The New "Normal"

I started this blog on November 9, 2013, while my husband Nat was recovering from major colorectal cancer surgery. The tumor was discovered after a colonoscopy on October 10th. They went in to remove the entire colon and tumour, and to create a permanent iliostomy on the 25th. The surgery was slated to be about 8-9 hours. At 9-1/2 hours, I received a call from OR staff, where Nat was. The surgery would be another 3 hours. I was growing increasingly concerned.

I learned later that the tumor had grown through the colon wall and had begun to attach to major blood vessels and the ureter (the tube between the left kidney and bladder). They scraped the cancerous areas outside of the colon as best as they could, but we didn't know how extensive the cancer was, until after we got the pathology results on November 18th.

This past few months or so before a trip to Florida, I noticed that my husband was pale and he was feeling very sick. He had battled chronic Colitis for 30 yrs. I expressed my concerns to him many times and encouraged him to get in to see his doctor. It seemed to get worse after our trip to Florida. I finally called and made an appt for him on Sept. 25th. On Sept. 21st, I woke up to find him in terrible pain, sweating profusely. I called the advice nurse, and spoke to a physician over the phone. We had to get him to the hospital as soon as possible.

He was realeased from the hospital ER that night and was encouraged to see a Urologist. He also developed a blood clot after the trip to ER. A colonoscopy was scheduled on Thursday, Oct. 10th, where the doctor found a blockage in his intestine. There were high suspicians that it might be a tumor, so Nat was admitted to the hospital for five nights where they did a battery of tests. On October 14th, the biopsies came back from the colonoscopy and we learned that it was cancer. He went home the following day and surgery was scheduled for Oct. 25th. After the surgery, he stayed in the hospital another six nights.

This is his/our journey through the process of getting his diagnosis and recovery.



Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Post Infusion #1 Update

 
Right now Nat is pretty wiped out, as they had to give him benadryl as a precaution for allergy side affects (such as closing of the airway) before they gave him the chemo. They also gave him an anti-nausea drug beforehand. The actual chemo infusion was two hours, but we were there for about four hours.  This is a photo of him when he was getting the infusion.  Notice the painting on the easel, and the window behind him.
 
 
 
 
 
 
While I was waiting, I took a closer picture of the painting and poem.  The poem was quite sobering and extraordinary.  Please take a minute to look closely at them.   Neither of them would have been created without a cancer diagnosis.   
 
 
 



 
The following is the view from where we were.  A huge oak tree and redwoods surround the building that represents the deadly disease where people come for their treatment.  The painting, poem, and view somehow make this place beautiful.  Even in the midst of so much suffering, there is beauty everywhere, if you look for it.  The real beauty, however, is in the stories of those we meet on this journey.  The human spirit is amazing, even in the midst of such intense adversity.  This is the place where people come together to fight against this disease that is affecting so many.  It is a place to support each other, patients (Nat) and caregivers (me), and hopefully get better.
 
 
 
 

So now we are back home.  Zoe was freaked out with joy when we returned.  She was all over Nat, jumping, whining, and wagging.  This morning before we left, an orange cat was on the fence right outside the back door.  Zoe saw it and was out of the doggie door before you could blink an eye.  The dachshund bay instinctively eked out of her long snout; a distinct, rhythmic and intense bark.  Our cat Chloe saw, and watched inquisitively.  The cat freaked out, and scurried frantically across the top of the fenses to get away.  Zoe was disappointed that it had gotten away and finally settled down.  Zoe does not hunt our cat, as Chloe is her last-resort companion when we are gone.  And Chloe has already let Zoe it is NOT okay to chase her. Those claws are pretty convincing in a dog's mind.  Chloe is not the brightest cat, however.  She doesn't know how to come in the doggie door, but can go out of it, which is convenient for us.  She is an outside cat and we don't want her inside eating the butter on the counter.  Disgusting!

So Zoe is quite an entertaining little companion for us.  A good distraction.  A real blessing.  She knows Nat is sick and when he's been at his worst, she has been at her best; by his side, watching like a hawk, and sleeping beside him.  She always has one ear, and her keen nose, on the sights and smells outside.  She's our little hunting dog, even if it's just in the back yard.

It is good to be home!  The present plan is two weeks of chemo pills, a week off, and then back for the second infusion in three weeks.  But for now, we are doing okay, and are hoping for a positive outcome both during and after the chemo.

Ciao!





 






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