The Killers joined Jimmy Kimmel to talk about their new album, Imploding The Mirage, Frank Sinatra dying and the Coronavirus. It made for an interesting conversation, and I really wanted to share it.

They also played their new single, “Caution,”…in a bathroom, and it sounded unbelivable. #ShelterInPlace

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Obviously, all live attendable concerts have been cancelled for the foreseeable future. This is an inconvenience to us groupies, but it is their life and livelihood for the performers. That’s a long-sight from just an inconvenience.

Many are filling in the void with online concerts, and Patreon pages. If you have Facebook, or one of the many other social media sites, you have access to most of the online concerts and events. Unfortunately, these usually are not announced far enough in advance to be included in these Saturday morning articles. Follow your favorite performers there, or on their web pages, and you’ll be in the loop.

But, for now, we have:

Tuesday, March 31.

Songs for National Tater Day on Folk Festival with Lilli Kuzma. 90.9 FM, or www.wdcb.org. 8 PM. All attendable events for the near future have been cancelled or postponed.

  Corky Siegel’s Chamber Blues Band will be live online at www.facebook.com/corkysiegel. 2:20 PM.

Friday, April 3.

Happy birthday, little Jack.

Grace Pettis and Rachel Reese live on www.facebook.com/gracepettismusic. 7:30 PM.

That’s all we have. I’m sure you can find more just by checking online on a regular basis. In the mean time, stay home, do all those things we are told to do, and hopefully we can all be out and about come Summer (this Summer).

And share this article on Facebook. After all, you’re home with nothing to do (how many times can you alphabetize your spice bottles?).

I have been practicing meditation for many years. I started out just trying different ways until I found what works best for me. I often do it quietly before bed, yet other times I do a walking meditation or use a prerecorded one. If thoughts enter in, I don’t resist it. I just gently move away from it. If it becomes a persistent thought, I will take a moment to write it down so that I can focus. In my meditation practice, I only do it for 10 minutes at a time, and I even set my alarm so I am not tempted to check the clock. I like to sit in silence with my eyes closed. It is my time to take a break from negativity. Just like my suggestion of focusing on three positive things each day in this post Where can you find the good today, this is another concrete step or action I can take during these challenging days.

Here are four examples; however, there are many more. The important part is to just clear your mind, sort of like giving it a break from thoughts.

• Sit quietly with your eyes closed
• Stare at something like a candle or a body of water
• Meditation recording
• Walking meditation

Just remember that even if it feels scary right now, you can take care of your mental health by giving your mind a short break from that negativity by practicing meditation. Quiet your mind with me today!

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And read more positive thoughts Looking For The Good

All through my day, no matter where I go, or what I do, I am always looking for the good in people, in the world, in my life or even just in my day.

Dear Brides-to-Be,

I know it seems frivolous to think about a wedding during a global pandemic. People are dying, losing their jobs and everyone is fearful of the unknown.

Unless it’s your wedding.

Then it takes over your entire mindset. All day. Every day.

Even during the best of circumstances, you would be absorbed with your wedding plans day and night. That’s what brides do.

Perhaps you are a first responder, doctor or nurse at the front lines of the battlefield. Or a laid off hotel employee, chef or small business owner.

Or just a woman working really hard to try and make sense of all this.

Why me? Why now?

Too much stress to fathom.

Your wedding is in pieces.

I feel sorry for you right now. Deeply sorry.

You may have planned an April wedding for the last two years? Or a May wedding in the last six months?

Doesn’t matter.

It’s your wedding day.

Five hundred guests attending or fifty?

Doesn’t matter.

A destination wedding at a luxury resort in Mexico? An intimate gathering at a restaurant? A huge church wedding and dinner reception with a live band?

Doesn’t matter.

Postpone? Until when?  No one knows when this will be behind us. Or when people will feel comfortable gathering in a large group. Or when that is even possible.

So many decisions and details to attend to and nothing seems to be going according to the best laid plans.

There is no such thing as best laid plans right now.

Vendors, caterers, florists and photographers should be flexible in rearranging a wedding down the road. They have much to lose during this crisis, even more than you.

I know that is disappointing to you.

Missed bridal showers, bachelorette parties and boxes of printed invitations still not mailed.

You are hurting. Tears are being shed.

I know you don’t want to hear this right now but please know you will get through this.

This will test your mettle. Your grace under fire. Your strength. Your sense of humor.

Especially your sense of humor.

Adversity does not

build character,

it reveals it.

James Lane Allen

Marriage is a lifelong commitment.

You and your partner will face a multitude of difficulties in your marriage. No one gets out of life unscathed. Trust me.

Marriage isn’t defined by a “first look,” the best man’s toast or a tender dance with your father.

Marriage is defined by how you and your partner face life’s challenges and celebrate life’s greatest joys with all the bland, boring stuff in between.

You have each other and that is all that truly matters.

You got this.

Whatever transpires with your wedding plans, I promise your wedding will happen. Maybe not the day you chose, but that’s only a date on a calendar.

And when that wedding day arrives, I think your family and friends will surround you with even greater love and support because you were a warrior.

