My Mom turns 81 tomorrow so we celebrated her birthday today. She loved opening those cards that play music. My sister in law got her a couple and she laughed and laughed. Still love to see her laugh! Applebee's is her favorite restaurant so we all went there. Yes, i went, but I sure was apprehensive. I thought maybe it would do me good to get out and yes, I guess it did. And no, my appetite has not diminished at all.
I have really been struggling this week. On Tuesday, Mary took me to IU Med Center for a cardiac catheterization. They ran a wire up my groin and then there's a hole left there. You have to keep it dry and clean so that it doesn't get infected. Well, since my belly is full of fluid, my hole pours out water. By the time i get the bandage attached, it's soaked -- even if I put a washcloth in, it's wringing wet before I even get my pants up. Not sure what to do
Also, I took off the bandage from the fluid drain (periocentisis), done the previous Friday and there were 2 blood spots. I changed the bandage 3 times today and each time, they were covered in blood. I will be contacting my doctor tomorrow to see what else I can do. I am out of solutions right now.
The meals and visits have been very much appreciated. Thank you to all of you.
Love, Lenette
p.s. Please keep those prayers coming. Ask God to help dry up this wound; that would help a lot of things right now.
8.30.2009
8.27.2009
Wed / Thursday
I have a nurse again for a couple of days until this wound heals (it's really just a hole; I just don't want an infection and I HAVE MY SHOWER GIRL BACK FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS!!! YEAH!!
Even though I've had a lot of friends come by to visit or bring meals, it's been a hard couple of days. It takes me soooooooooo long to do things and I'm tired all the time and it feels like I just can't keep up even with an army of friends helping. It's probably just a bad couple of days. I'm sure I'll feel better when my strength gets up again. DON'T worry about me...I just need to vent every now and then!
Even though I've had a lot of friends come by to visit or bring meals, it's been a hard couple of days. It takes me soooooooooo long to do things and I'm tired all the time and it feels like I just can't keep up even with an army of friends helping. It's probably just a bad couple of days. I'm sure I'll feel better when my strength gets up again. DON'T worry about me...I just need to vent every now and then!
8.25.2009
Tuesday, 8/25/09
Went to Methodist (indy) Hospital today to have a cardiac catheterization as part of the testing for the transplant. I was under anesthesia in a twilight sleep and the procedure went well. It lasted about an hour and then there was a two hour recovery period to make sure I could walk and not get dizzy. They scared Mary with possibilities of "what ifs" for the trip home. None of those things happened and we were back in Muncie by 4:oo.
I have one more day of tests. I am waiting for that to be scheduled. The good news is that I am over half way finished with this series of tests!
Thank you all for praying and for thinking of me. I know I am not alone in this walk.
With Love,
Lenette
I have one more day of tests. I am waiting for that to be scheduled. The good news is that I am over half way finished with this series of tests!
Thank you all for praying and for thinking of me. I know I am not alone in this walk.
With Love,
Lenette
8.24.2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
It was another really busy week last week. Over the weekend, I was admitted to Ball Hospital (Muncie) because I couldn't speak clearly, could not find my words and would fall asleep before the end of the sentence. It turned out to be a combination between infection (not sure where I got that) and my amonia levels were too high. This is often seen in people whose liver is shot, like mine...we just had never seen it in me before so didn't know what we were looking at. They finally were able to narrow down the diagnosis on Tuesday afternoon and I was discharged on Wednesday about 4 p.m.
On Tuesday, I went down to IU Med Center (indy) to begin tests to see if they are able to do the transplant or not. On Thursday, we went for follow up testing and they took 20 vials of blood during the blood draw. Talk about being sucked dry!!
Tomorrow Mary Foster is taking me back down to Indy for a heart catheterization. Sounds a little scarey to me so say a prayer that everything goes well. If the doctor decides to operate on "something or other" during the procedure (I don't have the sheet in front of me, I will have to spend the night...and I DON'T want to spend the night. AT ALL. So please also pray that I get to come home tomorrow with Mary. On the way home, we plan to stop at David's and see his apartment.
