Contrasting - Take Two

Today I got to repeat the contrasting procedure from yesterday and get the stent placed again. Everyone was very apologetic about yesterday's accident. It went well, and didn't take as long today. I don't know what my biliruben count is yet, but maybe there will be some benefit to doing it twice. They changed my pain medication to a 12-hour kind, which seems to be working. I had a lot of naps today and mostly rested. If there are no other complications, I will be released tomorrow (Sunday). I'll be glad to get home. My sincere thanks to everyone who has been helping my kids in our absence. We greatly appreciate it.

Ouch!

I had the contrasting procedure done today. After the two hour procedure and 4 hours of recovery, I was having a hard time moving into my new bed. I had a lot of pain on my left side, so I was getting help from some hospital workers. They were moving me from bed to bed on a board. I'm sure this was completely accidental, but the mover on one side didn't realize I had these external drainage bags. When he moved me, the bag was stuck and it pulled the stent out. I'm not going to lie, it hurt really bad and I screamed. It was so painful. David thinks it doesn't appear to be too damaged, but I have to have contrasting done again tomorrow to replace this stent. I have been in a lot of pain, in fact I just took a double dose of pain medication, so this is short. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Stay---Just A Little Bit Longer

I went to the oncologist in San Francisco today. My biliruben count is back up to a 9, and that has to come down before I can start chemo. That wasn't news to us. They need to do a contrasting procedure, where they put dye into me to see why things aren't draining. I had that before and ended up with pancreatitis and a week long hospital stay. Instead of having us travel back and forth, they were able to schedule us for tomorrow at 1:00. I will stay in the hospital and hopefully be able to come home on Saturday or Sunday.

They also said that the outside stents are draining as they should, and as inconvenient as it is for me, they need to stay. Depending on what they see with the dye, they may try to get an internal stent placed. The bottom line is that I need to have this biliruben count down for chemo. I am nervous about this contrasting procedure; it was very painful last time, plus there were complications that followed. I am hoping to avoid that this go around.

We were not exactly prepared for a three day stay, or for this cold weather. I wore the jumper with sweat pants under it and flip flops. Good thing it's San Francisco; surely I wasn't the oddest dresser around. We walked around the mall for a while trying to find a few things for our extended stay, and the walking really helped the burning in my back feel better. We found a new hotel, one without Japanese anime artwork on the walls. I couldn't have the flower with two big eyes looking at me again tonight!

I'd love to be home, but I really want to have this done and have it work so I can start chemo. It sounds like I have a long road ahead to get better. Your strength and support means so much to our family. Thank you!

San Francisco Here I Come!

I had my oncologist appointment today and it was full of good news. For starters, I wore a borrowed jumper that worked perfectly for comfort and hiding the drainage bags. When I got to the doctor's office, Dr. Abrass had just gotten off the phone with a liver specialsist in San Francisco. This is not just a doctor, he is the head liver surgeon there. Dr. Abrass says that this surgeon wants to see me! Dr. Abrass says he can do things nobody else will do and they work. I had been told I was not a liver transplant candidate, but maybe I can get one after all. We'll see what the specialist says. Then he said, "It's hard to feel sorry for you because you don't look sick." What a compliment - I know I'm not looking great, but it's nice to hear.

Also, I gained 2 lbs, which is great news for me, and I have actually felt hungry. I guess all the snacking is paying off. I even woke up at 3:00 a.m. and had some Ensure before going back to sleep.

After that great appointment, we were offered an earlier appointment in San Fransicso! Yay for cancellation lists! My appointment is at 10:00 a.m. so we will leave tonight and stay in a hotel near the hospital. We're driving my mom's Pilot, which has reclining seats, making the travel more comfortable for me. I don't know how I'll do a four hour drive. The one hour drive about does me in, but we'll just have to stop often.

My doctors are great! I need to thank Dr. Griffith at Banner Churchill hospital for recommending a wonderful oncologist and for calling me at home to answer my questions. Dr. Abrass is awesome! He is so kind and has been so very helpful as we navigate this illness and the complications.

Finally, I cannot express how much I appreciate the cards, comments, gifts, meals, prayers, and offers for help. It truly makes all the difference for me! I feel so blessed by your overwhelming love and kindness. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Stronger Every Day

Here's a little update before my appointment tomorrow when I go back to the oncologist so he can check on how I've been doing since I left the hospital. Overall things are pretty good, with only a few complaints.