You made the best of a very difficult time in our history.

You survived.

You are undaunted.

You have grit.

Button up that beautiful gown, smell that fragrant bouquet of flowers, say your vows with conviction and radiate happiness with you chin held high.

Meanwhile, stay healthy. Stay calm. Keep your cool.

And may you live happily ever after.

I salute you.

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Our pandemic recording studio

You’ve seen them on YouTube and Facebook by the hundreds. Average people, people like you and me, confined with their partners or all alone in houses and apartments across the country, diving deep into their inner souls and belting out tunes. Show tunes, pop songs, operas, inspiring gospel, and, parody songs that bring some lightness into our current grayness.

Wait–parody songs? I can write those. I’ve written lots of parody songs. Homebuilding, politics, Tony Awards…I’ve written parody songs about them and included them in my blogs since the very beginning back in 2015. That is to say, I have included my lyrics in my blogs. Never have I tried to actually perform and record one of those ditties. I wanted to spare my readers from that.

But times are different now, free time is abundant, and after watching a couple sing their homage to Simon and Garfunkle’s “Homeward Bound” I decided to cross the Rubicon, to take the plunge, to say WTF. I was going to write a parody, coerce Barb into performing it with me and post it on-line. (Those of you who witnessed our parody of “I Got You, Babe” before a live audience last year are already quivering, though I can’t tell if it is with anticipation or terror.) To my utter amazement, I was able to convince Barb to give it a try.

First to pick a song to parody. My (unintentional) target demographic is boomers, so I looked for a tune that would immediately resonate with our “2nd Greatest Generation” in our most trying time. A tune that could be performed by a couple in our earlyish AARP years, and which could call for some simple piano. It didn’t take me long to choose. Barb and I would become Archie and Edith Bunker, belting out a rousing rendition of “Those Were the Days,” Coronavirus edition.

I composed my lyrics in half-an-hour, then downloaded the sheet music and replaced the printed libretto with my own. Barb sat at our piano — a more upscale model than the Bunkers’s had in their Queen’s apartment, but that was part of the fun. She worked hard, very hard, at nailing the music. We fine-tuned the lyrics to match the melody and meter. We discussed where to get props: a frilly apron for Barb, a cigar for me. I learned how to work the remote control on my AppleWatch to turn on the iPhone video camera. We rehearsed, rehearsed, rehearsed.

After half a day of preparation, we were ready to go. I scouted out camera locations, finally deciding on fastening the phone to the strut of the piano lid. Oodles of blue tape went into holding the phone in place at just the right height and at just the right angle.

Lights, camera, action!

We tried. Oh Lord, we tried. On some takes, I hit the photo button instead of the video button. On some takes, the camera angle was wrong. On some takes, the grandfather clocked chimed. And above all, every take had one thing in common. We stunk! We were flat, we were pitchy, we blew the lyrics. I came in a beat too early, Barb a beat too late. And as for harmony — man, you have got to be kidding!

I sadly announce: we gave up. All videos were sent to the trash, not to YouTube. We will never be social media stars. But for any of you who have the itch, my lyrics to “Pre-Covid Days” follow. Feel free to upload your version. Just give us credit for the lyrics, Charles Strouse credit for the music, and send us a link!

Pre-Covid Days

Last year things were going fine

We were living on cloud nine

Eating steak and drinking wine

Pre-Covid days

**

Went to movies on date night

Great restaurants to grab a bite

Planes were packed for every flight

Pre-Covid days

**

We could walk along the shore

We could open every door

Now we’re staying home

Can’t go to Neiman-Marcus no more

**

The world is gonna whip this bug

But now’s a time to just unplug

Give your kids a virtual hug

It’s Covid days

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Having for years said that the USA had devolved into a third world, banana republic, tragically in these chaotic days of coronavirus this is proving all too true.

• A young father in Brooklyn needed an adult thermometer, but couldn’t buy one for love or money either online or on the streets of New York City. Decrying this 3rd world shortage in a tweet that his 70-year old parents read, they wrapped up their one electronic thermometer and for the first time in two weeks, went to the post office to send it to him. After all, they still had two mercury thermometers. One in Celsius from years living abroad in the 3rd world where shortages of simple things was common.
• A hospital RN in Western Massachusetts on health leave due to pre-existing condition, got an email from a staffing agency. “Good afternoon, this is Lorna w/trustaff. Any chance you’re available to help with COVID19 needs in NY? We just got new needs there, $4896/gross (est.$4200 net) for 48 hour guarantees. They also have 36 hour guarantees for $3800 gross est. $3400 net. We offer referral bonuses if you know of anyone available, they are desperate for help. If interested, please fill out an application.”

• As has been reported by multiple sources and the informative daily briefings by Governor Cuomo of New York State, without serious Federal leadership to organize life-saving ventilators, PPEs, face shields, gloves and masks for hospitals and first responders, America’s 50 states have been forced to bid not only against each other, but also against the muscle of the Federal Government. This Balkanization of our union more resembles a demented version of the Hunger Games than of the saying “united we stand, divided we fall.”
• And then there is Rhode Island. As reported by NBC News, “Rhode Island police, troops stopping incoming New Yorkers to enforce quarantine“. When the family of American citizens views other citizenry as the other, who will stop the madness?

