Tomorrow is my one year anniversary

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Donna70
Donna70 Member Posts: 852 Member
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hi everyone,
Tomorrow December 8th is my one year anniversary of the Ivor Lewis surgery and I just wanted to say how wonderful it is to write these words because right after I could not see this far ahead. I saw on Caring Bridge that our Kim's Dad is celebrating his one year anniversary today and feeling pretty good, Congrats Kenny Heburn!! Both of us have traveled the long and bumpy road that EC takes you on, if you are lucky enough to get the surgery and stay clear. I will go to church, it is a special day for the Blessed Mother and my lucky charm to have the surgery on her day and thank God for all the wonderful people in my life and for every breath I get to take each day. For all of you facing surgery, you can get thru it and hope you are as lucky as Kenny and I. Thanks again for all the support and advice and prayers, will do the same for all of you. take care,
Donna70

Comments

  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,391 Member
    #2
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    Congratulations!!!!!!
    Donna,

    Congratulations on your one year anniversary!!!!

    I also had my Ivor Lewis surgery in December of last year. It has been a long journey for both of us. I think my biggest challenge was to get through follow up chemo while still recovering from surgery. I know you had the same challenge. There were times when I was not sure I would ever feel good again. But here we are, one year later, still here and making progress.

    God had been kind to us.

    Here’s hoping for many more anniversaries for both of us!!!!!!

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    McCormick, South Carolina

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    6/21/2010 CT Scan NED

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!
  • rmitchell
    rmitchell Member Posts: 94
    #3
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    Congratulations. My husband
    Congratulations. My husband will have surgery on Friday. Your story is encouraging to us.
    Reba
  • BMGky
    BMGky Member Posts: 621
    #4
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    Congratulations!!
    Wonderful anniversary for you and for others. May you have many more.
  • oriontj
    oriontj Member Posts: 375
    #5
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    I was in Church tonight with my husband
    The Feast of the Immaculate Conception...we went tonight since he will be gone tomorrow..He is a Come Home Catholic and I'm the convert that brought him home...it has been a rock for me.

    A year it seems like such a long time....I'm so happy you are having your one year anniversary....

    jan
  • cjmac49
    cjmac49 Member Posts: 100
    #6
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    Congratulations Donna and
    Congratulations Donna and many, many more anniversaries.

    Jim
  • cclambert
    cclambert Member Posts: 30
    #7
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    Congrats Donna. My 1 year
    Congrats Donna. My 1 year anniversary after trans-hiatal esophagectomy will be on Dec, 21st. I thank God everyday for getting me through this past year. I have a CT scan next month and pray that it will remain clear. I did see my oncologist this week and he said whatever you are doing, keep doing it. The follow up chemo after surgery was pretty bad, but not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I now have more energy than I did before I was diagnosed.
    Cathy
  • Donna70
    Donna70 Member Posts: 852 Member
    #8
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    cclambert said:

    Congrats Donna. My 1 year
    Congrats Donna. My 1 year anniversary after trans-hiatal esophagectomy will be on Dec, 21st. I thank God everyday for getting me through this past year. I have a CT scan next month and pray that it will remain clear. I did see my oncologist this week and he said whatever you are doing, keep doing it. The follow up chemo after surgery was pretty bad, but not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I now have more energy than I did before I was diagnosed.
    Cathy

    thanks everyone!!!
    Hi,
    Thanks everyone for your kind wishes. As many of you mentioned we are the lucky ones who get to celebrate our anniversary, so many have not. I can tell we all value the minutes we are given with our families and friends, no taken for granted here!!!Had lunch with my hubby, son and daughter in law and we all marveled at what this year has been like the bad from what I looked like post surgery, it was very scary but the wonderful moments of hugs, kisses and softball games and cheerleading times and family dinners and parties all make up for those bad moments. Every sunrise is special my motto before cancer was: I get much pleasure from small things. It continues on. So for anyone struggling post surgery, take the advice someone gave me, take one step then take the next step. Listen to your drs and do everything they tell you. If you have something not getting better be your own best advocate, if you are the caregiver you fight for your loved one and stand your ground. My lung complications were not recognized till I had to demand to see a lung specialist so it never hurts to follow your gut. Sherri is the good example of fighting for her Jim and she has helped all of us stand strong. So thanks to all of you and praying that we all have good times ahead. take care,
    Donna70
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #9
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    Donna70 said:

    thanks everyone!!!
    Hi,
    Thanks everyone for your kind wishes. As many of you mentioned we are the lucky ones who get to celebrate our anniversary, so many have not. I can tell we all value the minutes we are given with our families and friends, no taken for granted here!!!Had lunch with my hubby, son and daughter in law and we all marveled at what this year has been like the bad from what I looked like post surgery, it was very scary but the wonderful moments of hugs, kisses and softball games and cheerleading times and family dinners and parties all make up for those bad moments. Every sunrise is special my motto before cancer was: I get much pleasure from small things. It continues on. So for anyone struggling post surgery, take the advice someone gave me, take one step then take the next step. Listen to your drs and do everything they tell you. If you have something not getting better be your own best advocate, if you are the caregiver you fight for your loved one and stand your ground. My lung complications were not recognized till I had to demand to see a lung specialist so it never hurts to follow your gut. Sherri is the good example of fighting for her Jim and she has helped all of us stand strong. So thanks to all of you and praying that we all have good times ahead. take care,
    Donna70

