A GOFIGHTWIN! Kind of Day

"I wish I could give everybody the news I have to give you. You are doing GREAT!" said Laura's oncologist, Dr. Jani.

All of her lab work (including her INR for her Coumadin) came back great. She tells me that she's finally "therapeutic"... (Maybe she can explain what that means in a comment.)

On Thursday she'll start back on the research drug (Avastin) and that means going to the infusion room...but she's feeling GoFightWin-ish! so she can do it!. She'll also start her hormone therapy (which is really anti hormone therapy)...this means taking a pill everyday for five years. She won't be able to say say she's cancer-free for 10 years, but things are lookin' good!

After Dr. Jani, she went to Dr. Aderhold (the surgeon) who was equally impressed with the progress she's made.

But one of the best parts of her day was when she was told, "yes, go get a pedicure today."

(Notice the breast cancer ribbon on her big toenail.)

And even better than that, was when Dr. Jani smiled and handed her a presciption and said, "Yes, Laura, you can ride your bike."

Claire sat with her while she had her pedicure and Judy's gonna bring shrimp and grits for a celebration tonight!

In other news, Mary Celeste has met her goal for the Breast Cancer 3-Day.

It has certainly been a GOFIGHTWIN kind of day!

A Fruitful Day for Laura

Just received an e-mail update from Laura on what a lovely day she, Steve and Emily had last Monday... Here's her report:

Ok, I don't how it happened, but I was able to get out of the house and actually go on a 4 mile walk that I loved!...even in the morning heat. Emily (Nurse Ratchet) was hesitant but went along with it. Steve was in it for the blackberries I said were out there. Anyway, my crew let me hike through town and then the woods just to pick black berries. It was a great time and I felt so much better that when I got home, I decided to make a blackberry cobbler and have fresh vegetables for dinner.

I counted it as therapy but Emily monitored the activities I did the rest of the day. I obliged her rules the rest of the day with the understanding that, if I didn't do anything else, I would go to spinning class at 6:00. It worked and I got to the class!

That was one of my favorite days!

Informational Meeting Last Week

Last week (June 7th), team members gathered in Leesburg for a meeting to let the community know what is happening with Team GoFightWin!. Wish I could've been there, too! The following article was published in the Lee County Ledger.

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Team Go Fight Win held BREAST CANCER

3-DAY Awareness Meeting on

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Team Go Fight Win had an informative meeting in hopes of raising awareness of the Breast Cancer 3-Day event this October in Atlanta, Georgia. Team Go Fight Win will join thousands of other dedicated women and men in raising awareness and funds for breast cancer. The three-day, 60-mile walk benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund requires months of physical and financial preparation, challenge and triumph. Participants commit to raising $2,300 in order to participate and follow a four to sixth month physical training program. The public meeting was held on National Cancer Survivor Day. "We thought that National Cancer Survivor Day would be the perfect time to raise awareness of the Breast Cancer 3-Day and to have a Celebration of Life," said team captain Tobi Collins.

“I decided to participate in the Breast Cancer 3-Day because my mom had breast cancer. Breast cancer doesn't just affect the victim but many people! I wanted to make a personal difference to help fight the disease,” said team member Debbie Bruner. "The money raised during this event will help ensure funding for important research, education and community health programs."

“It is such rewarding feeling when a group of people ban together in an effort to raise funds to end breast cancer," said team member Laura Kitchens. "I am excited that Lee County is going to be represented in the Breast Cancer 3-Day. As someone once said, 'knowledge is power.' I truly believe research is the answer to the eradication of this disease."

The public meeting was held at the Lee County Library on Walnut Street. Team captain Tobi Collins led the meeting followed by a DVD and music video. Questions were answered and more team plans were made. The team welcomed new members, Angel Lavender and Debbie Hinman. "Though not all our team could be together today, it was very exciting to welcome two new members to our team. I look forward to our team travelling together on a life changing journey", said Mary Llaurador.

For additional information you can contact any team member.

Some members of Team Go Fight Win
Pictured back row: Debbie Hinman, Debbie Bruner, Laura Kitchens, Tobi Collins, Judy Powell
Seated: Mary Llaurador and Angel Lavender

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!