Meet Boby1511
Post body
It is (almost) a new year. Please welcome Boby1511 as our January Meet Your Neighbour and learn what she has gone through and how her family helps get her through it.
My name is Melody (Boby1511). I’m 47, cancer patient and retired former Government worker.
I live with my sister, and our mother moved in to help with my care. My sister is also a Government worker and works from home.
I’m the bald one on the right. Facials!
(You should see our road trip pictures. Lol. We laugh.)
I had symptoms for about a year or so before I got very sick. November 2019, I could no longer pee. This was the beginning. Nothing could have prepared me for cancer.
I had emergency surgery May 14, 2020. They removed a 28cm mass. I had 5 blood transfusions and heart failure in surgery due to blood loss. After surgery, I awoke in ICU on a ventilator and fentanyl. They allowed my niece to spend the first night with me as they didn’t expect me to last the night. I remember knocking on the tube and pushing my arms out. I was trying to tell them to remove the tube. You can’t talk on a ventilator. I remember hallucinating that my niece had brought her daughter, which I thought was strange given she’s only 7 and it was late. I remember calling out to her, which of course is not possible with a tube down the throat. The child was never there.
The next time I awoke, I was in a regular hospital room, in a lot of pain, and with a colostomy bag. The ostomy was put in to help with surgery. My surgeon had planned to reverse the ostomy in surgery but my blood loss was too severe and he had to close early. After surgery, they found a blood clot and an abscess. I had a drain in the stomach and they put one in the rear to the pelvic to drain the abscess. I had a “heart episode” in hospital due to pain. A code blue, in which I think all the nurses and a couple doctors ran into my room. Woke the neighbors, these things always seem to happen at 2 am.
I puked for the first 5 days, the convolutions hurt a lot. My incision was from the pelvic straight up to just under my boobs. They cut all those stomach muscles you use when puking. Took me a couple weeks to get any food down.
Total I was in hospital 4 weeks, no fresh air, no visitors (except first night) and no food! The first 3 weeks I was ok with no visitors as the pain was extreme. But the 4 fourth week I was getting lonely and tired of the hospital. The food was so bad. After I started eating they only thing from the hospital I ate was breakfast and those tiny ice-creams. There was a PSW, Natasha, that worked on the surgical oncology floor and her job was to give extra attention to those most in need. She was wonderful. She helped wash my hair, got me the heated blankets, and hunted down ice-cream when there was none to be found on my floor. Without her I would not have survived. We even got the ok for her to sneak in Tim Horton’s. So, I emailed her some money to bring the nurses donuts and me a timbit. I still couldn’t drink the coffee and could only manage the one timbit, but it was wonderful, something so normal. Natasha will always be in my heart.
The pathology came back 4 weeks later. I have uterine adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth, high grade, stage 4. It’s an aggressive cancer with a high rate of recurrence.
Originally, my surgeon had indicated he would reverse my ostomy if after 6 months I had clean scans. I had a recurrence in July 2020. The tumor is 3.6cm and sits at the bottom of my rectum. They are now refusing any further surgery and its/I’m terminal.
My mother left her own home (and easy job) to help with my care, which was supposed to only last 6 months. She is still happily married, but her husband is lonely (second husband) as he lives in their house in another town. She’s still with us, probably to the end.
I did 6 rounds of doxorubicin, was hospitalized 3 times due to chemo. Yet the doctors have indicated I have responded well to chemo. There has been no growth, but also no shrinkage. I will do 10 sessions of radiation in January 2021.
We play a lot of cards at home. Ever hear of the game Wizard? It’s fun. My sister and I have started a version of a workout. I have only recently regained energy so it’s been a slow go. I also knit off and on. I do puzzles. Read. Minecraft. A few visits with friends. Even rode the golf cart once.
I joined cancer connections end of July 2020, after an internet search. I needed an outlet for all the things I didn’t want to share with my family or friends. I didn’t have anyone close to me with experience with cancer. I wanted to hear from people going thru something similar. I have loved being a member. The site has brought peace in my life and quieted the crazy thoughts. I have felt the support, the comradery, and I feel less alone. The site has also brought me great sadness as a member recently died. I had felt an instant connection and miss her, it saddens me the pain she endured. My other bosom buddy here is Saharabee, and I’m grateful she’s here. I’d like to say thank you to all the members for all that you share and words of wisdom.
I have recently adopted Bob. That’s him on CancerConnection.
Bob makes me laugh every day. He comforts me when I’m sad. He steals my food off my plate! Makes me clean up after him. Shreds all the kneenix in the house. Bites my feet when I’m defenseless at night. Some property damage.
I can’t imagine this time without him. Everyone should have a Bob.
Sending you all best wishes. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing your story with us Boby1511. We wish you well with your radiaiton in January and will follow along with you.
My name is Melody (Boby1511). I’m 47, cancer patient and retired former Government worker.
I live with my sister, and our mother moved in to help with my care. My sister is also a Government worker and works from home.
I’m the bald one on the right. Facials!
(You should see our road trip pictures. Lol. We laugh.)
I had symptoms for about a year or so before I got very sick. November 2019, I could no longer pee. This was the beginning. Nothing could have prepared me for cancer.
