Noel started a post earlier today but she kept falling asleep so no idea when it will be posted. She didn’t get a lot of sleep on Monday night after the surgery. The next day was better but last night she kept getting awakened by her doctor’s “entourage” of residents, medical students, physician assistants, etc. Finally, Annie told her nurse “no mas” and the nurse kept the entourage out of her room and she got some good sleep. Still today she was sleeping a lot. We did do about seven circuits around the ward, so that was good, but she had a blood transfusion in the afternoon and the medication pretty much knocked her out, for what she said was a good nap, but it was unfortunate if she wanted to communicate with her sister Ellen when she was visiting.
Part of the reason for these visits seems to be that the doctor’s entourage can’t quite believe Annie’s birth date. She looks much younger, they say – something the doctor made a point of telling me when he called this morning. (Aside: As if I haven’t been hearing this all our married life.)
Someone remarked to me in an email today that this blog hasn’t been very clear on the details and what we know. So here’s what we know. During the surgery they found a lot of malignant tumor, which they suspect is ovarian cancer but the ultimate diagnosis of that will have to be determined after the pathology report is received. Part of it got into her colon and they had to take out a section of that, but they re-connected it without have to do an external ostomy. Her doctor felt the surgery went well, and despite how extensive the cancer was he was pleased that he thought they got about 95% of it. They’ll have to use chemotherapy on what remains. The goal right now is for Noel to recover from the surgery, which she is doing quite nicely. After she does that (five to six weeks), she’ll start chemotherapy. They’ve sent samples of the tumor out for analysis and for testing to see which chemotherapy agents seem to have the most effect upon it. If she does her chemotherapy at UCSF (University of California San Francisco – which is where she had the surgery and is now), she may also have some clinical trials available (whether we do those is another question). But there is a lot of information to gather and assess before that decision is made. Meanwhile we will focus on healing and what we can do (e.g., diet, exercise, etc. – our friend Bob Wicker in Minnesota says she has to give up chardonnay but may be able to still have some champagne!).
A little about Annie’s medical care team. Her doctor is John Chan, MD; he is head of the Gynecologic Oncology department at UCSF. UCSF is one of the top programs for oncology and for gynecologic oncology in particular, and Dr. Chan is one of the best in the country. We had him vetted and checked, including by one of my childhood friends at the National Cancer Institute, and he’s as good as we could wish for. So as far as medical expertise and care is concerned, we have all we could want. Dr. Chan has been very attentive to Noel and to us; we’re in very good shape in that regard. As for UCSF and the nursing care, it’s been great – aside from sometimes having too many folks coming in at night to check Annie’s BP (age) and such! But they’ve been great.
Right now Annie is on a “sips and chips” diet – that means a few sips of water and some chips of ice. Otherwise she’s getting her nutrition from an IV. The first step is to make sure that her re-sected colon is functioning properly. Once they are certain that that has healed properly, she can start having real food and they can consider discharge. We suspect discharge won’t come before Monday, but we don’t know for sure. Noel is doing her best to speed things up – she’s probably making another circuit of the ward as I type this.
One downside of UCSF is that their television station coverage is severely limited. They have CNN, the Weather Channel and a bunch of local stations, but no tennis channel (Noel’s favorite) and no ESPN (which the ND – Stanford game may be on Saturday night). Bummer. I have to do extra duty at home with the DVR so she can have something to watch when she gets home (although we do get the tennis channel 24/7, which she loves, aside from the “Bag Check” segment).
I pick up Luke in the morning at the airport in Oakland and we’ll go in to see Noel then. After that it’s Thanksgiving at home, and in particular thanking God for Annie as mother and wife.
Noel has read (or has heard, from my reading) all of your comments, and it buoys her tremendously. Happy Thanksgiving and many blessings to you all.
Clark
noelstanton 
Thank you so much Clark for the info–wish I could have met you when Tom & I had lunch w/Noel last year.
She’s been a sweetheart of our SCL group forever and we are all on her team! I’m so glad she has a husband like you on her side along with the sons she’s so crazy about….. Tell her that Pat and Tom Dotson send their love and prayers!
Chad and I have been thinking about you. You and your family are in our prayers. We will keep you posted on Saturday’s game against Valley Christian. This will be the first playoff game.
Much Love,
Mariella and Chad
Hi Annie,
I’ve been reading your blog. Nancy has been keeping me informed on your progress. She asked me how to get on your blog. I hope I told her the correct way. Neither one of us is very techy. Ha! Sounds like you are coming along nicely. You have been in my nightly prayers. I added you to my very long prayer list so I don’t forget. I’m a firm believer in the power of prayer. Mary and her Son got Jim and me through a very tough two years. They will help you and Clark everyday. Keep improving. Everyone in F.C. is rooting for you. Jannie Simon McNeely
This blog is an excellent thing Peter and I are trying to figure out the comment process maybe this will go through anyhoo please know that we are trying to send all good vibes and extra planetary energies across the miles directly to Ucsf and San Rafael we are with u Noel in thoughts and prayers. Are we supposed to put this on Facebook too? I see the little symbol here. Just let us know.
