Chemo 13 & 14 / Thank you Party for Pottebaum

Update on my mom
My mom has been doing very well since her surgery on September 7th.  She got her drains taken out last week which allowed her to take a shower!  She said she was so excited she takes a long one everyday now.  =)  She still has stitches so she can't raise her arms very high, lift heavy objects or drive.  We are hoping the stitches will come out in 2-3 weeks.  She had her second fill for her ta ta's this week.  When this is all said and done we will have two sets of twins in the family for the new year!  My mom and I will both have B cups.  I am excited because I will have bigger ta ta's and my mom is excited because she will have smaller ta ta's!  It is a win win for both us!

She met with Dr. Thome this week and she will not need chemotherapy or radiation but is having an ultrasound on her ovaries.  Because she has a mutation and given her age the chances of getting ovarian cancer are extremely high, 87%!  So the next step for my mom is to have her ovaries removed in the next couple of months.

As for me I have 2 more chemo treatments to go!  Yay!

Last week's treatment (#13) a friend of mine that I met in college took me to my chemo treatment.  Laura Morrow and I enjoyed a couple of spring breaks together in Cancun and Myrtle Beach.  We spent a lot of time together in college and still get together to hang out and catch up.  Ironically, Laura is an accountant and had some very helpful suggestions on getting my Auntie Em's Angels charity launched. 

Me and Laura

Thank you for taking me to chemo, your advice and for the Eileen's cookies!  They were delicious!

My friend Lyndsey stopped out as well and we all had a brainstorming session for Auntie Em's Angels. We narrowed our focus to just helping cancer patients and different ways Auntie Em's Angels could make an impact in their life.  Thank you for your suggestions and input! =) 

I met with a long time friend of mine Alex Wolf who is an attorney at Koley Jessen.  He pointed me in the right direction to help set up Auntie Em's Angels as a non-profit.  I am still brainstorming and hope to have a clear mission statement in the next couple of weeks.  I am praying to have a few corporate sponsors as I have narrowed it down to educating the public on proper nutrition and exercise to prevent cancer, for cancer patients going through treatment and staying healthy after treatment.  My goal is to have everything planned, non-profit paper work complete, sponsers, fundraising events planned and Angels signed up to host birthday parties by the New Year! 

Chemo #14 -- September 29 - Steve my husband took me to my treatment.  It was his birthday so we had a mini celebration with all the nurses and cancer patients that were also getting their chemo treatments.  My friend Lyndsey asked her mother-in-law to bake a cake and was it was delicious!  Cinnamon swirl...YUMMY!  Thank you Karen for making it and thank you Lyndsey for delivering, cutting and serving!  If you need a baker I will post Karen's information if you need a cake for your next birthday party.

The nurses gave Steve this stylish hat and sang
happy birthday to him. Thank you to the nurses
of Midwest Cancer Center for making his birthday
so special.

I think we put a dent in it! 

Thank you to my husband Steve who has been there every step of the way.  He has been so supportive and has taken such good care of me and Olivia.  I could not get through this without him. 
I love you more then words can say...

My side effects from chemo are minimal.  I am tired more then usual and now the knuckles on my hands are red and cracked.  Dr. Thome said this will go away once I stop chemo as it is a common side effect.  Thank goodness I only have two more treatments I can't stand to look at them for much longer!  I have ONE eye lash on my left eye and no eyelashes on my right eye.  I am holding on to the one eyelash as long as I can and hoping my other lashes can catch up to it once I am finished with chemo.  My hair is starting to grow back and I am happy to report it is the same dark brown that I had before. I have one more fill for my ta ta's before I start radiation and I LOVE them so far!  I officially for the first time in my life have ta ta's you can physically see!  Radiation should start around November 1st and treatments are everyday for 5 weeks.  Once that is complete I wait a month and have my final surgery in January.  This will be to take out the expanders in my chest and have them replaced with implants.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel and I am running towards it!  Thank you again to all our family and friends for all your love and support!

More pics from Party for Pottebaum!   Thank you for coming out to support us!

Lori Armiger, Laura Morrow and their friend.
Lori started a fun event in Linclon called
Giving Spirits.  Become their friend on Facebook!




Jody and Nate Tate

 

Shannon Schiltz  and Sara Thompson
I have known Sara since kindergarten...ironically she is
now a kindergarten teacher.  She brought her friend
Shannon to the event.  Thank you!

Sherri Harnisch, Leah Buller, Emily Wilson
Leah is my cousin and she went to high school with Sherri
and was in the same sorority as Emily. 