I had emergency surgery May 14, 2020. They removed a 28cm mass. I had 5 blood transfusions and heart failure in surgery due to blood loss. After surgery, I awoke in ICU on a ventilator and fentanyl. They allowed my niece to spend the first night with me as they didn’t expect me to last the night. I remember knocking on the tube and pushing my arms out. I was trying to tell them to remove the tube. You can’t talk on a ventilator. I remember hallucinating that my niece had brought her daughter, which I thought was strange given she’s only 7 and it was late. I remember calling out to her, which of course is not possible with a tube down the throat. The child was never there.
The next time I awoke, I was in a regular hospital room, in a lot of pain, and with a colostomy bag. The ostomy was put in to help with surgery. My surgeon had planned to reverse the ostomy in surgery but my blood loss was too severe and he had to close early. After surgery, they found a blood clot and an abscess. I had a drain in the stomach and they put one in the rear to the pelvic to drain the abscess. I had a “heart episode” in hospital due to pain. A code blue, in which I think all the nurses and a couple doctors ran into my room. Woke the neighbors, these things always seem to happen at 2 am.
I puked for the first 5 days, the convolutions hurt a lot. My incision was from the pelvic straight up to just under my boobs. They cut all those stomach muscles you use when puking. Took me a couple weeks to get any food down.
Total I was in hospital 4 weeks, no fresh air, no visitors (except first night) and no food! The first 3 weeks I was ok with no visitors as the pain was extreme. But the 4 fourth week I was getting lonely and tired of the hospital. The food was so bad. After I started eating they only thing from the hospital I ate was breakfast and those tiny ice-creams. There was a PSW, Natasha, that worked on the surgical oncology floor and her job was to give extra attention to those most in need. She was wonderful. She helped wash my hair, got me the heated blankets, and hunted down ice-cream when there was none to be found on my floor. Without her I would not have survived. We even got the ok for her to sneak in Tim Horton’s. So, I emailed her some money to bring the nurses donuts and me a timbit. I still couldn’t drink the coffee and could only manage the one timbit, but it was wonderful, something so normal. Natasha will always be in my heart.
The pathology came back 4 weeks later. I have uterine adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth, high grade, stage 4. It’s an aggressive cancer with a high rate of recurrence.
Originally, my surgeon had indicated he would reverse my ostomy if after 6 months I had clean scans. I had a recurrence in July 2020. The tumor is 3.6cm and sits at the bottom of my rectum. They are now refusing any further surgery and its/I’m terminal.
My mother left her own home (and easy job) to help with my care, which was supposed to only last 6 months. She is still happily married, but her husband is lonely (second husband) as he lives in their house in another town. She’s still with us, probably to the end.
I did 6 rounds of doxorubicin, was hospitalized 3 times due to chemo. Yet the doctors have indicated I have responded well to chemo. There has been no growth, but also no shrinkage. I will do 10 sessions of radiation in January 2021.
We play a lot of cards at home. Ever hear of the game Wizard? It’s fun. My sister and I have started a version of a workout. I have only recently regained energy so it’s been a slow go. I also knit off and on. I do puzzles. Read. Minecraft. A few visits with friends. Even rode the golf cart once.
I joined cancer connections end of July 2020, after an internet search. I needed an outlet for all the things I didn’t want to share with my family or friends. I didn’t have anyone close to me with experience with cancer. I wanted to hear from people going thru something similar. I have loved being a member. The site has brought peace in my life and quieted the crazy thoughts. I have felt the support, the comradery, and I feel less alone. The site has also brought me great sadness as a member recently died. I had felt an instant connection and miss her, it saddens me the pain she endured. My other bosom buddy here is Saharabee, and I’m grateful she’s here. I’d like to say thank you to all the members for all that you share and words of wisdom.
I have recently adopted Bob. That’s him on CancerConnection.
Bob makes me laugh every day. He comforts me when I’m sad. He steals my food off my plate! Makes me clean up after him. Shreds all the kneenix in the house. Bites my feet when I’m defenseless at night. Some property damage.
I can’t imagine this time without him. Everyone should have a Bob.
Sending you all best wishes. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing your story with us Boby1511. We wish you well with your radiaiton in January and will follow along with you.
I wish you all the best during this time.
Thank you. Bob is a bit of a bad kitty but love him just the same. Doc called him a bit feral! And he won't eat the expensive wet food I bought him, bad boy. And he had emerge visit himself! Cost me lots. He's got herpes! Yikes. Meds for life just like me. lol.
The caterpillar I copied from the net. Was looking for things to do with my niece (painting rocks). I loved the picture, it looks like me.
Wishing you all the best.
Warm January hugs for you.
Trillium
Thank you. I get lazy so good to have supportive family! lol. I return the wishes!
Thank you Linda. You know my good friend in town is also a Linda! Thank you for being you and always listening, caring.
Angus
Thank you. I have retold your story over and over to friends and family. You are inspiring. Thank you.
happy for you that you have/had Natasha, sissy, momsie and bob - the A Team of support!
I am astonished by your grit, and with all you have been thru you are so generous with your story and personal details. thank you. please know that your story has touched me - reminded me that Wizard, TimBits and family are the 'good stuff'........
I am so hopeful for 2021, and I send my best wishes that your radiation treatments go well, and you get dealt ALL the Wizards & Jesters in both the game and in your treatment journey! ;)
cheers & hugs
su
Thank you. I am sending you best wishes on your treatments. Maggie is adorable! I can babysit.
Thank you. Ah.. A Wizard Fan! Luv it!