I feel like I am getting my strength back, which is a good feeling. I still have the two drains in my side. One of them does not seem to be working, which may be a good thing if it is draining on the inside like it is supposed to. I have been able to take a shower and brush my teeth regularly each day. Small pleasures, I know. It takes me a while - like an hour - but I am clean every day, which I really appreciate. I have also been able to take a few little walks outside and even do a little laundry. I can tell I have lost muscle, but I am forcing myself to eat every couple of hours to keep my strength up. I have been keeping some snacks close by my bed (thanks West End!), which helps because I don't have to move too much to eat.


Nights have not are not so good for me because I am not sleeping well. I get this burning pain in my back that keeps me up at night. And I really must be feeling better to even have this concern, but I have to leave my house tomorrow for the doctor's office and I have no idea what I can comfortably wear. I have these drains in my side with external bags and while I have lost weight, my belly is still distended. When they injected me with the dye in the hospital, they never could tell why my stomach distension wouldn't go down. Then they said maybe it will stay like this! I am very comfortable in my nightgown and robe, but I don't think I can go to the doctor's office wearing that!


I'll have more news after the appointment. Thank you so much for all your comments and support. It really means so much to my family and me.

There's No Place Like Home

It's good to be home! After a week in the hospital, I am really happy to be here with my family. I think the only thing I will miss about the hospital is the nifty bed. It's not too comfortable as far as beds go, but it is way easier for sitting up and laying down. All you have to do is push a button. Moving around is much harder in my own bed. Moving around in general is hard and I was surprised how tiring it was just riding home from the hospital.

My task for the next few days is to rest and eat. I am a little more jaundiced from being off the IV fluids. I am trying to keep drinking and eating - I need lots of protein. The problem is that food just doesn't taste good to me. I have to force myself to eat. Logan made me some scrambled eggs tonight and I had a half piece of toast and little bits of potato, yogurt, fruit and a nutritional shake.

My biliruben count hasn't come down. The oncologists here don't want to start me on treatment for cancer with my count so high. We have an appointment with a specialist in San Francisco on June 4 to get a second opinion. He may have some surgical options to try. Until then, I'm just resting at home.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. To the West End teachers, thank you for your thoughtfulness for my family and me. We appreciate the nice basket of goodies and your kind thoughts.

Eating, Walking, and (maybe) Going Home

Things continue to go well here. My biliruben count has not changed much today, but I've been able to eat my first solid food in more than a week. I have been out walking the halls and they are weaning me off the IV meds. If I can eat solid food, get around, and take oral medication, they say I'm good to go home! I'll have the drains in, but the IV's out. If all continues to go well, I'll go home tomorrow. I just had meds and I'm going to sleep - but wanted to share a quick update.

Answer to Prayers

Now that the pancreatitis is gone, my next medical concern is my biliruben count. I have been really praying specifically for my count to come down so that I can start treatment. The doctor came in this morning, very surprised and happy to report that my count was down from 8.9 to 7. This was unexpected by everyone who wasn't praying for it. I believe this is a direct answer to our prayers. The doctor thought I had plateaued at 8.9 and still thinks it won't go down any more. The ideal count is a 2. I'm still praying for my count to go down and I appreciate all of you who are joining me in this - it's working!

I did have a little leakage on the outside of my right stent. Actually, it was more that just a little. We changed the dressing and then it continued to leak, even soaking a washcloth. The medical staff is not as concerned about this problem as I am, so maybe it's not such a big problem after all. But of course, they are not the ones leaking fluid from an incision. I can tell you with my bloated Grinch belly and my stent incisions, I am so ready for bikini season!

My sister Shelly came by tonight and said I needed to get out of bed. I got up and walked the halls with her for a bit. Even Shelly was surprised by my speedy pace. Of course, it's not like my brisk morning walks used to be, but everything's relative. It was good to get up and walk.

I can't say it enough - Thank you for your comments, your support, and your prayers. It is making a difference for me!

Who is Billy Ruben?

