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Well I'm BACK!
   It's been a couple of weeks now since my last update. I suppose it is time for another. We made our second post-op trip to SF last Tuesday. Karen made the trip this time without being cocooned in foam, pillows and blankets. I can't say it was a fun trip for her .......... a little extra drugs, in retrospect, would have made it easier. But she fared quite well. Also, there was no need for a wheel chair this time around once we got there. We arrived 45 minutes early so we devoured a meatloaf (thank you Sherry) sandwich prepared from the previous nights leftovers (yum), a slice of zucchini bread (thank you Suzie) and a soda(thank you safeway) then headed to the plastic surgeon's office. The doctor tells Karen he is very pleased with her progress. He said she is where she should be ........pain and all. Changed her bandages. Then answered a few questions like ..... what the HECK did you do to me and how did you DO it? He patiently (pun intended) explained. Karen asked if he took pictures? He said he did and asked "are you sure you want to see them?" Karen immediately said she did. So he pulls out his cell phone and shows us! ME-OH-MY! .......... (anyone for a fillet of fish!) At one point Karen asks "whats that?" He says ...... your INTESTINES. Ohhhh nice. I just hope the pictures don't show up on u-tube sometime. Overall we were pleased with the visit. He tells her again .... DO NOT USE YOUR ARMS for another month ........ yea..... we are half way. He did say she could wash her face, brush her teeth, comb her hair, etc. as long as it didn't hurt. ANY pain .... don't do it. Karen pops an oxycodone, hops in the car, we grab another meatloaf sandwich and we are off to Auburn.
    We return to SF on the 29th of July to visit the Thoracic surgeon. He will advise us as to the need for radiation (he thinks it won't be necessary but is currently seeking the advise of a radiologist). He will take a few x-rays to check out his work and check her progress generally.
    Thanks to all for an abundance of cards, flowers, meals, prayers and support.  We truly love and appreciate it.
Bye again,
Dan and Karen

OVER HILL, OVER DALE.....

It's been an uphill grind but now it should be a little easier. Or maybe I should say it's been a tough road so far but it will still be an uphill grind to full recovery...........but I'm sure you are reading this to find out about Karen ............so enough about me (JUST KIDDING!......geezz lighten up will ya). Anyway, it's going to be difficult to write something "new" everyday since her progress is going to be slow and go from now on. She continues to back off of pain meds (to less than half what she was taking when she first got home), she is more and more able to get up and sit down unassisted, shower without wound protection, eating practically anything she wants, no needs now from the in home nursing care,.......overall pretty darn good for being only 15 days out from major surgery.
     Maybe you might like a little detail as to what she went through.  Karen was diagnosed with a chondrosarcoma which is a rare form of bone cancer (give or take only about 1% of bone cancer cases) that typically grows out of the cartilage. So most Doctors see maybe one case in their entire career, if that. It was, in her case, pain free and very slow growing........hence the trap......we thought it was nothing for quite some time; until it was evident that it had definitely gotten bigger. (So all of you out there with bumps and lumps that don't bother you......... have them checked out anyway!) The surgeon removed the tumor which resided on her sternum directly over her heart. He also removed a "wide margin" beyond the tumor. That means about 5 inches wide and about 7 inches high overall. He filled the "gap" with a plastic type material similar to denture material (according to our dentist). It was embedded in a mesh which was sewn to her remaining ribs and etc. He then moved an ab muscle with skin attached up to the void. He said when it heals, if her stomach "itched" she would have to "scratch" her chest until her mind "figured things out". Right now it has no feeling. So until her rib cage heals and stabilizes she is not allowed to lift, pull, or push anything. So the better she feels the harder it's going to be to control herself. Anyway so this is the slow and go phase of things. I'll be back online with another post as significant events occur.
Until then,
Karen's helpmate

