Emily update

Emily appears to be on the mend.  Fever finally broke yesterday morning so she was back at daycare today.   The amoxicillin seems to be doing the trick!

Now there is a stomach virus going around daycare, so hopefully both kids avoid that!

HER2 results

My surgeon called today.   She has been away on vacation skiing all week.   I was VERY happy to hear from her as I now know she did not in any way injure herself while skiing and is ready to perform my surgery on Friday!    Anyway, she called with the additional pathology test the hospital performed on my tumors.  GOOD NEWS...   all tumors have come back HER2- so everything is plain vanilla estrogen/progesterone+ breast cancer.  This is what we wanted!

Emily is still sick.   She got an antibiotic prescription yesterday as one of her ears looks infected and we are still waiting for it to kick in.  I have a lot to accomplish this week and I really don't want to have a 2-year-old assistant.  I tend to move a little slower with her in tow!

Dear God...

I am perfectly okay with Emily having a fever of 103.3 THIS Friday if it means she will be COMPLETELY HEALTHY for AT LEAST a week starting on March 4th.

Thank you,
Amanda

My name

In Latin, my name is the gerundive of the verb amo, "to love" and literally means "must be loved" or "worthy of love."    Today in the mail, I received a card from an old friend, Jen, an "OSAAT" necklace from my friend, Julie, and a package from my cousin-in-law, Mike which containted Cathy's wig, one of her favorite headscarves, some cancer books and candy.   I feel VERY loved today - one week before the big surgery.   I am a very lucky girl in many ways...  and a bit unlucky in one big way! ;)

Goodbye to work (for now)

Today was my last day in the office before surgery.    I am taking a few days off next week in order to go to last minute appointments and to get our life in order (or as much as I can do so).  And let's face it, I have not been exactly productive for the last 6 weeks!  

I consider myself extremely lucky to work where I do.   First of all, everyone both Craig and I work with have been incredibly understanding and accommodating to us.   Craig has been at every appointment I have needed him to go to and he will be able to take time for and after my surgery.    The group of people with whom I work most closely is a group of 9 - 8 women and 1 lone man (poor Patrick)!    I am the third to be diagnosed with breast cancer in the last 2 years.    One other tested positive for the BRCA genetic mutation and had an elective bilateral mastectomy last year.   CRAZY!    Needless to say, my group has been incredibly supportive and I leave work knowing they will cover for me as long as I need them to and my job will be waiting for me when I return.   The group is scattered all over the country and we happened to have an in-person meeting in January in NJ.   The gave me this incredible basket of goodies - books, lollipops, fuzzy socks for the hospital, organic treats, etc.

Food!

Back in December, a mom at Raymond's elementary school started the "REACH Committee."   I cannot remember what the acronym stands for but the purpose of the group is to provide meals to families in the community in need due to medical or other issues.    I signed up as a volunteer and before I was able to cook my first meal, I found I was in need of the group's help.   The mom that started it is a breast cancer survivor.   There are 2 other members who are also breast cancer survivors (which makes a grand total of 4 women in my general neighborhood who have had breast cancer in their 30s/40s - CRAZY).   

A few weeks ago, I reached out to the organizer to ask for help and yesterday she sent out an email for 2 nights a week through the month of March.    All the spots were filled within 30 minutes.   I sent out a note thanking everyone for the rapid response and got so many emails back with words of encouragement and additional offers for help - with the kids, rides, etc.    I have really been blown away by all these people who don't even know us who are going out of their way to help.

Additionally, friends from PwC (along with some other local friends) have been asking to help so they are providing 1 meal a week through the end of March.   They also have been offering help with the kids, groceries, etc.    Again, overwhelming, in a good way!    (Thanks a TON to Jen for organizing!!!)

(We'll be deciding on meals for April and beyond once my chemo schedule is set and gets going.)

The fact that we are still relatively new to the area and do not have a huge support network locally has been worrying me since my diagnosis.   Since I went back to work when we returned from Finland, it has been really hard to make the time to meet people and cultivate relationships.   You need to be friends with someone before you can ignore them for a little while and still have them consider you a friend!  ;)     The outpouring of support has been really inspiring and has helped me feel like we are not so alone.

A first

Last night, Craig was able to put Emily to bed with me in the house for the first time ever!!! We have tried a few times recently and she would let him get her ready for bed and read stories but when it came to getting her in the crib, I always had to help. Last night we were off routine though because we had gone to a friend's house for dinner and did not get home until just after 9PM. Emily was wide awake when we got home as she sang loudly for the entire ride home. Luckily she was with Craig and I had quiet Raymond and Sam with me. Let's hope this is the start of a new trend for Emily and she will be better about letting Craig put her to bed once I am home from the hospital!