Short entry,
Nancy seemed to have more energy today; she's getting cabin fever, but she's got to lay low because she's got a way to go.
Her appetite is good and she is "spunkier".
Peter is home for tonight and most of Saturday so both of us are feelin' good.
Thanks Mom and Dorothy and Leonard. Thanks to the Social Workers for their generous gift! Thanks to all of the family (both sides) for thinking of us and letting us know it.
-Franz
Friday, January 25, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Day 8
Peter surprised us last night and came home from OSU unannounced. Nancy (and I) were thrilled. What a guy. Oma fixed us some great talapia-Nancy had a great appetite.
Nancy's only medications now is Advil. The post surgery narcotic is still working out of her system. It makes her very restless.
She had a good day, was ravenous for breakfast, walked out to pick up the mail after mom fixed her some lunch. She rested (slept) for most of the day.
We had Mom's great spaghetti sauce with a green salad for dinner. Nancy ate heartily again; had some dulce de leche ice cream.
Nance continues to improve in very small increments. I can visualize that liver increasing in size.
-Franz
Nancy's only medications now is Advil. The post surgery narcotic is still working out of her system. It makes her very restless.
She had a good day, was ravenous for breakfast, walked out to pick up the mail after mom fixed her some lunch. She rested (slept) for most of the day.
We had Mom's great spaghetti sauce with a green salad for dinner. Nancy ate heartily again; had some dulce de leche ice cream.
Nance continues to improve in very small increments. I can visualize that liver increasing in size.
-Franz
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Day 8-our first full day at home
Thanks to all of you for your support and love.
Nancy is resting-I'd estimate that at least 80 to 90 percent of the time she is sleeping. Her pain level is relatively low (2-3) and is being handled by over the counter Ibuprofen and Tylenol. She eats (lightly) and sleeps. She has gone up and down the stairs three times today. Taking a shower exhausted her-at least she can take a shower on her own.
We've got lots of support...my Mom stayed with Nancy for much of the day, fixed her lunch and fixed us a great dinner. Nancy's parents were here early and stayed after I left until my Mom came over. They provide care for our dog, Beau, who is doing rather poorly.
Several people at work wanted to fix us a dinner, I turned some of them down because we have more than we need coming in. The Radiation Oncology staff has given us 12 dinners from Super Suppers-this is much appreciated-thank you. Many of the staff who knows that Nancy loves to garden gave her a very generous gift certificate to Johnson Brothers nursery in Junction City/Coburg. Nancy is really excited and appreciative of that-thank you all.
-Franz
Nancy is resting-I'd estimate that at least 80 to 90 percent of the time she is sleeping. Her pain level is relatively low (2-3) and is being handled by over the counter Ibuprofen and Tylenol. She eats (lightly) and sleeps. She has gone up and down the stairs three times today. Taking a shower exhausted her-at least she can take a shower on her own.
We've got lots of support...my Mom stayed with Nancy for much of the day, fixed her lunch and fixed us a great dinner. Nancy's parents were here early and stayed after I left until my Mom came over. They provide care for our dog, Beau, who is doing rather poorly.
Several people at work wanted to fix us a dinner, I turned some of them down because we have more than we need coming in. The Radiation Oncology staff has given us 12 dinners from Super Suppers-this is much appreciated-thank you. Many of the staff who knows that Nancy loves to garden gave her a very generous gift certificate to Johnson Brothers nursery in Junction City/Coburg. Nancy is really excited and appreciative of that-thank you all.
-Franz
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Day 7-Home
We were discharged from the OHSU hospital today. Twas a long drive home; arrived safely. Nancy was extremely fatigued from the trip. She is resting in her own bed now. Finally at home.....
Monday, January 21, 2008
Day 6-afternon
We are still here at OHSU. Nancy is having probs with getting all systems online. It will happen, but until it does she won't be discharged. She's in a lot of pain with nausea. Dr. Billingsley is significantly reducing the oxycodone which he feels will help get things moving. We will be adding some tylenol.
So its touch and go. We may still be discharged today, but the chances of that are dwindling as the day goes on.
So its touch and go. We may still be discharged today, but the chances of that are dwindling as the day goes on.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Day 5 PM-Sunday 1/20/08
We thought we'd be discharged from OHSU today and home by now, but Nancy has had a very painful, nauseous day and will need to stay overnight. This is not totally unexpected, her systems have not come online yet. Anyway we feel that things are under control, they're just not to the point where they feel comfortable discharging Nancy.
We hope to be discharged tomorrow.
-Franz
We hope to be discharged tomorrow.
-Franz
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Day 4 PM
The afternoon was quiet...I think that we are still on target for going home tomorrow, Sunday.
We had at least 2 long walks. Things are quiet.
-Franz
We had at least 2 long walks. Things are quiet.
