Theresa is in the hospital

(update from Mike)

Theresa went into the hospital last night with bad abdominal pains. A CAT scan revealed a bowel obstruction. Her small intestine is twisted. The doctors are going to give it a chance to untwist naturally (maybe 1-2 days) and then if it doesn't happen, she will require surgery.

She is at UMASS Worcester. She does have her cell phone but it is difficult for her to talk since she has a tube in her nose down to her stomach. She wanted me to let everyone know that she won't answer the phone now if people call, but she does appreciate the support. She said to keep the prayers coming.

We visited Theresa this weekend for Kaeli's 5th birthday party and she looked great and was doing very well the entire time we were there. Then she called last night and told us she was on the way to the emergency room with a lot of stomach pain.

I'll update this when we hear more.
- Mike

Peek-a-boo from Kaeli!

This is a picture of Kaeli and her flamingo sitting on the hammock on my Aunt Mary and Uncle John's porch. We were lucky enough to spend a week with them. It was the most relaxing and stress free week I have had since before my surgery. I did nothing but rest, relax, read and laugh! The visit was good for my mind as well as my body.

Aunt Mary, Uncle John and Meghan took very good care of both of us. My healing definitely took a turn for the better in response to this trip. While I am not at 100%, I am feeling much better. My intestines are still a wild card, some days they behave, others they give me trouble. The tricky part is that it is a big guessing game. I never know from one day to the next how they'll be. Luckily there are more good days.

My doctor says he thinks he'll give me the okay to go back to work at the beginning of April. I see him on March 31st, so I'll let you all know how that goes. I am looking forward to returning to school, my kids and all my friends at Briggs. I miss them! I plan on going into school a few afternoons next week to prepare.

Tonight I went to a healing mass with Kurt at the Medway Spiritual Center in Medway, Ma. It was an uplifting experience. The priest was full of life, very enthusiastic and positive. He made me feel the same. I do believe that I am healed and that with my positive attitude and belief in my healing I will continue to be healthy. (That is a mouthful, but you know what I mean!!)

Big event happening this week! Kaeli is turning 5 on March 29th. Tinkerbell will be flying to our house straight from Pixie Hallow to entertain Kaeli and her friends on Saturday. (I decided that I did not want to be the entertainment this year, so I handed it over to Tink. Much to Kaeli's delight!) I can't believe how fast these 5 years have flown! She is such a big girl, so funny and smart. I can't even put into words how much I love her and how happy she makes me! Kurt and I tell each other usually several times a day how lucky we are to have her. She has brought a tremendous amount of joy to our lives and has made us better people.

One thing that made me feel so good while I was with Mary, John and Meghan, was that I laughed A LOT. That Meghan has the best sense of humor and her laugh is so contagious! We all laughed a lot! So, since that made me feel better, I am asking a favor of all of you, my friends and family. Will you please send me the names of any movies, books and or TV shows that have made you laugh???!!!! It would really mean a lot to me. You could even send me jokes or personal stories. My Friend Pete told me one about this clueless waiter he and his friends had one night and I couldn't stop laughing. (Sorry, I don't think it would be as funny if I wrote it.)

They say that laughter is the best medicine, and as far as I know, it has no side effects. Well I might end up wetting my pants, but it would be worth it! So if you want to post them here that would be great or you could e-mail them, Facebook them to me or even give me a call!! I love hearing from everyone! I will have access to another laptop in the very near future so my next entry won't take so long. (I haven't written in a while because Kurt works from home and I am not able to use the computer when he is working. I did have a friend's laptop, but she needed it back for work. By the time I can get on the computer at night after the kitchen is all cleaned up and Kaeli and Kurt are asleep, I am too tired. However tonight I was feeling energized after the healing mass.)

So send me funny stuff!! Please also continue to keep me in your prayers and send positive thoughts my way. I know it is helping!!! I am feeling positive and I am a warrior!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the big and little things each and every one of you has done for me. It means the world to me! Lots of love and laughter!!! Theresa

On a more positive note...

First, I must thank everyone.  I feel your prayers and so appreciate all your words of encouragement.  I replay them in my head daily and they bring me a lot of strength.  

As you can imagine, Tuesday was a tough day.  But like my cousin Liz said, I asked because I can handle the answer.  I was feeling down for about a day and a half, mostly when I thought about it in terms of how much time that was for Kaeli.  Then I remembered that feeling bad about it wasn't going to change anything.  Focusing on the negative never made something positive happen, therefore I am focusing on the positive.  My friend Yarina reminded me that I am no ordinary girl, I didn't get an ordinary type of cancer and I will not do this the ordinary way.  

I believe so strongly that those numbers do not apply to me.  I WILL NOT LET MYSELF BELIEVE IT.  My friend Kristen said that when she found out she had cancer, she and her husband simply refused to believe that statistics applied to her.  I have chosen to BELIEVE the same.  Kurt feels the same way I do, he simply refuses to believe anything beside the fact that we will beat this together.  