Tommy was in this past weekend for the Freeman family reunion. I got to see him briefly Friday night, but we were both tired, so we both fell asleep in front of the TV.
Cody won a scholarship portion yesterday. He will attend a leadership conference at Washington University in St. Louis. It is hosted at the conference and they stay at the Crowne Plaza and he'll be with hundreds of others from across the county. There were 6 kids selected from Delaware County (8 school districts) who will attend, all expenses paid.
As you can tell, I'm not as regular at updating the blog. I'll try to get better, but a lot depends on what appointments I have for that week.
I got to stay in Oncology
On Tuesday, I went down to IU Med Center (indy) to begin tests to see if they are able to do the transplant or not. On Thursday, we went for follow up testing and they took 20 vials of blood during the blood draw. Talk about being sucked dry!!
Tomorrow Mary Foster is taking me back down to Indy for a heart catheterization. Sounds a little scarey to me so say a prayer that everything goes well. If the doctor decides to operate on "something or other" during the procedure (I don't have the sheet in front of me, I will have to spend the night...and I DON'T want to spend the night. AT ALL. So please also pray that I get to come home tomorrow with Mary. On the way home, we plan to stop at David's and see his apartment.
Tommy was in this past weekend for the Freeman family reunion. I got to see him briefly Friday night, but we were both tired, so we both fell asleep in front of the TV.
Cody won a scholarship portion yesterday. He will attend a leadership conference at Washington University in St. Louis. It is hosted at the conference and they stay at the Crowne Plaza and he'll be with hundreds of others from across the county. There were 6 kids selected from Delaware County (8 school districts) who will attend, all expenses paid.
As you can tell, I'm not as regular at updating the blog. I'll try to get better, but a lot depends on what appointments I have for that week.
I got to stay in Oncology
8.19.2009
Wednesday
I'm officially discharged from Ball Memorial Hospital today. Dr. Adrian thinks I had a combination infection and something like a metabolic encephalopoly caused by my liver condition. I will return to Ball on Friday to have the fluid drained again. Feel free to call my home, my cell or let me know if you want to stop by (so I'm not gone.) Tranks, again, for all of your prayers.
8.18.2009
Update on Lenette
Lenette asked me to give everyone an update as to what has been happening the last few days. Late in the day on Saturday, the 15th, Cody and I took Lenette to the hospital. She had been experiencing some confusion and had a difficult time making her words connect to her thoughts. I spoke with Dr. Adrian a couple of times and the decision was made that she would be best cared for at Ball Memorial Hospital. She was admitted early Sunday morning. They are still not positive as to what brought all this on and are continuing to run tests. She spent one night in PCU (Progressive Care Unit) where she was monitored closely for the night. She was transferred to Oncology on Monday. Dr. Adrian thinks she may have an infection but is still unsure at this time.
Meanwhile, she found out that her long-anticipated appointment to begin the tests at IU Med. for possible transplant surgery, had been scheduled for today and tomorrow. Dr. Adrian was very reluctant to release her, but after much discussion, he let her go. But she only went to Indy for tests today and then had to be back at Ball for more monitoring. She is scheduled to return to Indianapolis on Thursday for tests and then will hopefully complete the final tests next Tuesday.
It is not known at this time as to how long she will remain at Ball. She may go home as early as Wednesday or may stay longer. This all depends on what Dr. Adrian determines was the cause of her disorientation, etc. last week.
I visited with her tonight after she and Cody had returned from their very long day in Indy. She was very tired, but still hopeful as to God's plan for her.
She wanted me to thank all of you for your continued prayers and kind thoughts. She and I talked tonight about the awesome possibility of this procedure. She remains hopeful and determined to beat this cancer.
Please feel free to call her or come see her. She can use all the energy from all of us that she can get!