Civilization is a thin veneer that humans create, as fragile as a butterfly’s wing it can easily and quickly devolve into something no sane person wants. Don’t let it be crushed under the vacuum of a leaderless ship of state. We are all part of the family of humans, remember that and live the ethics we claim to espouse.

Please.

For most folks in America, the worldwide Pandemic has radically changed not only lifestyles but for some, it’s the first time being truly exposed to a crisis that involves survival. The daily routine that we have become accustomed to has been radically turned upside down. The simple act of a walk on the lakefront, or meeting friends for a nice dinner or any other get together, has become a behavior that is not acceptable;  indeed in Chicago, it could lead to a fine or even a physical arrest. Our generation is being challenged, historians will record how we are reacting, other countries who look toward our great nation for inspiration and leadership are also watching.

Imagine a few weeks ago somebody suggesting that you will be ordered to stay at home and limit exposure to other humans to practice “social distancing” of at least 6 feet.  No hugging, no shaking hands, and gloves, and masks becoming acceptable attire.  I admit I never heard the words SOCIAL DISTANCING until last week, now it seems it will be in the lexicon for the rest of our lives.

I admit the shaking of hands and the acceptance of face masks was nothing new to me having spent over 3 years in the Far East. The handshake replaced by a simple bow, and the masks being a mundane part of life to prevent the spread of germs (how smart were they)? Being that far away from home naturally, our thoughts were of survival first, but things like the 4th of July, our loved ones, our mates and our cities, towns, and neighborhoods were constantly in our thoughts.  You’ve probably heard that song lyrics (THE GREEN-GREEN GRASS OF HOME).  All those things that can sway one’s thoughts during the hardship of a time of crisis. The difference being we can just look out our windows and sleep in the comfort of our beds and be among our closest loved ones. A rainbow in a storm. Comfort in the presence of a killer, very rare indeed.

There really isn’t much of difference being in a jungle or on a battlefield or smack dab in the middle of a killer virus pandemic — people are creatures of self-interest unless meticulously trained by the military. The need to survive is as biological as thirst. Nobody in America saw this pandemic coming so there is no type of training to revert to. So in this time of crisis, we have to ask ourselves Who are you? Who are we?

Most people are creatures of self-interest. Are we willing to look around us for others who may need our help or assistance? Or do we immediately resort to self-interest and charge over everyone in sight and gather up as much toilet paper and other essentials as possible without a flicker of thought about anybody else’s needs? Principles are astonishing flexible during a time of crisis. One thing is clear, to lose one’s head in a time of crisis is one sure way to become the CRISIS.

We are being asked to stay at home by our leadership, to follow some common-sense guidelines, to keep us and those around us safe from suffering the ravages of a potential killer virus. In other words, we are facing a test, it could be the only one our generation will face together.  Will we accept the challenge, will we refrain from looking to blame, will we set aside tribal politics and realize we are all in this TOGETHER?

“When faced with a radical crisis, when the OLD way of being in the world, and being asked or told not to interact with each other and our realm of nature doesn’t work anymore when survival is threatened by seeming insurmountable problems and individual life-form or species will either die or become extinct or rise above the limitations of its conditions.” (Eckart Tolle) Metaphysis. Tough times will not define us they can and will refine us.  I believe we have the right stuff. Remember those historians. Stand together. We all count or nobody counts.

A few years ago, I began to wonder when automation would reach our Chicago Public Schools classrooms—all classrooms.  With so many online resources available, I thought, “Are people thinking good teachers can be replaced by a machine?”

But this COVID-19 e-Learning situation proves that technology cannot replace good teachers or good teaching.

Soon after schools closed on March 17, parents remembered or realized that learning does not happen by itself.  We cannot not just say, “Go learn!” the same way we tell our kids to do the dishes or fold their laundry.

Teachers quickly realized e-Learning does not mean instruction continues the same was as if we were in class.

Yet, there’s been such a strong movement toward using technology in the classroom that some might wonder, “Why do you need a competent teacher if the technology is doing all the work?”

In order for students to work and learn, they need a competent teacher guiding them to and through material, helping them build positive working relationships with others, with themselves, and intervening when things don’t proceed as planned.  Most importantly, a good teacher shows students how to do something meaningful with the knowledge they gained.

Sitting students in front of a computer won’t accomplish any of those goals.

Good teachers know that posting information and assignments on Google Classroom or sending home worksheets cannot produce the same engagement we witness in a classroom.  One of my book-smart and people-smart students spoke honestly when I asked him about the CPS e-Learning plan before schools closed: “Look, if we like the class, if we’re engaged with the material, and if we value the struggle, we’re gonna do it.  If we don’t, we’re not gonna do it.”

Fair enough.

I doubt many of my students followed the e-Learning plan I prepared for the two weeks we thought we would be out.  I set up something meaningful, manageable and let it be.

