Venita's good news from recovery!

Julie reports:

I had to go out so I left my cell phone number with Jim..he called and said everything went great!

here is the medical stuff he said...

• sentinel node biopsy -removed 3 nodes-all negative on initial testing!
  
• no axillary node dissection..not sure what that meant but it was good news..
  

I was in a grocery store on a staticy phone..they also said that

• the left breast appears negative as well!
  

of course everything is pending pathology reports which won't be back unitl the 27th..but it appears to be a miracle!

He said Venita wanted me to call her at the hospital so I did..she sounded amazing! you would have never known she had just been through surgery..her exact words "I've got my life back"..shge is already planning what she is going to do in her garden...she is in a 4 bed suite at the hospital all by herself..she said she has her stuff everywhere and it is great..they are a bit worried about the excess drainange she is experiencing and may need to have the surgeon look at it if it doesn't slow down..but she will be going home tomorrow...that is all I know..so no questions ok! Our prayers reeally worked! I am guessing we may even see a post from her tomorrow..I am going to call her tomorrow afternoon so I will post again after that..

Julie

Goodbye Righty!

Today's the day we say goodbye to Righty. It's easy, and it's hard, to say goodbye.

Easy to say goodbye, hoping that with that tissue goes the cancer and the fear that this disease will cut short the time Venita and Jim will have together. It's already diminished the quality of their time together, having brought many moments of terror in the past 3 1/2 months. But it also has improved their relationship, as they work together to step through this treatment process.

Hard to sy goodbye, not that Venita or Jim have ever defined Venita by her sexual body parts, but once you've got any "normal and customary" body part, it's had to see it go. Won't the loss of any body part put the whole balance of the body out of whack?

Complications aside, twelve hours from now Venita should be out of surgery. Today's gift would be a finding of minimal lymph node involvement. We have little expectation of that outcome, but we can always hope/wish/concentrate on/pray for that miracle.

Home from Lefty's Biopsy

Home again, and so happy to be.

Yesterday was the MRI wire guided excisional biopsy on Lefty.

The two-stage procedure was done in the adjacent imaging and ambulatory surgery centers of the huge Christiana Care campus. Starting in the surgery center, an anesthesiologist put in an IV line to provide access for the radioactive "stuff" for the MRI and for the surgical anesthesia.

Next a trip down "Patient Way" to the Imaging Center. On the MRI table on her belly, left arm outstretched ala Superman, boobs hanging through a board with two round holes, Venita was in and out of the MRI machine for about 90 minutes. Really nice tech Sarah, and a really funny radiologist, Dr. B. (Why is it of the specialists, radiologists tend to have a human side?)

Took some films to compare to the MRI films from last month. Didn't have a mammo plate clamped on as Venita had previously been told (whew), but there was some sort of minor "compression" device. Dr. B got a feel for the location of what he called the "lesion," and started giving Venita shots of lidocaine into Lefty. Remember, Venita can't see any of this; she's face down in the superman pose. Dr. B was a hoot; he would place the tip of the syringe against Lefty and say "one, two, three," and push the needle into the tissue while saying "ouch." Each time he pushed the syringe plunger, he would say "ouch." Venita asked what he was doing, he said "Saving you the trouble of letting me know it hurts."

(Venita: "What do you mean by lesion? Dr. B: "The tissue of interest. The tissue that looks different from the surrounding tisse and that we want the breast surgeon to biopsy for pathology.")

After 3 shots and a few minutes for the lidocaine to "work," Dr. B started to place the wire, which was a 20 gauge biopsy needle. He had a hard time penetrating the skin--said Venita was "thick-skinned." As soon as he made it through the skin, Venita gave a big OOOUUUCCCHHH!!, and Dr. pulled back and said that Venita must need more lidocaine. "One, two, three," and pushed in the needle and plunger but didn't say ouch. Venita asked why he didn't and he said because that one didn't hurt. Venita assured him that it did. "Oh," he said, feeling bad that he had failed to supply all the requisite sound effects.

