My friends are here

Yesterday Kris and Charlou from Malibu drove up to spend some quality time with me. They always lift my spirits, rather than draining my energy. Cancer survivors learn over time who these people are and try to surround themselves with only uplifting friends when they are going through a bout. Wouldn't you rather have someone looking at you with an attitude of 'You can Beat this" with a happy face, then "I'm so sorry for you", with a sad face. Either way it's difficult though, because we all want to put on a mask, and not have people see us in our worst condition. Kris wanted to take my picture with all these tubes coming out of me, and I simply said 'No'. That's not how I want to be remembered. Today they are going to bring over a bunch of games to play and then they will leave this afternoon. Also, adorable Norman brought me some great DVD's of John Cruz concerts. Thanks Norman!!! That's da best.
Tomorrow Kelly will be back with my 2 grandkids, Sean and Dylan. I haven't had one dull moment.

Mon. 2.29

Today is my son's bday, and boy am I glad I was the one who gave birth to this wonderful man..... my baby whose diapers I changed and who's now changing mine!
Yesterday's surgery was a success (they're telling me), even though I don't feel so great. They took out a tumor the size of a yam wrapped around my colon, and now all the bloating is gone. Today I will have a blood transfusion because of severe anemia, and I will get up and walk to the bathroom.
Tomorrow my good friend, Kris, will drive up to be with me for a couple of days. My angel daughter, Kelly left today so it's been a little bit of 'empty nest'. Kris worked at hospice for many years and has been a great helper to me through previous surgeries (I've battled the disease for 12 years now). She's going be bring some fun games...she always knows how to have fun. I'm still in room F=321-B, phone: 650 498-3832. Better to send me a card than call, as my throat hurts a lot from the feeding tube.....I haven't had anything to eat now for 11 days....I wonder what my first meal will be: Sushi, spaghetti, chocolate cream pie, or just plain chocolate!!!!
Thanks for everyone's prayers and a big ALOHA to all.
Stanford Address:
300 Pasteur dr.
Stanford Medical Center room
F321B
Stanford, CA 94305

Surgery Scheduled

My surgery will be on Sunday, March 28 (the day my father passed away). I'll never forget the date, because it was the day before my son's 12th bday and it was the saddest bday dinner I have ever attended. This surgery will be good because they will remove the tumor and I will feel a lot more comfortable. I've been having a lot of lower back pain from it pressing against my pelvis for awhile now. I am still in room F-321-B if anyone wants to send a card. I'll be here at least a week.
Happy Easter.

No surgery till Tues.

Well, they never showed up to do surgery today. That's Stanford...it's a teaching hospital, and you get put 'on hold' a lot. They are also researching other options for surgical procedures, rather than the stent....so I just have to hang out a little longer. Kelly will probably leave tomorrow, as she is missing her husband and son, Dylan. Am hoping my 2 grandkids, Drew and Katie can visit me tomorrow.
As my father always said: "The first hundred years are the hardest."

Surgery today!

Well, after 8 gruelling days of no food, I'm scheduled to have the surgery today. It doesn't sound too horrible. They will put a stent inside my colon, and if it takes, I will be home free.
I am currently in room F-321-B. Don't know how long I'll be here...should know more info tomorrow.

A little good news.

Met my new oncologist. She was very thorough and to the point. She told me I have a partial obstruction which means that there is no urgent reason to do surgery We are researching all my options i.e: stent,...Kelly has been with me 24/7 and is the 'angel of my life.'
Stanford was a good choice for right now. I am in room D-043. Don't know how long I'll be here....it's one day at a time.

Headed North today

Wed: 3/24/10
Am checking out of Dominican Hospital today. They told me there's nothing more they can do for me, so my son Quincy, researched other possibilities. Stanford is the place to be, since they have all the current treatments, clinical trials, surgeries, etc.
I have an appointment with the same doctor I had when I was there in 2007 with a collapsed lung, Jackie Tai. The way I look at it is, they helped me then, so they can help me again.

re: Day 4 in Hospital

Looks like I will be getting a stent inserted in my colon to open up my bowels so that I can eliminate again. It's been 5 days now with no food! My daughter Kelly is here and being a wonderful helper to me. She is bringing the harp to the hospital today so I can entertain myself and the nurses. I have a favorite male nurse, Matt, who makes me laugh in the middle of the night when he takes my blood pressure. He's really excited about the harp coming. They used to have harpists at Dominican hospital, and had to discontinue because one patient got very disturbed when he heard the angelic sounds, and thought he was dead!!! OMG.

Bad News

March 21, 2010
Today is the first day of spring and is supposed to be happy but it is a sad day for me. Three days ago, I had severe pains in my abdomen. It felt like I was in labor; sharp, shooting, pains coming in intervals. Then I couldn't go to the bathroom, I was completely plugged up. I called my doctor, and he said to go straight to ER. I found out from the CT scan that I had a bowel obstrucsion... the dreaded words that I did not want to hear. The scan found a tumor in my colon which was blocking my bowels and many tumors in my stomach. I haven't had any food or water now for almost 4 days and am on a constant IV drip with morphine and other good stuff to keep my hydrated. Tomorrow (Mon.) I will find out if I'm going to have surgery or just let nature take it's course, which means I would starve to death. I'm now at the point in my cancer journey to completely surrender to God's will whatever that means. I am in a really good hospital: Domincan in Santa Cruz room 2109, if you would like to send a card.
Blessings
Carmen