Sherri Harnish, Leah Buller, Kirstin Ricketts, Tammy Braasch
Emily Wilson, Me, Nelly Sagehorn
I also met these lovely ladies through my cousin Leah.
Congrats to Leah, Kirstin and Nelly!  They are all
expecting babies this year!

Brent Sagehorn, Chad Buller, Adam Braasch

Pat Ricketts and Chad Buller

Megan Dannelly and Kendra Hayne
I went to high school with Kendra and met her friend Megan.
I also found out we all live in the same neighborhood!
Hopefully we can get together soon! =)

Nicki and Neal McMahon
Nicki and I met in high school and she recently moved back
to the Omaha area.  She owns Big Frog T-Shirts located
next to the HyVee on 180th and Q.  They were one of the
sponsors for the event!  Thank you so much!

Erica and Patrick Sullivan
Erica and I were on dance team together.  She was so kind to
drive in from Lincoln for the event!  Thank you! =)

Thanks again for all your love and support! xoxo

Chemo #11 & #12 / Thank you Party for Pottebaum / Cure for Cancer?

A CURE FOR CANCER!!! NANOTECHNOLOGY  Check this video out!  They are in the testing stages but at 100% for curing 40 types of cancer.  It starts talking about it 4 minutes and 40 seconds in to the presentation,

Chemo #11 - Thursday, September 8, 2011

My friend Emmy Reilly was so kind to take me to chemo this week.  I met Emmy through my husband Steve.  Steve was roommates with Chris who was best friends with Nolan who married Emmy.  We also get together to watch Husker football!  Thanks so much for taking time out of your day to drive and sit with me for chemo Emmy!  XOXO!

As always my friend Lyndsey stopped out to say hello. =)

Me and Emmy

Saturday, September 10, 2011 - Zoo with the Pottebaum's and Delperdangs.

We spent the day with Steve's parents, his brother Brian's family and his sister Judy's family.  We went back to their hotel to swim and eat dinner.  It was great to see you and catch up!

Cousins!
Back: Lexi and Haley
Front: Will, Olivia, Mya and Taya

Olivia, Mya and Taya looking cool in their shades!

Olivia and Steve throwing food to the fish.

Jessica and Taya
You can see Brian and Mya in the back ground

Chemo #12 - Thursday, September 15, 2011

Deb Bothof took me and Lyndsey Foster dropped me off.  Deb is always stopping by to check up on me and Lyndsey does the same with phone calls and stopping by to see me at all my chemos.  It means the world to me ladies that you would take so much of your time to check up on me.  Love you!

THANK YOU to Todd Glorvick for the generous gift card to HyVee and donation to the American Cancer Society!  Todd and I went to high school and college together.  Now that he lives in Minnesota we meet up in Chicago every year along with a few others to go to a cubs game and catch up. Thanks Todd!  Can't wait to celebrate my recovery next year! =)

Thank you - PARTY for Pottebaum

I met all these wonderful people through my husband Steve.  He met them while he was an athletic trainer for the Husker football team.

Jay Terry, Trevor Svoboda, Doak Ostergard, Chris McQuillan, Al Recker, Steve and Nolan Reilly.

Travis Havlovic, Me and Steve

Julie and Tim Reimer

Denise Havlovic, Michelle Havlovic, Nicole Zitek

Al and Sara Recker, Heather and Jay Terry

Michelle Havlovic, Me, Heather McQuillan, Stacy Nelson

Kevin Havlovic and Travis Havlovic



Lindsay Vodicka and Michelle Havlovick
Lindsay's husband Brent came too...I didn't get his picture =(

Thank you for coming out to support us!  We love you all!

Chemo #5 Good News / Bad News

Today I feel good! I had my 5th cycle of chemo yesterday and I am told I will have minimal side effects. Good thing I had a driver because to administer the new chemo (toxil) they had to give me 50 ml of Benedryl. This made me nauseous and really tired the entire time.

My former boss and his wife Bob and Teresa Bednar were going to take me but Steve arrived in Omaha and wanted to take me. My friend Lyndsey Foster came and and sat with me. She is a nurse so she was really good to have with me. I kept feeling like I was going to blow chunks and pass out. She asked if I was craving anything to eat so I could get something in my stomach. The last time I ate was at 10:30 a.m. and it was now 1:30 p.m. So I definately needed something. The first thing that popped in my head was a Snickers bar. Lyndsey ran down to the vending machine and served it to me on a plate. Now that is service! After 2 bites I immediately started to feel better. I just needed some sugar in my system. As Steve pointed out "Snickers really satisfies!".

