Well I'm up much too late for me - after 9 - but really wanted to get a blog started. I have so many creative and practical thoughts and images running through my head on life after cancer, concussions and children that I wanted a place to record them. And in the process share them and hope that someone may even feel empowered in their own unique journey.
Here's the briefest history I can think of for now. I may choose to tell some stories about it as I go along.
2000 - first pregnancy, 38 weeks of morning sickness (fun)
2001 - first child pretty straightforward
2002 - second and last pregnancy - 41 weeks of even worse morning sickness
2003-2004 1/2 - crazy chaos with second - colic, anaphlyactic allergies, asthma and terrible eczema, several hospitalisations and emerg visits and finally........... mastery of it all
2004 - husband has a nasty concussion and ends up with permanent post concussion syndrome
2007 - first concussion for me while running my Brain Injury group (yes i see the irony)
2009 - last concussion (please!)
2010 - spring - double knee meniscus tears and resultant surgery
2010 -autumn mysterious falls on flat ground at mystery times
2011 - Jan-April: a lot of specialists (2 neurologists, physical rehab Dr, neuro-otologist (dizzy Dr), ophthalmologist and neuro-ophthalmologist) I thought i had MS or Myasthenia Gravis but NO i didn't. Just double vision caused by central fusion disruption due to concussions.....)
2011 - April while pondering my double bedroom lights I find a couple of lumps in my left breast and my Dr and I think they are just cysts which I'd had before
April 28, 2011 - They are cancer! Big and bad and spreading like mad.....In April they felt like two lima beans. By May I had a bulging left breast, inverted nipple, orange peel skin, 4 large tumours over 8 cm plus a golf ball in my armpit and 9-12 involved lymph nodes. I have Locally Advanced Her2 Cancer Stage/grade 3 c). I'm off to the cancer agency and I start chemo within days. I get an ultrasound that shows several liver masses as well as something in my right kidney. Well these melt away "miracle style" from first chemo before they can get a biopsy. So I stick with the Stage 3 diagnosis. Better odds........
2011-2012 - 21 rounds of chemo total over 18 months. 2 mastectomies.1 lymph dissection. 20 radiation treatments.
2012 Oct-Nov - OR1 (aka work conditioning program) at a physio clinic
2012-2013 Dec-Jan - 8 week gradual return to work ending January 17, 2012.
Chances of a person returning to work after being off with injury or illness after 2 years is maybe 10%. I AM that one in 10. But it took a lot of work to get there.
I'm hoping my blog will be about this point forward. I do think that this is the hardest part for me. Reassembling my life one pixel/block/puzzle piece at a time to create my new normal!
Off to catch some sleep before I finish off my first full time week back!
Here's the briefest history I can think of for now. I may choose to tell some stories about it as I go along.
2000 - first pregnancy, 38 weeks of morning sickness (fun)
2001 - first child pretty straightforward
2002 - second and last pregnancy - 41 weeks of even worse morning sickness
2003-2004 1/2 - crazy chaos with second - colic, anaphlyactic allergies, asthma and terrible eczema, several hospitalisations and emerg visits and finally........... mastery of it all
2004 - husband has a nasty concussion and ends up with permanent post concussion syndrome
2007 - first concussion for me while running my Brain Injury group (yes i see the irony)
2009 - last concussion (please!)
2010 - spring - double knee meniscus tears and resultant surgery
2010 -autumn mysterious falls on flat ground at mystery times
2011 - Jan-April: a lot of specialists (2 neurologists, physical rehab Dr, neuro-otologist (dizzy Dr), ophthalmologist and neuro-ophthalmologist) I thought i had MS or Myasthenia Gravis but NO i didn't. Just double vision caused by central fusion disruption due to concussions.....)
2011 - April while pondering my double bedroom lights I find a couple of lumps in my left breast and my Dr and I think they are just cysts which I'd had before
April 28, 2011 - They are cancer! Big and bad and spreading like mad.....In April they felt like two lima beans. By May I had a bulging left breast, inverted nipple, orange peel skin, 4 large tumours over 8 cm plus a golf ball in my armpit and 9-12 involved lymph nodes. I have Locally Advanced Her2 Cancer Stage/grade 3 c). I'm off to the cancer agency and I start chemo within days. I get an ultrasound that shows several liver masses as well as something in my right kidney. Well these melt away "miracle style" from first chemo before they can get a biopsy. So I stick with the Stage 3 diagnosis. Better odds........
2011-2012 - 21 rounds of chemo total over 18 months. 2 mastectomies.1 lymph dissection. 20 radiation treatments.
2012 Oct-Nov - OR1 (aka work conditioning program) at a physio clinic
2012-2013 Dec-Jan - 8 week gradual return to work ending January 17, 2012.
Chances of a person returning to work after being off with injury or illness after 2 years is maybe 10%. I AM that one in 10. But it took a lot of work to get there.
I'm hoping my blog will be about this point forward. I do think that this is the hardest part for me. Reassembling my life one pixel/block/puzzle piece at a time to create my new normal!
Off to catch some sleep before I finish off my first full time week back!
Keep writing my friend. You are great at it and it is very therapeutic. It will help you reassemble the pieces. I can't imagine all that has transpired over the last while for you but I love reading your stories, blogs etc.
ReplyDeleteLet's get together soon, Rachael xox
Wow Patricia, you have been through so much! You are amazing and your attitude has kept you on top through all this chaos. I hope this blog can help you share your experiences but also bring some closure as you move forward. It must feel great. Kudos to you, and a big hug!
ReplyDeleteSylvie