However, as we move forward and remain out of school longer, I need to design instruction that builds on what we’ve done since September in a meaningful, manageable way.

On Friday, the Illinois State Board of Education released its Remote Learning Recommendations during COVID19 Emergency.  The suggested time a high-school student should devote to a class per day, according to ISBE, is 20-45 minutes.  So each high-school student with seven classes should devote between 2 1/4  to 5 1/4 hours to school work a day.

That’s fair.

Teachers, according to ISBE, need to “be available at scheduled times to answer student/caregiver questions, provide timely feedback on student work, and provide a range of meaningful learning opportunities that meet the needs of all learners during the period of closure,” among other responsibilities.

As far as grading goes, ISBE’s recommendations “are based upon the principle of no educational harm to any child . . . In place of an ‘F,’ for example, the recommendation is for an ‘incomplete’ that can be made up when the remote learning period ends.”

But good teachers know we can’t set up learning that creates an avalanche of work to be made up if or when we return to school.

Whatever learning experiences good teachers set up for students, we will take into account this unprecedented situation that demands we put students’ emotional well-being first.

Ideally, we want to create reasonable conditions where students continue to develop the five non-cognitive factors that contribute to academic performance, according to a study by the University of Chicago’s Consortium on School Research:

• Academic Behavior: doing homework, organizing materials, participating, studying
• Academic Perseverance: tenacity, delayed gratification, self-discipline, self-control
• Academic Mindsets: A sense of belonging, belief in the value of academic work
• Learning Strategies: Study skills, metacognitive strategies, self-regulated learning, goal-setting
• Social Skills: Interpersonal skills, empathy, cooperation

But we cannot do it all.  Good teachers will fulfill their responsibilities during this difficult time by creating opportunities for our students to engage with, build on, or simply be at peace with the academic experiences we worked diligently to create the last six and a half months.

In February, when I was out of the building at a professional development event, days before students started delivering speeches—a new experience for many—one student snapped at me when I returned: “Where were you, Salazar?! We needed you?!”

I humorously explained that my absence was a way to build their independence with this assignment.  “I can’t do everything for you, ya know?” I explained.

“I know,” she said.  “But just be here! Be present.”

I keep that in mind. And while I don’t envision interacting with my classes of 30 or more students via video conferencing or anything that complicated, I will be present for my students in ways that make professional sense.

All good teachers will–because technology can never replace that trust and faith and dedication.

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This blog post is the 20th in a series about my (and my twin sister’s) preventative breast cancer screening journey that began when we were 30 years old in July 2019. The 1st post is about my first mammogram ever; the 2nd post is about my consultation at Mayo Clinic’s Breast Clinic; the 3rd post is about my stereotactic core biopsy at Mayo Clinic’s Breast Clinic; the 4th post is about my diagnosis with “Stage 0” DCIS breast cancer; the 5th post is about my in-person DCIS diagnosis at Mayo Clinic, beginning thoughts on my surgery timeline, and discovering that my twin sister might have breast cancer, too; the 6th post is about my twin sister’s invasive ductal carcinoma clinical stage 2A breast cancer diagnosis; the 7th post is about my breast MRI and two ultrasounds to investigate “suspicious” spots on my right breast and liver; the 8th post is about my second DCIS diagnosis following a week of MRIs, ultrasounds, and biopsies at Mayo Clinic; the 9th post is about preparing for my twin sister’s chemotherapy appointments, including details about her egg banking procedure in the city; the 10th post is a summary of my sister’s ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and visit to the emergency room; the 11th post is a summary of my double mastectomy surgery plan scheduled to occur on December 3rd, 2019 at Mayo Clinic’s Methodist Campus Hospital in Rochester; the 12th post is about my twin sister’s first chemotherapy infusion at Mayo Clinic; the 13th post is about foobs, photo shoots and nipple tattoos (my plastic / reconstructive surgery plan); the 14th post is a recap of my successful double mastectomy and immediate direct-to-implant reconstruction operation; the 15th post is about my surgical recovery and day full of follow-up appointments at Mayo Clinic in Rochester; the 16th post is about my one-month-post-surgical-follow-up appointment and preventative baseline ovarian cancer screenings at Mayo Clinic; the 17th post is about a suspicious rash I developed a month after my surgery called “pigmented purpura,” my consultation with a gynecological oncologist about ovarian cancer prevention, and my sister’s fifth chemotherapy infusion; the 18th post is about the end of my twin sister’s six neoadjuvant chemotherapy infusions (TCHP); and the 19th post was about my twin sister’s double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery plan (amid the global outbreak of COVID-19). To keep tabs on new posts, sign up for the “A Daily Miracle” email list at this link.

Here is my sister with her husband, all ready for surgery at Mayo Clinic’s Rochester Methodist Hospital!

My twin sister was diagnosed with invasive HER2+ breast cancer in September 2019. She went through 6 rounds of neoadjuvant chemotherapy–a regimen called TCHP–at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, to destroy her Stage 2A invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer, from November 2019 to February 2020.

