It's all good!!!!!

Sara and Brady are staying at the hospital tonight. Knowing that many people will be checking for news on Sara's surgery and without internet access at the hospital, he asked me (his mom) to update the blog tonight. It will be neither as informative, nor as inspirational as his updates are, but all that really matters today is letting you know that Sara is doing great!

Surgery lasted about 3 hours this morning. The doctor said everything went well and just as he was expecting. He removed the lump along with tissue on the outside margin. He also removed all the lymph nodes he could get to in her left armpit. All of this will be sent to pathology to check for cancer cells in the nodes and along the edges of the margin. If more than 4 nodes test positive for cancer cells, she will be considered a stage 3. If that is the case, another drug will be added to the chemotherapy regimen. If the margin of the lump tests positive, it may mean another surgery to remove more breast tissue.

Baby Sulli is a little trooper just like his mama. (Brady made me say "his".) A post-surgery ultrasound was done to make sure there were no problems. With a heartbeat of 154 beats per minute, he sounded just fine.

Sara was awake, talking and smiling within a few hours after surgery. A little soreness and nausea couldn't squelch her beautiful, peaceful spirit. When asked if she was nervous before surgery, she said, "Not at all - and I know it was because of all of the prayers for us." She will be discharged tomorrow morning, then straight to the OB for one more ultrasound. They should be "home" early tomorrow afternoon. At that time, Nurse Brady goes on duty 24/7. He gets to do the dirty work, but since he thinks he's a doctor, it's all in a day's work.

Since they will be leaving within a couple weeks and have no address in San Antonio yet, they have asked that you please send any correspondence to my address, which is:

Linda Sullivan

802 Clear Cove Dr.

Granite Shoals, TX 78654

They both feel so blessed by all of your prayers and are, as always, humbled by and eternally grateful for God's awesome love and protection.

The whole family thanks you for your love and support. Keep praying for this precious family of three.

Linda (aka Mom)

Ocean Front Property

We got checked into our cabin at Bellows Air Force Station on the Eastern shore of O'ahu on Friday afternoon. All day long we were very excited about getting to the beach. We were told that we had an "ocean-front cabin" reserved and were pleasantly surprised.

Bellows Cabin

Bellows Beach

Sheryl and Angie (Sara's mom and sister) were scheduled to fly in to Honolulu on Friday evening. They were using standby passes from Eddie (Sara's dad) and the flights ended up being oversold. They were unable to get on any of the flights to Honolulu, but hopped a flight to Maui. From Maui, they flew to Honolulu on Hawaiian Airlines late Friday night (we booked them tickets online for only $28). We met them at the Bellows Gate at 1:00am to get them on base.

After about 4 hours of sleep, we woke up early on Saturday morning. After seeing the sunrise on Saturday morning, even after the jet-lag wears off, I'm still going to wake up early.

Saturday's Sunrise

On Saturday morning, out-numbered and out-voted, guess who chauffeured the luxury rental car (a white Toyota Corolla) to the famous Aloha Stadium Flea Market. After 3 hours at the flea market, I could not take it any longer and we left.

Shopping at Aloha Stadium Flea Market

Sunday's Sunrise

This being Sara's final day prior to surgery, she opted to relax at the cabin and lay on the beach for a few hours. Angie and Sheryl went to the beach for a few hours, and my mom and I toured the North Shore. We ate garlic prawns, bought fresh fruit from a local, watched surfers at Sunset Beach and the Banzai Pipeline, and then had some Shave Ice from Matsumoto's in Hale'iwa.

Fruit Stand Lady

Dumb Tourist

Sara has to be at the hospital at 5:30am on Monday morning. Her surgery should start about 7:30am (2:30am Japan Time/12:30 pm Texas Time). We will be staying at the hospital on Monday night and should be home by Tuesday afternoon.

We are confident about the success of the surgery tomorrow, but ask that you would pray for the surgeon (Dr. Smith) who will be operating on her and pray for Baby Sullivan's protection during surgery.

Thanks again.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
--Hebrews 4:16

Aloha again...

Waikiki

We arrived back in Hawaii on Wednesday morning after a busy 2 weeks in Misawa. We had our "closure time" in Japan and were ready to get on with this new stage of life. My mom flew in on Wednesday afternoon and Sara's family is arriving on Friday.

