Ann’s Story

Site created on January 12, 2019

Welcome to my CaringBridge website. I am using it to keep family and friends updated in one place about my health journey, once a small cancerous mass was found in my abdomen. At first thought to be a gynecological cancer, but now most likely of gastrointestinal origin. Deep breath, sigh. 

Here is what I have experienced:  Since late September, 2018 I had been experiencing symptoms then associated with irritable bowel syndrome. After a year of GI ailments  including a diverticulitis attack and  a hiatal hernia, I was eating less, and I had lost weight (which I needed). IBS seemed logical so started the medically approved FODMAP diet.  But my symptoms persisted and were not consistent with the diet care I was taking. After Christmas a CT scan revealed the small mass and accities or fluid in my abdomen.  On 1/2/2019,  my New Years present, was 3 liters of fluid removed.  I had fluid removed 4 times in the next month. Unfortunately, the fluid samples nor samples taken during a pelvic exam did not provide a definitive origin of the cancer.  In early January those on Facebook might have seen posts of Peter and Thomas on our planned trip to Hawaii to visit my brother Dan and Jackie, for the first time, and celebrate Thomas 21st birthday, but Ann did not appear in the photos!  I did not go.  So time to bring all up to date on me in one place. I will update here as I know more.  I appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement as this unfolds. Thank you!

Newest Update

Service program

Journal entry by Rachel Thompson —

How wonderful to see so many people online and in-person celebrating Ann’s life and giving support to her family and friends.  Your presence and support lifted up  so many in the midst of missing our dear friend.

A couple of people that could not attend the service requested an upload of the service program to this site.  Unfortunately, Caringbridge does not support insertion or attachment of files besides photos.  If you would like a pdf copy of the program, please email me at rachelt446@gmail.com and I will send you a copy.

 

Read More of the journal titled "Service program"
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