So very concerned about my friend LB, who had emergency abdominal surgery Sunday because they finally decided that the reason she kept throwing up (for over a month!) was that she had some kind of blockage, and did a CT on her (which they should have done a lot sooner if you ask me). She had to have part of her stomach removed (because it was dead) and they did what is called a Roux-en-Y bypass on what was left of her stomach. The cause of the problem is this honking great tumor snuggled up around her aorta and other such essential things, and it had strangled her small bowel. They already knew she has breast cancer cells in her liver, and now this. They want to put her on this new chemotherapy drug that’s just been approved (that’ll be $16,000 a month, thank you very much), that her oncologist is very excited about. This is all a major setback for her. With my background as a medical transcriptionist, this is one of the times when I can read the bad news between the lines and just have to keep my mouth shut. It just breaks my heart.
I get to have a surveillance CT myself Monday to make sure some of my health problems aren’t acting up again. But that’s Monday.
I did have this one tiny victory yesterday. Each time I go to physical therapy for the new knee, the first thing I do is go on the exercise bicycle. I push the pedals as far around as I can, gently forcing my left knee to bend as much as I can. Yesterday, it bent enough that I could go all the way around on the pedals. (Slowly, slowly, slowly, climbs the snail up Mount Fuji. . . . .)
This evening, to celebrate, I’m doing two loads of laundry. Such is life.
The Owl Underground 
I’m so sorry about your friend, sending you my good thoughts!
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I hated to click that ‘like’ button on this one, but on the other hand, I do like that your friend has you to support her through this. As you say, this is a major setback. Those are some grim details you’ve recounted. Having a tumor is one thing. Having a tumor that’s intent on gaining territory’s something else.
On the other hand, hooray for you, and your bicycling prowess! I laughed at your celebration, too. There are people who don’t understand how laundry and celebration could fit together, bit it makes sense to me.
Here’s a question for you. When I found these photos of tussock moth caterpillars on a friend’s blog, my first thought was, “I wonder if anyone could crochet or knit these things?” If anyone could, you could. Do you think it would be possible? If so, could I commission you to do a few? I can’t think of anything more amusing than sending him some fuzzy caterpillar replicas.
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