Coming out of post-surgery fog is so weird. I'm just starting to remember the last few days. One day, I passed out after lunch, then woke up at 6:30 thinking it was morning and why was Livvie up so early? Steven was like, "But Mom, it's the same day." I couldn't get my mind to …
Tom Petty was right!
"The waiting is the hardest part." All I remember about surgery is passing out after one of the nurses pulled the hospital "shower curtain" closed. What the? They were supposed to bring a hot intern to surgery. When I woke up, I was in an identical room with another shower curtain. I kept asking anyone …
Steven takes over
NOTE: Steven is writing this. We decided that since my mom is really tired and can't use her arms, that I would take over the blog for a bit. I remember that cold and rainy day in November when I was at my friend's house. My parents came to pick up my sister and me. …
Could it be…The end of Weird Cancer Guy?
Tomorrow is the big surgery day. Today, I got two radioactive dye injections right in the nipple! I wanted to scream like Steve Carell getting a full body wax in The 40 Year Old Virgin, but I didn't. Now I'm rockin' one radioactive boob. Tomorrow, they'll use a Geiger Counter to see if the cancer …
Cancer’s a joke
Saying yes to help can be pretty uncomfortable. I didn't want to at first. But then I thought this is not just about me. We've got kids. Don't be a jackleg, yo. Let people help because they're our friends and they want to do something. One fundraising website, crafty fair and gigantic auction later, and …
The next thing
Surgery is one week away. Everyone has done so much for us and still, they're asking, "How can we help after surgery?" I've got our kids and dog taken care of, but not much else. This is the week to get organized. Sometimes you don't even know what you need help with or how things …
7 days of denial
It's Spring Break. I'm giving myself 7 days to NOT talk about cancer. I still feel like a Chemosapien with numb fingers and toes, metal mouth and the prospect of losing fingernails. But this week, I'm going to forget about all that and focus on the kids. Weird Cancer Guy is like an obnoxious dude at a …
The cancer dream team unites!
No one knows why four of the moms at my kids' school have breast cancer. Is it all that organic produce we eat? The super-clean water? The industries that surround us? We got together to share experiences ranging from the rebounding from surgery to being told, "You're going to die." We're all in a club …
Never do that again
Weird Cancer Guy isn’t going down easy. Yesterday, I felt like I had metal rods through my heart and throat with a rusty anvil in my stomach. I barely got up all day. Today’s only slightly better. My stomach and throat feel horrible. I'm thirsty, but even water makes me feel sick. When everyone leaves …
What to tell your kids about cancer
They could have said no, but they didn't when I asked if they minded if I told our story to The Oregonian: http://www.oregonlive.com/kiddo/index.ssf/2013/03/when_parents_have_cancer_tips.html It's totally honest - and personal. My kids still wanted to do it. All day, I worried. Would kids at school make fun of them? It turned out the opposite. Steven's teacher brought in …
jacki kane 