It took unusually long for the needle to get appropriately placed. Between Venita's thick skin and the fact the lesion was at the chest wall, it took maybe 8 separate insertions/adjustments to get the needle where Dr. B wanted it. While Venita waited for films to be printed for Dr. Cutter, Sarah brought Jim back to see Venita and to see the MRI machine.

Back into the wheelchair and a return trip up Patient Way to the Surgery Center. A short wait in the "back" waiting room, and then directly into the OR; no separate "pre-op holding."

Nurses and techs get Venita all strapped, and draped, and hooked up to monitors and IV bags. . . .

Dr. Cutter walks into the the room and says hello to Venita, Venita asks how Dr. Cutter is going to get to this lesion given it's at the chest wall, Dr. Cutter gives Venita that "how dare you question my skills" look as she sarcastically says "with a knife" . . . .

Dr. Cutter looks up at the anesthesiology nurse, and the next thing Venita knows she is being woken and asked to get off the table and into a wheelchair.

Coming out of the sedation was a little harder this time. Venita had teeth-chattering shivering. A nurse brought Jim back to the recovery area. After a blood pressure reading with a "normal" diastolic pressure, Venita was allowed to dress and leave.

No post-procedure visit from Dr. Cutter to either Venita or Jim. (Jim didn't see her pre-procedure either.) Dr. Cutter just disappeared. No pain meds sent home with us. Discharge nurse also seemed surprised by this "cut and run" behavior. Venita's using the Percocet she has on hand.

No big ace bandage this time. Just a gauze dressing and sports bra over the steri-strips. All of the breast tissue in Lefty is sore, from the breastbone over to the armpit. A much deeper, widespread pain than with the biopsy on Righty, where the tumor was right at the nipple. From what we could tell changing the gauze dressing this morning, Venita will have quite a dent in Lefty.

Finger and toes crossed for good news from the pathology report.

Venita plans to spend the day resting as much as possible. The mastectomy/reconstruction on Righty is tomorrow. Sigh.

Drugs!

Today, Venita saw her family doctor, let’s call her Dr. Primary. Venita doesn’t know this Dr. well, having changed family doctors right before this whole thing blew up.

Dr. Primary said she was happy Venita had come to see her. Dr’s been copied on the path reports, and said she was planning to hunt Venita down this week, but in person is so much better than on the phone. Dr. Primary considers herself part of this cancer care team. Dr. Primary sees her role not only as family doctor for non-cancer-related problems, but also as the Dr. responsible for helping Venita hold her self sane and healthy as she goes through this ordeal.

Hallelujah! Venita finally found the Dr. who sees that as hir role!!

Dr. Primary asked all the right questions—about sleep, how often, how long; about eating; about anxiety, panic attacks, fearfulness, focus, stomach cramping, diarrhea. Dr. Primary was batting 1000. She said that people in Venita’ situation start to become unraveled and that she would help hold her together, even when it takes coordination with the cancer doctors. She wants to see Venita every 3 weeks for awhile, just to check up on her.

So now Venita has:

For depression and panic attacks: Paxil CR, 1x/day. starting at 12.5mg for one week, increasing to 25mg after that.

For anxiety: Xanax generic, .25mg, PRN, up to 3x/day.

For sleep: Ambien 5 or 10mg at bedtime.

Venita still has to read the drug info sheets that she received with the scrips. She knows that many of you have used these drugs before, and have explained your experiences, but please share again, even if you want to do that sharing privately in PM or Email to Venita.

Venita is confused about having Xanax for anxiety and Paxil for panic attacks. She always thought those two conditions were the same, but Dr. Primary clearly saw them as different. Any thought on that?

Venita also wants to know about addiction to these drugs and whether that is going to pose a problem. The way Dr. Primary was talking, Venita might need “a little help” all the way through chemo and radiation treatment, which means through year-end.

Tomorrow—Venita rescheduled her dental cleaning back to this busy time. She recently read that dental work during chemo is difficult because of the compromised immune system. Her body might have trouble with the “shower” of bacteria from a cleaning, and any open sores from procedures could be very slow or difficult to heal. The dentist’s office was very accommodating.