The kids just got here so we can celebrate Hadley's birthday together - 16 years old! And officially driving as of today. I am still in the hospital. The good news is that the pancreatitis is completely gone. One specific improvement for me is that I can move from a clear liquid diet to a liquid diet. For me, that means I get to graduate from chicken broth (which was getting old for breakfast, lunch and dinner) to what I believe is pureed cream of broccoli soup. Plus I got some red and yellow thing they were passing off as jell-o, but I'm quite certain it's not.

As happy as we are about that improvement, my bilirubin count has not budged in 2 days. My count has dropped to an 8.9, which is half of what it was, but still not close to the level where I should be, which is around a 1. They are not sure why it hasn't dropped. My stomach is quite distended and they took an x-ray to see if they can tell what's happening, which they can't. My oncologist is sending my medical information to a liver cancer specialist at a San Francisco treatment center for a second opinion. This could lead to cancer treatments, but the first order of business is to get my bilirubin level to a normal range.

Right now, I'm not sure when I'll be released from the hospital. David has been staying here in my spacious room. He says he sleeps better on this hospital cot than he does at home when I'm here. They want to keep watching my bilirubin level to see if it comes down on its own. If it still doesn't get into the normal range, they may send me home with a home health nurse to check up on me. I know it will be a tough road to be monitoring all of this medical stuff at home, but I know it's a road I can travel.

I am so grateful for your support! Thank you to my visitors, and I'm sorry if I wasn't the best hostess; I would never tell you to go away if I was feeling well! I have to get a shot in my stomach each day to prevent blood clots. (All the patients on the cancer floor get them because we're not up and moving around.) While they were preparping to give me mine, I had a friend in who read me all your supportive comments and it took my mind off having that shot! I appreciate your love and prayers so much!

A Room with a View

I've been in the hospital for just over two days now. I still have no release date, but I am in what must be the presidential suite of St. Mary's Hospital. It is an "extended stay" room, which has a table, a few comfy chairs, a microwave, and nice big windows overlooking the front of the building. The microwave must be for the visitors because I am not able to eat while my pancreas is inflammed. I have been having "IV nutrition," but I got to supplemement the IV fluids with an apple juice box today. I will need to be able to eat on my own before I can go home, so with one juice box under my belt, I'm well on my way!

My jaundice level is coming down, but it is still quite elevated. I also got a port put into my arm, so they will be able to easily inject medications when my treatments get started. At least if I am having all these complications, I am glad to be here where I am closely monitored. They prick my finger to check my blood levels every six hours. I don't feel like I'm sleeping too well, but the nurse said I was asleep when she checked on me in the night. Of course, it's not like sleeping in my own bed, but hopefully that will happen soon!

Thanks for the nice thoughts and prayers - I really appreciate it!

Hospital Stay

It is Saturday night and I am in St. Mary's hospital tonight, for I'm not sure how long. I got the stent in on Friday and went home, but I started feeling really sick and vomiting. When I called the doctor, he said to come in to the ER, so David and I went back to the hospital this morning. After another CT scan, they said my pancreas is full of bile and now I have pancreatitis, which is imflammation of the pancreas. They said the stent was placed correctly, but it can happen from all the probing around to get it placed.

So now, the most pressing medical concern for me is to get my pancreas cleaned up from this infection. After that, the next thing that needs to happen is to drain the bile. If you want to know this disgusting fact, so far, they have drained three bags of bile out of me, so at least that's progress. Plus the doctor said I'm looking better, which I think means I'm not so yellow. After those two medical concerns are taken care of, then the doctor says I can start chemo.

Test results

David and I were back into the oncologist's office today for results on the bile duct tests. There is an obstruction of my bile ducts. That was not really news to us because I am very yellow, as the doctor was quick to point out. The doctor said it's not necessarily cancer, but it needs to be taken care of so the bile can drain. My jaundice level actually doubled in one week, which is not good, but we still haven't identified a primary cancer yet.

To solve the bile drainage problem, tomorrow I am going into St. Mary's hospital to have a stent put in my side. I'm not going to lie, I'm a little scared about this. I check in at 11:00 and my appointment is at 12:00. After it's installed, I have a 4 1/2 hour recovery time, then I'll be released to go home. I'm not sure how bad it will hurt or how it will feel to have this tube in my side, but I will have pain meds. A nurse will come to my house on Saturday to check on how I'm doing, then next week I'll get a permanent stent. The good news about this is that my color should get better when the bile can finally drain. I have felt pretty sick, and I think when this little complication is taken care of, I will feel better.

