Home, Sweet Home!

It's a great day and it's a FRIDAY!!

Home, Sweet Home!

I've been doing so well after surgery, that I was discharged from the hospital yesterday!  Im home now!! There is NOTHING like sleeping in your own bed!  I'd be lying if I told you that Im not in pain.  Im sure you can imagine, so I won't go into the details here.

Re-cap of the events

On Wednesday morning, Nate and I woke up around 6am.  My Mom and her best friend were also staying in the same hotel as us, and they met up with us in our room.  We were all off to the hospital together!  I checked-in at the front admissions and before I knew it, I was in a hospital robe and in a hospital bed.

Since UCSF does a lot of teaching, at any given time there were 10 people in white coats in my room.  A combination of Doctors and Residents.   I remember getting my blood pressure taken 3 times... once by the Doctor and two times by Residents.  I remember them listening to my heart multiple times too.  You get the idea.  They were learning from me and my cancer - pretty cool.  I was hooked up to an IV and started on just a clear fluid.  More Doctors and students came in to ask questions, etc.  About 8:45, Dr. O'Donnell came in.  He wanted to go over the procedure with me and how long he thought it would take.  He then initialed my right leg next to the tumor.  He wanted to make sure that when they were setting me up for surgery, that they set-up the correct leg.

Here I am hooked up to the IV's waiting to go into surgery...

A couple minutes after 9am, they gave me a shot of something into my IV.  The Anesthesiologist told me that it is similar to Xanex, but 100 times more powerful.  before I knew it they were wheeling me into the OR.  THAT was freaky!!! and I was so glad that they had given me whatever that was in my IV because I was so relaxed.  The last thing I remember was them telling me to breathe into a plastic 'mask' that covered my nose and mouth.  Lights Out.

From what I've been told it took 2 hours to get the tumor out.  Then Dr. O'Donnell came to the waiting room to report the status to my family as the Doctors were setting up to radiate my leg.  Since I wasn't there to hear it, I have compiled two messages that were sent out to family and friends.  One message was from my Mom and the other from my Husband.  I think its hilarious how they both heard the update from Dr. O'Donnell at the same time but the messages were so different.

From my Mom:

Just spoke with surgeon who is done with basic operation. Jen still in surgery getting area radiated. Surgery went well and surgeon thought cancer was contained in its own sack (yay!) and he was able to ...move nerve safely so he thinks no damage to nerve via surgery. Tumor will go to pathology to see if there was any breach of that self contained sack. If so, more radiation after she returns home. We are waiting for radiation to be completed and for her to move to recovery area.  Because it looked self contained, he didn't take any muscle. So no 'shark bite' appearance. We think. Will keep you posted. Thanks for prayers

From my Husband:

"It went well we are waiting to see her. We won't know about the biopsy for 10 days. But the surgery went great! We are hoping she can go home tomorrow."

In all, the surgery took close to 5 hours, including Radiation too.

I remember 'coming to' in an open area... all I could talk about was my husband and how great he is!  I laughed when I was told that!

I don't remember how I got into my recovery room but, when I did wake up again I remember everyone was in the room!  However, there was another bed in the room.  They were waiting for another patient to come out of surgery.  I continued to be very nice to the nurses and before I knew it Nurse Karen told me that because they enjoy my personality and my attitude so much that they would move me into my own private room!!!!!

Here is my incision that is covered with gauze, you can see O'Donnell's initials.  The incision looks big, because it is!!  The tumor was located deep within my thigh muscles and down past my knee.  Part of the reason for my current pain, is because the muscles needed to be pulled and moved around to get the tumor out!  The red tube you see coming out of my incision is my drainage tube and it has since been removed.

Here is me getting wheeled out to our car... on our way home!!  I know I look pretty pale, Over the last two days I keep getting pale and nauseated and then Im fine.  Its odd!  However, you can't deny that SMILE!

I can now officially say that I kicked CANCER'S ASS!

Meal Plan

Ok, you are all amazing me!

My meal calendar filled up again!  I went and added MORE days, specifically for the weekends!!  I know I have some people that work their booties off during the week, so the weekend would work better!  Nate and I will be eating like KINGS!!  If you still nee the link, send me an e-mail: jennifercknighten[at]gmail[dot]com

Im busy, busy packing and getting ready to leave for San Fran!  BIG day tomorrow!

Don't forget to wear yellow tomorrow!  We will bring lots of awareness to this rare cancer!  #sarcoma #sarcomaawareness #jennifersknee #jenbeatscancer

Love you all!

It will be a Yellow Wednesday

3 days until surgery!

I want to ask each of you to do something for me on Wednesday! But, before I get to that I want to tell you a little about my Anesthesiologist appointment.

