scrappinmama
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,887
Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Feb 14, 2017 21:29:05 GMT
I'm so sorry, donna. Prayers for you and your family.
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Post by lucyg on Feb 15, 2017 3:02:39 GMT
I'm sorry I missed your post before. OMG! I don't blame you for being stressed and depressed. Stay strong and remember the peas are here for you. Wishing you GOOD HEALTH!!
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Post by angel97701 on Feb 15, 2017 3:31:39 GMT
Donna- I do hope your appointment went well and you are able to make a plan to move forward and beat this cancer! Know that there are many here who will support you with prayer and words of encouragement. I am glad are able to share this burden with your family and your grown sons are there to support you. Your deployed son will get support through his unit as he keeps them updated. Your brother will help support your mom. Your district will support you, valuable teachers are important and the administration should step up and help you through the steps for disability etc. Check to see if you district has a sick leave bank, most do, OR contact your Union rep to see about that option. They will find someone who will teach your Honors Chem and AP Chem. Take that OFF your plate and let the administration deal with finding the right person. As many have already said, it is your job to fight this cancer and get healthy. If I were in SC I would teach for you, those are my favorite classes to teach! (But Oregon is a bit of a commute ) There will be someone who will guide your students and prep them for the AP exam in May. Your students are smart kids and will get through this. They will understand that your health and life come first, then your job teaching them. Take one step at a time and there has been a ton of great advice given here. Use your notebook, write things down, keep all your reports etc together in a binder, and have someone else also take notes while you are at appointments etc. Sign paperwork that allows others to have knowledge of your health care besides just your husband. Ask lots of questions and do your research! Prayers from Oregon from a fellow AP Chemistry teacher!
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theshyone
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,411
Jun 26, 2014 12:50:12 GMT
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Post by theshyone on Feb 15, 2017 5:14:51 GMT
Huge hugs.
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msliz
Drama Llama
The Procrastinator
Posts: 6,419
Jun 26, 2014 21:32:34 GMT
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Post by msliz on Feb 15, 2017 11:20:34 GMT
More hugs and prayers
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eastcoastpea
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,252
Jun 27, 2014 13:05:28 GMT
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Post by eastcoastpea on Feb 15, 2017 12:25:29 GMT
So sorry to hear of your cancer diagnosis. I'm sending hugs your way and saying prayers for you and your family.
Praying for you to fight hard and succeed in your battle. Hugs.
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Post by donna on Feb 15, 2017 12:25:33 GMT
Thanks everyone! My appointment is at 11 today. I will let you know what happens. angel97701 I wish you were here in SC. My school does not have a good track record of getting long term subs that are qualified to teach a class unless the teacher finds someone themselves. An available AP Chem teacher is going to be hard to find. I have been feeling well the last few days. I could almost forget that I have something serious wrong with me.
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Post by kimber731 on Feb 15, 2017 13:18:47 GMT
I can't even imagine how overwhelmed you must be. Just take it one day at a time, try not to dwell on the "what ifs".
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janeinbama
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,176
Location: Alabama
Jan 29, 2015 16:24:49 GMT
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Post by janeinbama on Feb 15, 2017 14:22:30 GMT
Prayers for you Donna good luck this morning. Knowing the enemy is half the battle!
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Post by micpea on Feb 15, 2017 16:59:30 GMT
Thinking of you today!
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MDscrapaholic
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,389
Location: Down by the bay....
Jun 25, 2014 20:49:07 GMT
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Post by MDscrapaholic on Feb 15, 2017 17:09:13 GMT
Thinking of you. Let us know how your appointment went!
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Post by deekaye on Feb 15, 2017 17:20:35 GMT
>My dh doesn't really want to talk about all the thoughts going on in my head until we have a clear plan from the oncologist. Please sit your husband down and explain to him that you need someone to talk to, just to ramble if need be. I had a health scare last Fall that resulted in a pacemaker. I needed to express my concerns, fears, etc. to DH and he would say oh-so-helpful things like "let's not worry about that until we talk to the doctor next week" or "I don't thinking talking about this is going to help". I finally realized that he has always been my Mr. Fixit and he couldn't fix this for me and he was feeling at a loss. Once he understood that I wasn't asking for answers from him, just someone to listen to my fears (however unfounded they might be), then things got better.
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Post by donna on Feb 15, 2017 19:14:03 GMT
deekaye my dh and I had a talk about that a couple of days ago. I was feeling so alone because I had no one to talk to. He understands me better now. Having this thread is helping so much. I am waiting on a call from the oncologist. He had been working from a report from a radiologist and wanted to look at the scans that I had with me on a disc. The report said there were two "suspicious" spots on the liver. He wants to look at them more closely on the scans. I am most likely looking at a biopsy first. Also, the 4cm mass is right next to the major blood vessels so even if the liver spots are nothing I will most likely need chemo and radiation before any surgery could be done. I wasn't expecting the liver info. This makes things even worse. Crap! Why do I always have to be difficult!
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Post by stampnscrap1128 on Feb 15, 2017 19:22:20 GMT
Surrounding you with healing thoughts and prayers!
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Post by deekaye on Feb 15, 2017 19:22:37 GMT
deekaye my dh and I had a talk about that a couple of days ago. I was feeling so alone because I had no one to talk to. He understands me better now. Having this thread is helping so much. I am waiting on a call from the oncologist. He had been working from a report from a radiologist and wanted to look at the scans that I had with me on a disc. The report said there were two "suspicious" spots on the liver. He wants to look at them more closely on the scans. I am most likely looking at a biopsy first. Also, the 4cm mass is right next to the major blood vessels so even if the liver spots are nothing I will most likely need chemo and radiation before any surgery could be done. I wasn't expecting the liver info. This makes things even worse. Crap! Why do I always have to be difficult! I'm glad you talked to him about it. My health issue last Fall was nothing compared to what you are going through but it was so important for me to have someone to listen to me! Continued prayers for you. Don't forget, you have a whole bunch of pea-friends at your disposal, day and night!
