In 1999 – 2000, I was treated for a malignant tumor in my left thigh at the University of Alabama – Birmingham. At the time, my two sons, Rich and Brian, were living in Atlanta and travelling to Birmingham to assist in my care. The treatment regiment was grueling, and there were many times that I did not have the energy to let friends and family know how I was doing. Enter the “court jesters” who lovingly took it upon themselves to keep everyone up to date. Thus began the Friends of Lois (FOL) e-mail updates. The distribution list started out relatively small, and as word of these epistles spread, more and more people asked to be included.
It is time to share these jewels beginning with FOL #1below. #2 through #9 will be published Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the next three weeks. If you are a cancer survivor, you are in my heart. If you know a cancer survivor, please feel free to share these missives. If you know someone currently going through treatment, maybe you can help them deal with the Big C. with humor. It sure got us through.
FOL #1 – 9/15/99
Dear F.O.L. (a.k.a. “Friends of Lois”),
Now that it’s time for Mom to start treatment, we have decided to send regular e-mails to keep all of you up to date on her progress. As you can imagine, she’s pretty tired these days, so getting the story to everyone all at once is a lot easier that making a bunch of calls.
Hopefully these notes will give you all the information you need. If you ever have additional questions, please feel free to send me an e-mail or call me or my brother, Rich, at home in Atlanta.
Well, the comedy of errors continues. We went to the hospital yesterday for outpatient surgery to insert a “Hickman catheter.” For the uninitiated, that’s a long-term IV port attached to the jugular vein so the chemotherapy can be administered easier. Unfortunately Mom thought the doctor said he was giving her a “hicky.” Imagine her surprise when she woke up…
While in recovery, we received a call from the orthopaedic surgeon insisting that we come see him right away. He informed us that “we may have over-diagnosed your condition.” To which Mom replied, “you mean I might just have the flu?” Rather than starting chemo, they wanted to perform an open biopsy to get a better look at the tumor.
Long story short, they did the biopsy this morning and she still has cancer, only now she also has a hole in her leg. But the good news is, the doctors can rest easier knowing they got the diagnosis right the first time (their mothers will be so proud). Anyway, the result is that our treatment schedule is pushed back a week, so she won’t get her first chemo dose until next Tuesday or Wednesday.
She’s tired and sore, but otherwise okay. We travel back to the clinic tomorrow for the radiation mapping (that’s where they tattoo a giant “Nuke Me Here” sign on her leg), and then it’s bed-rest until next week. I’ll let you know when we have more news.
Brian
FOL #2 will be published on Monday.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Your kids have a great sense of humor – I know where they get it from.
From one survivor to another – God Bless You!
Oh yes ~ like they say, “The nut doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Super to read!!! And, Big Hugs from one survivor to another…
What a wonderful thing to pass on to your children… a sense of humor. I can’t wait to read the rest. Did Mom ever get that hickey? How do Lois, Brian and Rich tame the Big C? Were the doctors able to follow the Nuke Me Here map? Stay tuned…