MY MOM CONNIE HEIBEL AMOS

First I want to thank my cousin Carrie White for suggesting that I do this, love you Carrie!

The reason for this blog is because on Saturday May 8th my mom was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. With everything that has happened since, and all phone calls, emails and trying to keep everyone updated, Carrie suggested a blog would help me keep everyone informed.

Let me put it all in a nutshell and bring you up to date. Mom was hospitalized back in Feb 2010. She was in for about a week and was diagnosed with Pancreatitis, Diverticulosis and Stenosis of the Spine. She was having back and stomache pain, food was making her sick and she didnt want to get out of bed. They sent her home with a change in diet, medications and an order to come as an outpatient to receive a series of 3 shots in her back to help that pain. Needless to say we were ALL very relieved as she had not felt good for awhile and of course she was thinking the worst. That of course, was why it was so hard to get her to go to the hospital and of course this particular day was during one of our bad snow storms.

Mom came home and she was doing very well. The shots in her back hurt but made her feel a lot better especially with the physical therapy. She also followed up with her Primary Physician for blood work and such. He was concerned about her EKG during that visit and make her an appointment with a Cardiologist here in Columbus, Dr Magorian. My dad also goes to him and they both like him. They put her thru a battery of test, stress test, EKG and such but all looked great except she has an irregular heart beat. Mom decided to go all the way and had a Heart Cath done and that turned out well too.

From February to May she did real well, her diet changed, she was getting shots in the back and physical therapy and all was good. She was happy, not in bed all the time and felt good. But wouldn’t you if you had gotten a clean bill of health and all looked good except for some minor life/diet style changes?

On Saturday May, 1 2010, Mom, Dad and Danielle ( my aunt her sister ) spent the evening together and Danielle had brought over Florentines ( great Italian food ) from a place that they went as kids, my grandparents always took us there and the food is great. Well she ate and was not feeling well that day anyway ( as she just told me this evening 05-10-10 ). So like always she went up to bed. Paige and I were at Brian’s that night hanging out with them and I had no idea she was sick. That next morning she did not get out of bed until like after 1 o’clock in the afternoon. She was not hungry, was sick and I thought she had a “flu” like bug as my dad had just been sick with a flu that was more allergy like but carried a fever.

On Tuesday, election day 05-04-10, like a good Republican dad was working the poles all day. I came home at lunch time that day, as Paige and I needed to do some things that afternoon. Good thing I came home, she was really sick in bed and had thrown up like 3 times and had a slight fever. I took care of her best I could, trying to get her to down some liquid and/or food. She loved Italian Lemon Ice so I got her to eat some of that, but that was all she could handle. She needed liquids as she was becoming dehydrated.

This was a bad week with her feeling so sick, but the next day Wednesday 05-05-10 she was bound and determined to go get her hair done. So her and dad went to their regularly scheduled hair cut appointment with Carolyn. However Carolyn mentioned to her that her skin looked yellow. When she came home both Paige and I said yes there is weird color. The next day after failed attempts to get her to go the ER, she called the nurse for her heart Dr. She told her she was yellow and the girl said “you need to go to the ER asap”. Well, mom listened to her and decided to go.

Mom went right upstairs to pack/shower and get ready to go and I was so glad I have the flexibility to WAH, thank you Connie/Anthem! I was able to be there to help her get ready. They took her right back due to all the signs she was presenting plus her BP was pretty low. They gave her some naseau and pain meds and started the same battery of tests as the last time. At one point she texted me while being treated in the ER and asked me to find out what some of her results meant. Well I used my trusty pal Goggle and everything I kept googling came up with Pancreatic Cancer. Needless to say I started freaking out. On top of that how was I supposed to answer her? I thought about it and just told her that “ I could not tell as I am not a Dr” and she said, “What? Is it to scary to tell me”? Oh man how does she do that, how does she KNOW everything? I told her "No I am just not a Dr and dont understand these things".

She was admitted into the hospital and it took forever to get her in her room and settled. The next day, Friday 5-7-10 they scheduled her for an MRI so they could take another look at the abdominal areas. Mom was real tired after all that and just told dad and I to stay home she just wanted to sleep. The nurse told us everything was ready for her Gastorenterologist, Dr Miller to review and when he did he would give us the results. Well, that did not happen until the next morning.

