During the last couple of days Sherri has been prepping up for the initial kick. On Tues she got her “port” installed and then on Wed she got a baseline CT scan for comparison later. She’s been acting way too normal but I guess she wants to get that in while she can… Go girl!
Sherri is now a card carrying owner of a PORT-A-CATH POWER P.A.C. system (Deltec) made by Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (no doubt a hidden subsidiary of Dracula Industries). This little titanium and polyurethane number resides camouflaged just under the skin, but provides direct access to the jugular (not kidding). Apparently a smaller port was installed than originally planned, confirming the petite nature of her circulatory system that has many Philadelphia area phlebotomists waking up in cold sweats at night. The port was installed surgically at Fox Chase with very little drama (thanks Dr. C!) and she recovered relatively quickly with the help of some crackers and warm blankets.
Sherri was back to Fox Chase today to celebrate her port with a bottle of barium (on the house). Actually this was to facilitate the CT scan, and they also put that port right to work by injecting some contrast dye to help illuminate the hidden details. No new surprises, please. This was the last trial run for tomorrow’s initial chemo session.
Check out Sue’s observations in the comments section below for another inside perspective on Sherri’s treatment.
Whoosh! What a week! Thanks for your sense of humor, Coopy. It’s an amazing world we live in, and I hope some of that space-age technology will really benefit Sherri! Envisioning and praying for fortitude on this part of the path. xox Chara
My Observations
I am so grateful that I was available to spend time with Sherri & the girls and help with appointments these past few days. First off, let me say that Sherri looks great. She is strong and ready to fight this thing. Tuesday we had a long day at the hospital. Anji was a trooper and spent the whole day with us in the OR waiting area while doctors and nurses attended to Sherri as she was prepped for her outpatient surgery to have the port implanted. We left the house at 8:30am and returned at around 4pm – not sure why it took so long but everyone at the hospital was terrific. Anji & I had lunch in the cafeteria and played UNO in the waiting area until we were called to join Sherri after surgery. Her surgeon came to the lounge to speak with me face to face after surgery and assured me all went well. The Fox Chase Cancer Center is a beautifully landscaped campus with free parking, lovely outdoor sitting areas, and an easy to navigate layout. Be forewarned, however, if you visit, bring a sweater. The place is freezing! Anyway, the doctors and nurses were great and I felt Sherri was getting the best quality of treatment available. Today (Wednesday) was more of the same except that Anji stayed home and the trip was much shorter. The CT scan appointment was right on schedule and Sherri & I were home within the hour. These were firsts for us, but I imagine it will all seem routine in no time. As a side note, during my few days with Sherri and the girls, I met two of Sherri’s friends – Gwen while I was at the hospital and Jenny when I was picking up Zia from hockey camp. Both made a point to speak with me and offer any support they can, for me and for Sherri and the family. Sherri has a great support team. Thank you!
Sending love as you head into the first round of healing. I hope you can feel the Lord’s love and peace in the midst of the storm.
Just heard about this from Bobbie (who was visiting here last weekend). Rosa will be absolutely thunderstruck, as am I, with fresh memories of a leisurely visit to the Cooper household from ‘just’ last year. We send all our love, and one tiny piece of information which I hope you will find encouraging: Rosa mentioned this morning that her most recent blood test showed no sign of returning trouble, to which I replied that next year will be a full decade since her diagnosis in 2004. We hope and pray that, with all the rapid and expert care Sherri is receiving, *all four* of you will be passing on similar encouraging news to other loved ones in 2023, and for many healthy and happy decades thereafter.
Sherri and Dave, I’m grateful for the strength and spirit of this site and your posts. You are in my thoughts frequently, and I hold your experiences in my prayers. Know that I am available if you want. Thank you for being the people you are.
Cancer has met its match! We love Sherri so much and know that she is going to annihilate this thing. Who else but Sherri! Strong, smart, supported…just as she’s taken care of us and provided so much, now we get to give back to this amazing woman. Praying, holding, hoping for all of you guys with your incredible resilience.
It was good to see you at Core Point the other week. I didn’t know til later of your perils. Do know we are praying for your whole family and so is our SS class. We also had you put on our Church call list where about 100 families will continue to ask God to intervene. Sounds like you have some great doctors and facilities and I’m glad for that. But most of all I know of your faith in the one who made the universe and everything and everyone in it. We’re continually asking Him for blessings for you and yours. <
Bless you, Dave, for keeping us so well informed. It sounds as though you are surrounded by caring friends, which gives us some comfort, and trust that you are grownup enough to ask for help whenever you want it–you don’t have to wait until you “need” it. Our prayers are certainly there for all four of you–very different individuals undergoing different experiences, and very closely bound together.
The three of us.