Melodee
Meanwhile, she found out that her long-anticipated appointment to begin the tests at IU Med. for possible transplant surgery, had been scheduled for today and tomorrow. Dr. Adrian was very reluctant to release her, but after much discussion, he let her go. But she only went to Indy for tests today and then had to be back at Ball for more monitoring. She is scheduled to return to Indianapolis on Thursday for tests and then will hopefully complete the final tests next Tuesday.
It is not known at this time as to how long she will remain at Ball. She may go home as early as Wednesday or may stay longer. This all depends on what Dr. Adrian determines was the cause of her disorientation, etc. last week.
I visited with her tonight after she and Cody had returned from their very long day in Indy. She was very tired, but still hopeful as to God's plan for her.
She wanted me to thank all of you for your continued prayers and kind thoughts. She and I talked tonight about the awesome possibility of this procedure. She remains hopeful and determined to beat this cancer.
Please feel free to call her or come see her. She can use all the energy from all of us that she can get!
Melodee
8.08.2009
Saturday Update - August 8th, 2009
sorry for the delay. My computer has been down for over a week - actually, operator error. But now that I'm back, there's a lot to update. Most importantly, I called IU on Thursday to see if they had scheduled any of the tests. I left a message with the doctor's assistant, but I still didn't hear on Friday. About 10:30 p.m., Cody brought in the mail and I read through the following paragraph:
"With respect to Mrs. Freeman's case, Rodrigo Vianna runs the multi-visceral transplant program at IU. He saw her the same day and we reviewed her films. We both think that we should move forward with evaluation and transplant her if at all possible. She is quite sturdy from a cardiopulmonary standpoint, so with luck the process will go quickly."
"We are coming in a bit late in the course of the disease, but will try our best to get her through the system. If you have any questions or concerns about our recommendation, ...
Mary Maluccio, MD
IU Liver Oncology Prog
IU School of Med
I think that says it all. I'm in line to get tested to do the transplant...the boys are supportive and I am excited. Can you imagine? When I found out I had cancer, I didn't say 'Why me?'...i said 'why not me?' When it comes to miracles, 'Why not me??'
Pray for me, please.
Love,
Lenette
"With respect to Mrs. Freeman's case, Rodrigo Vianna runs the multi-visceral transplant program at IU. He saw her the same day and we reviewed her films. We both think that we should move forward with evaluation and transplant her if at all possible. She is quite sturdy from a cardiopulmonary standpoint, so with luck the process will go quickly."
"We are coming in a bit late in the course of the disease, but will try our best to get her through the system. If you have any questions or concerns about our recommendation, ...
Mary Maluccio, MD
IU Liver Oncology Prog
IU School of Med
I think that says it all. I'm in line to get tested to do the transplant...the boys are supportive and I am excited. Can you imagine? When I found out I had cancer, I didn't say 'Why me?'...i said 'why not me?' When it comes to miracles, 'Why not me??'
Pray for me, please.
Love,
Lenette
8.05.2009
Wednesday August 5th
My computer has been broken down for days now so I haven't been able to enter a blog, but thank goodness, it's fixed so I can update everyone.
The last couple of days, I slept through. I also couldn't form a sentence. Holly called and "forced" me to seek treatment. She wanted me to go the ER, but when I called the "on call" for the pain clinic, they had me come in at 9:00 a.m. to check. David was up most of the night so he helped me in and out of bed -- very helpful.
The next day I went in and they reduced my morphine in my pain pump and within a day, I was able to stay awake and form complete sentences. The bad part is, my stomach hurts a lot and I have to get used to life without pain. I guess it will help me prepare for the transplant pain.
The last couple of days, I slept through. I also couldn't form a sentence. Holly called and "forced" me to seek treatment. She wanted me to go the ER, but when I called the "on call" for the pain clinic, they had me come in at 9:00 a.m. to check. David was up most of the night so he helped me in and out of bed -- very helpful.
The next day I went in and they reduced my morphine in my pain pump and within a day, I was able to stay awake and form complete sentences. The bad part is, my stomach hurts a lot and I have to get used to life without pain. I guess it will help me prepare for the transplant pain.
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