Living Life Positively With BRCA1 Ovarian Cancer: FaLL ChALLeNgEs

September was full of changes. Everyone headed back to school/college. We had a packed schedule. I watched the boys' participate in The Beast on the Bay. It was their first time participating in a 10 mile obstacle course full of running, climbing, crawling, jumping, and hurdling. Of course it was a cool wet day, but that did not stop the thousands of people from participating in it!

It is a fundraiser for the National Barber Center. Both of my boys' work with wonderful families of adolescents that have Autism. These families both received help from the Institute in their kids' earlier years. So it was a great way for my boys' to give back and support this establishment that has given so much back to those in our community. This place has also taught Zach and Andrew a lot about working with this population. They are people just like we are! I love seeing them interacting with Donovan and Erik. It warms my heart. Just like seeing the teachers and para educators next door to me. The Autistic classroom for middle school students in our I.U. 5 area is the housing area for those with Autism in grades 6-8.

Our district does its best pushing them out to some of the general education classes and allows them to socialize with students their age. It's very rewarding to see this in action, and most of them know Mrs. Chase quite well!

Corey and Danielle, our newlyweds, have been trying to adopt a puppy from Because You Care. It was very involved. They felt like they were adopting a child, not a puppy! First, they had to fill out an application that wants to know about your career and salary. Then they want to know about the amount of land you have and if you have a fenced in area for the dog to be able to run in. Finally, they want to know if you have ever had a pet before. They even asked a few people to write letters of recommendation for them! After about four weeks, they were contacted and told they were finalists! They still had to pass a home inspection. Well, with all of these challenges that were placed in front of them, they were determined to get this adorable little puppy. He is part Husky and part German Shepherd. He has one brown eye and then about 3/4 of a brown eye and 1/4 of a stunning blue eye! They met the puppy-and it was love at first sight! So the house inspection was next. Danielle got a hold of that debit card and went to town so that their little guy would have everything he needed. The site he was being held at named him Malikia (Mal' - i- ky) short a and i sound and then ky as in sky. They went with the name Wrigley. hahaha Corey loves baseball. He was looking at the names of baseball fields and such. Apparently one of his brother's named a cat Easton, so they went with Wrigley. My dad's first thought was because of Wrigley Spearmint Gum! Ohhhh Dad!

There have been some challenges that come with adding a puppy to your home. He has lots of energy and he cried for several nights in his kennel. So the new parents decided to let him sleep on their floor-until he peed and pooped on it! Then they put Wrigley in their bed-Corey did this for the record-and he would then lick their face and paw them to death when he needed to go out. They also tried just blocking him off during the day to keep him in the mudroom. That didn't work out so well either. He had plenty of room to romp around and play, but he was howling. He also peed and pooped in there, knocked down a glass lid off the top of his biscuits, and dragged his kennel somehow to the other side of the room! Apparently he is somewhat like his Mom because Danielle loves rearranging furniture!

The plan that is working best for them
now is Wrigley staying in his kennel to sleep in and when they are away. He has not left any surprises for them after the work day, but did get up at 3 a.m. the other night to go to the bathroom. He seems to know not to even try to wake up sleeping beauty because he woke up Corey! Good move, Wrigley! He must have had to really go! He is three months old and weighed in at 19 pounds yesterday. What a pleasant natured little guy he is, too. My dad just cracks up because we have always talked to our animals as if they are humans. I believe he used to as well, but must have forgotten. He gets the biggest kick when she is over and starts asking Wrigley if he has to go outside and pee! I love the way my dad just starts laughing-from the belly-squinty eyes, sometimes until he cries! So, as the Vukovic's continue to face some challenges with training a puppy the rest of us will enjoy watching and get a few laughs in.

Our biggest challenge this month was my CA125 numbers. They jumped from 59 to 150 to 404 over the last three months. My CT scan showed I had fluid in my right lung. I knew something was up. Just walking from the school parking lot had me sucking air like I had finished running a marathon! It was awful. So Dr. Krivak wanted the lung drained and sealed first. Then I would go back on chemotherapy.

Of course my family, friends, and I were devastated. Another battle. How many more? I know I am usually pretty positive, but that Monday after hearing the news, I sobbed. It was not something I was prepared to hear. I'm not sure if it was due to the news of going back on chemo or losing my hair or both that hit me. I'm not sure if it was the realization that I still wasn't in remission. Or it was all of the above. Maybe it was because we had so much hope for the Parp Inhibitors to work for me. Dr. Krivak was hoping I would get 3-4 years out of them. Instead, I got seven months worth. So for about 24 hours, I sobbed-mostly in private or in front of Rob. I don't like to cry in front of people about this. I find it a sign of weakness. Rob reassured me that I was not weak at all. I just needed to get it out. I needed to feel this and then I would be better. When I woke up the next day-Tuesday-I was done. I felt I had cried it out as much as I could. Today I would turn the page. No more crying and a lot more fighting would begin. This was on September 22nd.

Then, there was the challenge of getting into a particular doctor Dr. Krivak referred me to. After making many phone calls and being told the scheduler was out ill for two days in a row, they called me back regarding Dr. Krivak's referral. I would go on October 1st. I was so ecstatic that I finally had an appointment. Of course, I had to wait 10 days and breathing was getting more difficult for me. Just climbing the stairs or walking down the hallway to get my lunch were very hard tasks. So Danielle would pick up my lunch and I would wait until the middle of the day and have everything ready to go that needed xeroxed or copied and would do it all in one trip!

