Cancer Survivor birthday help!
I am the husband of a Breast Cancer Survivor. I am new to this board. I am honestly not sure if this is where I should be posting this, but I was hoping to find some inspiration from some BC survivors just like my wife! This is a long story, so I hope you are ready.
First, a little trip back in time to October of 2009 (I know, not that far back). My wife and I found out she was pregnant in October of 2009. This, naturally, was a very exciting time for us. A couple of weeks later our cat stepped on my wife's breast and made my wife notice a lump. Worried, she made an appt with the doctors. The doctors decided that it was just fibroadinoma, and she could have it removed in her 2nd trimester.
The 2nd trimester rolls around, and the doctors perform a lumpectomy to remove the lump. A week later, while my wife was at work, the doctor calls and tells her it's cancer. Yes. Over the phone, while she was at work, the doctor tells a 29 year old pregnant lady that she has breast cancer.
Well, apparently there haven't been that much research on pregnant women and cancer treatment, but luckily we live in Houston, TX where MD Anderson is located. My wife gets a team of doctors that begin to look at her situation. They find a couple of doctors that say the chemo drugs do not affect the unborn baby.
At this point, my wife endures a mastectomy, and has a port implanted for the chemo therapy.
The doctors wait until the 3rd trimester, and begin the F-A-C treatments. Imagine the looks my wife gets as she walks big-bellied through the Breast Cancer center of MD Anderson.
She endured 3 treatments of the F-A-C while pregnant. Lucky for her, the timing worked out perfectly. She got to take a week break from the cancer treatments to give birth to our perfect, healthy, little daughter. A side note, the baby was born with more hair than mommy. Being a new parent, fighting cancer, and still working retail full time...she is an amazing woman! (She has to work full time because she has the insurance...my work does not offer insurance, and trust me, I am looking for something that will offer insurance so she can take more time off).
After the birth, she had to begin on the F-E-C for a week, herceptin, and Taxol. She finished the Taxol a couple of weeks ago and is now starting Radiation. I think the radiation is harder on her than anything else has been...including being pregnant and going through chemo. I believe this is because of the limitations that it will put on reconstruction.
During all this difficult part in her life, her mother and grandmother was unable to come and visit. She can't afford it, and with our medical bills, and baby bills stacking up...we can't really afford to bring her here either. There are some things in life that you want your mommy around for, and being pregnant/fighting caner/surgery sure is a group of them! Her mother did come for the birth, but a new baby really distracts from the attention I think my wife needed.
Now, to the point of my post. Needless to say, this past year has been an incredibly difficult one. But my wife will be finished with her cancer treatment (except herceptin, reconstruction, etc) by her 30th birthday (October 15). So, I want to make it a very special birthday. The big 3-0 is a big one, but tack on being a BC survirvor, mastectomy survivor, and a new mother...and you have one tough year. I am looking for ideas to make this a special birthday for her. So any help would be greatly appreciated! I am taking her and our daughter up to see her family in Pittsburgh, PA at the end of October, but I want to do something special for her ON her birthday. We will also be participating in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in October, but that's not really a birthday party!
I hope this hasn't been too long, but it's quite a story, and I have actually had to leave things out. I could keep going on what my wife has endured...including her mother-in-law living with us for 4 months! But if anyone has any ideas, I sure would appreciate it!
Comments
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wow... your wife is amazing!!!!! I am halfway through chemo, with an 18 year old and a 6 year old, and I find that tough. But having to work full time and have a new born baby, she must be a superwoman!!! You need applauding! What a gorgeous caring hubby you are!! I cant really help with suggestions, as I am in the UK (unless you fancy holidaying here as we own a bed & breakfast and you would be MORE than welcome!) But just wanted to say what a fantastic job you are doing supporting your lovely wife. You poor hubbies get quite a raw deal of it. Well Done both of you xxxxxx
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Sounds like you both have been through more than anyone should in the past year. Your wife sounds like a tough cookie! And you sound like an amazing husband!
I'm really bad at thinking of great gifts, but hopefully my post will bump this up for you. I know if it were me, I would not really want any kind of reminder or acknowledgement of what I had been through. But I'm not the kind of person who wants or likes to be the center of attention.
For me, I'd like to do simple things that I hadn't gotten to do a lot of in awhile. A spa day maybe with the works - mani/pedi (if her nails are up to it), a massage, a facial, or just a quiet dinner out. Or if she doesn't mind the attention, maybe dinner out with friends or a surprise party and everyone can write a little something to let her know what she means to them. Like I said, I'm not creative! Hopefully someone else can chime in. Congrats to you both on the new little one and having all the major treatments behind you guys now. Herceptin is a breeze compared to the rest! Good luck!
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Wow, you three are an amazing trio. I know we do what we must, and seems you both have. And you will get extra stars for being a new dad and taking care of your wife, too.
Knowing how money can be very tight, may I suggest that the gift of a woven bracelet or a string of a ring, to be traded in for the "real" thing at a date when you both can enjoy the exchange (and afford it) along with a lovely dinner or picnic would be very nice.
I love the idea of notes from family and friends -- the written word is SO special.
A suprise party may not be high on her list, besides, I'd personally appreciate a massage and dinner out with no one else but we two.
I've seen booklets made up with a coupon for various things that she can trade for like a foot massage, take out for supper, back rub, bed linen changes, you up with the baby all night. I'm sure you can think of a bunch more for just her!
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