Monday Morning

Lauren did well overnight. The liver team was around this morning and Satish (pronounced Sa teesh), the liver fellow and the one that assists Dr. Sonnenday in Lauren's surgeries, said her numbers were improving and that she would go to surgery this morning at around 11. Please pray that things continue to improve. Thanks. I will update after surgery.

-Pam

We Are All Having A Hard Time

The stress of all this can sometimes be unbearable. I think all of us have had a breakdown at one time or another today. I think we are all just so tired. Ryan and Stephanie went home today. Gio and Mark are still here. Dr. Sonnenday told us that some of Lauren's tests are looking a little better. He is planning on taking Wo back to the OR tomorrow to check things out and close her back up. He thought it would be too traumatic for her today. They encourage us to talk to Lauren even though she is sedated and on a ventilator. I think she has 12 IVs running and her dialysis. She is still very sick and if she makes it through this will be recovering in the hospital for a long time. Sis and Bruce have been so helpful in explaining things to us, but it is so hard for them knowing all they do. With all the equipment in Lauren's room, the poor nurses were always bumping into us or vice versa. I don't know what doctor decided Lauren needed a larger room, but they moved her to a huge room that can handle all of her machines plus two chairs and two recliners!!! This way Gio can stay all night with her too. We can all sit back with her and include her in everything, even though she is asleep. Mark read the paper to her today!! He is so good with her. He wipes her face and eyes with soft cloths and talks to her all the time. When the nurses reposition her so she doesn't get bed sores, she opens her eyes. It doesn't look like she is looking at you or anything, but kind of makes her seem more like herself. I guess she can hear us, but once she is woken up, will not remember a thing. I am more tired than I have ever been, so I will leave you for now. I will update after her surgery tomorrow. Thanks for the prayers.

Love,
-Pam

Another Update

Sorry for leaving you all in the air. Lauren is still very sick, but better than yesterday. After her surgery yesterday morning, Dr. S. hoped everything would be ok. He took a vein from Lauren's leg and rebuilt her hepatic artery. She went back to the SICU and was on a ventilator and sedated. At around 5:30 in the early evening, her blood pressure crashed and they thought she was bleeding. They didn't think she would make it to the OR, so luckily Dr. Sonnenday was close by with about 30 other doctors and nurses that sprang into action. They opened her up right in the SICU and repaired an arterial stump that had come loose. They were successful, but we were all sitting at the nurse's station right outside the room watching. I know we were all traumatized and what they show on tv is nothing compared to the feelings you feel when it is your loved one. Even Kristen, who sees trauma all the time, was very upset because it was her sister. Lauren is more stable today, but still very sick. She is on a ventilator and sedated and is also on dialysis to help rid her body of acids. They left her abdomen opened, but packed it and covered it in case of other problems. They will take her to the OR and close her up once she is more stable. The doctors and nurses here are unbelieveable. I hope this helps a little and I'm sorry for not posting sooner.

Love,
-Pam

Lauren Back To The OR

Lauren had to go back to the OR early this morning. The doctors had been watching her labs and were concerned with some. They wanted to check her liver and were thinking it may be a blood flow problem that they could repair. She is stable, but we haven't heard anything else yet. I will update when I know more. Thank you in advance for your prayers.

Love,
-Pam

Lauren's Surgery Update

Hi Everyone,

Just a note to let you know that Lauren made it through surgery and is in the ICU. She is doing great. I will let you know the full story when I am feeling up to it. I am drained from all of this. Thank you so much for your support. Love you all.

-Pam

Fun Times!

Hi Everyone,

We had the best time at our nephew, Matt, and new niece, Katie's wedding this past weekend. These are the family times that stay in your mind forever. To all be together in one place was such a gift. Congratulations to Matt and Katie!!

The rehearsal dinner was Friday night and Kristen and Bruce had a hotel room for Friday and Saturday nights. They asked Lauren and Gio to come down and stay with them. Linda told them that since they were all going to be there to come to the rehearsal dinner, so they did!! Lauren and Gio left our house around 6 and got to the dinner just in time. Mark, Ryan, Stephanie, and myself all left at around 11 the next morning.

The four of us arrived at Linda and Wayne's house around 1:30 and I had lots of fun helping Linda, my Mom, and Florence (Linda's mother-in-law) get ready. They all looked so beautiful. We had fun taking pics in the back yard.

The wedding was at a country club in Delaware, Ohio. We arrived to a flurry of activity as Katie's family and bridesmaids were putting the finishing touches on the place. We went over to the bar area where all the other guests started arriving. It was great to see our relatives, (Aunts Shirley and Geann, Uncle Paul, and cousin Nancy), and family friends, (Danny and Ann Kirven). There was a shuttle from the hotel and we finally met up with Wo, Gio, Sis, and Bruce. They all looked so nice. The wedding was outside and it was very windy, but it was so beautiful. Matt and Katie looked so happy!!

There was a cocktail hour after the wedding. We were all really hungry so it was much appreciated. Cheese, crackers, veggies, and dip really hit the spot. The drinks were huge!! My Mom had a long island that was as big as she was!! I don't drink much, but I was adventurous that day and had a few different things.

We had a wonderful dinner of chicken marsala, beef tenderloin, roasted potatoes, vegetable medley, salad, and rolls. Mark and I were at a table with Linda and Wayne, my Mom and Dad, Florence, and Wayne's brother and his girfriend. The kids all sat together and had Linda and Wayne's niece and her husband with them.