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • MOE58
    MOE58 Member Posts: 589 Member
    #10
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    Donna70 said:

    thanks everyone!!!
    Hi,
    Thanks everyone for your kind wishes. As many of you mentioned we are the lucky ones who get to celebrate our anniversary, so many have not. I can tell we all value the minutes we are given with our families and friends, no taken for granted here!!!Had lunch with my hubby, son and daughter in law and we all marveled at what this year has been like the bad from what I looked like post surgery, it was very scary but the wonderful moments of hugs, kisses and softball games and cheerleading times and family dinners and parties all make up for those bad moments. Every sunrise is special my motto before cancer was: I get much pleasure from small things. It continues on. So for anyone struggling post surgery, take the advice someone gave me, take one step then take the next step. Listen to your drs and do everything they tell you. If you have something not getting better be your own best advocate, if you are the caregiver you fight for your loved one and stand your ground. My lung complications were not recognized till I had to demand to see a lung specialist so it never hurts to follow your gut. Sherri is the good example of fighting for her Jim and she has helped all of us stand strong. So thanks to all of you and praying that we all have good times ahead. take care,
    Donna70

    CONGRATS DONNA
    Hi donna,

    I remember well this time last year, cause you kept asking me so many questions, its now been 1 year and 5 months since Jeff had his Ivor Lewis surgery, and I so agree with you on everything, you look at life a whole lot different when you go through what you Jeff and paul61 went through, its a touch bumpy and winding road but we did see the end of the road, when we thought we would never get through things, WE PULLED UP ALOT OF MOE'S BIG GIRL PANTIES, AND WALKED ALOT OF MOE'S SHOES, we have lost alot of loved ones as we have joined the site, some were kitten0385, wildgoose, pghmomma's dad, chris's husb and more i cant remember its sad when we read that some have went on to be with GOD and like you said Sherri always there fighting for her loved one and gives us advice as going through our problems, i always say when we think we have it bad someone out there has it just a little worse than us. I wish everyone on this board could have surgery but as many of us know there is alot on here that cant.

    Donna, i am so glad you have come so far just like me, and we have so much to be thankful for, and i know i helped you along the road as much as you helped others.

    Just think this time last year you couldn't eat christmas dinner and now this year you can.

    Just know i think of you often and i want to wish you and your family a very MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR, we have alot to be thankful for.

    love to you
    lori/aka moe58
  • linda1120
    linda1120 Member Posts: 389
    #11
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    Donna70 said:

    thanks everyone!!!
    Hi,
    Thanks everyone for your kind wishes. As many of you mentioned we are the lucky ones who get to celebrate our anniversary, so many have not. I can tell we all value the minutes we are given with our families and friends, no taken for granted here!!!Had lunch with my hubby, son and daughter in law and we all marveled at what this year has been like the bad from what I looked like post surgery, it was very scary but the wonderful moments of hugs, kisses and softball games and cheerleading times and family dinners and parties all make up for those bad moments. Every sunrise is special my motto before cancer was: I get much pleasure from small things. It continues on. So for anyone struggling post surgery, take the advice someone gave me, take one step then take the next step. Listen to your drs and do everything they tell you. If you have something not getting better be your own best advocate, if you are the caregiver you fight for your loved one and stand your ground. My lung complications were not recognized till I had to demand to see a lung specialist so it never hurts to follow your gut. Sherri is the good example of fighting for her Jim and she has helped all of us stand strong. So thanks to all of you and praying that we all have good times ahead. take care,
    Donna70

    Congratulations!
    Congratulations is definitely in order! You have been through a great deal this last year and I am so happy you are doing better. As a "newbie" I appreciate your help and advice.

    God Bless,

    Linda
  • unclaw2002
    unclaw2002 Member Posts: 599
    #12
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    Congratulations,
    Have a
    Congratulations,

    Have a wonderful holiday season. You encourage all of us as we fight this monster. Thank you for taking the time out of your days to return to this site and encourage people. You are a blessing.

    Hugs,
    Cindy
  • dog backwards
    dog backwards Member Posts: 1
    #13
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    paul61 said:

    Congratulations!!!!!!
    Donna,

    Congratulations on your one year anniversary!!!!

    I also had my Ivor Lewis surgery in December of last year. It has been a long journey for both of us. I think my biggest challenge was to get through follow up chemo while still recovering from surgery. I know you had the same challenge. There were times when I was not sure I would ever feel good again. But here we are, one year later, still here and making progress.

    God had been kind to us.

    Here’s hoping for many more anniversaries for both of us!!!!!!

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    McCormick, South Carolina

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    6/21/2010 CT Scan NED

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!

    Dear paul.
    I am entirely new to this whole forum however not new to cancer in any way. May you please post your story of battling esophageal cancer somewhere, because I am looking for hope. If you have posted it somewhere may you please leave me a link,

    Thanks in advance.

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