Mom went to see the surgeon on Monday. He gave her a referral to see a stoma nurse therapist at a stoma clinic at the Brigham and Women's Hospital. She spoke with the stoma nurse therapist and the conversation seeemd promising. I hope they will be able to make this colostomy bag a little more bearable for Mom. She seems so debilitated by it. Rightfully so....if I have a hole in my abdomen.......and it burned all the time I think I would be annoyed. She is taking th T all by herself to see the stoma nurse therapist. That will be the farthest she has gone on her own outside of the house since all of this happened. Her surgeon said that he wanted my mom to have the bag until her chemotherapy was over. We'll see....I am hopeful that this nurse therapist will make a difference.....it's all they do.....so they should have a clue.

I did the Walk for Research with some friends the other day. I already mentioned that it rained. The walk itself made about $70,000 for liver reserach, education, and advocacy. I got sick ten years ago this summer. I have been healthy for the last nine years and for that I am thankful. On Sunday they were going around the group asking people to share their stories. My friends jokingly told me to share my story. I did not jump forward because my story is not as exciting as others. I have been healthy for years....I did no need a transplant after all...and for the most part i have been out of the whole liver circuit. Although one of those friends did point out that my being healthy was a significant thing and that I was a success story...which is all true. I am thankful to be healthy.....I plan on living a long life..........

Mom had her first chemotherapy treatment on Friday. She said the people were nice....and she was there for two hours. She is feeling ok today....as far as I know. Supposedly she probably won't feel sick for a few treatments. She was having a hard time with the colostomy bag this weekend and the stoma. She has an appointment to see the surgeon today. I really hope that they decide to put her colon back together sooner rather then later. She seems to be really debilitated by the bag and stoma etc. I hope the surgeon tells her what she wants to hear today.

We did the Walk for Research yesterday. It rained...and two people on my team didn't make it because they were sick. BUT still...our team made abot $725.00 for liver reserach. Yee haw...go team!

My mom has been having trouble with her stoma lately. It appears that the stitches may have broken after surgery...causing it to not heal correctly. Now it is swolen and red and bloddy and raw. The surgeon says he isn't going to do anything to it because it is not permanent. In the meantime my mother has to deal with constant discomfort. Not to mention that the surgeon hasn't even looked at the stoma since the surgery. My mom seems to be having such a hard time with the colostomy bag and the stoma. I would be too. She seems down. I would be too. I wish things could be easier.

Mom went to see the oncologist today. She will start her chemotherapy next week. The doctor said there is a chance that she could lose some of her hair. Looks like she will be getting chemo for at least six months. They said they might explore the option of putting her back together somewhere in the middle of her getting chemo. She is going to have another colonoscopy and cat (sp?) scan at some point. I'm scheduled to take her to one of her chemo sessions in July.

Mom went to see the surgeon yesterday. They confirmed that she in fact has stage three cancer. The surgeon said that the oncologist might opt to have mom put back together before having chemotherapy....but she could also say that she should wait until the chemo is done. We will know more on Thursday when she sees the oncologist. I hate not knowing what to expect. Everything in life is uncertain......I hate that. I hope all of this will work. You think they would have some way of killing just the cancer. Unfortunately they cannot figure that out and will need to kill a bunch of healthy cells in the meantime.

My mother got out of the hospital a week ago today. A week ago yesterday she was vomitting bile and showed signs of thrush from the antibiotics. She seems to be doing ok at home these days. She has been getting out a bit and trying to do the things she did before she got sick...i.e. clean the house......cook dinner....talk with her friends. She is trying to rest and get strong for her chemotherapy. She has been having some issues with her stoma. I hope those issues resolve themselves.

I spoke with a close family friend last night.........someone I have known all my life. It is good to know I have so much support.