ANA Discussion Forum
AN Community => AN Community => Topic started by: Soundy on June 17, 2011, 07:57:35 am
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I have a friend who is an ICU nurse ... she helped me get through doctor-ease reports when I didn't understand things ... she helped me find answers using her medical resources ... she called me at the hospital when I had Bennie evicted and told me to cry or b***h to her if I wanted to...she cheers me on when I regain things lost and kicks my butt when I get depressed over things I an no longer do and get the idea to quit ...
just heard from her yesterday ... she has had a rough spring ... going through a divorce and has a soon to be ex- husband that is stalking her and has a restraining order on him that since they are in a rural area is about useless ... she has been working longer hours to pay for the little house in the woods she bought when she left so her country raised kids wouldn't have to move to town in an apartment ... she has one kid home still in high school , one that commutes to college and one that is home during summer but is gone off to college during school year ... she was so excited about getting out of a bad situation ... like me she stayed in a bad place because she thought that the kids needed an unbroken home ...sometimes divorce fixes the home ...she was excited to be making a new start and living without fear ...
Saturday night she had a grand mal seizure and stopped breathing ... she was taking to local hospital and a CT scan showed a tumor deep in parietal lobe on left side of her brain ... she was transfered to a large hospital and an MRI guided biopsy was done ...it appears to be cancer ... she is suppose to know for sure today or tomorrow ...
she asked me for advice to get through this ... all I could tell her is to keep friends close and informed , keep her kids in mind they will make her stronger , don't freak out because it doesn't help and to roll with the punches and come up fighting ... she says being a nurse she knows too much and as an ICU she has seen the ugly side of illness ... she is scared and I am scared for her
Please add Gina to your prayers ...
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I will definitely keep Gina in my prayers. She has so much on her plate right now and needs all the help she can get. I am glad you are there for her.
Priscilla
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You bet, Soundy. Please let Gina know that she has friends she doesn't even know praying for her and her kids.
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Soundy ~
Your advice to your friend was just about perfect - and she must know that you were speaking from experience and not just offering platitudes.
It is especially rough when someone is dealing with emotional issues (divorce, stalker ex-husband) and are then hit with a serious physical challenge, too. This one is pretty serious and your friendship will be a big help, I'm certain. Your friend, Gina, will be in my prayers.
Jim
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prayers on the way
jO
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I'm praying for Gina, too.
Although my medical crisis (thankfully) was "only" an AN, I can totally relate to the divorce-related issues :(
Please tell Gina that we're all praying for her; maybe that might help her be a little less scared.
Jan
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I'll keep her in my prayers also. Both my sisters are divorced, so I know how that goes. Also, my wife is a nurse and they definitely know far too much, making it tough when they are the patient.
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Please tell your friend to go to a major teaching hospital for any surgery she may need. If she has a glioma, she should NOT be operated on in a community hospital. PM me if you need to know a better place to go (depending on area of country). Been down this road with son and I believe he is alive today because he was in the hands of an excellent surgeon. With brain cancer, time is of the essence...there is not time to research options as there is with ANs. You need to get educated quickly.
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My heart goes out to your friend and her family. She is in my prayers. Please keep us informed.
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stage 4 glioblastoma
Gina starts radiation and oral chemo on July 5th ... she was joking and cheerful sounding and got worried when I began slurring words ...told her I was fine just overwhelmed with the news ... she will be going to UA Birmingham Cancer Clinic ... her doctor specializes in brain Cancers and has a good reputation ...
the right side of my face is tingly and my mouth is not working right ... I have done this several times since my AN removal ... I think stress and something that is changed physically in my facial nerve do it ...it scared the girls when the right side of my mouth wasn't moving right ...sent them to play on the Wii ... will talk to them in a little bit ... I am so utterly gutted right now that I can't talk sensibly ... I am telling my self not to lose it now , that Gina needs me to be there for her like she was for me ...this will pass in an hour or two and I can be strong for her
Keep Gina in your prayers ... she is a person who is always the one sheering someone else on ... she is cheering for herself now but I know under her laughter and jokes she is scared ... right now I wish she were a waitress instead of ICU nurse ...
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I wish the news were better, but I'm glad that Gina has good care, as well as a good friend like you, and I will keep her and her family -- and you as well, Soundy -- in my prayers.
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Tought and Prayer
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Prayers going out now. Sounds like she has a great friend to walk with her. Tell her that God will give her the grace she needs, when she needs it, to get through this. Please keep us posted
Skip
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Soundy ~
Both you and your friend, Gina, will be in my prayers. I will assume that she has a spiritual faith. If so, this is certainly the time to lean on it. If not, I'm sure your friendship is a comfort to her. Either way, you're helping her and many prayers will be said for your friend.
Jim
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Hi Soundy,
Gina is Blessed to have a friend like you! Maybe it would help her somewhat to read some of our posts to her? Prayer is an awesome thing and you just can't get enough of it! Let her know that even though we don't know her personally, we still care. I will keep both of you in my prayers. God's timing is always perfect. Hang in there. Ann
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More prayers are going out.
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Soundy,
I've just caught up on your post about Gina. I feel for her and her family. You are a very good friend to her and that will help her through this terrible time. I will be praying for her and her chldren. I'm glad she found a good doctor with experience. Thinking of you....Sandy
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i agree with everyone... you are a great friend to her and i hope and pray all goes well with her upcoming surgery (and all the other stuff she's going through). i know you'll keep us posted.
keri
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say a special little prayer Tuesday when she will be starting treatment ... I will be without phone or computer so won't be able to talk to her before then ...
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Hi Soundy,
Have been keeping her in my prayers and hope all goes well with her first treatment. Ann
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Gina has one more week of radiation and chemo which will be followed by a 4 week break ... her spirits are up ...she is a nut ... a good nut but a nut all the same ...she told me to ignore the spelling and grammer... she was using a phone and says she is gonna throw it one day cause she can't type legibly ... taken from email from Gina
im doin good. im into my 5th week of radiation and chemo. after this 6 weeks of nonstop poisoning me theyre gona give me a 4 week break to let edema go down and then i get an mri to see how tumor has responded to treatment. blah
but all of my blood counts are good. my platlets, and hmg are better than they were when i started and my white bld cell count is lovely. i've actually gained a few pounds n back at my normal weight.
keep praying
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Praying for Gina, her children and you Soundy!! You are both blessed to have each other as friends!!
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Hi Soundy,
Good to hear about Gina and that she is tolerating the treatments better than expected. Keeping her in prayer. Thanks for the update! Ann
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praying down south
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great news for Gina ... tumor has shrank ...new plan is to watch it closely, mri every 6 weeks ,
chemo 5 days every month for the next year and no more radiation in the plan for now ... so
much better that the picture painted for her
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Thanks for that update, Soundy.
Great news, of course and once again proving that prayer can change things.
Jim
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Hooray for that! Even more prayers going up for even more tumor shrinkage.
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So happy for everyone involved. Will keep on praying. Thanks for the update! Ann
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Dear Soundy,
I am thinking of you and Gina and sending my thoughts and prayers your way. Zap that tumor!
Mei Mei
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Lots of prayers and good thoughts, both for her, her family and for you. You all need all the strength you can muster.
Dale