On my way, Mom…
Happy Thanksgiving Mom! Its about midnight over here in Japan, very early your time but I just wanted to say I love you and wish more than anything I could be there with you and the family now. Hopefully they can get some Turkey day football hooked up in the room for you! Just wanted to say that Luke and I are the luckiest guys in the world to have you as our mother, and I’m thankful for what you have given me..and that is everything in my life. Sounds like you are making good progress and I cannot wait to talk to you by phone.
All my love,
John
Thanksgiving prayers for your successful surgery and for your recovery. Laps around the ward are great!
Keep on going š
Love, Kathy
My dear, dear Noel, I have been holding you in my prayers and having the blog to read helps so much to know of your progress. You are a dear friend and I love you so. Clark, Luke and John . . . . . You are taking such good care of Noel. On this Thanksgiving Day I say thank you for your friendship and love. Noel . . . . We will be out there and hiking before you know it. I love you sweetie. Your friend, Patty
Clark and Noel,
Thank you so very much for the information. Noel, it sounds like you have an amazing team between your doctors and family. I’m happy Luke is on his way. Yes Clark, she has always looked so much younger. I can see those doctors standing over her and commenting in disbelief. I can see everyone in our group nodding.
God bless you this Thanksgiving and the days ahead.
Hugs,
Jacky
Clark, Noel, John, Luke and the Sistas,
There is no family we know that has such great faith and we know it will guide you in the months ahead. I am thinking I should drink more Chardonnay so I can get those “age” comments. Clark, you look pretty darn good too. All kidding aside, we are hoping for the best and know the only place you will get a good nights sleep is in your own comfy bed. Happy Thanksgiving and you remain in our thoughts and prayers.
The Taylor Family
Happy Thanksgiving. We are giving thanks for the great care that you are receiving from so many sources from friends to medical staff to your family. Sips and chips sounds a bit lean for Thanksgiving, but we’re sure that will all change for the better soon.
Love,
Jim and Jolanne
Hey Noel,
Love the comment by Clark that the doctors can’t get over how young you look. The ultimate compliment! I’m crossing my fingers for you, Noel. Blair
Noel, Greetings from Mary and Therese Bangert. . . We were together in Omaha for Thanksgiving – have spoke of you often and been praying for you. You probably know that you are on the SCL Daily News prayer list. Glad that you are walking and have such great care. Love to YOU and Christ’s PEACE!
Therese
Hi Noel.I am so grateful to you and your family for having this blog.It is a great way for us to know how things are going for you.Glenda Bippes called me a week ago Thursday and told me about your having cancer and about your impending surgery.Nancy Kelly had called her.Glenda and I shared a diagnosis of breast cancer (she was diagnosed several weeks before I was) and our journey thru surgery and chemotherapy and radiation togather.I was so grateful to have Glenda “walking beside me”. I will call her and let her know about this blog.She let Loretta,Karen,and Larry Milburn know also.I am going to let Jim O’Grady know too. .We will all be praying for you along with the people of Falls City.
Therese was here staying with me Wednesday and Thursday nite because we hosted the Bangert Thanksgiving at my house which as always was a fun gathering.I am always so grateful to have such a great family and friends.
I went to lunch a week ago today with Sharon Stramel and Carmen Patton.We always have such a great time visiting.How lucky I am to have the Sacred Heart class of 60 in my life.
As a nurse Ann and a cancer survivor I only have several bits of advice:
Pick out Doctors you trust and seem right for you
Try to get as much information as you can
Both those it sounds like you have already done which is great
Then go with “your gut instinct about what is the right thing to do”. You know yourself best.
If there is anyone you want me to let know please let me know.Or if there is anything I can do please let me know.I am so glad you have your family there with you.
Love,
Mary
Hey Noel –
Just wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving from the entire Schroeder family and glad to hear the surgery went well! We will continue to keep you in our prayers. We know you are a fighter and you WILL get through this.
– Dan, Annette, Alison, Kyle, Jenna and Kelly
On this Thanksgiving weekend, you, Noel, and the Stanton family are in our prayers. It sounds from the blog like the surgery went well and the recovery process is going equally as well. Fantastic news.
Sending thoughts and prayers your way from our family in Minnesota š
God bless,
-Brianna
Thank you Clark for the update on how Noel is doing – please let her know that many, many friends are praying for her and for a complete recovery. All our love and prayers to you and John and Luke as well.
Love Kathy and Larry
Our family sends our best wishes and prayers to you Noel, Clark, Luke and John every day.
And Noel, you always look good and young and a huge part of that is your great spirit shining through.
I am going to root for Notre Dame for the first time in my life on Saturday!
Love,
Becky