That next morning Saturday 5-7-10 right before I woke up, you know that time where you kind of feel awake but aren’t. Well, all I remember was hearing my moms voice plain as anything say “Oh Ang” in a scared sad type of voice and then I woke all the way up and just felt bothered by that. I had to work that day but was done at 10 am so I went to take my shower and thought I am just going to get ready and go see her, whether she wants anyone there or not. I was out of the shower and dressed when Dad asked if I was done because he needed to get a shower and go to the hospital, the Dr had been in and she has Pancreatic Cancer. I just froze where I was and lost track of time for a minute, 2 minutes I don’t know. But then I just hurried and finished getting ready and went straight to see her.

At this time Paige was at work so I could not tell her. Dad had already told Alan and I had talked to Danielle and Paula on the way to the hospital. Paige did not get off work until around 5:30

Maybe I should say first of all, I am NOT a person who cries and as my wonderful dear cousin Paula says, I am "hard". However, I walked into the room and grabbed my mom and could not stop crying it seemed like forever! My dad was there shortly after so when he came I gave them some time alone. But ever since I held her and cried I have had this overwhelming need to want to crawl in bed with her, hold her and sleep. After we all calmed down, the nurse said that they could page Dr Miller and he would come talk to us, so he did.

Hmmm, Dr Miller very nice good looking guy, clean cut and as mom says he has the “Joe college” look. He told us how it is and this is what he said: she has probably had this for about 6 months, the tumor in her Pancreas is about 2 inches. He compared the scans from February when she was in last time, which was 90 days ago and there was nothing showing then. He said in all reality she has about 3-6 months. OMG, it felt like someone kicked me in the stomache and what he was saying was not true. Now before we talked to him remember I was already on the internet reading about Pancreatic Cancer and in all I was reading it showed that only about 10% of the people diagnosed with this type of cancer is it actually able to be “resectable” meaning removed. The only way they can take it out is if it is confined to the Pacreas and it has not spread outside the Pancreas.

Dr Miller said the process will go like this: We will do an EUS – endoscopic ultrasound and take a look at the tumor and its growth and also take a biopsy which will show if it is cancer. After that we will do an ERCP which they will put in a stent in the bile duct to drain the bile that is backing up because of the tumor pressing on the area which is causing the jaundice.

At this time Paige was at work so I could not tell her. Dad had already told Alan and he was on his way. I had talked to Danielle and Paula (Brian was on a canoe trip) on the way to the hospital. Paige did not get off work until around 5:30 so mom had asked if I would meet her at the house then bring her to the hospital so she could help me tell her. I think that was the hardest person with the biggest saddest reaction that mom had to tell. It was very difficult. That day/night me, dad, Alan, Paige, Danielle and Sharon and Michelle spent time with mom.

That night Paige went to a late dinner with her boyfriend and I went to Brian and Paula's as a good friend from work Dana and her family were coming over. Paula and Dana were great to talk and it kept my mind off things for awhile. The next day we were all at the hospital and the worst thing it was Mothers Day! She had lots of visitors and Tracy surprised us and brought up the kids. They all were going to stay thru the next day to be there for the EUS. Dad had also made a bunch of calls to other relatives to let them know.


The EUS was done on Monday 5-10-10. Me dad and Alan went to the hospital to be with her before they took her for this procedure and she was very scared and upset. The gave her something to calm her down and she was doing better. Tracy showed up with the kids, Justin Paige and Brooke and Danielle came to. We were all with her and walked down to the procedure area with her and then waited and waited and waited as the Dr was running behind. Finally, it was done and Dr Miller took us back to recovery, where mom was about half concious, to explain what they found. He said the biopsy showed what they already knew that it is cancereous, but the tumor was contained to the head of the Pancreas but it has branched out into 2 blood vessels. He also informed us that they did see a couple spots on her Liver (which was news to us because that had not been mentioned). Dr Miller said they needed to do a PET scan which will show if the spots on the liver are cancer and he would do the ERCP the next day 5-11-10 to put in the stent which will relieve the jaundice and pain and would send her home on Wednesday 5-12-10 and schedule the PET scan as an outpatient. He said in the meantime the Surgeon and Oncologist would be looking at what they had so far and would be stopping in to discuss things.

The next day she went for the ERCP. They had to give her benedryl (since she had previous reactions to dye) and the anestesia along with some fenergan after for vomiting. But Dr. Miller told us everything went fine and she would start getting some relief in about 24 hours. It took her a real long time to come out due to all the meds and the liver not working properly to break down the meds.

