One Year Since Diagnosis

It has been one year since Lauren was diagnosed with Cholangiocarcinoma. In some ways it seems like only yesterday, and sometimes it seems like forever. I would never wish this disease on anybody. It is just so awful. Our happy life is not what it used to be and things I used to think were such a big deal don't even matter. We all try and stay positive and upbeat about everything, but it is hard when you go to bed thinking about your poor daughter with cancer and wake up doing the same. I know everyone dies sometime, but not at 26 with their whole life ahead of them. It is just not fair. I remember sitting in Dr. Z's office last year and him telling us that 0% of people live after 5 years with this disease without a resection and most die within 6-12 months. Can you imagine being told something like that? Lauren is an amazing girl. But, I know she is so sad inside. All she ever wanted to be was a wife and a mother. Who knows if that will ever be possible. We still have hope every day that she will get better and defy the odds. She already has lived longer than most with this cancer, so we are blessed with every new day.

Lauren wanted to celebrate her one year of being a survivor with the family which was yesterday, Aug. 29th. So, she chose to go out to dinner at D'Agnese's in Fairlawn. It is an Italian restaurant that she and Gio have been to and they were nice enough to donate to Lauren's benefit back in Feb. It was very good and we had a nice time. Stephanie is so sweet and gave Lauren a silver bracelet with an inscription about things cancer can't do. I'm sure Lauren will wear it all the time. If you like garlic and cheese, this restaurant is the place for you! Lauren didn't eat very much. She has been so tired lately and not real hungry. We think it is from her oral chemo called Xeloda. She seems a lot better on the week in between treatments when she doesn't have to take it. We had a waiter that was quite foo-foo and the way he recited the specials just cracked me up. But, the food was delicious, so that's all that really mattered. Her are a few pic from our nice dinner.

Lauren with her new dark brown hair. She looks beautiful but also a little tired.

Gio, Ryan, and Stephanie

Mark and I

Lauren is having a second celebration tonight with their friends, Dan and Melissa tonight at Macaroni Grill.

Lauren and I went to breakfast with our friends Monday morning. There was only Lauren and myself, Dawn, Debbie J, and Ruth this time. We still had fun and always have great food. Lauren had a wave of nausea hit her at the table and I never even knew until she told me later. She didn't eat very much and wanted me to eat her bacon, but I couldn't because I was too full. She must really not have felt good because their bacon is the best.

We went to the Portage County Fair last Saturday. It was really hot and smelly. Lauren had a lot of energy and walked around looking at stuff for a long time. Mark and Gio enjoyed looking at the tractors. We didn't look at too many animals because it was just too hot. We stayed long enough for Mark to get his fill of fair food!! Two hot dogs on a stick (he bought me one after I said I didn't want one, so he had to eat it too), a stromboli, 3 of my fried mushrooms, an elephant ear, and a caramel apple. Geez, he went kind of light this year!! Lauren took a few pics with her camera. I wasn't in the mood to lug mine around. I get a bit grumpy when I am hot.

 

 

We also went to the Brown's pre-season game last Friday night. That was just not our night. We got there about a half hour after the game started because we were in a huge traffic jam on the highway on the way up. We had excellent parking right next to the stadium which was awesome. We went in on the wrong end of the stadium and found out we would have to walk all the way to the other side. We asked if we could get a wheelchair for Lauren since she had just had chemo and was so tired and the attendant said we would have to go all the way back downstairs to get one. I thought that was terrible that she couldn't call on her walkie talkie to get one for poor Wo. We had been given four tickets with a great parking pass to be in a suite by Mark's boss, Rich Klaben. He is always so thoughtful and wanted Lauren to go to the game since she loves the Browns. Thank you so much, Rich. We really appreciate the wonderful gesture. Since we got there a little late, there was no place to sit, so we watched on the tv in the suite until half time and some people left. We got to go outside and sit for the rest of the game, which was good. Too bad the Browns did not play very well, but we were happy to have been given such an opportunity that most people never get. I forgot to take my camera, so I am sorry there are no pictures.

As you can see, we have had a busy week. We will be going to Michigan on Sept. 11 for a CT scan to see if the chemo is working. Please pray that there is improvement. Thanks to all of you that care about Wo. We all appreciate you very much. Love, -Pam