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GiantsFan
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,300
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Feb 15, 2017 19:27:30 GMT
donna I'm still praying for you. We found out yesterday that my mothers tumor is next to the blood vessels, too. She will also have Chemo to shrink it before surgery. We are staying positive that she will beat this. We are so glad that with chemo at least something will start to happen for recovery. Cancer sucks!
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River
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,517
Location: Alabama
Jun 26, 2014 15:26:04 GMT
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Post by River on Feb 15, 2017 19:31:22 GMT
My prayers are still with you Donna! You will get through this, one step at a time! I'm staying positive that the liver spots turn out to be nothing.
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Post by donna on Feb 15, 2017 19:51:09 GMT
They would have sent me for an MRI but I can't have one of those due to the pacemaker.
It is getting harder to keep this private, but I do want to have more info before we tell people. My Mom's doctor is concerned about her having 6 out of 10 risk factors of having a major stroke. I don't want to make her situation worse.
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Post by scrappintoee on Feb 17, 2017 11:51:00 GMT
Hi Donna.... I just read your update about the spots on your liver.....ugh!!! Have you gotten any more info? And, I'm so sorry about your Mom, too!! ((( hugs )))
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Post by elaine on Feb 17, 2017 12:03:38 GMT
Donna, lots of (((hugs)))) and prayers coming from Northern VA. Here is hoping that the liver spots are nothing. I also hope that the radiation shrinks the tumor down quickly for you. I think that angel97701 gave you some wonderful advice. Let your school worry about finding a substitute - that part will take care of itself. Do things that nurture yourself - right now you deserve all the love and care that you show to others.
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Post by christine58 on Feb 17, 2017 21:19:01 GMT
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Post by donna on Feb 17, 2017 22:21:11 GMT
christine58 physically, I am doing pretty well. I have some pain but it is managable right now. I also have intestinal issues most mornings. The worst thing right now is the stress and uncertainty. I feel like the doctors have no sense of urgency. A biopsy has been scheduled for March 6 and a follow up with the oncologist on March 13. This seems so far away. All I can imagine is cancer cells dividing like crazy while people take their sweet time getting around to me. I am still functioning well at work. I am trying to teach as efficiently as possible so that I can cover as much ground as I can. My students really take my mind off of the situation and that helps so much. I have great kids and realize how blessed I am.
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Post by christine58 on Feb 17, 2017 22:44:40 GMT
My mom had to wait about that long for her colon cancer surgery.As I told her---if the oncologist thought/feared the worst, surgery etc would have been immediate. Praying that this is not as bad as you're fearing!!
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Post by angel97701 on Feb 18, 2017 3:19:53 GMT
Donna-Your students will step up and be helpful decent human beings! They will support you and understand that this is totally OUT OF YOUR HANDS! That is the bonus of working with the advanced kiddos, even though writing those letters of recommendation and extra prep to help them prepare for the AP exam are super time consuming! BTDT! Others have already said, but if your doctors thought this was quick moving they would have you in for all your tests now. Prayers as you continue this journey!
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MDscrapaholic
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,389
Location: Down by the bay....
Jun 25, 2014 20:49:07 GMT
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Post by MDscrapaholic on Feb 18, 2017 3:50:04 GMT
christine58 physically, I am doing pretty well. I have some pain but it is managable right now. I also have intestinal issues most mornings. The worst thing right now is the stress and uncertainty. I feel like the doctors have no sense of urgency. A biopsy has been scheduled for March 6 and a follow up with the oncologist on March 13. This seems so far away. All I can imagine is cancer cells dividing like crazy while people take their sweet time getting around to me. My DH had the same wait, a week to get biopsy (via endoscopic) and then three weeks to surgery. I was so impatient! I wanted that mass out ASAP. I didn't realize how involved the Whipple was; the surgeon wanted to make sure he had all his facts straight and that he had a top team with him for surgery. Luckily someone told me this. Be careful you don't catch anything from your students. If you get sick it will push the biopsy back. ((Hugs)). Maybe ask your oncologist if you should still work.
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kate
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,533
Location: The city that doesn't sleep
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 3:30:05 GMT
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Post by kate on Feb 18, 2017 5:36:06 GMT
First of all, I'm so sorry you have so much on your plate right now. God bless you.
I will tell you that, regarding your classes, please feel free to let it go. One of my kids is in an intense AP course, and the teacher had a family crisis just before Christmas that made it necessary to take a leave of absence through the end of the year. The school found a long-term sub, gave the students a pass/fail instead of a letter grade for first semester, and the students will play a bit of catch-up for the AP exam. It's going to be fine. Obviously, in the best of all possible worlds, we'd have the original teacher; however, no kid's life is going to completely change course because of one teacher's life crisis. If anything, they will remember the example you set of what is most important.
Hope all goes swimmingly for you from here on out.
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Post by scrappintoee on Feb 18, 2017 17:00:35 GMT
aww Donna! I totalllly agree that the biopsy in March seems SO far away! I'm praying for you !!! (( hugs )) I'm SO happy that you're still able to work, AND you're focusing on your blessings----I know how hard it is to try to stay positive----good for you !!!
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