After the speeches which made us all cry, (especially my nephew, Michael's to his big brother), cutting of the cake (Matt smashed it in Katie's face), and special dances, (Stephanie caught the bridal bouquet), it was time to boogie down. We had a ball dancing and being silly. Lauren danced a lot but then ran out of steam. She had a lot of pressure in her tummy area and her feet swelled. She sat and watched everyone else make fools of themselves, but still had a great time.

We are all big fans of cake and their cake was the bomb. Red velvet, chocolate, and white. It was so good and had the best frosting. I think all our guys had about ten pieces each!! Every time I looked at Bruce or Mark, they were eating cake!!

When the evening was over, everyone said their goodbyes. Mark, Ryan, Steph and I headed for home and the rest took the shuttle to the hotel. Wo said the party continued there and Linda and Wayne ordered pizza for everyone. I'm so happy that Lauren got to go to this wedding and her doctor was so accomodating in scheduling her next surgery around it.

Next Wed. is sneaking up quickly. Wo is very anxious to get things taken care of and get on with her wedding planning. My Mom, Dad, and Linda will be there for her surgery again. They have no idea how much their support means to us. Love you guys!!! I am going to post some pics from the lovely wedding weekend. Thank you all for your neverending support. It means the world to us. I will keep you updated next week.

Love,
-Pam


Wo and Gio before leaving for Delaware, Ohio for the rehearsal dinner.

Sis, Papa Ron, and Grandma Tommie at the rehearsal dinner.

The ladies at Linda and Wayne's house. Sis and Wo were at the hotel.

Matt and Katie getting married.

The happy couple cutting their cake. Matt had a groom's cake shaped like a letter O for Ohio state and a little OSU gnome.

 

Uncle Wayne and Aunt Linda lookin' good!!!

 

Wo and Gio having fun.

Grandma Tommie looking so pretty with her gigantic drink!!

Brucie loves his cake!!

The kids having fun together!

Our beautiful family. Love them all more than anything!!



 

 

Second Surgery Date Set.

Hi Everyone,

We went to Michigan on Sunday for Lauren's MRI. It was at a different facility rather than the hospital. We really liked it there and might request that site from now on! It was in East Ann Arbor and not crowded at all since it was on Sunday. Kristen was on-call on Sunday so we only got to see Bruce after the scans. Lauren and I went to Chili's after the scan and also went to DSW and found cute sandals to wear to Matt and Katie's wedding on Saturday.

Lauren had an appointment to see Dr. Sonnenday on Monday at the hospital. Kristen got to sleep while on-call the night before, so she got to come with us!! Lauren had labs and the nurse accessed her port, no problem. The day before, the nurse at the MRI could not get the port accessed and had to find a vein in her arm. I swear, I wish we could take one of the nurses at the cancer center with us to all Lauren's appointments. They are the only ones that have success accessing her port! We then went upstairs to Dr. Sonnenday's waiting area. We got called back fairly quick. Lauren was having a lot of pain in her belly and had to keep standing up because it hurt to sit. Dr. S came in and said her bloodwork was great. Her liver functions were all normal and she could discontinue the Lasix, potassium, and Lovenox. He said her liver hadn't grown as much as he had hoped, but it had filled in where the tumors had been removed and the right side that will be removed had gotten smaller. He said her surgery was scheduled for May 15th, which just so happens to be my birthday!!! He said he could try and change the date if we wanted and I said absolutely not. That will be the best present to have Lauren tumor free!! He looked at her incision and even though the top part is kind of open and oozy, said it looked good. He was happy about her 31 pound weight loss. Lauren gets a lot of cramping when she eats or drinks and she asked him about that. He said that she isn't digesting her food as well as she used to. Her stomach is holding her food longer and that is why she isn't hungry. He also said something about the duodenum, but neither of us can remember. Anyway, he said that is a common problem after abdominal surgery and it will go away over time. Dr. Zalupski popped in to say hello for a few minutes. It was nice to see him. Lauren signed all the consent forms for the surgery and was told what to expect on surgery day. Dr. S said that he will remove the right side of her liver, possible vena cava reconstruction, and also remove more lymph nodes. The vena cava reconstruction is what makes me nervous, but we totally trust Dr. S. He is the absolute best and will do everything possible to help Lauren.

We asked Dr. S if we could have pictures of the part of the liver he removes and of the tumor. He said yes! He said to tell the nurses before the surgery so they can remind him because he tends to totally focus on the surgery at hand without distractions. That is great to know!! He told Lauren that she needs to get labs done near home on the 10th to make sure everything is still good with her insides. That saves us a trip from driving all the way to Michigan.

After her appointment, we met my Mom and Dad in the cafeteria because my Dad had an appointment with a cardiac surgeon. He has had a heart murmur and was probably born with it. There is a piece that is flapping in his heart and he was told he might need surgery to repair it. We ate lunch and went to sit with them before the appointment. Kristen went in with them since she had worked with the surgeon in the OR many times. Well, it ends up he will need surgery and is scheduled for the early part of July. He is in excellent shape and no way acts like he is 81. The doctor said he will feel even better after the surgery. He can already run circles around me. I can't even imagine what he will be like after surgery!! When you are saying your prayers, please include him. Thanks.

We are so excited for this weekend!! My nephew, Matt, and soon-to-be niece, Katie are getting married this Saturday in Delaware, Ohio. We have a super small family. This is my one out of two nephews. I only have one sister! So this is a big deal to us!! Congratulations, Matt and Katie!!!

Well, I am sure May 15th will come around sooner than we think. I will try to post again before then. Thanks so much for caring.

Love,
Pam

Matt, Katie, Linda, Wayne, and Michael. My sister and her family.



Sis and Wo after wedding dress shopping before Lauren's first surgery.