Anesthesiologist's Phone Appointment
On Friday, I was able to talk to Nurse Maria from the Anesthesiologist's office.  She had a lot of questions for me about my health background.  Overall, I'm a pretty healthy person so there is not a need for any additional tests prior to surgery.  She asked me how I was feeling about my up coming surgery.  She told me that this weekend, I need to rest, and relax.  She told me that the last thing I need to do is stress out about anything.  She is mainly concerned that I don't fall ill.  If I do get sick, they won't be able to operate.  I've been under strict orders to have FUN!!

She also told me that since I can get low blood sugar easily, that on Tuesday night, I will need to have dinner then eat AGAIN before midnight.  Midnight is the cut-off for food for me.  She told me that they moved my surgery time up... I will now need to check-in at 7am, for my 9am surgery.

She also prescribed me Xanex.  She told me to take Xanex Tuesday morning, Tuesday night, and again on Wednesday morning (good grief)!!  She told me not to stress because it will increase my blood pressure and cause me to recover a lot slower.

I asked her for a private room so that all of the 7 family member that are coming, will have a place to be.  Maria told me that a majority of patients have their own rooms.  She told me that it can always happen where you are in the room with another patient, but that it is really rare.

It was really comforting talking to Maria, she was very friendly and made this totally unexpected surgery for me sound VERY routine to her.  I'm thankful for Maria.

This Wednesday

I want to ask each of you to do something... for me!  As many of you know the color for Sarcoma Awareness is YELLOW, yes yellow!!

I though it would be fun to ask if you would wear yellow on Wednesday, for me and to bring awareness to this very rare cancer?

If you are able to, post a picture on Facebook, text, or e-mail me a photo of your yellow!  I just thought it would be so fun on Wednesday, that once I've recovered from surgery to check my phone and Facebook, and see all the yellow and know that you were thinking of me and bringing awareness to this very rare cancer.  It will just make me smile!!

Thanks for reading!!

Surgery check-in time

6 days until surgery...

More importantly 47 days until Christmas!!

I went to Michael's over the weekend looking for some craft supplies and Christmas decorations were everywhere!  Christmas is by far my most favorite time of year, so I get really excited.  Seeing all of these decorations reminds me that although my recovery seems like a huge mountain to climb... it is really right around the corner and will be here in no time.

Over the last month I have received an out pouring of love an support.  I can't thank each one of you enough.  I received cards and letters in the mail daily, along with thoughtful gifts, and lots and lots of e-mails and text messages!!  I want to share some of these gifts with you, so I've been taking photos and holding off on posting them. I figured it would give me something happy to write about when Im in bed for most of the day with recovery!  Im really looking forward to sharing with you.

Yesterday was the one week mark... One week until surgery.  My family and friends that will be in San Francisco for surgery and Nate and I at the same time, started looking into making hotel reservations.  The funny thing is, I didn't know what time my surgery is scheduled for!  How silly!  Up until yesterday, I had never asked!  I called the practice a couple times yesterday, but remembered that Wednesdays are the days that O'Donnell is in surgery all day - so him and his staff were all ALL busy.  I had a late appointment in a client's home last night but once I got home, I had received a letter in the mail with my check-in time for the hospital!  Perfect timing!  I have to check-in at the hospital at 9am!

Im still thinking about what we should do...  Should we stay out there on Tuesday night, or just drive out there on Wednesday morning????  If we stay the night on Tuesday, I will be able to get up closer to the time I need to be at the hospital.  Since I can't eat after midnight, this might be good.  Plus, no stress having to deal with the traffic driving in.  However, if we drive there Wednesday morning, I get one more day in my own bed and we save on paying for a hotel night but, I will be awake a lot longer in the morning with no food.  Suggestions.. help??

Thank you to each an everyone of you that signed up to bring Nate and I food!!!!  Holy Cow, the calendar filled up fast!  Im talking 6 weeks of bringing food every other day - gone!  We're both speechless!  So many of you have been telling me that you want to help, and I guess you weren't joking!!!!  Thank you.  I just had no idea that the calendar would fill up so fast.  I've received messages from some friends who wanted to sign up but there were no days left!  I have a friend that is out of town and asked me if she could order me delivery - how creative!  I can add more days to the calendar, if your still interested.  Send me an e-mail, call, or text me and I will send you the link. Im really excited about the food but, Im MOST excited to have visitors!!

Love you all!

My Liver

Good news!

Just a quick message to tell you that I heard back from Nurse Carol. She told me that Dr. O'Donnell received  the Radiologist notes from last week's MRI's.  From the radiologist notes it doesn't appear that I have leasions in my liver!!!!!!!!  Being as thorough as Dr. O'Donnell is, he still wants to see the images himself. I should know more hwen I'm in the hospital.