I LEFT MY HEART IN SAN...............FRAN.....................CISCO

Actually we meant to say "I left my PARTS in San Francisco" : Drains, drain tubes, drain containers, stitches and etc. Tuesday was a grueling day for all of us but especially for Karen. Getting ready to go, getting in the car, leaving for SF at 10:30AM, picking up Karen's sister Marsha near Sacramento, hitting heavy traffic in several spots along the way which delayed us nearly an hour and finally arriving at the Doctors with only 20 minutes to spare for a 2:45PM appointment. But it was an overall great news day. Pathology reports showed no cancer cells along the margins of the sternum and rib tips that were removed and that sufficient margins were removed beyond the tumor. Removal of the drain tubes (3) was a very painful procedure.....fortunately it didn't take long to do. It even hurt me and I was just watching......OUCH!! Removal of the stitches.........about a 100 or so, took way more time but not nearly as painful but no picnic either. He then put on a few band aids, answered a few questions, gave Karen a green light for a SHOWER on Weds (today YEAH!!) and we were "out-a-there" at 5:30PM. We expected long "commuter traffic" ride home but were pleasantly surprised with an "up to speed" trip all the way arriving here around 8:30PM. We answered a few phone calls, took a few pills (both of us) and hit the hay. WHEW!
Thank you Marsha for your company, your help, your expertise, and your sandwiches...they were delicious. We love you!   Bye bye for now.

ON OUR OWN NOW

Kelly left us bright and early Sunday morning. I have kind of gotten used to her here. Sad to see her go. But she has left me with charts and pills and medical supplies and instructions to keep track of and take care of her mom. I hope it all works.............. I already have forgotten to give Karen her pills exactly on time. I guess I need to have another list (and a few timers) to keep track of the lists and timers. Kristina is coming over to change out some dressings this morning. Great! That procedure is a little scary for me (and for Karen.........with ME doing it).
 Well we'll be of to SF for a visit with the Doctors that performed the surgery on Tuesday. We are looking forward to having one or more drain tubes removed (she has three). This will hopefully leave us with a little less to have to worry about. We are grateful to Kelly's family for letting us borrow her for the last two weeks. She has been such a great help to us (along with the rest of Karen's family for keeping us fed and etc.).
WISH ME LUCK! 

Good Bye from Kelly

Just a little note to let you all know that tomorrow morning I will be leaving mom and Dan and head home. Dan will be posting updates and keeping you all up to date on what's happening with mom. My only request is that you all continue to pray for pathology results to come back negative for cancer! I know that there are so many people willing to help with meal, errands, and anything else that's needed. I could not leave if I wasn't sure that there are dependable and capable people helping care for them both. Dan is most capable on his own along with mom's sister, Marsha who is an RN helping with dressing changes as needed. Thank You all for everything you do and have done to help my mom! XO Kelly

Backyard Airshow

First thing this morning we went out to the patio to have breakfast and overhead we witnessed about 5 airplanes taking off and into formation from the airport located just out the back of the house! We sat for about an hour enjoying our fruit and quiche watching the planes. It was great! (thank you daughter Krissy for the quiche)

Yesterday mom had several visiting friends come over, which she enjoyed immensely. Then daughter, Krissy and granddaughters, Cate and Jessica came by and cooked for us! I think mom over-did-it a bit, because she was really tired this morning and a little sore. She said the pain was well worth having the kids over for a little while.

After a bath and a little visit with a friend and a few phone calls, mom fell asleep for a few hours! So the rest of the day we plan to relax. With the high temperatures today of up to about 100 degrees we are going to take it easy. If we don't get to say so personally to each of, we wish you all a VERY safe holiday and God Bless America!

One week post surgery

Reflecting on this last week one of the things that we have discussed was that short of a miracle, mom's surgery could not have gone better. Her recovery could not have gone better.

In preparation for the surgery mom was walking, using her rowing machine and her stair-stepper. She knew that by strengthening her upper body it would help her with recovery. What she didn't realize was that her recovery was going to require strengthening of her lower body just as much as her upper body....(she can't use her arms for the next month or so). She is dependent upon her lower body to get up and down. Have you ever tried to get out of bed or a chair without using you'd arms? It's so much harder than I'd ever thought! Now add all the surgical complications! There were hidden benefits to her doing all that exercising of her upper body, because it actually strengthened her lower body. Which, in turn, has become the area of her body she depends upon the most!

Over the last few days we have watched videos that friends have dropped off. Eaten little goodies from family and friends and received numerous cards and good wishes. There are simply no words......