Once October 1st got here, I was a bit nervous. The scheduler told me they usually get you in within 2 weeks after you see Dr. Shendi. TWO WEEKS??? Did they know I was having difficulty breathing?? I could not wait two weeks! Breathing is very important if you ask me! So I called Dr. Krivak's office and spoke to his nurse. She called me back and reassured me Dr. Shendi would get me in quickly once she heard what we were dealing with. I certainly was hoping this would be true.

Coffee, Wonder Woman water bottle and cards from the best staff around!

Mom and I headed there for my 2:45 appointment. Rob had band practice and I told him Mom would go. (Another challenge: It's Band Season! I can't be sick during Band Season!) It's always good to have two sets of ears to listen to what the doctor has to say in case one goes into a case of worry/shock. I've learned this from the past five years. Let me tell you, Dr. Shendi was amazing. I would give her a 5 star rating. She took the time she needed to with me. She made sure she answered my questions and made me feel comfortable with what she was going to do. The next question was when?? After checking with the surgery room she had one spot for the very next day. Otherwise I would have to wait for weeks and she was fearful with how laborious my breathing was already. So, she admitted me right then. I was excited, nervous, fearful, and thankful all at the same time.

Adult coloring book filled with intricate designs, colored pencils, and holder, a beautiful bracelet with my Guardian Angel on it, face oil and soft tissues, coffee- Pumpkin flavored :) a mystery card and gift card enticing me to replace by fit bit I lost, and some cinnamon pumpkin soap also from my colleagues and my lovely hair dresser. I am blessed.

We were laughing with the nurse on our way through the hallways they are able to take from the Heart Institute to the hospital because the nurse had me in a wheelchair, but Mom was panting away too! It was quite a long walk for her. So we were joking that the nurse would have to push both of us. Mom would have to hop onto my lap! But that short, little Polish lady made it!

Rob packed me a bag and came down to sit with me for the night. Surgery was set for 8:45 am. on Friday. Meanwhile, the IV team was in to put that in place and then they came back to take eight vials of blood. If you are in search for rest, do not go to a hospital looking for it! Between blood pressure and temperature checks, those poles they give you fluids through beep constantly, and just the sounds of other people, it is not a restful place. I was given a bag of magnesium because I was low in it. I woke up every hour on the hour. It was crazy! Danielle downloaded a great app called iDream. It has soothing sounds like the ocean, rain falling, etc. . . I turned that on the other few nights I was in there and slept more comfortably. It did the trick.

Another mystery gift from the Giver to add to my collection. I will
continue to have faith!

An elderly gentleman who must have been quite lonely would talk to anyone that would stop and listen. His voice was loud and deep. It drove me crazy! Then he had a horrible cough and he did other things as well that I won't go into, but let's just say, I know he was sick, but he was not quiet about anything! When Danielle and Corey came to visit all I heard about was the flash that she received from the poor old guy! He apparently had his gown up a bit to high where equipment was showing that should not have been. Finally, they figured out he had appendicitis and got him prepping for surgery.

I was late on Friday going into surgery. There were complications with the person in front of me. Hopefully everything went well. Meanwhile, I met with the anesthesiologist-one who referred to himself as a minion, and he thought his daughter had Danielle for English, but he wasn't sure because he couldn't remember the teacher's name. Needless to say, they gave me some great stuff and I barely remembered anything once I got into the operating room other than Dr. Shendi talking to me. Then her voice just drifted away. . . . . . .

Beautiful flowers from Julie, my student Olivia, and Chuck
and Kathy. <3

When I woke up, I was already back in my room. Rob and my parents were there. Then most of the family came to see me throughout the weekend. You know those people who are always there for you no matter what? Those were the ones that were there checking on me. I am fortunate to have them in my life. I napped in between visitors and visited with the nurses. One of my nurses had a boy I remembered from when he was in junior high. He was a gymnast. It's a small world as far as where you tend to run into parents! It happens all the time.

A beautiful "Tiffany" colored gift box necklace. The card
said, "This gift box necklace is to remind you that
you are a precious gift wrapped in God's love.
Thank you, Robin!

Even Dr. Shendi came to check on me Saturday and Sunday. I was very impressed by the care she gives to her patients. I finally made it home from surgery Sunday evening. We found that I had fluid in my lung lining and after they drained 2 liters of fluid out of it, the lung decided to collapse. So I have a tube of some sort in me still. Every three days a visiting nurse comes to change the bandage and drain the lung.

The nurse came today, only to find that her daughter had Danielle for class last year and thankfully we started off with very little fluid in there; less than 10 cc's. She was happy about that and seemed to be optimistic that I might get the drain pulled on the 19th when I see Dr. Shendi again.

Meanwhile, I can't drive. . . I don't know how long I will be able to handle that, but I will try at first anyway. Danielle will be back to Driving Ms. Daisy again! On the 16th of October I will begin chemotherapy. Mom will be my ride to those appointments. They give me too many things to allow me to get behind the wheel on the way home after a treatment!

A beautiful cornecopia made by Robin W. Thank you!

It's been a challenging fall already, but we all have challenges. It's more about how we choose to look at it. I can either look at this as a big setback--oh no! The cancer is in another cavity. That changes you to Stage 4. Well I was already Stage 3C, so I choose to look at it as just another bump in the road. Life isn't always easy.

That's the thing I've noticed on Facebook. Everyone is going through something. Just be positive! I don't need negativity around and neither do you. It's not good for anyone. If you have a challenge, think about what you can do to beat it in a positive way. Our thoughts and attitudes are things we can control. Look around and enjoy the sights and scents of the fall. Enjoy your conversations, treasure small, special moments. Pray and stay away from negative Nellie's. Let them bring themselves down, but don't let them rain on your parade. It's not worth it. There's too much in our short lives to walk around feeling sorry for yourself; even when you think it is the biggest challenge ever.