The Last Couple Days

Venita hasn’t been away from the house the last couple days because despite being on Xanax, her anxiety is physically overwhelming. Things like being doubled over with shooting pains in her stomach. It surprised her when it started Thursday night because she thought she had resolved her emotional anxiety by speaking to the OR RN supervisor earlier in the week. Something of a mind/body disconnect.

Her eating is lousy. Her green tea drinking is good (thanks Cindy).

Today Venita figured that the only way to get her mind off her problems, without going too far away from the house, was to do the spring cleanup of the yard. One of Delaware’s native hardwood trees is the Sweet Gum. Their seedpods are unaffectionately known as “monkey balls.” Those pods are unpleasant yard trash, like golf balls with iron spikes. Can’t believe the Internet site linked above suggests germinating these trash trees.

Each mature tree must produce 3 thousand seedpods, and they come down all year, although principally in the winter months. Therefore, not only do we have a big fall cleanup for the leaves, we also have a big spring cleanup for the monkey balls.

So Venita headed out, rake and trash can in hand, about 10 this morning. Around 12, Venita’s neighbor Nancy came over and said she would be over later to help, but that she couldn’t work in the sun. She said another neighbor Mary would come too. By mid afternoon there were 4 women (neighbor Lynn pitched in too) and Mary’s stepson all raking and hauling monkey balls up the hill. They finished well before dark, but pretty exhausted, with just a couple hours cleanup left for Venita for tomorrow.

Dr. Boob wanted Venita off cigarettes at least 2 weeks pre-mast to improve her circulation for the reconstructive surgery. Two weeks wasn’t going to happen with everything else, but Venita last smoked 24 hours ago, giving her a good chance of giving Dr. Boob half of what he wanted. Venita keeps having these “what is it I was looking for?” moments, and realizes that it’s a subconscious urge. Good thing there are no cigarettes in the house and Venita hasn’t felt well enough to drive out to get some. And no, this is not intended as an attempt to stop smoking; Venita’s just trying to get through the surgery with as many good outcomes as possible. If it turns into something more, that’s great, but that’s not her objective.

To Pack/To Do lists

We are so anal. Please let us know what we may be forgetting.

To pack for the overnight hospital stay (don’t want to take too much)

• Jammies (button front and loose)
  
• Socks (won’t need; they give you those non-skid socks)
  
• Slippers with non-skid soles
  
• Toothbrush and paste
  
• Comb
  
• Radio Walkman with headphones (Venita listens to NPR)
  
• Kleenex
  
• Book
  
• Glasses wipes
  
• Hand wipes
  
• Clothes to wear home, including sports bra to hold the chest dressing
  
• Safety pins and shoestrings to support the drains
  
• Sarna lotion (we understand morphine makes one itch)
  
• Passwords in case Venita can get onto the Internet

To do before surgeries. We are especially trying to think of things that Jim will have to do for Venita because she will be on the floor of the house with her bedroom, bathroom, and office. She may not have access to the kitchen (one floor below) or the litter boxes or laundry (two floors below) for some time. Some of these things may seem unnecessary, but remember that Jim doesn’t live with Venita.

Teach Jim:

• The cat feeding and pilling routines (thank God Max is off insulin)
  
• How to clean litter boxes and cat puke
  
• How to operate the microwave, coffee maker, garbage disposal, clothes washer and dryer, thermostat
  
• Where food stuffs, pots, utensils, toaster, and tea kettle are
  
• Where water shut offs and electric box are
  
• How to fill the humidifier

Stock into the house:

• Food, especially bland food (like yogurt, cottage cheese, soup) and clear liquids.
  