That afternoon, while she was still pretty much out of it the Oncologist Dr Rhoedes came in to talk to us. You have to understand that the surgeon and oncologists come from 2 different points of view. Dr Miller had said that even though it had gone into her blood vessels that they could probably use chem/radiation to shirnk it back before doing the surgery, of course based on what was found on the Liver. Well, that turned out not to be the case. For this type of cancer they cant to the the chemo/radiation to shrink it back. He also said for this type of cancer, if they can not operate, advances in chemo/radiation have not been advanced and will usually give you a few more months but the it might not be the best as for quality of life. During this conversation it was just me dad and Paige. Well, he was there and thought I am going to ask what I want to ask so I did. I asked him based on what he sees now, without the results on the spots on the liver, what did he think the chances of surgery would be? He said he would not answer for the surgeon because that is not his area but the surgeon Dr Price was very agressive and if he thought there was any chance for surgery he would take it. However, in Dr Rhoades opinion he thought she had a 10-15% chance they could do surgery. I asked what if they can not do the surgery then what are we looking at and he did not hold back, he said she probably had about 2 months! Well dad and Paige started to get upset and me being "hard" like Paula says, thought I am going to keep asking questions. I asked him what are we in store for and he explained that we would need to call in Hospice and get started with them. She would have plenty of meds to keep her comfortable. He said she would have good days and bad days and on the good days she should take advantage of them and do what she wants and on bad days remind her she will have another good day. He said Chemo/Radiation probably wont be a way to go in order to give her a better quality of life. I asked about nearing the end and he said eventually she will become very weak and eventually need to be in bed she will become very lethargic and eventually would slip in a coma and pass while in the coma and it would be painless and peacful. He was very nice but it just was not a pleasant report but did detail what we need to hear and be prepared for.

Later, when mom finally came around she wanted her usual, to get in the wheelchair, get a small black coffee from Tim Hortons and go outside and smoke, that is what we did. We were sitting outside and 2 men in scrubs came out and said are you Constance Amos? She said yes he said "do you know smoking is bad for you heath"? she said yes and before she could say more he said, I am your surgeon Dr Price. We all laughed and he said in order for him to operate on her she would have to cut down and/or quit because it would help recooperate from the surgery. He went on to say "yes, he believes he can operate on this and remove the tumor". He said the one blood vessel it invaded is one that he removes anyway. The other vessel however he does not remove but depending on how far it has invaded he could remove as much as possible. He also explained we can do all the scans/xrays we want but the only way to really tell if it removeable is to open her up and look. If he gets in and sees that he can not do anything then he would put in a permanent stent in the bile duct and close her up and all she would have is a scar. If he gets in and feels he can go all the way he will but she would have to have some chemo/radiation afterwards to kill off any cells that might be left behind. He also explained that surgically removing this type of cancer is not a cure, eventually it comes back. He said if surgery goes well she would have about 3-4 years before it would show up again. Again if the spots on the liver show cancer then he will be able to do nothing and she would then Dr with the Oncologist from that point on. Mom said ok for the surgery and he said ok I am your Dr now, I will get the PET Scan scheduled then I want you to come in my office a week from this Friday which will be Friday 05-21-10. He said my protege, who was there with him, would be come see her in the morning with all discharge info along with prescriptions. For her to go home relax and let him take care of everything.

Can you see how that day was terribly emotional day? We all agreed we did like Dr Price and you could tell he was aggressive and he was so kind to my mom, he even rubbed her cheeks and helped her to calm down a little.

Well this where everything stands now. Mom came home she is eating good, pretty tired but not laying in bed. She has had lots of visitors this weekend and Friday night was Paiges Jr Prom and ALL the kids came here and our cousin Natalie came to take everyones pictures and I think mom really enjoyed herself and seeing all the kids. NOTE: to Natalie we need to get some of those pictures on here and share.

Mom was so worried about her flowers. She had bought a bunch and had not had time to get them planted. Thursday her and I did the front and Saturday me her dad and Alan got most of the rest of them done. She only has a few she wants to plant here and there. So many people have been wonderful and supportive so I want to say thanks to ALL those people, everything is very much appreciated!

THIS WEEKS SCHEDULE:

WEDNESDAY MAY 19, 2010 AT 8:AM

Here is a link on PET Scans:
http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=PET

FRIDAY MAY 21, 2010 APPOINTMENT WITH DR PRICE

Here is a link to Dr Price:
http://www.midohiosurgical.com/meet-our-physicians

Thanks for all your prayers and support and please refer friends and family members that would like to keep up on what is going on with Connie!