We had an appointment with the surgeon this afternoon to discuss plans for surgery. Prior to our departure for Japan, the doctor told us that a lumpectomy was an option for Sara. He assured us there was no long-term health benefit to a mastectomy vs. a lumpectomy, based on the fact that Sara is going to have a round of radiation either way. We decided to go with the breast conservation therapy, and Sara will spend one night in the hospital after her lumpectomy and axillary lymph node dissection. I asked the doctor if Tripler has the operating rooms with the viewing theater up above (I was hoping to watch). He told me that patient confidentiality has become more regulated and the operating rooms that they show on the medical TV shows are no longer around. I kept waiting for him to ask me if I wanted to "scrub in" for the procedure, but he failed to offer.

The pathology report on Sara's tumor has been completed. The formal name of the cancer is Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma. Her lump is a "high-grade" tumor and is hormone receptor positive. The "high-grade" terminology means that the cancer is fast-growing, spreading (metastatic), and aggressive. The "hormone receptor positive" diagnosis means that the cancer cells are "fueled by estrogen and progesterone." This also means that her treatment will consist of a regimen of Tamoxifen (1 pill taken daily for 5 years). This drug blocks the hormones from getting into the hormone receptors of the body’s cells. All of this is what the doctor predicted.

We have an appointment tomorrow morning with the obstetrician to get Baby Sullivan's chart started and then we are meeting with the anesthesiologist to discuss risks to the baby and final plans prior to surgery.

Sorry for the delay between updates. Look for the next one on Tuesday after we get home from surgery. Our specific prayer request is for protection of the baby during the surgery and that the risk associated with anesthesia will have no effect on him (I still think it's a boy).

Thanks again for the prayers.

Time in Japan...

The past few weeks have been GREAT! We were welcomed back to Misawa by a group of friends waiting at the airport. We felt like celebrities as we walked out of the baggage claim area to a round of applause. Why is it that we never seem to enjoy things to their maximum potential until they are about to be taken away?!? We both feel like we have "done life to the fullest" while stationed at Misawa, but I think we took some of the enjoyable day to day things for granted.

Sara has spent much of her time at lunches and coffee shops with her friends. The afternoon nap has also become a scheduled portion of her day. Apparently, it takes large amounts of energy to make a baby in your belly. She has also made it to the gym (her old "home away from home") to tell her aerobics/yoga students goodbye.

Sara and her Yoga Friends

I have been busy trying to tie up loose ends and get out-processed from the base. I also got to fly an F-16 over to Korea for a few days to tell my squadron farewell (the jets were already scheduled to go, I just happened to fly one of them). It was very therapeutic for me to "do my own thing" for a few days. The past month has been focused on all of life's changes, but to wake up early, drive in to work, get in the jet, and go flying made me feel like all was back to normal. I am so grateful for the opportunity to tell my friends good bye and to get to fly an F-16 one last time (for now, at least).

Fini-Flight

We have airline tickets to Hawaii booked and will be departing Misawa on Wednesday, April 1.

For those of you in Misawa... Some of our friends are organizing a "Sayonara to the Sullivans" Farewell Reception at the Mokuteki Community Center on Monday, March 30 from 6 - 9 PM. Please stop by if you are able.

Headed Home...

I have never been "ready" to leave the beach, but I am excited to leave the sunny shores of Hawaii for the snowy shores of Northern Japan.

Sunset Beach on the North Shore of Hawaii

Snow Festival on the North Island of Japan

It causes me pain to realize that Misawa will no longer be "home." However, we are grateful for the opportunity to come back and bring closure to this chapter in our lives, even if only for a short time.

We are leaving Honolulu on Saturday afternoon and will arrive back in Misawa on Monday afternoon (the overnight in Tokyo and the International Date Line crossing make this a LONG trip). I tried talking Sara into the bullet train on Sunday night, but she says she has had enough of the Shinkansen. Who doesn't enjoy 4 hours of HOT train with a transfer at Tokyo Station...during rush hour...with HUGE luggage?

Anyways, this will probably be the last post for a few weeks. We are planning on arriving back in Honolulu on April 1 for a few more appointments before the surgery. Sara's surgery is scheduled for April 6.

Until next time, THANK YOU again for your continued prayers and support!

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. --Phillipians 1:3

DNA test results

Today was supposed to be a day of rest, but to no avail. While en route to the mall (Sara said she needed some "retail therapy"), we got a call from the hospital requesting our presence. The genetic testing results had come back early, so we busted a U-turn and were Tripler-bound, towards our new home away from home.

Tripler Army Medical Center

On the way to the hospital, I asked Sara what she thought the results were going to be. We had both succumbed to the fact that she MUST have the gene mutation. There could be no other explanations to her early aged cancer diagnosis.

The genetic counselor, Susan, walked in and said, "I have good news." She handed us the paperwork faxed in from the lab, and across the top it said "NO MUTATIONS DETECTED." We were shocked.