I believe that attitude plays a huge role in all this.  My attitude is that I don't have time or a place for cancer in my life. I am not planning on giving it any attention.  I will however be giving myself a lot of attention.  I am going to be proactive and do everything possible to be healthy and happy.  Surrounding myself with wonderful people like you all is one of the best things I am doing for myself.

I do have some other news from my visit.  Dr. Kulke is happy with my progress. He said that we are going to take care of me!  I really like him a lot.  I had no negative side effects from my monthly chemo shot. I will continue to get the octreotide shot each month at Dana Farber, which is a totally impressive place!  Like Mike and so many of you have said, I am in the best area possible as far as health care goes. ( The octreotide shot inhibits the carcinoid tumor from releasing hormones that cause the symptoms of carcinoid syndrome.  Dr. Kulke said that it kind of puts the tumor to sleep.)  

He did however say that I cannot go back to work as early as I had hoped to.  My pancreas is not back to producing  the enzymes it should be yet. Which isn't a surprise considering the surgery I had.  I am not absorbing all the nutrients from the food I eat and am therefore still having a ton of gas and diarrhea.  Five out of seven days, I am in the bathroom every 20 minutes.  That will go on for a few hours at least, usually in the middle of the day.   It is pretty uncomfortable, especially the gas pains.  That is not really ideal when you teach 1st grade.  So to help that, I am taking enzymes every time I eat.  He says that I will be able to go back after my next visit which is at the end of March.  

I am no longer in any (severe) pain and do not take pain killers on a regular basis.  Other than the gas pains, it is the area around my incision that hurts the most.  Now that I am a little more active and using those muscles, they are sore.  I guess they are growing back together.  I never realized how much we use our core muscles just doing everyday things.  I feel every little muscle when I move, it is really weird.   I feel it most when I go to turn over in bed at night.  Ouch!  Good thing for Tylenol PM.  That not only is helping me get to sleep and stay asleep, it makes my abdomen feel a lot better!

Once again my beautiful little girl says it is time for a bedtime story, so I must go.  I love her soooo!

Thank you again for your support, encouragement, prayers and belief in me.  It really means the world to me!  Lots of love, Theresa

Oncologist appointment #2

So, today I asked the tough question. I didn't want to, but I needed to. You know that I have been upbeat and positive, but I also want to be well informed and plan my life accordingly. I asked Dr. Kulke what my life expectancy was now that I have this carcinoid cancer. Before he answered, I told him that whatever he told me, I would beat it. I have a 4 year old who needs me!

So he said that statistically, people with carcinoid at the stage that I have it live 5 to 9 years.
Well as you can imagine that was not what I wanted to hear. He then went on to say that 50% of people live less than 9 years and that 50% of people live more than 9 years. I do plan on beating that! As you can imagine it has been quite an emotional day. However, after talking to many of my "cheerleaders" I feel a lot better. I do believe that I can live a lot longer than what is predicted for me. AND I WILL !!!!!!!

I know that the prayers that everyone is saying for me help tremendously, in many, many ways. I asked that you continue to keep me in your prayers. That would mean a great deal to me.

I have a beautiful little girl tugging at my arm, waiting to hear her bedtime story. So I will tell you about the rest of my visit tomorrow.

Much thanks and love, Theresa

Good weekend

So, this weekend was pretty good! I am now sleeping again, so that makes for a happy healer. However, my intestines are doing funky things again. I don't get it. They are good for a few days then it is like going back to square one! I am talking about the gas and the reason people take Imodium AD. Can't stand the word, so I won't "say" it! One of my neighbors came over on Saturday and said that the house stunk like a men's locker room, at which Kurt replied, "Thank you, I told you so!"
So I have a lot to discuss with my oncologist on Tuesday. Many questions about my healing, side effects of the medicine, when I'll have my octriatide scan-which will show where the cancer has spread. Please, pray that it is only where we already know it is and nowhere else. Actually pray that that too disappears. (Please :-) ) Everyday I visualize God's hand reaching in and plucking the tumors off my liver and uterus. I then see him removing his hand and calmly squeezing the tumors into dust that just blows away in the wind.
A while back I asked people to send me their e-mail addresses so that I could get in touch. I did receive many responses, thank you! I have not written to everyone yet. I will though, it is important to me. All your messages on this blog, Facebook and e-mails really mean a lot to me. They keep me feeling up and positive. They also keep me busy and make me feel like I have company while a recoup at home! I've been told by many people that they have tried to leave a message but were not able to. Sometimes you have to try sending the message a few times if it doesn't work the first time. Not really sure why.
Well I am off to bed, late, I know. However with the all the snow coming I do not think that I will have to get up so early to take Kaeli to preschool. I plan on sleeping in some!
I will post again on Tuesday after I see Dr. Kulke, my oncologist. I am so lucky to be able to go to Dana Farber, they are amazing! Good night! And again, thank you, thank you, thank you for all the thoughts, positive energy and prayers that you are sending my way! Happy new month!! Theresa