First post:
Feb 11, 2018 Latest post:
Apr 26, 2021
Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.
On February 3rd our dear Megan went to the emergency room while in the Keys with abdominal pain and severe bloating. At that time a CT was done along with lab work. It was determined Megan had an abnormal accumulation of ascites (pronounced ah-site-eez) which is basically fluid in the abdomen. After consulting with a good friend, who happens to be an excellent GI physician, Megan and Eric felt it was best to get up to the Mayo Clinic ASAP, and thank God they did. Let's just say February 5th and 6th were long, exhausting, emotional roll coaster days of tests, tests, and more tests. Quite torturous to wait, speculate....This is a good time to take a moment to appreciate the gratitude we have for Gib and Louella. There are no words to truly articulate, but we are just so thankful that their relationship with the Mayo Clinic brought answers and care as quick as was humanly possible to Megan and Eric.
A paracentesis (a procedure to obtain fluid for diagnostic purposes and, in Megan's case, to remove fluid for comfort purposes) confirmed the reason for the excess fluid and discomfort. On Wednesday, February 6th we heard the words we never wanted or expected to hear. Megan has Stage 3 ovarian cancer. On Monday, February 12th, Megan and Eric will return to the Mayo Clinic for a primary cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC (Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy) starting on March 8th. The surgery will be approximately 8 hours long. More information on the actual procedure is available online for those interested as it is too much to get into here, intelligently anyway. What you do need to know, is that we are all confident that we have THE VERY BEST TEAM of surgeons and oncologists already highly motivated to GO FOR A CURE!!! Feel free to Google the esteemed group at the Mayo Clinic (Dr. Gretchen Glaser, Dr. John Eaton, and Dr. Mathhew Block). Again, a moment of gratitude for the VERY BEST as we put all of our faith and confidence in these wonderful, skilled people.
I don't need to tell you that Megan has made it VERY CLEAR to this team what her goals and expectations are - COMPLETE CURE. Which brings me to the HIPEC I referenced earlier. This is a VERY aggressive chemotherapy regimen. As a matter of fact, so aggressive and "above normal protocols" at other institutions, that Megan and Eric have confidently decided to have the treatments in Rochester. The schedule that begins March 8 will be two consecutive days of chemotherapy followed by another dose on day 8. This cycle will be repeated every three weeks for a total of six cycles. Paclitaxel and Carboplatin will be the "cocktail" and, again, research them on your own if you wish. Needless to say, this will be a long haul for Megan (and Eric) so there's a few things I'd like to communicate that you can do to help support them.
Please use the Caring Bridge site to get updates. It's exhausting to repeat and the purpose of this site is to give everyone honest, up-to- date progress reports. We promise to keep it updated if you promise to not burden Megan and/or Eric with requests for information.
Megan is so incredibly appreciative of everyone and every kind thought and deed that has been and will be sent. Please understand that we (her friends) have asked her not to write one thank you note to anyone. (Don't be mad Louella) The last thing we want right now is for Megan to use energy tracking whom she owes a thank you and feel guilty if it isn't written in the first 24 hours - yes that is what she would do. So, from the bottom of the Edward's/Reese's hearts, consider yourselves all thanked!!!
Please consider that it is of upmost importance that Megan stay germ/infection free. This chemotherapy will affect Megan's white blood cell and platelet count. Please keep that in mind and send a card, not your self ( :
Everyone wants to help and know what they can do for Megan. Drop her a card, encourage her and stay in touch through Caring Bridge but most importantly pray for her.
We've covered a lot and hope this gives you all some of the information you've been missing. Here are a couple of last updates on the family.
Gib and Louella. As you can imagine, having your child (and in this case, baby girl) go through this is excruciatingly painful. It is heartbreaking for all but even more difficult on parents. Under all of the circumstances, it is both Megan and Louella's wishes that we protect Gib from knowing what is going on with Megan. I am sure you will all respect this decision and be extra careful and sensitive if and when you have conversations with or around Louella when Gib is near. Thank you for your understanding.
The kids. I don't need to tell you all that they are amazing! They are extremely saddened by the news but they are doing just as you would expect them to do. They are empathetic, sensitive, strong, compassionate and 100% committed to doing everything they possibly can to support their mother. Megan is the leader of the pack and each one of the kids has touched her heart in their own special way through the week. This has been MOST meaningful to her. Rest assured they are leaning on one another and will be her best supporters! There is nothing in this world more important to Megan than her kids. She is so proud of each of them and the love they bring her is everything.
Eric and Megan are undertandbly sad, scared and perplexed. They are also hopeful, strong and ready to fight. As we know, Eric is a rock for Megan and will obviously continue to be as they get through this unexpected and unwanted journey together. There is more ahead that we will report. Please send prayers and love to Megan and her family. We will update after Tuesday's surgery.
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