-Franz
Day 4-Morning
Sorry, I didn't post last night-tired, I guess.
Nancy had a pretty rough time with the pain yesterday afternoon and evening. The transition from the epidural to the oral oxycodone was more difficult than we expected. Nancy was pretty much confined to her bed for the rest of the afternoon.
Dr. Billingsley came in the late afternoon and decided that he was going to add Toradol to help manage the pain.
We were able to get a short walk in before I left for the evening.
This morning Nancy looked great! Evidently the Toradol did the trick. She ate her breakfast and some of mine as well. She took a shower and is wearing her own garments rather than the hospital issue gowns. The shower took much of her energy; she was shaking like a leaf from weakness after getting dressed.
Dr. Billingsley came in this morning and said that she should be going home tomorrow if things go ok today.
-Franz
Nancy had a pretty rough time with the pain yesterday afternoon and evening. The transition from the epidural to the oral oxycodone was more difficult than we expected. Nancy was pretty much confined to her bed for the rest of the afternoon.
Dr. Billingsley came in the late afternoon and decided that he was going to add Toradol to help manage the pain.
We were able to get a short walk in before I left for the evening.
This morning Nancy looked great! Evidently the Toradol did the trick. She ate her breakfast and some of mine as well. She took a shower and is wearing her own garments rather than the hospital issue gowns. The shower took much of her energy; she was shaking like a leaf from weakness after getting dressed.
Dr. Billingsley came in this morning and said that she should be going home tomorrow if things go ok today.
-Franz
Friday, January 18, 2008
Day 3-AM
Nancy looked good this morning. The epidural will be removed today-Nancy has already been switched over to oral meds. As expected her pain has increased with the removal of the epidural. Dr. Billingsley came by. He’s really pleased with her progress. The path report is not back yet-he doesn’t expect any surprises. He tells her that she is ahead of schedule and that maybe she will be discharged on Sunday. He also warns her that she will be quite weak and tire easily for the next 3-4 weeks. At this point none of her doctors are recommending further treatment with chemotherapy. He is still going to discuss this with his colleagues though.
We took a walk which really exhausted her and we’re now settling in for today.
Love and Peace to all of you,
FranzThursday, January 17, 2008
Day 2 Evening
Nancy had a good lunch…I’ll spare you the details of substance. We had a good walk-she is still very weak, but she keeps pushing.
We had another walk this afternoon-she weakens quickly and sleeps a lot but all of that is to be expected.
Finally! We have a private room on unit 14A, room 14. Nice new room, comfy. Nancy’s nurse, Judy, seems warm and attentive. We’re waiting for dinner-chicken. I’m going to grab a bite and settle in and watch the Ducks play Washington with Nancy. All is well tonight.
Love and Peace to all of you,
Franz
Day 2-Morning
Nancy looked good this morning. She is still in the ICU-Dr. Billingsley is working to get her a bed on one of the floors. Beds are really hard to come by here. Nancy has started eating solid food-some cooked cereal and scrambled eggs this morning.
We took a short walk down the hall. Nausea cuts the walks short. She read the Oregonian after her breakfast-this is a good sign, she’s doing some of her normal routine. We're now settling in for the rest of the day.
-Franz
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
End of Day 1-after surgery
I am now back in the motel room at the end of day 1 of recovery.
At noon Nancy walked down the hall about 50 ft round trip. She had some broth and juice for lunch and dozed along for the afternoon. Instead of using breathing machine she is doing yoga breathing-much more effective. At about 4:30 she walked down the hall again for a round trip of about 100-120 ft. Staff is real pleased about this. They also took her off the IV fluids. The docs made their evening rounds were pleased with her progress. There was talk of removing the epidural within the next couple of days. We were informed that she may appear jaundiced and that this was normal.
For dinner she had cream of mushroom soup, juice, milk and custard. She's doing well with her eating. The ICU nursed are pleased with her and her progress. Today's nurse said she "scored" by having Nancy as a patient. I'm hoping I was part of that.
Nancy had two visitors today, besides me, Dorothy and Leonard. She had a visit by Kathy Koepke, whom Nancy worked with at Sacred Heart some time ago-she is now working with the transplant program at OHSU. She also had a visit from Kate Mounts, a dear social worker friend that Nancy worked with in Eugene and who now lives in Portland. She enjoyed the visits although she had trouble keeping her eyes open at about halfway through the visit.
I'll blog at you tomorrow.
Love and Peace to all of you,
Franz
At noon Nancy walked down the hall about 50 ft round trip. She had some broth and juice for lunch and dozed along for the afternoon. Instead of using breathing machine she is doing yoga breathing-much more effective. At about 4:30 she walked down the hall again for a round trip of about 100-120 ft. Staff is real pleased about this. They also took her off the IV fluids. The docs made their evening rounds were pleased with her progress. There was talk of removing the epidural within the next couple of days. We were informed that she may appear jaundiced and that this was normal.