Sorry this post is so short, I'm using my cellphone to type it!!

Thanks for reading!

Radiaition Consultation

Yesterday we went to my Radiation consultation appointment in San Francisco.

We got up really early in order to beat the traffic out there.  Driving to San Fran is weird, you have a small window to leave the house.. 15-30 minutes outside of that window and we would have been 1 hour late!  However, we ended up getting there 1 hour early!!

In UCSF, the radiation department is down in the 'basement' of the hospital.  I must say that out of all the departments I have been to now, Radiation is just sad.   Its quite, and filled with older people that can barely walk with no hair.  Again, I didn't want to be there.  I wanted to turn around and leave!  Seriously, If I ran that department, I would have happy music and a TV with a funny show or something to get your mind off of whats coming behind those double doors!

In all my consultation appointment was only 1 hour.  Most of the time was taken up by the nurse taking my vitals and a Resident who was going through my series of events.  Once Dr. Gottchalk came in with his assistant, we had a full room!! 5 people in all there for me.  Dr. Gottchalk specializes in intraoperative Radiation (meaning he is really good at administering Radiation during surgery), He too is also a Professor at UCSF.

He explained to me that Dr. O'Donnell will 'do his thing' to remove the tumor.  He will then call for Dr. Gottchalk who will place the radiation directly into where the tumor was.  HE explained to me that he will do his best to not radiate my nerve.  Currently the tumor lays against my nerve and if Dr. O'Donnell believes there could still be cancer cells left around the nerve once the tumor is removed, then Dr. Gottchalk will Radiate that area.  This could leave me with no feeling in my right leg.

Dr. Gottchalk told me that after they pull the tumor out it will be sent to pathology.  Pathology will 'cut it up' and really be able to determine the grade of the tumor officially.  At that time, we will know if I will need radiation after surgery as well.  If I need Radiation after surgery, it will consist of treatment Mon-Fri, for 5 weeks!

I signed the consent form for both, during and after surgery Radiation treatment (just in case), so I wont have to return for an appointment just to sign another form.

Probably the BEST news of the day is that I will NOT need to 'freeze my eggs'.  Dr. Gottchalk uses a 'cone' shaped shield during intraoperative Radiation so that the radiation is directed only towards the area affected.  Boohyah!

There was no news about my MRI scans and the two additional lumps in my body.  I should hopefully hear about those MRI's by next week.

If you are continuing to pray for me, please pray that the surgery goes well.  That the Pathology shows I will not need follow-up Radiation.

Last MRI, anesthesiologist, and meals!

12 days until surgery!

TODAY is the one year anniversary of opening my State Farm Agency! I have such a great team and amazing clients, Im truly blessed!

Anesthesiologist Appointment

Yesterday, I got a call from my anesthesiologist's office.  They called to schedule a phone appointment with me for next Friday.  The anesthesiologist wants to go over all the rules, and answer any questions I may have on the Friday before my surgery.  I can't believe how fast the time is flying by!

Last MRI

Yesterday morning I woke up with a mission... I was going to get my last MRI yesterday!!  I wanted to make sure that my Radiation doctor has  everything he needs for today's appointment (As I type we are driving to San Fran).  I called different imaging centers and found one that had an availability in the afternoon.  She just needed the referral from Dr. O'Donnell's office in order to book the appointment.

I called Dr. O'Donnell's office and talked with Regina, she was more than happy to send it over!

Once the Imaging Center received my referral, they called to officially schedule the appointment.  By the afternoon, the earliest they could fit me in was at 6pm. The appointment lasted 2 hours!!  My Mom and I didn't leave until 8pm. The reason for the long appointment is because when the tech was attempting to administer the contrast fluid... she kept missing my vein.  I have never had this happen before!!  On the 7th poke, they got it!!!!!  Im all bruised on both of my arm joints today.  Oh well, small price to pay in order to have everything done before my Radiation appointment today!

They gave me this rose when I left to apologize for all of the attempts...

Meals

My good friend Jamie set-up a meal calendar online. She wanted to make sure that after my surgery, that we won't have to worry about cooking food - how thoughtful!!  At first I wasn't a big fan but, she told me that people want to help!  She reminded me that I won't be walking for 6 weeks and Nate is really busy with his new job that I should just let people help.  The calendar is online, and she set it up so that every-other-night or so, you can sign up for a day that is convenient online.  Since my blog is being viewed world wide, I don't want to just post the link since it had my home address in it.  So, please text, e-mail, post on my blog, or call me and I will send you the link.  Please don't feel obligated.  My e-mail: jennifercknighten[at]gmail[dot]com

I will let you know how my Radiation Consultation appointment goes today!!

Love you all!