Flowers, Schmowers

No one is a bigger fan of a honkin' vase of fresh cut flowers then my mom, and so I try to leave some around the house for her as often as I can when I visit. I've been trying to think of an even better way to show my appreciaion for her strength going in to this surgery in particular, and then AH HA!

Bloooooooooooooooood! Donor centers around the country are always thirsting (perhaps not the best choice of words) for donors! So today, I went to Children's Hospital Boston to donate double packed red blood cells. I do this every eight weeks, but with all that's been going on, I missed my appointment in early October. So here's two pints of goodness (and Guiness later) to you, mom!

Chances are, she won't need a transfusion, but that's no reason not to help save another's life.

I found these on http://www.givelife.org/.

Top Ten Reasons To Donate Blood
10. You will get free juice and cookies.
9. You will weigh less — one pint less when you leave than when you came in.
8. It's easy and convenient — it only takes about an hour and you can make the donation at a donor center, or at one of the many Red Cross mobile blood drives.
7. It's something you can spare — most people have blood to spare... yet, there is still not enough to go around.
6. Nobody can ask you to do any heavy lifting as long as you have the bandage on. You can wear it for as long as you like. It's your badge of honor.
5. You will walk a little taller afterwards — you will feel good about yourself.
4. You will be helping to ensure that blood is there when you or someone close to you may need it. Most people don't think they'll ever need blood, but many do.
3. It's something you can do on equal footing with the rich and famous — blood is something money can't buy. Only something one person can give to another.
2. You will be someone's hero — you may give a newborn, a child, a mother or a father, a brother, or a sister another chance at life. In fact, you may help save up to three lives with just one donation.
1. It's the right thing to do.


So get out there and offer up your antecubital space (inside of your elbow) people!

Eat Your Heart Out, Calvin Klein

In an email exchange between my mom and some of her sisters regarding dress fasions this holiday season:

Mom: Yes, and so the notable fashionista, Liz Talbot, hit this holiday party early this season defining a new fashion trend so cutting edge that its longevity will remain to be seen. As she dashed from party to party, heads turned to check out her new statement: an almost thumb-flipping bow to fashion over form, as she comfortably strode in what could only be described as hospital green; a definite far eastern touch for ease and practicality seen in the cropped pant and easy tie string at the waist; the theme continuing on top with short sleeved, v-neck in simple cotton, inmatching hue, and even reversible. A one size fits all, gender-free statement that flies in the face of all things fashion, Liz will continue to defy all things trendy this season as she turns down all invites to all The season's most sought-after galas, and will only be receiving in her personalsalon. One to not only shun trend but to actually create it in doing so, Liz Talbot's next statement will include a total departure from body piercings and henna-hued body art, launching what is sure to become the next bankable trend: body scarring. Stay tuned!

My Aunt Coco: Liz, the Queen of Accessories, You forgot to mention accessories! This new fashion trend of yours may also include a new sac-de-pee, in gold so refined it appears to be liquid, No?

Mom: Mais wee wee!! Ma cherie!

T Minus 6 Days

I never understood what the "T" meant, but whatever, you get the point (I'm sure my dad will tell us thought). Not a lot to report, but many thanks owed to all those who've contacted my mom and myself to offer support in any way, shape, or form. I swear, I am not like my mother (ie capabable of handling 10 times more than my fair share), so I will be sure to call in the troops the second I need something. As of now, we're feeling very prepared for what's ahead.

Mom had her pre-op CT scan, blood work, and cardiologist visit yesterday. Check, check, and check. She's on a new blood pressure medication because the beta blocker isn't quite doing it. It's making her a little nauseated, and she's having some abdominal pain, but that seems to be par for the course these days. Otherwise, she's way ahead of the game with Christmas shopping and trying to keep her nerves at ease.

A few people have asked, so I'll post for everyone: Her surgery will be at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, CT. Home address is 42 Oak Ridge Drive, Avon, CT 06001.

Monday I was at work and I had a little 3 1/2 week old baby girl on my assignment, who believe it or not, was scheduled to have a kidney taken out today! I called today and she did just fine, and her doctors believe there's no reason she shouldn't lead a long, healthy life. Well Shucks! If she can do it, so can we.

No...not THAT kind of coming out!

Although it feels like there isn't much that could surprise me these days- I hadn't really been "feeling" the title of the blog, when mom emailed me today with a new name idea, courtesy of a friend. Very clever! Wish I'd thought of it myself, but alas, I cannot take credit.

Operation Blood Pressure

Had a nice chat with my mom yesterday. She got a clean bill of health from her primary care doctor before going into surgery. His only concern was that her blood pressure, which already hangs out around 140/90's, has got to get down around 120/80's once she has only one kidney. Because kidneys are responsible for the fluid volume in your body, we don't want the one kidney under too much stress.