For dinner she had cream of mushroom soup, juice, milk and custard. She's doing well with her eating. The ICU nursed are pleased with her and her progress. Today's nurse said she "scored" by having Nancy as a patient. I'm hoping I was part of that.
Nancy had two visitors today, besides me, Dorothy and Leonard. She had a visit by Kathy Koepke, whom Nancy worked with at Sacred Heart some time ago-she is now working with the transplant program at OHSU. She also had a visit from Kate Mounts, a dear social worker friend that Nancy worked with in Eugene and who now lives in Portland. She enjoyed the visits although she had trouble keeping her eyes open at about halfway through the visit.
I'll blog at you tomorrow.
Love and Peace to all of you,
Franz
As expected, Nancy is still in the ICU this morning. When we arrived she was sitting up in a chair. She looked great. She looked "puffy" from all of the fluids that they administered during surgery. This is normal. She'd been visited by Dr. Billingsley this morning before I arrived with Dorothy and Leonard. He explained why he removed more of her liver. Evidently, the liver is composed of multiple sectors. The tumor, in one segment was very close to another segment; close enough so that he felt compelled to remove the additional segment for safety reasons. The liver should regenerate in 30 days.
She is doing very well and should be ready to walk this afternoon for the first time since surgery. The pain management using the epidural is working great! Her mind is clear and the pain is tolerable. She has some referred pain in her right shoulder-that is normal.
After the morning visit Dorothy and Leonard left to return to Eugene. They will be picking up Beau from my Mom. They still expect her to be in the hospital for 5 days-day one being today.
Love and Peace to you all,
Franz
She is doing very well and should be ready to walk this afternoon for the first time since surgery. The pain management using the epidural is working great! Her mind is clear and the pain is tolerable. She has some referred pain in her right shoulder-that is normal.
After the morning visit Dorothy and Leonard left to return to Eugene. They will be picking up Beau from my Mom. They still expect her to be in the hospital for 5 days-day one being today.
Love and Peace to you all,
Franz
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Nancy's in the ICU
At about 5 pm Nancy was transferred to the 8th floor ICU. They allowed all three of us to go in and see her for the first time since this morning. We walked in and she gave us a big smile. She looked great, a little pale, a little blood on her nose and lips, but she looked great. She told us that Dr. Billingsley had already come to see her twice. As I said earlier her Dr. told us that she didn't need the ICU, but that it is protocol for a surgery of this type.
She told me that I should take Dorothy and Leonard and go back to the hotel soon. She wanted me to get a good night's sleep and that she wanted her parents to rest after such a long day at the hospital. Here she is, having undergone a brutal bowel prep the night before, had an epidural placed, gone through 5 solid hours of surgery, had half of her liver removed and she's worried about me and her Mom and Dad. This is just a glimpse of what this woman is all about. I am fortunate to know this wonderful person!
The plan for tomorrow is to wait until after 8 AM to see Nancy (shift change is between 7-8). Dorothy and Leonard will visit through the morning and then head back to Eugene. I will stay here with Nancy until she is discharged.
I will post as news is created.
Love and Peace to all of you,
Franz
She told me that I should take Dorothy and Leonard and go back to the hotel soon. She wanted me to get a good night's sleep and that she wanted her parents to rest after such a long day at the hospital. Here she is, having undergone a brutal bowel prep the night before, had an epidural placed, gone through 5 solid hours of surgery, had half of her liver removed and she's worried about me and her Mom and Dad. This is just a glimpse of what this woman is all about. I am fortunate to know this wonderful person!
The plan for tomorrow is to wait until after 8 AM to see Nancy (shift change is between 7-8). Dorothy and Leonard will visit through the morning and then head back to Eugene. I will stay here with Nancy until she is discharged.
I will post as news is created.
Love and Peace to all of you,
Franz
At 2:30 Dr. Billingsley came to talk to us in the OR waiting room. Nancy is awake and OK! in recovery. Surgery went perfectly. No other cancer was found inside or in the immediate vicinity of the liver. He removed the right half of the liver, more than the 20% he thought he might have to take. He said that he wanted to be absolutely certain that he had clear margins. The liver will regenerate approximately back to its original size. He felt that she would be back to close to full strength in about a month. He said repeatedly that Nancy's general health and fitness played an important role in this surgery. Hooray Nancy!
She will be in recovery for at least another 1.5 hr and then she will be going to the ICU for at least overnight. He doesn't feel that she necessarily needs the ICU, but that it is protocol for this surgery.
They are close to full capacity here and there is a chance that she could be in the ICU for the entire hospitalization (~5 days).
This news brought tears of joy to Leonard and Dorothy. I am so relieved that I can't begin to describe that feeling.
