How's Laura Doing?

Well, here... let me let HER tell you! :

Ok, here is the best update I can give at this point...

My care has been WONDERFUL, both at the hospital and at home. Family and friends have showered me with prayers of support and acts of kindness. My BFF and little nazi daughter :)have really prevailed almost to the point of too much!!! And then there are my substitute mom's (Mrs. Cannon and Miss Dye) taking care of all sorts of stuff. On top of that Mary, my Atlanta sister, has come down and prepared 5 star meals for us and filled in when Emily wasn't making sure I wasn't over doing something (naturally based on their opinions). Of course, Clif, Lisa, my good buddies Judy, Anita, Claire, Debbie, and countless others have been very attentive. One thing for sure, hunger has not been an issue at 126 Linden Road nor have beautiful flower arrangements to cheer me up even more! From the phone, the mail, and the internet the attention has also been overwhelming! Aunt Alberta serves as my telephone nurse while everybody checks in with Steve or Em. Last night and the day before some of my students called...thank you very much Marina and Veronica! I can't even express in words the feelings I have for all of you! What a blessing you all are!

Medically speaking here is the low down...minimum pain, still a hoarseness in my voice, back on the coumadin, more shots of Lovenox in my stomach given by myself, limited right arm use, and the most annoying side effect...the numbness in my right hand! Dr. Aderhold, the surgeon says it will go away but it is not happening very fast from my stand point. So what that means is that I can not use the regular typing hand positions to post this poorly worded info...it is hunt and peck for now...sorry, Sandra and business ed at LCHS:(

To all of you THANK YOU!
Love, LK

And now, a word from Emily:

In terms of how I think things are going here: Mama seems to want to do everything right away. She is doing surprisingly well two days after surgery, but I think she needs to take it slower--AS USUAL! Mama always wants to go go go. But the doctor said to pace herself--so I'm trying to make sure she does. This is no easy task. For this--I have become--the "nazi nurse." I gladly accept the title because I know I am being kind by being (to her) cruel.

It is a huge blessing to have incredible spirit and support for my mama coming from so many people, from so many places, in so many forms. God bless all of you.

(That's Mrs. Cannon and Miss Dye checking on Laura's progress at the hospital.)

It's a happy day!

Steve just called me to say that the doctor said things went well. With the initial tests on the lymph nodes, they found no cancer. More extensive testing over the next few days will tell for sure if there are any microscopic cancers, but the doctor believes it looks unlikely that there is any more.

Because of that, it appears there will be no need for radiation (yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).

Recovery time is about 6 weeks.

Laura is still in the recovery room and he expects her to be groggy and grumpy for a while after she wakes up. (I think she deserves to have a little grumpy time.)

Please continue to pray that there are no teeny weensy cancers anywhere in her body. And, please pray that she heals quickly and gets to feelin' more like herself very soon.

We are so glad that this stage is over and we thank you for all of your support right now and during the past six months. What an encouragement you have been to her (and us!)!

(Thank you, too, doctors and nurses at Phoebe!)

Have a happy day.

Day Before Surgery

An update from Emily:

Today, Mama and I went to Phoebe to the Coumadin Clinic and to Surgicare. Mama wasn't looking forward to it, because she knew she had to get blood drawn. And they stuck her 3 times before they found a vein that would bleed in the Coumadin Clinic--that did not make her happy.

Anita had given her a Starbucks card, so we got some coffee and then walked up the very unsanitary stairs to Surgicare, where she filled out some paperwork and went and talked to Michelle, the R.N. up there (She was real cute. Mama said she should have a sitcom). Luckily, she didn't have to get blood drawn there, too.

So, she'll call Surgicare at 3:00 to find out the exact time of her surgery tomorrow.

All in all, we were pretty much in and out. Tomorrow, we're all in for the long haul. Please pray that everything goes smoothly. And wear your GOFIGHTWIN shirts tomorrow!

Thursday

This coming Thursday, May 28th, Laura will have her surgery.

She goes in either today or tomorrow for a doctor's appointment and on Wednesday she will have pre-surgery lab work done.

You've heard me say it before, but she's not really looking forward to the surgery.

We're viewing this, though, as the last stage of the treatment and are hopeful that things will go smoothly.

Please say a prayer this week for the doctors and the surgeon and Laura. Please pray that she'll have minimal discomfort from the surgery and that she heals quickly.

And, just as a happy note... her hair and her fingernails are growing back. :-) Yea!

What a Week!

On Monday, May 11th, Laura was able to eat her first salad since November 3rd! She was so excited! She scoured the house for all of the possible vegetables she could add. It was a happy, happy day for her!

Later in the week, she met with her doctor (Dr. Jani) and they scheduled her surgery for May 28th. Details of the surgery are still being worked out.

And! For a few days, Lisa was home and now, Emily is home! Yea!

In other news, everyone on the GoFightWin team is raising money for the Breast Cancer 3-Day in Atlanta. So far, our team has raised, $3818.01! Our individual goals are to raise $2300 each by the time of the event. If you haven't donated, please consider it.

Thanks!

(For more information, go to http://www.the3day.org/. Or, see the May 4th entry to make a donation to any of our team members.)

Let's Get Started

In reality, our team HAS gotten started, but today Sarah, Hannah and I went to a "Get Started Meeting."

The other day, Laura, Steve and Debbie did a training walk together.

And, Laura, Mary Celeste and Tobi did one last weekend.

Looks like we are on our way!

GoFightWin!

The Best News was Yesterday

...but today there's a Zune Giveaway!

Everyone who donates to the Breast Cancer 3-Day by May 21st on Carrie's personal page will be entered to win THIS 8GB Zune player.

This could be a birthday, father's day or graduation gift PLUS(!) you'd have the satisfaction of knowing you helped further the cause of finding a cure for breast cancer!!

(see box below for donation button)

Hip Hip Hooray!

Laura had a mammogram scheduled for this morning... She arrived at the appointed time and waited with other women who were there for the same reason.

Her mammogram was only for her right side, but the mammographer took a whole lot of pictures of that side. Laura was then told to wait until the doctor had looked at the slides. She waited.

Then they came to tell her they needed to do an ultrasound.

(She began to wonder what THAT was about.)

And, it turns out, they COULD NOT EVEN FIND THE TUMOR AT ALL!!

I would say that's a reason to celebrate!!

Laura believes (and so do I) that the research study she was able to participate in (due to organizations like the Breast Cancer 3-Day and others) is directly related to how successful her treatment has been.

That's why we're doing the 3-Day... If we can help ONE person fight (and win!) against this awful disease, then it will have been well worth it!!

Consider making a donation, if you haven't already. You could be the difference for someone!

We're making it easier for you to donate!

Click below to donate to Laura:

Click below to donate to Steve:

Click below to donate to Carrie:

Click below to donate to Mary Celeste:

Click below to donate to Tobi:

Click below to donate to Debbie:

Training Walk #1

Saturday morning, Laura, Mary Celeste and Tobi joined other Atlanta area women and walked 3 miles. Laura says they felt a sense of empowerment from talking and listening to the women who have participated in a 3-Day event before. She was impressed with their strength and passion for making a difference in people's lives.

Please consider supporting one or all (smile) of us on this HUGE adventure.

(You may do that by going to:

http://www.the3day.org/site/PageServer?pagename=homepage

click on DONATE and then enter the participant's name and follow the instructions)