How we managed to get here.

"I've always grown from my problems and challenges, but when things don't work out... that's when I really learn" - Carol Burnett

Hello from Magee Women's Hospital.

As you can imagine, this has been quite a week. How did we manage to get here? Here's a quick recap. Late last year, MJ went in for a routine physical exam, and her doc found a nodule on the right side of her thryoid. A needle aspiration was not conclusive so, on the advice her doctor, we signed her up to have the nodule removed, along with the right half of her thyroid. On Cinco de Mayo, MJ underwent the surgery without blinking an eye. Recuperation was swift, and MJ was back on track within a few days. 10 days later she delivered a lecture to 100 entrepreneurs at Chatham University as part of the Women's Leadership Conference. The pathology exam at the time of surgery (frozen section) was normal, but the final report showed thyroid cancer. As her surgeon was quick to point out, "If you have to have a cancer, thyroid cancer is the one you want to pick". MJ added that she would choose the NO CANCER option, but this was not one of the listed choices.

On June 14th (Flag Day - MJ prefers to go under the knife on holidays) her surgeon removed the left side of her thyroid for a matched set. Just as was the case with the first surgery, MJ bolted from the hospital within 24 hours of surgery. But the ensuing days were rough.... a fair amount of abdominal discomfort and distention. We attributed these symptoms to side effects from her pain medicine, but by 1am on the 3rd day after surgery the symptoms had progressively worsened. After 3 hours at Shadyside emergency, a CT scan showed ascites (a fluid collection in the abdomen usually caused by cancer).

They shipped us off to Magee Hospital, where they have a team that specializes in cancers of the female variety. We've now been here for 3 days, and MJ has been poked and prodded relentlessly. Magee is a teaching hospital (part of the University of Pittsburgh) so there's been a continual parade of teen-aged doctors-to-be tromping through. Some of them are diligent and adorable, others somewhat clueless. We're very happy to report that MJ's main docs are stellar: Tom Krivak, gyn-onc, and Peter Tanzer internist.

We've had our share of nosocomial (hospital caused) problems, including a skin infection from the needle sticks. Also, an IV blew during a CT scan infusion, dumping 100 cc of contrast dye under the skin of MJ's left wrist.

But all in all, we remain amazingly optimistic. MJ's colonoscopy showed that the tumor does not involve her colon, which is a very good thing. MJ's spirits are very strong and she has an remarkable outlook. "Let's get this show on the road...I have things I need to do" has been her approach all along.

As a couple of the docs reflected on the presence of both seemingly unrelated cancers, one of them remarked "lightening is not supposed to strike twice in the same place....but in this case it looks like it did". That was our feeling too.

Surgery is scheduled for 8:15 tomorrow morning, Tues June 22. When they consented us for the surgery the consent form listed just about every possible surgery one could imagine. This is a reflection of the fact that they don't know what they are going to find. They'll decide what they need to do when they unzip MJ and take a look. Right now, we believe the tumor is ovarian, but we'll know more after it comes out. The surgery will last anywhere from 2-6 hours.....we'll keep you posted.....

We invite you join us on this blog often. We'll do our best to keep it up to date. Thanks to Jody Rosen Knower, whose blog inspired us to write this one. Like Jody, we'll have a few ground rules to help us all remain relatively sane during this process:

1. Please add your comments to the blog. We love to read them, and we can do so on our own schedule.
2. Feel free to incorporate humor into your comments. The doctors have prescribed a diet of as much humor as possible, and they've promised not to remove MJ's sense of humor at surgery tomorrow (as if they could!).
3. When in doubt, post a comment instead of calling or emailing. At the moment, we're limiting visits and calls to immediate family. We'll let you know when this changes.
4. Even if they tried, the docs couldn't remove MJ's sense of humor.
5. We reserve the right to add more rules as time goes on.

Talk to you later.....

Jonathan