• Litter and cat food (done)
  
• Button up shirts and loose fitting pants
  
• Household supplies, like laundry detergent

Stock into Venita’s bed and bathrooms:

• Magazines and books
  
• Extra pillows, towels, washcloths, paper towels, toilet paper, and toiletries
  
• Thank you cards, stamps, pen, and note paper
  
• A large trash can and folders so that Venita can sort the mail as it comes in
  
• A phone and phone book
  
• A list of frequently called phone numbers
  
• A portable TV and a radio
  
• Max’s BG testing equipment
  
• Venita’s medicines and the pill splitter
  
• Venita’s appointment book
  
• Cat food and plates in case the cats want nighttime feedings
  
• Some sort of signaling device to get Jim’s attention if he’s not hearing Venita call, maybe one of those bicycle air horns (we don’t have walkie talkies or cell phones)

Other:

• Take Jim to the grocery store so he knows where Venita’s favorite things are
  
• Put Venita’s medicines in individual baggies and label each as to name, purpose, and dosage (split pills that she sometimes takes in half doses)
  
• Arrange for a friend to come in to feed the cats when we will be away from the house for more than 6 hours
  
• Pay all bills that will come due within 3 weeks of surgery
  
• Put a phone into the room where Jim will spend most of his time
  
• Put the phone on maximum number of rings before it rolls to voicemail
  
• Designate a contact person who Jim can call to update and who can in turn update FDMB friends on the Community Board during the time Venita can’t get into the Internet
  
• Disable comment moderation on the Blog
  
• Ask Steve to repost the FDMB update onto the Blog

Today's Brightest Spot

Been some real high spots and some real low spots today. Jim said to Venita: “Try not to be so negative on the Blog,” referring to Venita’s ranting about “it really sucks” two posts down. Venita popped another Xanax and is writing this as she tries to get her blood pressure under control from today’s round of stupid doctors’ offices tricks.

Today’s brightest spot was a post card from Martha from Hawaii. When’s that wonderful woman getting home to her Alley Cat? We so hope she had a warm, relaxing vacation away from the world of FD.

Is “vacation” a derivative of the words “vacant” or “vacate”? Must be. We hope Martha vacated all her worries back here on the mainland while she was gone.

PS: From Amy--"vacation comes from vacate, which comes from the Latin vacare, which means to be empty, free, etc." Thanks Amy!

Today is Better

Venita had 2 Xanax yesterday afternoon and evening and got about 5 hours of sleep. She got her hair cut really, really short, to ease into the bald look, and found 6 cases of Fancy Feast in our “flavors” so she won’t have to go to the pet food store for at least 3 weeks.

Venita put in a call last night to a daughter of a friend. The daughter, Libby, is a case manager nurse in the joint unit of the hospital where Venita will have her mast/reconstruction. Libby previously had offered to help anyway she could. Today Libby had Mary Ann call Venita. MA is the nurse supervisor of the hospital’s surgical intake/pre-op/recovery areas. MA answered all sorts of questions about the process and promised to keep a special watch out for Jim and Venita. MA said that depending on the nature and type of case load, she might be able to get Jim into pre-op and recovery to sit with Venita. MA promised that Venita would be able to have her eyeglasses in pre-op and recovery.

Venita won’t be put into a hospital room on a floor with the “general” patient population. She will be in a surgical observation area with 4 beds: more sterile environment and a richer nurse/patient ratio. Venita will be getting visits from both surgeons the next day so they can talk with her about the procedures, do exams, and evaluate her ability to go home.

Venita was told she could bring her own jammies and toiletries, but anything she might not bring and needs would be provided. (We don’t think that includes beer.) If she cares for it, Venita will get a head set so she can listen to “relaxation” music. She was instructed about the types of clothes to bring to go home in.

Venita was told when and in what format she will be getting pre-op and post-op care instructions.

That conversation and another Xanax this afternoon have made Venita feel less panicked.

It Really Sucks (by Venita)

It really sucks that:

I did everything I was told to protect myself from advanced breast cancer.

I went to the GYN/mammo/US as soon as I found the mass, and I was sent home with “come see us again in 4 months.”

My cats know I’m not well so they want to get in my face 24/7. (It's not all food love.)

I have 10 more days to go before the mast, and 10 days after that before I get the path results.

There’s a good chance that my prime client contract of the past 8 years is going to cut me loose because I can’t meet the schedule for their spring products. (This when I have recently turned down 2 other offers of work because I wanted to focus on their needs.)

Gasoline prices are so high and I have to travel 40 minutes each way to DR appointments, surgeries, and procedures.