I recieved good news from Dr. Thome' I am NOT HER2+!!! What this means is I will not have to do chemo for another year!!! THANK YOU JESUS!!!! I did learn I was off a week and my last chemo session will be October 13th. I go in weekly so only 11 more treatments. Two weeks after my last chemo session I will have Five weeks of radiation everyday (Monday-Friday). They did say radiation will make me tired.

If you haven't heard my side of the family went in for genetic testing after they found out I had a mutation. My sister and dad tested negative while my mom tested positive. This required her to get a mammogram, MRI and a lumpectomy after they found two masses in her left breast. Those masses tested positive for cancer. Please keep my mother in your prayers as she will have a double mastectomy next month. They will know after they get the pathology reports and surgery her stage of cancer and any other steps to get rid of it completely. If you know my mom she has a good sense of humor and said she has always wanted a breast reduction. As I have said before....BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR!  She is getting a second opinion today from Dr. Reilly and I will update her status on this blog and caringbridge.

Because my mom generously offered to watch the kids during my treatments, she will not be able to watch them now. So my sister is looking for a nanny (paid) Monday-Fridays, 7:15 am - 5:30 pm until the end of the year. If you or you know someone interested send them my way!  emily.pottebaum@yahoo.com or 402-213-7669.

Surgery #4 / 4th of July Weekend

I strategically planned my surgery for this Friday and two weeks of recovery so I can make the bike ride next week in Remsen and enjoy the 4th of July weekend.

My friend Emily Gardels was so kind to fly in from Chicago to be with me for my last "bad chemo" but since I needed surgery we can enjoy the weekend a little.  No chemo side effects. This week was for surgery #4 to repair my hand. Walking into Midwest Surgical the woman who brought me back to get prepped for surgery showed me her tatoo. It was a symbol for breast cancer and said that she has been a survivor for five years. She broke in to tears and wished me luck on my journey.

After my gown was on the nurses had to put in my IV. This is a lot harder then you think. They can't put the IV in my left hand because my lymph nodes have been removed. They couldn't stick me in my right hand because that was the hand they needed to operate on. So they went for the foot. I had a past experience with a foot IV and it did not go well. This time was not any better as they had to stick me four or five different times because they couldn't find a vein. OUCH!!!!! It freakin' hurts. When it was all said and done they didn't even use the foot they decided to use the port I use for chemo.

I also learned one of my nurses grew up in Remsen and the other nurse grew up close to Remsen. Small World!

Dr. Tiedemann came in and said he was going to look at the nerve to see if it was cut or bruised. If it was cut he was going to try and repair it and if it was bruised then he would remove the scar tissue to help speed up my recovery time. If the nerve is cut I might not get my hand back.

I said my good byes to my friend Emily and husband Steve and drifted off to sleep.

When I woke up I was extremely nauseous and had two or three nurses asking if I wanted more nausea medicine. I kept saying “NO MORE DRUGS!”

Thank God the nurse gave me a puke bag because as soon as I got in to Emily’s car I got sick. I just felt awful. When I got home Chris and Heather McQuillan stopped by to drop off a meal and catch up.  I couldn't even hold a conversation because I got sick two more times while they were there. Needless to say I didn’t get to eat the Runza casserole Heather prepared. Steve ate it and said it was delicious!

We got to celebrate the 4th of July weekend at my parent’s lake and my aunt and uncle’s lake. It was nice to take a break from chemo and get to spend time with family and friends.

We FINALLY got some good news!  The median nerve was not cut so my hand will heal on its own.  It could take a year but it will heal! =)

Thank you to:

Stacy Nelson for the gift card to the Gap!
Kiana Baker for bringing us dinner - I think it has been 15 years since I have seen Kiana.  She was so kind to bring us dinner.  We did a little catching up...hopefully when this is all said and done we can go out for drinks and catch up more!  =) 
Heather and Chris McQuillan for bringing us dinner - sorry I couldn't hang out longer. =(
Emily Gardels for coming in to town to take care of me....=)  Love you!!!!
Thank you to my parents, aunt Linde and uncle Terry for the fun parties.  It was good to get out of the house without having to worry about getting sick! =)

Emily and I at Ginger Cove 3rd of July Party!!!
I had a LOT of gauze from sugery wrapped around my
 right arm so I tried to cover it with my sweat shirt.

Chad and Charlie

Steve and Olivia

Baby Paxton!

THANK YOU to all our friends and family for all your love and support!
 