Finally......Good news!!!!
Love and Peace to all of you,
Franz
She will be in recovery for at least another 1.5 hr and then she will be going to the ICU for at least overnight. He doesn't feel that she necessarily needs the ICU, but that it is protocol for this surgery.
They are close to full capacity here and there is a chance that she could be in the ICU for the entire hospitalization (~5 days).
This news brought tears of joy to Leonard and Dorothy. I am so relieved that I can't begin to describe that feeling.
Finally......Good news!!!!
Love and Peace to all of you,
Franz
Surgery Progress
Just got a call from the OR at 12:10 (PT). Nancy is stable and all is going well-surgery continues. They would not give me estimated time of completion-I'm trying to not read anything into that. With what we've been through...my mind tends to play nasty "what if" games with me.
So, Nancy's parents, Dorothy and Leonard, continue to bide our time.
Love and Peace to you all.
So, Nancy's parents, Dorothy and Leonard, continue to bide our time.
Love and Peace to you all.
Here at OHSU, the morning of the surgery
We were to check in to surgery admitting at 6 AM. Morning report said roads were icy, but we had no problem getting here in time. I gave Nancy the Bavarian wood carving of Mary and the baby Jesus that my mom gave me to give to Nancy. The carving was blessed by a priest in Bavaria. Mom, Nancy was very moved by it-thank you.
They are very compassionate, efficient and professional here at OHSU. Some of the anesthesia prep was unexpected. Nancy will be having a general anesthesia. In addition to that they placed an epidural at T8-T9. The epidural will be used post-op to control her pain instead of administering IV pain meds. They have found this to be a very effective way of controlling post-op pain. She also will have a central line in place to be used for monitoring, etc. The greatest potential problem with this type of surgery is bleeding. Out of control bleeding doesn't happen very often here, but they have set up means to address this problem if it should happen. I feel very confident in this team.
Kevin Billingsley, the lead surgeon, stopped by and told us that he had no anxiety about this surgery and that he expects it to go well. They have scheduled 4.5 hrs of OR time for it.
You can tell that its a teaching hospital...a dozen staff had contacat with Nancy here in preop; there will be an attending, resident and student anesthesiologist in the OR. There will be the lead and resident surgeon, students and multiple nurses. Probably about 10 people besides Nancy in the OR.
She was wheeled into the OR by the anesthesiologists at 7:45 and we don't expect to be notified that surgery is over until after 12:30 (PT) sometime.
Just got the first call from the OR about 15 min ago. Nancy is stable and surgery has started. I will post further when I get news.
Love and peace to all of you,
Franz
They are very compassionate, efficient and professional here at OHSU. Some of the anesthesia prep was unexpected. Nancy will be having a general anesthesia. In addition to that they placed an epidural at T8-T9. The epidural will be used post-op to control her pain instead of administering IV pain meds. They have found this to be a very effective way of controlling post-op pain. She also will have a central line in place to be used for monitoring, etc. The greatest potential problem with this type of surgery is bleeding. Out of control bleeding doesn't happen very often here, but they have set up means to address this problem if it should happen. I feel very confident in this team.
Kevin Billingsley, the lead surgeon, stopped by and told us that he had no anxiety about this surgery and that he expects it to go well. They have scheduled 4.5 hrs of OR time for it.
You can tell that its a teaching hospital...a dozen staff had contacat with Nancy here in preop; there will be an attending, resident and student anesthesiologist in the OR. There will be the lead and resident surgeon, students and multiple nurses. Probably about 10 people besides Nancy in the OR.
She was wheeled into the OR by the anesthesiologists at 7:45 and we don't expect to be notified that surgery is over until after 12:30 (PT) sometime.
Just got the first call from the OR about 15 min ago. Nancy is stable and surgery has started. I will post further when I get news.
Love and peace to all of you,
Franz
Monday, January 14, 2008
Nancy and I caravaned with her parents up to Portland today. We came up a day before the surgery because Nancy needs to prep. for the surgery. She need to report to the surgery department at 6AM tomorrow morning. Sounds early, but in the world of surgery, the earlier, the better (fresh surgeon, less pressured by the schedule). My motel room has internet so that I will be able to report what is going on. Send love and good energy tomorrow from 7AM (PT) thru the day. Thank you all for the support; it means a lot to us.
Who's taking care of the Beau dog? Oma is-thanks, Mom.
Love and peace to all of you,
Franz
Who's taking care of the Beau dog? Oma is-thanks, Mom.
Love and peace to all of you,
Franz
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
1.2.08-Stagnation
Just wanted to let everybody know that we haven't forgotten about the blog. We're at Sunriver and we're just chilling. Expect the blog to get going again around the tenth or so. Thanks for reading, and keep the comments coming!
Peter
Peter
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