I’m writing to you right now from an ER bed. I just had an ultrasound of my left arm and they found a blood clot in a superficial vein pressing on the port-a-cath that they inserted on my birthday (my other special day). I feel like the poor hospital people need friendly faces, so I decided to spend my special time cheering them up. I’ve only been stuck twice so far tonight: 1 stick for blood (it was a great shot) and 1 shot for a very painful pain killer in my right arm. I’m still waiting to see what extra drugs I will need to take to get rid of the blood clot.
This all started after my wonderful mother’s day dinner with by beautiful children and wonderful husband. I have been having chest pains all day and then around 6PM I started having excruciating pain in my left arm and shoulder. I took some ibuprofen, called my oncologist to ask if I should be concerned, and then waited to see if the medicine worked, but it didn’t. Then Dr. Shiftan, the sweet man, called to check and see if I was feeling any better, and I let him know that I wasn’t. I told him that I only wanted to go to the ER if the pain was life-threatening. He strongly encouraged me to go to the ER because he thought it might be a blood clot, but he said that he hoped we would be cursing him all the way home for making us go to the ER on mother’s day. Dr. Shiftan really went the extra mile to make sure I was taken care of. It makes a big difference in my life to know that a doctor is watching out for me. I feel lucky to have him as my doctor.
Speaking of lucky, Russ and I decided to have a discussion about just how lucky and special I am. We decided to start a lucky list. Today we came up with 5 lucky things that have happened to me:
1. I’m lucky that I’m always the person that has side effects that only happen to 1% of the population
2. I’m lucky that Dr. Shiftan was on call tonight.
3. We were lucky that Ryan was in PQ tonight so we could have him set-up a drive-by blessing for me.
4. We were lucky that my siblings were over at my house when we had to leave (to help watch the kids)
5. I’m lucky that I get lots of attention from doctors on special days
So, in general, I’m just one really lucky person.
I hope you had a very wonderful mother’s day. At least I ended my mother’s day on a high! (note: Russ is dictating this post for me. The pain medication has made her a little high.)
Susan it was awesome Hanging out with you today… sucks that in the middle of splitting your dinner with me you were not able to eat anymore from pain. lucky me i got both
The kids were fine! I left the iron and Stove on at the house. it will be ok.
You are a trooper. keep on truckin
I’m jealous I love to people watch at the ER. Some interesting people come through there. One of my closest friends is in liver failure and the last time we were in the ER for her we saw a naked drunk man. It was great. lol Susie I hope that you get a good high from the drugs. Happy mothers day. I wish there was something I could do.
HI Sweetie! Thanks for letting us all know what is going on! We are all here pulling for you!! This is just a speed bump. The boys are sleeping like angels so don’t worry about anything. Just enjoy the La La land you are in!! See you tomorrow!
love, mom
Susan,
Your new haircut looks so cute! I’ve been wanting to cut my hair short for quite some time, but have been too nervous. You’ve given me the courage to give it a try sometime… maybe this summer.
Hang in there. It’s so wonderful you have so many people supporting you and helping you through this. Hope your Mother’s Day was special and you were treated like a queen today. Well, I’m off to bed…
You’re in my prayers,
Heather Long
I finally figured out how to write to you again on this site. It takes me a while sometimes, but in the end I usually figure it out, that is when I don’t give up and say, “the heck with it”. I emailed Kevin to give you a message and then I figured out how to write to you by myself. I told him to tell you that I am astounded at your bravery and wonderful spirit, that you are in my prayers and I love and pray for you all. Bill sends his love and prayers also. I just want to say to you,- Susan you are amazing! You make me cry, you make me laugh, you make me think, you make me want to be better, you make me love you, you make me love your family, you make me want to pray, you make me thankful. I am thankful for you, for your loving husband, for your family, for Kevin. You are truly an inspiration. All my love, Ellen Morris
So my blessing worked. I was sure it would. I should open a clinic…
I am so glad you got in there. We have had some experience with blood clots and they are nothing to fool around with. Suzie our love goes out to you and your family. I’m so glad you were able to enjoy part of the day. Keep up the great work and Russ your doing a great job.
Susan, having you in my life makes me a lucky girl! Thank you. =) Love you and I will talk to you soon. I am bringing dinner tonight…I hope you will be there to eat it. XOXOX
Rachelle,
Susan isn’t eating so well right now. I will come and eat her food. What time should I be there?
You should never tell someone they have a nice dimple. what if they were shot in the face with a bb-gun
Emergency room visits always seem to come at the worst time. Glad to hear you received some medication to help you out. I really wanted a picture though of you in that moment it seems like the smile on your face would have been ear to ear. You are a trooper!
Ryan….I may have to make your food “special”….=)
I like an escalator because an escalator can never break, it can only become stairs. There would never be an escalator temporarily out of order sign, only an escalator temporarily stairs. Sorry for the convenience.
Susie,
Cristina found this place:
http://www.michellesplace.org/
they got’s wigs and whatnot’s
well susie you really know how to spend your holidays. i am glad to hear that you have some good drugs, to make you feel alittle better for a little while. Please take care we do like the updates on the blog, thank you for taking the time to update them. we know that you have better things to be doing like spending time with those boys. that care.
chris
#6. You’re lucky to be able to touch so many lives through every bit of this! You just keep amazing us with your positive attitude! Keep it up, girl, I’m so proud of you. I miss you.
Pesky blood clots!…..
Tanya
Hi guys!!! Thank you so much for the posts. They have touched me and made me laugh. Rachelle dinner ROCKED!!! I loved the beer bread and Russ says you can bring pound cake any day. Today I slept in until 1 and felt like I had been run over by a bus. I wish I was up to posting more during the day but I’m beat. I love you all!!!
Susan
As I’m looking at these pictures of me in pain it looks like I’m smiling!! That is crazy!! How will anyone take me seriously when my pain face looks like that. All these years and no one has told me that is what I look like in pain!