Maxie was DX with diabetes last summer and I put such energy into getting him better and I now have few reserves left for myself.

My right ankle is swollen and I’m starting to freak that my right axillary lymph nodes are not working.

I am having panic and anxiety attacks--not sleeping, not eating, and having stomach pains and all the tail end stuff that comes with that--and it took Dr. Cutter over 24 hours to phone in a scrip.

I broke down crying in public this afternoon when I was out with Jim.

I still am crying as I write this, even though I always try to be so positive here.

~V

Planning a Fund Raiser

This whole head shaving thing is starting to obsess us. We've been talking to people and here's what we are thinking. This would be set up as a fund raiser for a local breast cancer group, probably the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition.

At our local bar.

A mid-day party, on a Sunday for maybe 4 hours, with a DJ with sound equipment so that the "events" can be announced. We know 2 DJs and likely can talk at least one of them into donating his time.

A chili "cook-off." We've done these for fund raisers at this bar before. Different folks make their own chili recipe, and people pay $X to taste test a small amount of each one and then "vote" for their favorite by getting a full bowl of it. We've got maybe 6 people set up to make chili so far.

A head shaving "auction." Recruit different people to get their heads shaved if their "price" is met. We would set up containers to take donations for each person, so that a single person wouldn't have to pay the full price. Kind of like those "best legs" contests you may have seen. Venita would get shaved first--without any donations required of course--but as the day went on, the others would fall like dominos as their "price" was met. We already have 2 men who have volunteered to be shaved (even without donations) but we hope to get others involved. The bar manager says she will get her daughter, who is a beautician, to donate her time for the shaving.

Of course the standard "50/50." Buy a ticket for $X for the chance to get 1/2 the pot. The rest goes to the charity.

Anyone want to help us design the flyer for this?

Favorite Things

Alice asked Venita to blog her favorite things.

Besides of course her husband Jim; her four cats, Maxwell, Ennis, Bailey, and Lily; and her brother Les, Venita’s favorite things are:

The color red
Being organized
Working in the yard, including planting and tending her perennial and herb gardens
Pulled pork sandwiches
Vegetables with every meal (potatoes are not vegetables)
Hardware and kitchen gadget stores
National Public Radio
Being warm
Napping in the middle of a sunny summer day
People who help out other people on the FDMB
People who say things that make me laugh out loud (Thanks Ken)

Ups and Downs Each Day

Today’s Ups for Venita:

Steve confirmed that Venita is a smart ass after he asked her whether she had an address and she came back with a really brassy answer:

This reminds me of the time I was sitting in a bar, and my husband was out in the bathroom, and some really ugly drunk man came up to me and asked: Got a name? Smart ass I can be, I responded: Yes, doesn’t everyone?

Venita got flowers from the PICPA. She’s been doing some minor pro bono work for the PICPA's quarterly journal for a few years and had to beg off for awhile. How very sweet of the Journal's editor, Bill.

Venita got an invitation to go to the luncheon at the state's annual breast cancer conference from a professional colleague who audits the organization that puts on the conference. Jim and Venita are already signed up for the conference, but because it is only a few days after Venita's mastectomy, they don't know whether they can make it as it is. Thank you Pam for reaching out.

Venita got cards from Robin, Ellen, and Mary F. Thank you ladies.

Venita and Jim talked about having a head shaving party to get over Venita's concerns about people staring at and whispering about her upcoming baldness. It would be down at our local bar, involve homemade chili, and allow all to show support (including those who want to be shaved as "companions").

Today’s Downs for Venita:

Venita got in touch with a fellow to mow her yard this year. She didn't want to, but she has to be realistic. He's coming by on Monday to chat.

Venita "came out" to two friends (a married couple) about her cancer. The scrunched up, arm huging, turned away body language, and the lack of questions hurt Venita. She felt like a leper. They seemed to be saying: "Just go away already!!"


Far more ups than downs today, so that's good!!

Getting Bald (by Venita)

This is Venita only speaking here. I know with chemo there is a 90%+ possibility I will lose the hair on my head. I was planning to be proactive and just shave it in advance, and not wear one those do-rags or floppy hats you see on people undergoing chemo. Just be bald and proud.