Last Friday, March 20th, she went into the operating room with the same surgeons that did my double mastectomy with reconstruction operation in December 2019. Given my sister had to go through chemotherapy before her operation and her cancer was invasive leading into the operation, we knew her operation wasn’t going to be exactly the same as mine–but our surgical plans going in looked pretty much the same: We hoped and prayed that, like mine, 1) Her operation would remove all of her cancer and 2) That she’d be able to go through with direct-to-implant reconstruction.

The short story is that God answered our prayers!!! (The long story follows in this 4,000+ word blog post.) And the five key takeaways from my sister’s operation and pathology report are:

1) Her double mastectomy removed all of her cancer, including the only cancer that remained following her neoadjuvant / pre-operative chemotherapy, which was two very small spots that were connected to her original tumor!!!

2) There were clear margins and there was no lymph node involvement, so she won’t need radiation!!!

3) Her plastic surgeon was able to do direct-to-implant reconstruction!

4) Because there was some cancer remaining in her left breast at the time of surgery–a 1.1cm spot and a 9mm spot that were initially attached to the original tumor–she will need 14 more infusions of chemotherapy starting every three weeks in May: a new, targeted regimen called T-DM1. Clinical research trials prove T-DM1 after surgery reduces the risk of recurrence of invasive breast cancer by 50% as compared to trastuzumab (Herceptin) alone, so my sister’s oncologist prescribed her with this! My sister’s oncologist calls this “chemotherapy light” because the side effects are minimal compared to what she’s already been through with TCHP.

5) In addition to 10 1/2 months of T-DM1 (14 infusions 3 weeks apart starting in May), my sister will also take a daily dose of Tamoxifen for 3 to 5 years to minimize her risk of recurrence (Tamoxifen manages the amount of estrogen in her system).

Our prayers were mostly answered–while it turns out there was some cancer remaining in her breast tissue at time of surgery, the bottom line is her cancer has all been removed now thanks to surgery and her reconstruction is complete. 🙂 We were hoping and praying for a “complete pathological response” at time of surgery, which means her pre-operative / neoadjuvant chemo would have destroyed all of her cancer, but it’s okay because we know God’s plans are perfect and His timing is never late. So we trust His plans and purposes for “Phase 3,” which is what my sister affectionately calls T-DM1 and Tamoxifen. Those infusions will begin as soon as my sister is recovered from her surgery!

Here is my twin sister with her husband at Mayo Clinic all ready for her pre-operative appointments last week!

Preparing for surgery

My twin sister went down to Rochester with her husband last Thursday for some pre-operative appointments including her sentinel node injections which consisted of six injections in both breasts. The injections were successful! My mom, dad, baby sister, and myself arrived that evening and we got Chick-fil-A to eat for dinner. We called the hospital the night before surgery and found out her checkin time was 10am, which means she was the second case of the day–this allowed her to wake up slowly and have her coffee before heading into the OR!

Here is my sister all ready to go into her sentinel node injection the day before her surgery!

Before heading over to the hospital to drop my sister off for surgery we prayed as a family in the hotel!

Double mastectomy surgery check-in at Mayo Clinic in Rochester

Before my sister headed into surgery last Friday, we prayed as a family in the hotel. (A few of us cried.) Then we headed over to surgery checkin at Mayo Clinic’s Rochester Methodist Hospital across the street! As you can see in the photo below and in the featured photo at the top of this post, I purchased my sisters matching cheetah-print sweatpants from Express. So we wore those to the hospital together with our matching tshirts celebrating our Mayo doctor team 🙂 You gotta have some at least some fun with all of this cancer business, right?!!?

I got my sisters matching animal print pants from Express for us to wear to surgery checkin!!!

Because of COVID19, things were a bit different for my sister’s surgery than they were with my surgery: For example, they only allowed two visitors with my sister in the surgery prep floor of the hospital and in her hospital room afterward (Mayo Rochester changed their visitor policy to zero visitors two days after her surgery). So, instead of the whole family going upstairs, my sister’s husband and I headed up with her to surgery prep.

She answered all of her nurse’s questions and got her IV started with no hiccups or problems. We found out she was the second case of the day as her surgeons were in another operation that morning, so around 11am she was taken away on a stretcher to meet her anesthesiologist in pre-op.

We took her bags of clothes with us and dropped off some papers for a research study my sister is a part of at the Breast Clinic and headed back to the hotel to wait.

My sister told me that she had the same anesthesiologist I had for my operation, and that he remembered me! 🙂 Everyone in the OR told her she was in “very good hands,” and she was happy to hear that.

Surgical updates

An hour after we left the hospital, my sister’s husband got the following text update from the OR:

So we knew her operation was underway!

I tried to work for the rest of the afternoon on my laptop but found myself praying most of the time in an attempt to ward off anxiety. At least I didn’t throw up like my sister did when she found out I was in the operating room in December!

Four hours into my sister’s operation last Friday, her husband got this text message:

And then, a call from my sister’s surgeon:

“The surgery went beautifully. It was a gold star pathology report. No signs of residual cancer in either breast, no signs of cancer in the lymph nodes. Plastic surgery has some work ahead of them now as they’re going to attempt direct-to-implant reconstruction.”