XOXO

My 21st Birthday was much worse...Chemotherapy will be a breeze!

Sunday May 15, 2011

Our good friends Michelle and Travis baptized their son Paxton!
Olivia had to get in the photo...she thinks Travis is her boyfriend.

The week before my first chemotherapy session I wanted life to be back to normal as possible.  Avery and Addison have their dance recital on June 4th but had rehearsals this week.  Don't they look so cute?

Addison and Avery with the Auntie Em special
HAIR and MAKE UP!

Olivia wore her Dora ballerina outfit..she thinks she is going
to be in the dance recital ....to bad she will have to wait 2 more years. :)



Here are all the little munchkins!

Thursday May 19, 2011
1:45 p.m.
Midwest Cancer Center

Me and Steve

Steve took me to my first chemo treatment.  We met with my nurse navigator Nicole and Dr. Thome.  Then I was introduced to my nurses Ethel and Darcy.  Loved Them! They explained everything that was going in to my body and what effects it will have on me.

I watched Oprah and ironically it was about a mother who passed away from breast cancer.  She made hundreds of video tapes for her daughter to watch over the course of her life.  Ethel started tearing up and said "This will not be you!"  Duh!  I know that!  =)  Ethel is such a sweetheart.

After my first treatment I stopped off on Lillian street to say hello to some friends.

Nicki and Brea!

Brea - Thank you for my new plant!  It is out on my deck blooming beautifully! =)

I was expecting to relive the day after my 21st birthday after my first chemo treatment.  If you were with me that night I had a fantastic time but when midnight hit, so did my head...directly on to the table.  My friends hauled me off to go back home to recover.  Let's just say the next four days after my 21st birthday SUCKED.  I was hugging the porcelain God (aka toilet)  and could barely lift my head.

I did not experience anything close to my 21st birthday after my first chemotherapy treatment.  A little nausea and fatigue.  I have definitely felt worse....so I will get through my chemo treatments.  Ironically, today is my Birthday and I feel much better then I did on my 21st birthday. The only things that are sitting well with me are yogurt, cottage cheese, eggs, Chocolate Ensure, BLT's, frozen fruit sticks and apple juice.

Thank you to:

my husband Steve who took care of me and Olivia all weekend.  Steve has been there with me since the beginning and reminds me daily he will be there with me to the end.  Steve has been doing both our jobs and I have never once heard him complain.  It is extremely hard, but I try to model myself after Steve on a daily basis..he makes me want to be a better person.  I LOVE YOU MORE THEN WORDS CAN SAY! =)

my mother and father for helping out with the kids and my birthday present.  Mom, Thank you will never be enough for all the time you have generously donated to taking care of the kids.  Dad, Thank you for being the designated driver to and from events.  I LOVE YOU!!!

my aunt Patty for another generous cash donation...THANK YOU!

my mother and father-in-law for my birthday gift.

My God mother Linda and her husband Wendell Quist for the Carrabba's gift card.

Bruce and Betty Bode for the fabulous meals!  We all LOVED your spaghetti with meatballs.  It was so good our friend Travis joined us for dinner.

Dancing after dinner!

Kathi and Sabrina Scherzberg for the chicken casserole.  Steve loved it!  I didn't try it...only to save my stomach.  I had to stick to the Sierra Mist you brought.;)  It was nice meeting Sabrina. We need to get the girls together for a play date this summer.

Emily Gardels for the Pink Flamingo...(see below)

 

Ikaika is in Hawaii right now with Emily (Gardels) and her boyfriend Nick.

This is Ikaika the breast cancer flamingo. I found her in the dollar section at Target:) and thought it would be fun to send her around the country to different friends. I thought it would be something fun to do while Emily is going through treatment, so she knows we are all thinking about her! So, if Ikaika comes to you please take her out and do something fun with her. Take pictures, send them to Em or post them and then send Ikaika along to Emily's other friends and family. I chose the name Ikaika because it means Strength in Hawaiian. Love you EM!!!

How Fun!  Thanks Emily!  I can't wait to take Ikaika on a trip with me once I am done with my treatments.

Crystal - for bringing over chemo friendly food.  Love the rice with chicken broth. 

My aunt Patty and aunt Vicky for the lovely flowers

Ruth for the beautiful flowers for my birthday and my favorite cookies!

My aunt Linde and uncle Terry for the Barnes and Noble gift card and the chicken noodle soup. It is in the freezer ready for chemo #2.

Sasha for the adorable picture of me and my God daughter.

