Update - Scan results and another trip to the hospital

Great news - the MRI of Ema's leg and lung CT scan both came back clear! Although the leg MRI still shows a lot of activity in the site of the former tumor, there's no evidence of cancer at all. This is an area that we will keep an eye on as we continue to get scans every three to four months. The clear lung CT scan was a huge relief as sarcomas travel to the lungs first, statistically anyway.

Ema and I went to Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center on Thursday to have her wound surgically debrided and the old stitches removed. Yes, she had to go under general anesthesia for this - who wouldn't opt for sleeping through that trauma?!? The wound is closing up towards the top but it still open to the bone towards the bottom. Ouch! Anyway, her surgeon recommended a wet-to-dry dressing change every 24 hours. I'll spare y'all the gory details - suffice to say it's a rather unpleasant and potentially painful way to tend to a wound, but it's necessary to allow oxygen to enter the site so the wound can heal from the inside-out. The wound care specialist will be at our house on Monday to help with this too. We're hoping that once this wound heals better she will be able to walk better. She's still having such a hard time getting around and is very frustrated with it.

Now, with these scan behind us, we don't have any more MRIs or CTs to worry about until after Christmas! Yay! Life is still so challenging but we're not so terrified right now. Which is such a blessing!

Keep Holding On - Ideas and Suggestions from Ema - # 4

*** Be kind and gentle with yourself. This is not the time to berate yourself for anything. This is a hard time. Treat yourself like you would your best friend; forgive yourself your mistakes, encourage yourself to hang in there.

*** If you can’t get in right away to see a doctor or have a procedure, feel free to call them to ask if there have been any cancellations. Ask politely and keep calling everyday. When you are in the middle of all of these doctor appointments and procedures you just want to get it done and get the answers you need. Everyday that you have to wait is torture and weekends are endless while you wait for the offices to open back up on Monday morning. Force yourself to be the considerate but squeaky wheel.

*** Very often people will have trouble knowing what to say to you in response to hearing about your cancer. Sometimes they will blunder and say something that comes out insulting or dismissive. Try to ignore the awkward words and see through to the friend who is struggling to comfort you the best way they can. Not everyone is able to express themselves well but you can tell if their heart is in the right place.

Keep holding on…

~Ema