Please Please Pray for Julie and Brian

My friend Julie is in the last stages of her round III battle w/cancer. I have never met Julie in person. We have only emailed, blogged and talked on the phone. She is one of those people that are admired, loved and looked up to. She is smart, funny, interesting, compassionate and slighting irreverent (my favorite). She is wonderful writer and her blog is very honest, witty, smart and heart breaking. She is the type of person that even when going through chemo she would call me to cheer me up when I was down. She loves her husband deeply and has a deep love for her dear dog and cat. She had gone through a very bad depression and decided to start taking some antidepressants. She emailed me about a month or so ago saying she was feeling so much better and would call me right after her chemotherapy dose. I didn't hear from her but I sent her a few emails to let her know I was thinking of her. Her dear husband Brian has been writing in her blog. Here is his most recent paragraph that just breaks me up:


You’re probably wondering what Julie has for a life expectancy. Dr. M prefaced his answer to that question by saying that studies have shown doctors are the very worst at making these predictions. Given that, he said he thought we had numerous weeks to a handful of months. Maybe he’s right, maybe not. We could lose her today, or six months from now she could be doing so well that I’d need to go to the DMV to renew the handicapped parking tag I got last week. But probably not. I’m notoriously pessimistic about these kinds of things, but I suspect I’ll be celebrating Christmas alone. And now I cry.

GOD DAMN CANCER!!!

Mayo Clinic here I come!!!!

I was talking to my Dad yesterday and he was telling me about a friend of his who went to the Mayo Clinic. This guy said the treatment and care were great. That moment I decided that I was going to see if the Mayo would see me. The hope is that they can figure out why I am having this ongoing stomach pain and bowel obstruction problems. I called my insurance company and the Mayo Clinic is considered in network. I called the Mayo/Phoenix and was able to get an appointment on Oct. 4th. There is something very serendipitous about all of this. First of all that my insurance covers the Mayo outside of Calif. The second is the GI group just opened up appointments at the Mayo as of this last week (They were so booked they weren't taking any new patients). Thirdly they only see patients with a diagnosis of colitis or crone's disease. It just so happens that I was diagnosed with diversion colitis by my inept GI doctor in San Diego. BTW: My surgeon says that is a ridiculous diagnosis because that would never cause the kinds of problems that I am having. But what is great about Mayo is that once you get into the system they will keep referring you until you get to the right specialist. But you have to have a diagnosis to get into the system. The woman that made my appointment was so caring and nice on the phone. I have seen several programs about the Mayo system and how they are one of the best health care systems in the world and actually make money. I know if this problem ever gets diagnosed and fixed it is because of my tenaciousness. Which by the way is exhausting when you are not feeling very well.

More pictures

Baby.....yeah

7lbs 6 oz 23 inches. Born 9:55 PM August 4th. Mama is exhausted but baby is beautiful. I am in Grandma heaven. Mom and baby went home this evening. Here are some pics (more to come)

Wed evening 9:30 PM....No baby yet

Still no baby. Ray let me know that Amy has started pushing. Baby started to go into distress. She stopped her pushing for awhile. Got a text from Ray saying she is back to pushing and baby's heart beat is strong. Poor Amy she has really been through it with this pregnancy. I have been up and worried since 5:30 this morning. I have taken a sleeping pill and am going to try and get some sleep. Nena and I are leaving at 7:00 AM tomorrow morning. It will be a long drive. Thank God for such wonderful friends such as Nena (she is a dear). Will try and post tomorrow evening or Friday when I have a chance to get settled and find a computer.

My prayers have been answered (once again)

Amy is in labor as I write this email. I am feeling SO MUCH better. Amy's dear friend and my new friend Nena will be driving me up to San Jose and back to San Diego next week. I can't believe this is all working out. Things looked to terribly dismal last week. This reminds me to keep the faith and never give up hope. I know all of your prayers, healing thoughts, and love have come through for me once again. I couldn't keep going if it wasn't for all of you wonderful people.

Amy is having a rough time of it. So far she has been in labor since 5:00 AM yesterday (Tue). She called me at 5:30 AM this morning and had finally been given her epideral. Thank God for modern medicine. Ray texted me at 10:00 AM to let me know she was 6.5 cm and had been able to sleep. I haven't heard a peep from anyone since 10:00. All I can say is this baby had better be a good little boy because he has put his mother through hell the last 9 months. Amy said she wanted 4 kids.....hmmm.
She may be rethinking that decision about right now.

I will try to send post pictures as soon as I get them.

potential diagnosis: Diversionary colitis

Saw GI guy today. I need to have endoscopy and colonoscopy to confirm the results. This has been scheduled for Thu 8/13 at 7:30. He seemed to have an idea right away as to what might be going on. I am not supposed to refer to these things I am having as "bowel obstructions" anymore. I am not sure what I am supposed to call them but he made it clear that was the wrong term. Also the mucous hole in my ostomy is called a mucous fistula so I must use that correct term as well. (BASTARD) I hate everyone right now. Derek thought he was a nice guy which is high praise for Big D (who thinks most people are stupid)

On the bright side, he does have an idea what might be going on and there is a treatment if this is the case. I need to cut the guy some slack and be grateful that he isn't just patting me on the head and sending me away like most doctors have done. I am just a very crabby crabby person right now.