My cousin Leah, Chad and Charlie for the beautiful bracelet from the Chocolate Peacock.

Leah and I have celebrated our birthdays together since I was three years old.  Leah's birthday is May 22nd and mine is the 23rd.  Leah had a birthday party this weekend I had to miss.  Next year we will celebrate all night!  I would also like to congratulate Leah, Chad and Charlie as they will be adding to their family in November.  Yay!  Something else for me to look forward to!

LOVE YOU!

Surgery Day!

Friday, April 15, 2011

6:30 AM  Steve and I arrive and check in at Midland's Hospital.

I am introduced to my nurse as she takes me back for a urine sample, wash down with surgical wipes, change in to my hospital gown, surgery tights, stockings and surgery cap.  Holy cow did I look ridiculous!  My mom and dad arrived for a last good bye and of course my dad was trying to get a picture of me.  Needless to say I won..there were NO Pictures!

I was starting to get anxious as there was a clock right in front of me and I found myself staring at the seconds.

7:15 AM
The anesthesiologist came in and asked me a LOT of questions and said I was going to be his easiest client.  I have been healthy my entire life, he laughed when I told him I never had a cavity, so there were no major concerns.

The nurses put in my IV and Dr. Grange (the general surgeon) came in to brief us before surgery.  The surgery lasts at least four hours so Dr. Montag (the cosmetic surgeon) wouldn't arrive for another hour when Dr. Grange needed her to start with her part. 

7:45 AM...now I am starting to get really nervous....only 15 minutes until surgery.

Dr. Grange is doing double mastectomy and a biopsy on my lymph nodes. If they test positive for cancer then she removes those nodes and several ones around them to make sure she removes all of the cancer.  Dr. Montag will move in after Dr. Grange and insert expanders under my breast muscle.  They look like deflated balloons and once I heal from the surgery (3-4 weeks) I will go in every week to have them filled with saline solution to help stretch my skin to my desired size. (This could take 3-6 months) I am going for a B cup this time... a gift to myself!  Once I get to a B cup then the expanders are removed in another surgery then an implant will take its place.  When it is all said and done I will look like a barbie.  Ta Ta's with no nipples and they will move with me.  Another bonus, when I am eighty my boobs will still be perky!  =)

THANK YOU Midlands Choice Insurance for my new Ta Ta's! =)

I remember one of the nurses say I probably won't remember much of the conversation because they started to administer the anesthesia.

8 AM

I remember the nurses rolling my bed past Steve and my parents going to the surgery room and then darkness....

9 AM, 10 AM, 11 AM,

12 PM (Steve said Dr. Montag came out and said everything was going fine, Dr. Grange was finishing up and should be done around 12:30 PM,

1PM.......

1:30 PM They finally got me to wake up from the anesthesia.

All I remember is seeing my mother and father-in-law and saying thank you for coming and then I was out for the rest of the day.

I don't remember this but Steve said when I woke up I was complaining of a pain in my arm. (from my port for chemo)

I am not sure when I woke up again but it was later in the evening and Steve was in a reclining chair next to me watching TV.  At this point I met my night nurse Megan who promised me to give me the much needed pain medications every 4 hours.  She brought me some water and did bring me my medications every four hours.  I had no pain. =)

Thanks to Marv and Annette my in-laws who drove all the way from Remsen, my friend Lyndsey who sat with my family and Steve while I slept, my parents who waited patiently for me to come out of surgery.  Thank you to my husband who was by my side through out today, Saturday and Sunday.

Thank you to my sister-in-laws Rebecca and Jessica who sent me pink roses.

Thank you to my Aunt Vicki and Uncle Denny who sent a bouquet of flowers.

Thank you to Ruth, Scott, Grant and Kyle who sent flowers.

Thank you to Leah, Chad and Charlie for the beautiful Tulips.

Thank you to my Aunt Linde, Uncle Terry, Leah and Chad for having cleaners come to our house.  It was spotless!

Thank you to Crystal for coming to visit me the next day, for the flowers, magazines for Steve and gift for Olivia.

Thank you Lyndsey for coming to visit me the next day.

Thank you Sasha for my get well kit! =)

Thank you Louise for my support pillows.



Thank you to my mom and sister for coming to visit me the next day.

Thank you Travis and Michelle for watching Jake and Elwood.

Thank you to my sister for watching Olivia the entire weekend.  I am sure she had a blast hanging out with her cousins.

Thank you to Dr.Grange and Dr. Montag and the staff of Midlands Hospital.  You made my stay very comfortable and helped me to get on the fast track to a complete recovery.