To try and decrease her stress and get some exercise, she's decided to buy a ranch.

Kidding- but I had to find some way to fit in this photo request from a donor who will remain annonymous (but here's a clue...he's made it his job to monopolize the comment board).

But back to the blood pressure...mom's going to work very hard at getting it lower by decreasing her stress and increasing her exercise. So if you were planning on sending her a box of chocolates or making her a lasagna, why not send her a box of nice nuts or dried fruit instead (and send the chocolates and lasagna to me!!!!)?

Ureters Get No Love

I never anticipated how many people would ask me, "what's a ureter?" I suppose I didn't have a clue till nursing school either, but if you're one of those people in the dark, here's a little diagram (image courtesy of U.S. National Library of Medicine).

The ureter itself isn't very interesting, but the kidneys are one hot ticket of an organ. They regulate both the volume and composition of fluid in the body by retaining or excreting fluid, and increasing or decreasing blood pressure depending on if they're being poorly or overly perfused by the circulatory system. They also excrete wastes from the body, and are vital in both red blood cell formation and vitamin D use to create healthy bones.

If they have too much fluid in them (hydronephrosis), they get angry and take it out on the entire body. The ureters are so important because they allow the kidneys to drain out waste. Imagine what happens when you don't empty your trash. First, it just over-flows, but then it stinks up your house and gross little critters start showing up. Maybe that's too harsh an analogy, because after all, mom has another kidney and ureter that is working perfectly and keeping everything in order, but no wonder she doesn't feel 100%.

So this is an important set of organs weighing in at only 4 to 6 ounces a piece! So give your kidneys and ureters a little love today and have an extra glass of H2O.

Wheat Grass and Yoga

Mom is off to New Age Day Spa with her best friend, Marilyn, sister Claude, and her sister-in-law, Pam. My mom's been going there for a few years, and she always really enjoys it once she's up there, but stresses before hand about missing work. Isn't that the point?

She's been having some different kinds of pain recently, but is diligent about keeping her doctor informed about these changes. She's got a prescription for some heavy pain meds (enter Jimmy Hendrix) that seem to be taking the edge off without making her too tired.

Otherwise she is hanging in there and trying to cross as much off her to-do list as possible!

The Plan

Diagnosed with bladder cancer in the summer of 2006, my mom underwent three cycles of BCG and/or interferon treatments before she beat it. It was a real adventure because despite bladder cancer being relatively lame (as she and I like to refer to it), my mom was very resistant to treatment. She's had three negative bladder biopsies since November 2006, the most recent of which was in June 2007, but has continued to have pain and complications.

Right-sided flank pain brought her in to see the urologist again in September. Her right kidney was four times the size of what it should be, the ureter was completely occluded, and it looked like it was cancerous. A stent was placed in an effort to dilate the ureter, allow the kidney to drain, and Dr. K was able to take another look and gather some good biopsies of the ureter this past Friday.

Which brings us to today…

This morning, she and I went to meet her primary urologist and the urosurgeon who is to perform the nephrourectomy (like that? kidney & ureter removal). The biopsy results from Friday show very aggressive cancer in her right ureter that has spread to the surrounding muscle, which is still part of the ureter. The best bet is to go ahead with the plan, and remove the kidney and ureter via laparoscopy, and then the cancerous part of the ureter, a small portion of the bladder where the ureter is attached, as well as all the surrounding lymph nodes via a larger incision between the belly button and pubic bone. This approach will make for less chance of bleeding, infection, and pain, as well as provide diagnostic and therapeutic benefits because we'll be able to tell if the cancer has spread to the lymph tissue (bad) and if it hasn't, it will never get a chance to because the nodes will be removed in that immediate area (good).

Despite the fact that bladder cancer is not supposed to spread, there is a 1-2% chance that similar cancer can pop up elsewhere in the urinary tract- further evidence that my mother is nothing less than exceptional! The chance of this moving to the other kidney or ureter is even less, and outside the urinary tract (providing it hasn't already, which is unlikely) is even less. The chance of her getting bladder cancer again is approx 50%, but she' been free and clear since Nov. 2006, with three negative biopsies since. A good sign, but she will still be monitored very closely.

The surgery is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 3. The doctors reassured us many times that doing it any sooner will not in any way impact the outcome, and this way she gets the entire day to herself, with both of their attention in the OR.

The procedure should be 5-6 hours. Recovery will be long. A few days in the hospital, a catheter and foley bag to rest the bladder and prevent bladder spasms (painful) for 1-2 weeks. Overall, no work or exercise for 4-6 weeks.

The objective now is for mom to unload as much as she can from her plate. As I said to her this afternoon- she needs to seriously embrace the stress for the next few weeks and do whatever it takes to get things settled before D day, because she's going to be unable to address anything after for quite some time.