Shana Bearden

4-31-08–We have been in pre op all day with Shana receiving various meds throughout the day. She is having some problems with tolerating some of the stronger medicines and she has thrown up some of the treatments. However, they are just now beginning to sedate her and she is drifting in and out of sleep. She actually has been pretty good today and the doctors have been drifting in and talking to us about what to expect tomorrow. Dr. Alexander is clearly worried about what he will find once he goes in and he keeps telling us of the various risks that this more complex surgery involves. They will put the stints in tomorrow morning and then go into surgery at about 10:30 AM Arlington time. We are pretty well set up here at the hospital because I have been able to bring the computer into the room and do some work and I brought Shana’s favorite pillows which helps her a lot. We are becoming veterens at this. There is still a lot of unknowns about tomorrow. They expect a long operation and if they can do another chemo infusion they will do so over her organs. However, they are concerned that the surgery may last so long that it will not be an option. In that case we go to intrevious chemotherapy shortly after returning home. I will spend the next several nights in the room with Shana as long as they will allow me to do it. April comes tomorrow and that will be very helpful. It all depends on whether the tumor is attached to organs or whether it comes out cleanly. Please pray for a clean removal of the tumor and non-essential organs. We continue to be appreciative of your concern and we are here to fight this damn thing.
Jim

4-30-08–Early AM. See my earlier post about what has gone on so far.

Our base is at the Hilton Garden Inn, 625 S. President St. Baltimore Md. 21202, 410-234-0065 fax 410-234-0299 Room 1008. April will be staying here after tomorrow.
We don’t have much going on today except tests and attempts to clean Shana out for surgery. I feel much better and basicly I am moving a lot of stuff to the hospital today because I expect to spend the night there in preparation for Shana’s early morning surgery tomorrow. I just spoke to her at the hospital and she is doing quite well and got some good sleep last night.
I wanted to mention that yesterday while checking in we met Nancy McBride, a Physician Assistant, who tearfully told us she had just been rediagnosed with Ovarian Cancer after three years of being clear. The cancer has spread to her lungs and her prognosis is not good. She promised to pray for Shana and asked for our prayers as well. Please pray for her, Bee Rippy and all those who are ill.
Tomorrow is probably the key date in whether Shana survives this disease for any appreciable length of time. If it goes well we have hope. If not, we stoke for the worst. We desparately need your prayers today. Ask God to grant me the goodness of Shana for a while longer. I cannot contemplate life without my sunshine. We have not caught a break in this fight so far. Just one break could make all of the difference and I pray that happens tomorrow.
We spent Sunday afternoon making DVD’s for those grandchildren we may never meet. I hope that all those grandkids yet to come have the opportunity to meet the Nanni that has been the center of this family all of these years. I hope that meeting can be in person and not just through our videos. That short video can’t possibly compensate for just one hug from the sweetest lady I have ever met. I think what bothers Shana most is the possibility that she will have some grandchildren that she will never meet and get to know.
What gets me is how beautiful Shana is even though she is this sick. She has actually put on some weight and looks beautiful. Several Doctors and Nurses commented on how good Shana looks even when she took over her wig off.
Well, I have to get to the hospital soon so it may be a while before I can give another update. I am going to try to take my computer to the hospital but I can only carry so much so it may not make it. Maybe April or Brad can update this page from phone calls I’ll make to them later during the day.
Jim