HALLELUJAH!!! ALL OF OUR (and our prayer warriors’!) PRAYERS HAD BEEN ANSWERED!!! WE COULDN’T BELIEVE IT!!!

We cried, screamed, jumped up and down, danced, called family, rejoiced, cried some more, and pumped our fists in the air. I felt like doing the worm but still wasn’t sure if that was a doctor-approved activity for me 3.5 months after my own operation.

We couldn’t stop smiling. Then, at the end of 5 hours, my sister’s husband got this text message:

Followed by a call from her plastic surgeon:

“We are finishing up now. We were able to do the direct-to-implant, and she looks awesome. She’s in recovery now.”

WE COULDN’T STOP SMILING!!! This was all too good to be true!!! All of our prayers–in line with Ephesians 3:20-21, the verse my sister asked us to pray for her–were answered!!! The surgery removed all of her cancer, and her direct-to-implant reconstruction was a success! Here is the text we sent out to family and friends:

PRAISE UPDATE & MIRACLE REPORT!: She is out of surgery and THE CANCER IS ALL GONE!!!!! PRAISE JESUS!!!!! Not only that, but the plastic surgeon was able to do direct-to-implant reconstruction which means her double mastectomy and reconstruction are COMPLETE as of today!!!!!!! No more surgery will be needed!!!!!! Thank you so much for your prayers—in the words of her surgeon: “The surgery went beautifully. It was a gold star pathology report. No signs of residual cancer in either breast, no signs of cancer in the lymph nodes.” GOD IS GOOD!!!!!

Prayers for healing answered!

My sister is going through a devotional called “ROAR” by Louie Giglio in her YouVersion Bible app, and the morning of her surgery, she wrote this note:

“‘Wherever you are today, whatever miracle you need, bring that to Jesus. Lay it before the Way Maker and trust that He is working on your behalf to bring you hope and peace.’ Praying today for no cancer left at surgery and successful reconstruction surgery !!!”

I teared up when I read this, because it showed me (again) how strong her faith was. I knew that no matter what happened, she’d praise God anyway, but to know she had the faith to ask Him to heal her of her cancer entirely AND that He would allow her to have immediate reconstruction was an emotional moment for me. To read this having just received the news that surgery removed all of the cancer was overwhelming. She asked for healing in faith and He’d answered!! Not to mention, this was all in the midst of a global outbreak of COVID19.

Hallelujah!!!

My sister’s husband ran up to the hospital room my sister was assigned to make sure he was there to meet her as soon as she was released from recovery. One of our friends asked if he could videotape her response when they told her she was cancer-free after her operation, so he did!:

Here is my sister eating chicken stir fry 2 hours after being released from surgery, her dinner of choice!

As you can see in the video above, my sister was pretty chatty after she woke up from surgery. She talked so much that she completely lost her voice the day after surgery! The great news is she also had a huge appetite–she ordered a full plate of chicken stir fry and sherbet that her husband fed her that night! Then she took 3 laps around the floor of the hospital. It was awesome! She felt a little nauseous after all of her walking but as you can see in the photo below she was doing just fine when we left her alone for the evening 🙂

Here is my sister at the hospital after we had to leave her the night after her surgery–she talked more than we’ve seen her talk in her whole life and she sent us selfies until she fell asleep! Haha!!

Discharged from the hospital! 

My sister spent less than 24 hours in the hospital after her surgery!!! A member of the surgical team came to see her the night of her operation, and the plastic surgeon and two residents came to visit my sister the morning after her operation to check on her. The plastic surgeon and residents said she’s looking “great,” and said they would be in touch with regard to removing her drains (she has one on each side). Because of COVID19, there was a high likelihood we’d need to remove her drains at home instead of having a nurse do it at Mayo. So her husband got all of the instructions from the nurse before we left: Snip the stitches from the drain in each armpit, and pull the foot-long drain out. He felt confident: “I watched my dad remove some stitches from my knee when I was a teenager so this should be no problem!” (Nervous laughter.) Spoiler alert: my sister’s husband removed her right drain at home today no problem and plans to remove the left one on Monday! So he’s basically a doctor.

My sister’s surgical pathology report: “Cured and cancer free!”

My sister got a call from her surgeon four days after her surgery, letting her know that her pathology report was complete. The mastectomy surgeon told my sister that she was very upset that she couldn’t see my sister to give her a hug after surgery. She also said it was a really good thing they got my sister in for surgery last week because they basically got “shut down” at Mayo this week because of COVID19. Before she hung up, she told my sister that she sends us all her love and will never forget us. (This made us all cry happy tears.) She did say to let her know when we’re going back to Mayo when this is all over in a few months so we can wear our t-shirts and “get a proper photograph.” We got one photo with her a few weeks ago but she wants one with our entire family!

