So far, this week has been much better than last week. Everything seems to be getting a little easier. I'm not allowed to lift anything and I have to be careful not to strain my abdominals. My right abdominal region is still sore and swollen, but the incision is healing really well. It's a strange combination of numbness and hypersensitivity around the surgical area.
I am enjoying the cooler weather. Since I am home all day long, it's nice to be able to go outside in the middle of the day without fear of being overcome by heat stroke.
I will return to see my surgeon on September 26th and then to see my oncologist on October 2nd. Hopefully we will be able to plan the next course of action then. Though my surgery was a success and they were able to do the right liver lobectomy, and remove my gall bladder, the surgeon also found a tumor on my pancreas. The surgeon did a biopsy which confirmed melanoma metastasis. Unfortunately pancreatic surgery is very complicated, so the surgeon was not able to operate on both my liver and pancreas at the same time. The hope is that I will be able to have a second surgery in a couple of months to remove the tumor from my pancreas. The surgery would be similar to a Whipple procedure that is done for pancreatic cancer. I don't know whether or not I will have any type of treatment in the meantime.
My focus now is on healing and recovering from the liver surgery so that I can be ready for whatever comes next.
Thanks for continuing to follow my progress and for all of your positive thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Erica
Thursday, September 13, 2007
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Team Run for Erica (minus Omar)
Omar getting ready to run
Mary, Chandra and Liz finish their 6 miles
Star and Christian run for the crowd
Tony and Jaime waving to the crowd
Team Run for Erica after the marathon (minus Jenny and Jaime)
Erica's Tree @ Upton Hill
Look how Erica's tree is growing and blooming!
Upton Hill Memorial to Erica
Erica's crepe myrtle tree by the batting cages at Upton Hill Regional Park, Arlington, VA
Plaque dedicating tree in Erica's memory
Plaque dedicating the tree in Erica's memory
A week before admission to Hospice
What a beautiful smile!
March 26: Liz, Star, Chandra, Erica and Kelly
March 26: Star, Chandra and Erica
March 12-13: Erica and Christian...check out those smiles!
With Uncle David
Dad, Mom, Erica, Megan, Heather, Chase and Uncle Bill
5 comments:
So happy to hear you're bouncing back from surgery - and that the weather is cooperating! We're all sending you much love and prayers for continued strength.
Erika!!!! You are my HERO!!! You continue to awe me with your amazing strength and positivity! I love you and am so glad you are in full healing mode post surgery...I am sending lots of light your way from the midwest ;)....
Erica,
So glad to hear that your surgery went well and you're glued back together and on the mend again! Keep up the good work. I wish we were back there to help you out of your boredom. But know that you're in our thoughts.
Love, Jill, Troy and Ella.
hello my love! i am so glad to hear you are coming along well from that crazy surgery! you have been so strong and positive through this whole thing...and I know you are going to come through all of your other challenges as well. I am sending happy thoughts to your pancreas AND your liver.
lots of love,
Danielle
Erica Joyce! It was so great to catch up on the phone the other day. Abdominal surgery certainly DOESN'T sound like a picnic! I'm so happy to hear that you are feeling better with each day and that you're able to get out of the house for walks and fresh air. You still face a long road ahead, but you need to always remember that you've got an incredibly big fan club. We're always behind you, Erica. And we love you with all our might. More importantly, we believe you can fight this and get through this and come out of this with an even crazier head of curls than you started with. Love you more than anything, Susie
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