Then I had to do a six minute walk test. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, for a person with normal lung function, a six minute walk is nothing....but for someone with lung disease, a six minute walk feels like forever. After 3 minutes, my Oxygen went down to 86 and she let me walk one more minute then checked my Oxygen level again, which was 84. So, needless to say, she put me on Oxygen.
The next test was a Pulmonary Function Test which I failed miserably. If you have weak lungs at all, I do not suggest you ever say yes to this test.
So, then I met with my Pulmonologist, Dr. Nader. He put me on Oxygen permanently. I am 35 with an Oxygen tank...that makes me feel old. Also, he explained that my cancer is so rare that he has to meet with the board after my PET and MRI tomorrow to get an idea of what they can do to treat my cancer. The pattern of my tumor growth is one that he has never seen before, and he has seen tons of patients with Adenocarcinoma. That just goes along with how rare I truly am. Nothing surprises me anymore.
I then went to physical therapy...which I will be having every day while I am here to increase my stamina and endurance. I also get a massage, acupuncture, and laser therapy for my back. These are the appointment I look forward too.
I had an ultra-sound on my right breast where they found something concerning...so Friday, I get a mammogram. I am so not happy about that. Pray it is not cancer....
My oxygen tank ran out at 4 and respiratory sent me to Med-Surge which acts like an Urgent Care Center to wait for a new tank. So, I waited and waited....and then was told it had to be ordered and was coming from OKC. I took that opportunity to tell the nurses about my terrible breast pain. So, while I waited, I got some pain meds and was able to nap. I needed that nap BADLY.
My day finally ended and we decided to have Burger King for dinner. We got back to our room and had to scramble to get everyone in bed because I have a PET at 6:45 and then an MRI.
Then, I talked to my mom, and my brother and sister-in-law. I am so grateful to have such a great support system...people who don't mind listening to me ramble and ramble or cry. God gave me the greatest family in the world.
It was a very long day full of appointments. At the end of the day, I cried a little bit. Why? It could be the extreme fatigue, the new permanent oxygen tank, the stress of all the upcoming appointments, the anxiety I feel about the scans and what they will find. Don't get me wrong, everyone here is great! I am just simply exhausted from all the testing and appointments during the day.
Tomorrow will be even busier, but tomorrow evening will be amazing. CTCA is giving us a free family pack to the zoo and the the aquarium for a Halloween event for the kids. They definitely need a little stress relief, so that will be fantastic!
One thing I've learned, when you happen to get cancer, you always have cancer. In your mind, it is never gone. It messes with your head, so that every little ache or pain you have, you automatically think "cancer".Cancer isn't just a physical illness, it can tear you apart emotionally, too. I try not to let it. It has affected my husband harder than it has hit me. My kids are also feeling the stress of cancer. But, I keep them positive by making jokes or giving them kisses and hugs all of the time. Cancer can simply break you down to the core. I just refuse to let it.
Thank you all for your support and continuous prayers. And most importantly, thank you God for your Amazing Grace. You've given me such a fresh outlook on this precious life. And I promise to never take it for granted again.
Well...my eyes are getting heavy and 5 A.M. comes around too quickly...so I will close by leaving two links that you can donate to my family with, our link to my Facebook page, and our link to our CaringBridge page. I love you all. Mean it!
Matthew 7:7-11 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
gofund.me/hope4shanna
https://www.booster.com/kickinglungcancersassforshanna
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/shannabrock2
https://www.facebook.com/hope4shanna/?fref=ts
No comments:
Post a Comment