In fact, I’ve always been a little curious about the whole shaving head thing that men do these days as a fashion statement.

But I’m kind of moon walking on this now. Jim and I have tickets to go to a dinner theater a couple weeks after I would have my head shaved. I’m thinking how shocked the folks in the room would be—-the whole, “OMG is this infectious?” or “Look at that woman, she is dying” thing.

I know I won’t be infectious or dying. And I know the do-rag/floppy hat only minimizes the effect on other people, it does not change the facts of what they see and feel.

I do not at all mind the people I see everyday seeing me bald. A few (men) have offered to shave the same time I do. (No women takers yet.) I am a little queasy about my first few trips to the grocery, discount store. . .... The overly long looks; the quiet whispers.

Your thoughts about my new feelings? Don’t even suggest the wig thing!

Why Radiation Therapy?

We've had some ask why Venita needs radiation therapy if the surgeon is removing her breast. We didn't know because we have yet to have the first consult with Dr. Nuke. But we think we have put together a reasonable answer.

Even though the breast is removed, the surgeon can't remove 100% of the breast tissue from the chest wall and the skin. So radiation will "target" those remaining cells. Also, because there is a high likelihood of axillary (underarm) lymph node involvement, there likely will be radiation to that area as well.

New Dates!!

In the midst of all this, we love good news.

Left breast biopsy March 15 (outpatient). Two days later, March 17, right breast mastectomy, node work (sentinel or dissection, depending on how it looks under OR-based frozen section), and reconstruction (inpatient, 1 day hopefully).

If the LB biopsy shows cancer, Venita might have to head back into general anesthesia surgery for another mastectomy and reconstruction, but we aren’t going to think that way, are we? We’re going to all chant—Go Lefty, Go Lefty! Oops! Stay Lefty, Stay Lefty!

And this shows some confidence from Dr. Cutter that she’s not going to find cancer in Lefty, doesn’t it? Otherwise, she would have delayed between the 2 procedures. Correct?

First post-surgical consult with Dr. Chemo on March 28. Scheduling assistant Venita spoke to (so nice) said Venita may start chemo the next day, in advance of getting the surgically implanted porta-cath. Venita’s sure her veins can take some measure of pricks, up to a point. (You may not remember, but the surgeon wants to implant the porta-cath separately so that there is no cross infection from the surgeries.) We’ve read that chemo can “collapse” the veins.

Still-to-be-identified Dr. Nuke’s office (another great scheduling person) tells Venita she doesn’t need to schedule the radiology for several months. More good news—the cancer center’s radiation department has a treatment center just a few miles from Venita. Not the 40 minutes each way ride she has to do for chemo.

Venita just checked today’s date. Is this already Friday? She’s losing her mind here. So surgery begins in 1.5 weeks. She’s psyched!! Get this crap out of her!!

Just to repeat what we have said so many times before. We do so cherish all the support Venita is getting from you all. We hope to be able to pay it forward some time very soon.

Green Tea and a Wheat Bag

Thank you Cindy

For a package with six boxes of green tea. Cindy and Venita had been talking about green tea shortly before Venita had the 1st biopsy. Venita bought green tea at the grocery post-biopsy but was bummed out that it was caffeinated. Of her 3 adult vices (caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco), caffeine was the only one Venita had been able to successfully abandon. (Another story for another day about Venita's walk across the Brooklyn Bridge on a Saturday morning in 1984 with her co-worker Ken, head pounding from caffeine withdrawal.)

Cindy's card, which is a wonderful sepia-toned picture of a pretty serious looking cat glaring through a wrought iron fence under a sign saying “no dogs allowed,” reads in part:

As I went food shopping the other day, I started looking to see just what was available in a decaf green tee. [This] seems to have turned into a Giant Green Tea Carepack.

Yes it did, Cindy, and Venita does appreciate the “picture” of your hair trim. Venita loves you, darlin, for taking all this time to do the green tea shopping that she hasn't been able to get to.