All of my sister’s cancer was removed at time of surgery–so, in the words of her surgeon, my sister is now “Cured and cancer free!!!” Here are the main takeaways from her post-surgical pathology report:

1. My sister is surgically “cured and cancer free!”
2. There were two spots of cancer remaining in her breast that didn’t show up on the frozen pathology report but appeared on the final pathology report. Those two spots were removed at the time of surgery–a 1.1cm spot and a 9mm spot. Both spots were attached to the original tumor, so no new cancer was found (woohoo!)
3. Because there was some cancer left at time of surgery, more treatment will be needed to minimize risk of cancer recurrence.
4. There was no cancer in the lymph nodes!!!!! YAY!!!
5. Her breast tissue had clear, 5mm margins!

The bottom line of all of this means that the doctors and surgeons are confident her cancer has not spread anywhere else in her body!!! We rejoice in that truth!! So, while my sister is now cancer-free, there was some residual cancer in her left breast. At first, the surgical team and frozen pathology team thought the tumor may have been completely gone at time of surgery, but after the final pathology interpretation, they found out that the chemotherapy didn’t destroy all of her cancer before surgery like we’d originally hoped. So the oncologist made a plan to eradicate any and all chances of this cancer ever coming back!

Here is my sister heading home from the hospital with her husband, with her “chest buddy” mastectomy pillow from our friend!

My sister’s call with her oncologist and final pathology report

My sister had a video call with her oncologist on Friday at home because Mayo is discouraging any sort of in-person visits at their clinic in Rochester. According to my sister’s oncologist, my sister’s neoadjuvant–or, pre-operative–chemotherapy was effective in eliminating most of the original tumor: It was over 5cm at the beginning of treatment, and there was only 2cm total remaining at time of surgery! Also, there was only “20% cellularity” of the tumor that remained in the tissue that was removed which was great news. Also, no new cancer was found–both spots were connected to her original tumor!

According to my sister’s oncologist, 75% of HER2+ breast cancer patients who go through TCHP have cancer left at the time of surgery, so this wasn’t a surprise to him. “This is a very good report!” he said.

My sister’s “Phase 3” chemotherapy plan: T-DM1 and Tamoxifen

My sister’s oncologist said “nobody really knows” what’s going to happen at Mayo Clinic in coming weeks amid the outbreak of COVID19, but he’s going to plan for my sister to start T-DM1 infusions at Mayo Clinic in 8 weeks in addition to taking a daily dose of Tamoxifen in 4-6 weeks.

T-DM1 doesn’t cause hair loss!, and my sister’s hair has already started coming back on the top of her head, which is amazing! She will have a visit with her doctor before first T-DM1 infusion, then blood labs before every treatment to make sure her platelet levels are high enough to proceed, which can be done the same day. 

In addition to T-DM1, my sister will start Tamoxifen daily. Tamoxifen is meant to reduce the risk of recurrence for the estrogen-receptor-positive part of my sister’s breast cancer as it blocks estrogen from binding to estrogen receptors on cells in the body. Side effects can include hot flashes; a 1/100 risk of blood clots, which can be recognized through any signs of trouble breathing or swelling legs; and a 1/1000 risk of uterine cancer. Uterine cancer always presents itself with a symptom of abnormal uterine bleeding, which my sister and her doctors will watch out for.

Here are some questions we asked my sister’s oncologist about all of this:

 

Q: “How will you know if the T-DM1 and Tamoxifen treatments are effective?”

A: “When there’s some cancer left at time of surgery after administration of TCHP, there is a meaningful benefit in taking T-DM1 in reducing risk of recurrence. For most HER2+ breast cancer, recurrences are mostly within the first 5 years after treatment. For hormone receptor positive cancers, it can be later. When you’re hormone positive and HER2+, it depends. That’s the driver and why we’re treating both–to try to prevent recurrence in 5 years.”

Q: “So the surgery removed all the cancer, the lymph nodes were negative, and there were healthy margins–but how can we make sure no cancer traveled outside of her breast?”

A: “The purpose of T-DM1 is assuming there was existing cancer in the body resistant to the neoadjuvant chemotherapy. T-DM1 is used to make sure if there’s something flowing around to get rid of all of it. T-DM1 targets HER2+; Tamoxifen targets estrogen.”

Q: “What signs of recurrence should we look out for?”

My sister’s oncologist said that she will be coming in for appointments on a regular basis so shouldn’t worry too much about recognizing recurrence on her own, but that warning signs of recurrence include any new lumps, bumps, or skin changes across the chest wall; back or hip pains that don’t go away; losing all sorts of weight without trying; or being worried you had a stroke with trouble speaking or swallowing.

Q: “What does family planning look like?”

“You will likely be on Tamoxifen for 5 years, and could take a pause to expand your family around 2 years,” my sister’s oncologist told them.

Here’s my twin sister at home enjoying some bright flowers and a card from friends!!! 🙂

Next steps

The best case long-term scenario that we are praying for is: That my sister gets through all of her T-DM1 treatments over the next 10 1/2 months with no side effects!; then she gets through her 5-year-daily dose of Tamoxifen with no side effects; and after that, that she is able to go through the rest of her very long and wonderful life with no more cancer, EVER!!!!! And that she and her husband would be able to expand their family along the way. 🙂

In the short-term, my twin sister plans to go back to Mayo Clinic in Rochester in 8 weeks to do a heart ultrasound, blood labs, an office visit, and her first infusion of T-DM1.

