We woke up really early and left our house by 7am. Nate and I had to fax 45 pages of the UCSF new patient packet and medical records over to UCSF. Nurse Carol asked us to send it in early, so that the medical team could have everything in order by the time the Surgeon came in. We went over to Staples and then afterwards went to Starbucks to get a coffee for the trip!
We were lucky enough to not hit any traffic, and had a very easy drive in! It was really fun driving into the city and over the new bridge!
We got to the Cancer center by 11:30 for our 12:15 appointment, and we were lucky enough to get valet again! Whoever thought up valet in these busy hospital areas is genius!
As we made our way in I paused. I felt as though I didn't belong. I didn't want to be there. I wanted to turn back around and go back home to my normal life and my normal routine, the way it was!! My eyes welled up with tears! God gave me courage as I reached up and held my heart necklace. I kept walking to the elevators and told myself that I am brave, that God and my husband are with me, and I can do this. I got into the elevator and this was staring me right in the face! My new Surgeon made the hospital's 'Honor Roll'!!
I was greeted at the front by a very nice woman who had me fill out a bunch more paperwork. She told me that the appointment will take about 45 minutes. She told me that since he is the top Surgeon at the Cancer center that his schedule is very busy, and told us never to be late (good thing we were early). She also gave me Dr. O'Donnell's business card... Check out his business card! Orthopedic and Sarcoma??.. Could he be ANY more perfect or specialized for my situation??
Then, I got to meet Dr. O'Donnell's assistant, Regina. She made sure everything in our file was correct and seemed really nice (I think I'll be seeing a lot of her in the future)! We asked her where we could get a quick snack. It was already noon, and we could feel our stomachs grumbling. Regina described where it was but, it seemed so far away, we decided to take a seat and not be late to the appointment! Before we knew it, Regina came out into the waiting room and brought us a Raw Revolution bar from her purse (how thoughtful)!!!! She told me that with everything going on that it is important for me to eat when I'm hungry. The bar was really good too! (Thanks Regina)
Right at 12:15 we were taken back to my exam room where we were greeted by a Resident. He is a Doctor from New York who told us that he only wanted to train with the best. He took lots of notes and asked lots of questions. His job was to get a good outline going until Dr. O'Donnell was able to come in. About 20 minutes later, Dr. O'Donnell came in. He examined my knee and did a lot of typing. He would ask a couple questions, then type. Feel my tumor, then type. He asked Nate some questions, then typed some more. He was trying to be very thorough, so Nate and I sat very quietly and didn't interrupt. When he was done. He turned to us to discuss what he thinks and what my next steps should be. He told me that at this point, the tumor could be anything from a low grade tumor to high grade.... in other words, he wasn't sure. He told me that TODAY I was going to get a biopsy and x-rays. He went over a couple 'what if' scenarios. He explained to me that 'bad' tumors are really stiff, and 'not-so-bad' tumors are soft... mine is SOFT!! He also told me that my tumor, on an MRI looks mostly homogeneous; picture vanilla ice cream with a couple almonds. He told me 'bad' tumors look like rocky road ice cream (gross)!
I felt like our prayers had been answered. He was truly an Angel. He was very calming and to me, it seemed like he'd been there before. I felt like I had a plan leaving there. Off to get a biopsy!
I felt like our prayers had been answered. He was truly an Angel. He was very calming and to me, it seemed like he'd been there before. I felt like I had a plan leaving there. Off to get a biopsy!
After leaving the Cancer center, we walked directly over to Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) for my biopsy. We walked in and were quickly checked in and taken to the procedure room where the doctor greeted us. She went right to the lidocaine to get me numbed up. She must have poked my knee about 10 times before I got white, clammy, and almost passed out! She had to stop what she as doing and attend to me! The woman with a freaking tumor in her leg can't stand to get numbing solution put inside it! Nate and I laugh about it! The Doctor got me a pillow, water, and laid my chair back. Then she proceeded to poke my tumor another 5 times. She told me that she gave me a 'horse-dose' of lidocaine because the tumor is right on my nerve. She wrapped me up in a blanket before she left. She told me that when you almost faint... that all the blood goes to your brain, so you end up being ice cold everywhere else!
Nate and I waited in the one procedure room for the other room with the ultrasound to open up. After 40 minutes, I was good and numb and the other room with the ultrasound machine was ready! We were quickly moved in and set-up. She performed the ultrasound, and then set-up her needle (it was 2 feet long!). Good grief, at least I was laying down already!! She put the needle directly in the center, and did this up and down motion, left and right - as though she was 'stirring' my tumor but keeping the needle in the same hole. It was disgusting! The location where the biopsy was taken from my tumor, one word = painful, yes even with lidocaine. Right then and there, she put the sample onto a slide...
Nate and I waited in the one procedure room for the other room with the ultrasound to open up. After 40 minutes, I was good and numb and the other room with the ultrasound machine was ready! We were quickly moved in and set-up. She performed the ultrasound, and then set-up her needle (it was 2 feet long!). Good grief, at least I was laying down already!! She put the needle directly in the center, and did this up and down motion, left and right - as though she was 'stirring' my tumor but keeping the needle in the same hole. It was disgusting! The location where the biopsy was taken from my tumor, one word = painful, yes even with lidocaine. Right then and there, she put the sample onto a slide...
She turned around and told me that from what she can see..."I believe it is low grade."
I give God all the glory here. Because of him, I will most likely not need to have Chemo Therapy!!!! I will still need Radiation after surgery but, this means my hospital stay will be much shorter!!!!!!
After this news, Nate and I were very excited! We went straight to get my x-rays completed. The Doctor ordered x-rays on my knee and on my chest. I believe my chest pains are from stress but, the Doctor wanted to be on the safe side!
Can you believe we did all of this today? We were only planning on a 45 minute appointment. By the time we left it was 4:30! We were so starving! I told Nate that I really wanted Sourdough and a glass of wine! We had received amazing 'Low Grade" news and we couldn't be happier!!!! We had dinner at Boudin and left the city at 5:45.
Please continue to pray for my knee. Pray that the biopsy comes back low grade, with no surprises. Pray that the surgery gets scheduled with in the next month. Pray that my chest x-ray comes back with nothing. Please continue to pray for my husband's health... he's still not feeling 100%.
I appreciate that support from each one of you.
Love you all!
I was about to go on a long walk, and was like, WAIT! I need to see what the latest is. I am so glad I stopped for a moment, got o n my laptop, and read. Again, so many great people and so many great signs! I will continue to pray.
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