Thank you Martha, Robin, and Julie, and Gail

For the wheat bag. This is awesome! Venita wrote a couple days ago about how someone could make a cottage industry out of rice pads, and apparently Gail makes wheat bags. Can be heated or frozen. Venita is SOOOO looking forward to trying this out.

In her note Martha said that Gail gifted the wheat bag to Venita and that: “There is love from a total stranger.” Not a surprise to us Martha; there has been so much love from so many total strangers.

For those curious, the website for these wheat bags is here: http://www.wheatbags.com/. Venita has sent an email of thanks to Gail.

Chain Saws

Venita's friend and boss JFA taught her to use a chain saw back in, maybe, 1987. She got a 14" bar Stihl as a gift from a friend who sold and serviced power tools. Venita needed a small bar because she's a small person.

JFA sent Venita home to read the instruction book and to take the chain and bar off and reinstall them so she would know everything she could before the actual cutting lesson.

One Saturday morning, JFA came to Venita's house and they loaded up the wheelbarrow with the saws (JFA brought an extra saw--you need an extra when the saw bar gets wedged in a tree), tools, extra chains, chain oil, fuel container, ear protection, eye protection, gloves, and all that other stuff one needs for the job. They were going to head up the hill to the woods to cut.

But before heading off, JFA asks: "Did you read the instruction book, including the cautions for use on the first page?"
Venita: "Yes."
JFA: "What was the first caution?"
Venita: "Do not operate the saw while under the influence of drugs or alcohol."
JFA: "So you know that rule?"
Venita: "Yes."
JFA: "Good. Now go inside and get us some beers."

Off JFA and Venita went up the hill with the equipment and four beers.

Lesson learned: Life has rules. Life has choices. You can make choices that break the rules as long as you know and understand the reasons for the rules.

We Don't Want to Ever Lose This Thread

Venita annouced on the FDMB a couple days ago about her breast cancer. The support she got there was incredible, and with this link, we will always know our way back to all of those people who let us know how much they care.

Thank you, so much, everyone on FDMB!

Venita Wants to Mow the Lawn this Year

Venita found this story on the Internet recently, written by a woman who is now surviving breast cancer. What an incredible talent this woman has for expressing emotion in her writing. "It pained me to see Mom twist herself into a pretzel trying to please Grandmother, only to be dashed upon the jagged rocks of Grandmother's beachfront." How powerful is that?

This woman's story is very different from Venita's story. Venita has long experience with using power equipment. Also, it's been a very long time since Venita has had someone beat her down the way this woman recently has been beat down.

But, Venita is concerned she won't have the physical strength to start the mower this year, or the weed eater, or the leaf blower.

This story gave Venita hope that she can overcome, not only her breast cancer but also her fear of being able to start her power equipment--at least the ones she's always been able to start. She often has had to ask the neighbor to start her chain saw.

Rice Socks--Good

As is common practice on the FDMB, Venita made and uses a rice sock to warm Max's ear before she draws blood to test his blood glucose level.

When Dr. Cutter suggested warm compresses to provide relief from the pain in her right breast nipple because of the ischemia (dying tissue) from the biopsy, Venita did as the Dr. suggested--a warm washcloth. But you know how fast a warm washcloth becomes a cold washcloth.

Venita decided to make her own rice sock. Real rice (not the Uncle Ben's converted type) put into the toe of a sock and tied. Put it into the microwave for 30-45 seconds, depending on how warm you want it. Venita will place her rice sock on the nipple, held in place under a sports bra, to bring oh so much relief from the discomfort.

She suggests it for anyone who wants a warm compress. Say you have back spasms and use a heating pad. Instead, you could sew together two pieces of fabric with rice inside, microwave it, and presto zippo, have a nice warm compress to lay on. Could be a real cottage industry!

Venita told Dr. Cutter about the rice sock. Dr. Cutter was unimpressed. The surgical resident in the room, though, thought it was a great idea and asked the details of making one. Maybe in the future, some patient needing warm compresses will be told by this soon-to-be-a doctor about rice socks/pads, not the warm-soon-to-be-cold washcloth trick.