In the immediate future, my sister is healing from surgery, so she’s doing a whole lot of nothing except watching movies and playing SimCity on her cell phone. Because of COVID19, my sister has had to (and will likely continue to!) have all of her surgical follow-up appointments on phone calls or video chats.

That means that today, my sister’s husband (with the help of me, my baby sister, and mom) removed her right surgical drain AT HOME. (Her husband did most of the work and was a CHAMP!) She has some extra swelling on her left side because of the removal of two of her sentinel nodes on that side caused extra swelling, so the plastic surgeon said she could likely have her right drain removed Monday as the swelling decreases.

After her drains are removed, she’s not going to be able to move very much but will stay put for another several weeks!

God is good!!!

We are praising the Lord for the removal of all of my sister’s cancer at surgery and are asking for prayers for complete healing from her surgery with no complications. We are praying especially for protection from COVID19, and that my sister’s “Phase 3” chemo regimen of T-DM1 and Tamoxifen would be completely 100% effective in keeping cancer away forever with no side effects!!!

I’ll post again after my sister has her one-month post-op appointment heading into her first dose of Tamoxifen. Here’s hoping (and praying) there is a treatment for COVID19 by that point and that the virus has started to subside worldwide so that we can get back on to “life as normal”–or as normal as it can be in the midst of beating and treating breast cancer!

In the meantime, we’re remembering the Lord’s faithfulness to us through this challenging time. We find comfort in knowing God has already gone before my sister into and through all of her treatments and has come out on the other side. We proclaim and believe we are going to see a victory over cancer and coronavirus!!!

Jesus is with us every step of the way!!!

This blog post is the 20th in a series about my (and my twin sister’s) preventative breast cancer screening journey that began when we were 30 years old in July 2019. The 1st post is about my first mammogram ever; the 2nd post is about my consultation at Mayo Clinic’s Breast Clinic; the 3rd post is about my stereotactic core biopsy at Mayo Clinic’s Breast Clinic; the 4th post is about my diagnosis with “Stage 0” DCIS breast cancer; the 5th post is about my in-person DCIS diagnosis at Mayo Clinic, beginning thoughts on my surgery timeline, and discovering that my twin sister might have breast cancer, too; the 6th post is about my twin sister’s invasive ductal carcinoma clinical stage 2A breast cancer diagnosis; the 7th post is about my breast MRI and two ultrasounds to investigate “suspicious” spots on my right breast and liver; the 8th post is about my second DCIS diagnosis following a week of MRIs, ultrasounds, and biopsies at Mayo Clinic; the 9th post is about preparing for my twin sister’s chemotherapy appointments, including details about her egg banking procedure in the city; the 10th post is a summary of my sister’s ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and visit to the emergency room; the 11th post is a summary of my double mastectomy surgery plan scheduled to occur on December 3rd, 2019 at Mayo Clinic’s Methodist Campus Hospital in Rochester; the 12th post is about my twin sister’s first chemotherapy infusion at Mayo Clinic; the 13th post is about foobs, photo shoots and nipple tattoos (my plastic / reconstructive surgery plan); the 14th post is a recap of my successful double mastectomy and immediate direct-to-implant reconstruction operation; the 15th post is about my surgical recovery and day full of follow-up appointments at Mayo Clinic in Rochester; the 16th post is about my one-month-post-surgical-follow-up appointment and preventative baseline ovarian cancer screenings at Mayo Clinic; the 17th post is about a suspicious rash I developed a month after my surgery called “pigmented purpura,” my consultation with a gynecological oncologist about ovarian cancer prevention, and my sister’s fifth chemotherapy infusion; the 18th post is about the end of my twin sister’s six neoadjuvant chemotherapy infusions (TCHP); and the 19th post was about my twin sister’s double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery plan (amid the global outbreak of COVID-19). To keep tabs on new posts, sign up for the “A Daily Miracle” email list at this link.

Filed under:
breast cancer, Daily Miracles, Truth Bomb

Tags:
brca, breast cancer, double mastectomy, mayo clinic, reconstruction

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  Sister Christian

  Sister Christian is a blogger, reporter, editor and follower of Jesus Christ seeking to find little miracles each and every day. She especially loves finding Jesus in art, music and culture. Learn more about her on Twitter @adailymiracle, and on Facebook as “A Daily Miracle.” Send an email to [email protected] with any comments, concerns or suggestions!

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• My Breast Cancer Journey Part 20: My Twin Sister’s Double Mastectomy with Reconstruction Operation at Mayo Clinic Was Awesome! »

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• My Breast Cancer Journey Part 17: ‘Pigmented Purpura,’ ‘Breast Implant Illness,’ Ovarian Cancer Screening & My Sister’s Fifth Chemotherapy Infusion »

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• My Breast Cancer Journey Part 16: I’m a Month Into Surgical Recovery & My Twin Sister is Halfway Done With Chemotherapy! »

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