration and behavior issues. She has been out of school for a few days because of illness, and that has been hard for her also.

Tom got his badge at the Hurricane Fire Dept. last week. Here are some pictures. Jodi was feeling pretty good that day.

Wishing you Well!

The only word from Jodi today is she is SICK SICK SICK!!! She has been throwing up all day and is in a lot of pain. Keep her in your prayers.

And, don't forget her little family also. Tom and Lia and struggling right along with her.

Appointments, Appointments, and More Appointments

Today Jodi had 4 different appointments. The first being a full body scan to see how advanced the Cancer is and to make sure there is no further cancer cells attached elsewhere in her body. That test came back with the best results expected.

Jodi was labeled as having Stage 3A Breast Cancer.

The second appointment was with the oncologist to discuss treatment options. The 3rd was with a plastic surgeon, and the 4th with her Cancer Doctor to schedule treatments and surgery.

The outcome: She will begin a round of Chemotherapy before surgery to hopefully kill off floating cancer cells and shrink the lumps in her breast. Then, she will have surgery and continue with Chemotherapy for at least a year.

Next Step: 1st Chemotherapy treatment on Tuesday the 3rd of August