Herceptin, Blood Counts. Florida

I had my herceptin infusion yesterday. They also checked my blood counts. Everything in the blood counts were normal except eosinophils, which were pretty low. Even though everything in the blood counts were normal, they just made it into range. If something was normal at 12-20, I was 12.1. It was that way throughout the whole report. That does explain some things to me because I do get tired very easily. I guess the fact that my red blood cells are just on the normal side explains why. They say its ok though. I have no restrictions. I can even fly. So I will.

Julianna and I are going to Florida today to visit Pop-Pop and Grandma Betty. I wanted to go for her birthday but I was not feeling that great. I started feeling better and checked the prices at Jetblue. It was $74 one way and $89 the other. My Dad and Betty said they wanted to buy us the tickets and that was awesome. I am not sure when I would get the chance again so its now or never. I am going to go back to work at the end of the month. I am out of sick time and they are currently using my vacation time so I get paid. Soon that will be gone too so I have to try to work through the rest of the chemo. I will not be able to take any time off to go away for awhile.

I will be in Florida until Saturday. They don't have a computer and I am not bringing mine. I will post when we get back.

Happy Birthday Aunt Carol

Happy Birthday to my Aunt Carol!! I hope you enjoyed your day!

Happy Second Birthday Julianna!!!

You only live twice. Once when you are born and once when you look death in the face.Ian Fleming


Today is Julianna's second birthday. I can't believe she is two already! She is awesome and the light of my life. I think back to the day she was born and I am thankful that we both survived it. Despite the bumpy road that fighting breast cancer has been, I have not been anywhere near as sick as I was just before and just after Julianna's birth. Even with four surgeries in rapid succession I have not had any pain as severe as the pain I had when my liver was failing and the capsule was stretching almost to rupture. This all pales in comparison.

Pre-eclampsia is Greek for "before the lightning". It comes on as rapidly as lightning and can be just as deadly. I had kidney, liver and heart failure. I had cerebral edema, loss of vision, uncontrollable hypertension, DIC, hemorrhaging and extreme hyperreflexia. The pre-eclampsia was about as bad as it can be and it progressed to class 1 HELLP syndrome. I was what we say in the ambulance world, CTD (circling the drain).

It took a year for me to get pregnant with Julianna. I had every type of fertility treatment available. The odds were overwhelmingly against me having her. She was a determined little fighter from the very beginning. She is nothing short of a miracle and a complete gift from God.

I was trying to have another. I went to a specialist who said I could do it, but my odds of it all happening again were 40%. She said she would never let it get to the point it did with Julianna and she would deliver immediately if there were any sign of a problem. She said the biggest issue could be a baby with extreme prematurity. I tried for almost a year and got pregnant once but that ended with an early miscarriage. I had to stop trying when I was diagnosed with the breast cancer.

I often wonder if the breast cancer was God's way of saying, "Do not do this again. It will not end well".


It is amazing how having a child changes you. Everything now is, "How will this effect my child?" When I found out about the breast cancer it was all about her too. I need to be here for her. What is her risk? Could she, God forbid, be the fourth generation to get this? What can I do to get this over with as quickly as possible so we can go on to have our lives back?

People ask me all the time if it is harder fighting this with her in my life. No, of course not. Everyday she gives me energy and purpose. She fills my heart with joy.

Happy Birthday to my little miracle!!!!!!!!!!

Julianna in the NICU under the bilirubin lights. 3 pounds 8 ounces.
Julianna the day she came home from the hospital. She was four pounds.


Julianna at Christmas. You've come a long way baby!!

Side Effects Subsiding

I was pretty sick with the chemo side effects and fatigue. I am feeling so much better today. I am pretty amazed by the body's ability to bounce back. I still have some things, mouth sores, bad taste and some GI distress. However, it is SO much better, especially the fatigue.

I had an appointment with the plastic surgeon today for an expander fill. It is not too bad. In the beginning every time I went I was in excruciating pain for a week, now it is a minor annoyance. I think it has healed so much in there that it is not a big deal. In the beginning I had just had three surgeries to the area in a brief period of time so the fills were bad.

Two chemos down, four to go. Thanks for the support!!!!!

Hair Care

I am happy to say my hair is still here. There is a special amount of hair care involved when using the Penguin Cold Caps. You can only wash your hair twice a week. At first that was really tough for me but since the chemo is so drying it has been ok. When I do wash it I can only use cold water and only baby shampoo. Cold water is tough so I fill the tub up with hot water and use the cold water on my head while the hot water my body is in is keeping me warm. Its an odd process but I am happy to comply. I have not lost more than a few strands so far. Yippie!!!

The other side effects are finally subsiding a little bit. I am getting a bit more energy. I still have some GI issues but they are really not as bad as they were.

Thanks everyone for the constant support!!!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my cousin Rosemary!

I hope you had an awesome day!!!

Herceptin, Blood Counts

I had my appointment with Dr. Citron (oncologist) today. He said a good way to combat fatigue is to exercise. Interesting since I have had trouble going from the couch to the bathroom the last few days. I will try though.

My blood counts are down, although not enough for a transfusion. That is good. He said they should start coming up on their own now. He said I have no restrictions and could even fly if I want to. All good.

The staff is amazed that I still have my hair. I am thrilled.

I had my herceptin infusion. The herceptin is in there now fighting any bad cells that may remain. Kick butt herceptin!

This was a tough week but I survived it! Thanks to everyone for all the help and good wishes!!!!!!!!!!