This is great news for us. It means that she will be able to keep her right boob and we won't have to worry about the increased ovarian cancer risk that is caused by the BRCA mutation. They were recommending an oophorectomy if she was BRCA positive. For those of you not up on your medical lingo, an oophorectomy is a surgery where they remove the ovaries.

They drew some more blood for one more genetic test. Now, they are going to test her DNA for p53 mutations. Susan says she is pretty sure this test will come back negative, but she wants to be able to rule it out completely. Following is an excerpt from wikipedia.

p53 is important in multicellular organisms, where it regulates the cell cycle and thus functions as a tumor suppresor that is involved in preventing cancer. As such, p53 has been described as "the guardian of the genome," "the guardian angel gene," and the "master watchman," referring to its role in conserving stability by preventing genome mutation.

p53

Random fact of the day - In 1993, p53 was voted molecule of the year by Science magazine.

After Sara had her blood drawn, we had a nice conversation with Susan. We were discussing the developments in chemotherapy and the benefits that have come from breast cancer patients in the past participating in clinical studies. In the past there has been some confusion as to when a lady was considered a "breast cancer survivor." Does it take 5 years, 10 years, or longer post recovery? She gave Sara a pin of an angel wearing a pink ribbon and said, "Sara, you are a breast cancer survivor!" Breast cancer is now considered a chronic illness, and is not a terminal diagnosis. As soon as a person is diagnosed, they are considered a survivor. How encouraging?!?

On our way out of the hospital, we met Indy.

Indy, a Certified Therapy Dog

Indiana Jones (aka Indy) is a 4-year old retired show dog who visits Tripler a few times each week. His handler gave me his business card and told us to email them to set up a canine therapy appointment after Sara has surgery. This dog is AWESOME, and I have a new best friend in Hawaii.

Rejoice in the LORD always. I will say it again: REJOICE! --Phillipians 4:4

Another day in the hospital...

Today was spent with different oncologists at Tripler Medical Center. This morning we sat down and discussed treatment options with the Medical Oncologist (Chemotherapy Doctor). We left the appointment well informed and feeling better about the chemo treatments during pregnancy.

We've been told that chemo can be safely administered (with some risk) during pregnancy, but I was having a hard time understanding how that could be possible.

Drink alcohol while pregnant = Baby born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Chemo (poison) while pregnant = Baby born normal

It just does not make sense! But, the doctor here has personally treated 12 pregnant woman with chemo, and all 12 have delivered healthy babies. THAT IS PROMISING!

As I've found myself doing lately, I will cling to God's word.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. --Proverbs 3:5

It looks like Sara will start chemo soon after our arrival in San Antonio (probably mid-April). It will be up to the oncologist at Wilford Hall as to what regimen of therapy Sara is treated with, but they will time it so she is done 3 weeks prior to the baby's scheduled due date. They want Sara to be "STRONG and HEALTHY" for the delivery.

Chemo will consist of visiting the hospital once every 3 weeks for drug administration. She will get 2 or 3 different drugs through IV for a few hours each time. Each 3-week time period is 1 cycle and she will most likely have 6 cycles.

Then the baby arrives...and then it's time for radiation therapy.

This afternoon we sat down with the Radiation Oncologist and got more questions answered. We were told initially that if she got a mastectomy, rather than a lumpectomy, that radiation would not be required. However, the oncologist recommends that she receive a round of radiation therapy regardless of the operation performed. As previously stated, we're going aggressive with her treatment. A round of radiation will increase her chances of a cure (to kill any leftover cancer cells that survive the surgery and chemo). The doc said that with her being young and healthy that the benefit is worth the risk.

Radiation treatment will require DAILY VISITS (Monday - Friday) to the hospital for 6 - 7 weeks. Each treatment will last approximately 10 minutes. They will focus 3 beams at different sections of her body (one at breast level, one at axillary lymph node (armpit) level, and one at clavicle lymph node level). They will "tron" her with powerful X-rays to kill the cells in those areas. Side effects will include "sunburn" and general fatigue. The doc said that based on recovery from chemo, most patients are elated with the way they feel during radiation. She'll still be fatigued due to a newborn at home.

Our next appointments are on Thursday when we will be meeting with the OB/GYN to discuss our "high-risk" pregnancy. We will find out the DNA test results to see if she has the BRCA gene mutations, and then we will have our final consult with the surgeon. If all goes well, we could be back in Misawa by Sunday (tentative).

Sara's mom, sister, and nieces flew out this evening and we're looking forward to a few days of doing NOTHING (including blog updates)! Thanks for your genuine concern and know that we appreciate all the prayers, emails, and cards.

Sheryl, Sara, and Angie