2014 August 5 - Chemo #3, Tender (Lotsa Update)

Hi dears,

Another quick update...

Chemo number three is behind me. Even with the tenderness of the new port, once I was connected, things went well. My Aunt Mia is here from Denver to spend the week taking care of me. (This is her second trip since I was diagnosed and she is fantastic.) I was asleep through most of my treatment, but, so far, these 6-8 hour sessions lend themselves well to deep conversation, which Mia and I shared.

Before the chemo, Shawnessey joined me to meet with Dr. Powell. We went over a few things including general questions about the why/ how of this cancer. I learned that, unbeknownst to me, endometriosis, can change into cancer. Endometriosis is so common and cancer from it so rare, that it's not often discussed. I wish it were. In good news, my Ca-125 (ovarian cancer marker) has dropped to 10 (from 2000 prior to surgery and treatment); that is a good sign.

Now, I embark on a week of chemo recovery and the beginning of healing for the new port. Probably some rough days ahead in the coming weeks, but I wanted to share the update with you while I could.

THANKS and love.

Xo,

Sara

http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/help-sara-ross-beat-cancer/2 06587

2014 August 4 - Wounded Deer (Lotsa Update)

Hey friends,

Just a quick update. I had a pretty great week last week - worked from home, ran errands, and generally felt a breath of what life used to be.

Thursday, I noticed that something seemed off with my port (the access point implanted in my chest for delivery of chemo, blood draws, etc.)   I went in and had it checked out but nobody could see an issue. Then, on Friday, I noticed again that something didn't seem right. When I went in for my weekly blood draw, I was told that the port was pushing out through the skin and needed to be removed immediately. (This can be very dangerous since the port creates easy access to a main artery; a problem like this was one of my biggest fears.) So, right then, with Shawnessey'a help, I underwent a procedure to remove the port and made plans to have another one installed Monday, in time for my scheduled chemo on Tuesday. Ugh.

So, today, Shawnessey-the-amazing, picked me up and supported me through a very stressful day during which I had another minor outpatient surgery to implant a new port. The experience this time was so much better than the first time and hopefully the long term result will be much better as well. Ugh again.

Ok, enough with the frustrating news! Good stuff now... My darling Aunt Mia arrived from Denver tonight to join me for chemo week. It's exciting to see her again and I see many episodes of Parenthood in our future.

Some of you may have seen that the fundraising site* my brother launched to help me afford the costs of making it through all of this is going extremely well. We've surpassed the goal and I am just absolutely stunned by the generosity of people who have given and people who have shared the info on FB and in other ways. It is unbelievable and I can never say enough about how grateful I am.

I started this update with info about a few seriously bummer days and I'm ending with thanks for being as awesome as you are.

And with this quote I read today from Emily Dickinson; it may be out of context, but I love this line for what it is and what it helps me hold onto today: "A wounded deer leaps highest."

Tomorrow, I take another leap. Thanks for being there to help with a soft landing.

Xo

Sara

http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/help-sara-ross-beat-cancer/2 06587