I really need to thank you all for your concern and prayers. Really, everyone has been wonderful! The support of my family and friends means so much to me. It is nice to know that there are people cheering me on in this fight. Even people like the nurses and the insurance lady on the phone are bending over backwards to make this ordeal easier. Thank you so much!

Tuesday's update

Today David and I went to Reno for a bile duct test at 10:30. Once we got there, we were moved back to 3:30, so we had some time to fill while we waited. The test was an MRI, and it was not the worst test I've had, but I didn't like the whole narrow tube thing - I felt a little clasutrophobic. We have to go back Thursday to get the results of this test. Tomorrow is a day of rest for me, which I need. I hate to waste a day in finding out what's going on, but I could use the rest.

This whole thing is a huge emotional roller coaster. Some days I feel really good, like I am going to beat the odds and be cured; other days I am wondering if I will dance with my son at his wedding. Any little pain makes me wonder what the cancer is doing and if we're following the right course of action in finding it. I am still hoping to get into a cancer center, so hopefully that will work out for me.

I really don't like feeling helpless, but I so appreciate everyone's help!! Some women from church came yesterday to clean my house. I have had great meals brought in and so many people helping with what my kids need. I know there are many of you praying for me. It is so kind and I appreciate it so much.

Test Results

Today I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy, neither of which are very pleasant. I, however, was very excited to get these tests and even happier to find that I don't have cancer in my stomach or colon. That is good news, because those are two more places that I know are cancer-free in my body. The last place for them to check is my bile ducts, which will happen tomorrow. They check this by injecting me with dye and then doing a CAT scan-like test. So it won't be the worst test I've had.

After the test today I was so hungry that I ate two tacos at Baja Fresh, plus some of David's food. It was more food than I've eaten in quite a while. I went and slept very soundly at my mom's house for 3 hours before we headed back to Fallon.

Also, I've had many people suggest connections they have with various cancer centers, which I appreciate. My goal is to get to MD Anderson treatment center in Houston. I have scheduled with them and I have to wait to hear from a specialist as to when they can take me.

Thanks to many prayers and blessings on my behalf, I am very optimistic about my treatment. Liver cancer is serious and can be fatal, but I am a believer in miracles and I don't think it's my time to go yet. Thank you to all - I appreciate your support!!

Mother's Day

While you are all enjoying your mother's day meals, I will be enjoying a liquid diet so that I am ready for my next tests (a colonoscopy and endoscopy) at 9:30 Monday morning. They are still trying to find the primary cancer. They haven't ruled out that it's in my stomach, but they haven't found evidence that it is there either. My theory is that the primary cancer is in my liver and that it has metastisized so that I have both primary and secondary cancer in my liver, and maybe it's not anywhere else. We'll see what the tests say.

Thank you to the many poeple who bring food to our family. What we do without your help? Thank you!!

Good News

Thursday I got in to an oncologist in Reno, without even knowing where my primary cancer is, so there's the first good news. They think it is stomach cancer that has metastisized to the liver. They thought they'd have to treat the first cancer, then get to the liver cancer treatments, but the doctor said I can treat both at the same time. Until they know for sure, the tests continue.

Still Testing...

Monday (May 4) I had a biopsy of my liver, hoping to find out what needs to be done to start my treatments. What they found out is that my cancer is not primary liver cancer. It has spread from somewhere else, but they're not sure where. I need to find out where it started so I can get to the right oncologist which means more tests. So I'm waiting, but not very patiently!

Doctor's Visit

Editor's Note: This is not Sheri Faught writing this, this is Julie Stockard writing what Sheri tells me to write. When life settles down for Sheri, she will take this over. Until then, I am including all of this with her permission (in the first person) to get the news out to the many people who are concerned for her.


I went to the doctor's office (Friday, May 1) for what I thought was possibly gall bladder problems. I was having a burning in my back and a pain in my shoulder, which I didn't think were related. I wasn't able to exercise like I was earlier and I was having a hard time eating. Instead of gall bladder, I found out that I have tumors on my liver! All over it. That was not at all what I expected to hear, and we're all in a state of shock. But I'm ready to get the tests done and get treating this! Thanks to helpful doctors, I will have more tests Monday to try to find what I need to get better.