The day started innocently enough. I took an hour run/walk at 6:30 am and sent an email to my doctor that “I am bringing Jesus (a Sacred Heart of Jesus 2×3” photo duck taped to my Left thigh) with me today to bless and guide you and the Team.” He answered back, “I am happy to get all the help I can.”
I was optimistic: “Dr. Justin McWilliams and I are going to move the needle forward in terms of options for Pancreatic cancer patients.” Prior to my first Ablation in June 2023, this procedure had not been used for Pancreatic cancer patients. It was a treatment option that I chose instead of surgery, radiation, or systemic chemotherapy.
In Pre-Op I was led into a room by a wonderful nurse named Ronnel Jackson. She was a Godsend to me, as I have had bad experiences having an IV catheter inserted in my arm. I was amazed at her approach with me. She told me to relax on the hospital bed, that she was going to massage me arm first, to get blood flowing through the veins. Then she injected my left hand with Lidocaine so it would be numb when she placed the double port catheter. “This will save you from having to have too many IVs inserted in your arm.”
I told her she was a Godsend, that no nurse had ever been so kind. We cried and prayed together.
Despite this great start, things changed dramatically during the Ablation. The procedure was supposed to take 1 hour: Ablate the liver tumor with heat to kill the cancer, then 3 hours in recovery.
Instead, Dr. Justin had to make 3 incisions for ballons to lift my stomach so it would be out of range from the heat. After he ablated the liver tumor, he found an unexpected small tumor on the abdominal wall, which had not been detected on the PET/CT scan by the Radiologists. He had to pivot his procedure and do a “Cryoablation” of that tumor using extremely cold gas.
It was a complicated, difficult procedure, with 4 long hours of anesthesia being pumped into my body. As a result, my body went into SHOCK while I was in Recovery for 3 hours: I had uncontrolled crying, experienced the beginning of nausea and extreme urine release, and was frightened that he found another tumor that was not identified in the PET/CT scan. Dr. Justin explained that it had been a very complicated, difficult surgery. He said he got as wide a margin as was safe on the Liver tumor and thought they had an excellent Cryoablation of the tumor on the abdominal wall.
We were at the hospital for 8 hours before being discharged. As my husband put me into the car in the garage parking, I had my first episode of uncontrolled vomiting and urine release (which I had to contain in a large discharge bag). On the way to the bathroom at home, I had 3 episodes of projectile vomiting and urine release – which I had to clean up before I laid down to sleep on the bathroom floor. I was exhausted and my “superhero” cat-son Hopie slept on the floor in my arms, then woke me up to move to our bed.
The following morning, I rose early and juiced carrots, celery, zucchini, spinach and apples to nourish my body and replenish the gut bacteria that were killed by the anesthesia.
Day 3, I developed an allergic reaction to my anti-biotic (puffed and red face) and had to contact my doctor to order a new one. Because it was a Saturday night, he had to leave the order on 2 Santa Monica pharmacies’ voicemail. 24 hours later, the prescription had not been filled. The doctor had to call on Sunday and re-order the proper medication.
Day 4, the pain medication I was taking (Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen) for the high amount of pain I was experiencing in my Abdominal area, turned the stool in my digestive tract into cement, which caused painful inability to digest and eliminate anything for 3 days. Again, I spent hours laying on the bathroom floor, asking God to please help me; that elimination and digestion are imperative for healing and releasing toxins and waste from my body. I told my little body, “I will do anything necessary to clear this problem and help you recover.” I used 2 rounds of Milk of Magnesia and a suppository and after a full day, my body was able to eliminate once again.
Today is the 6th day of my recovery from the Ablation/Cryoablation and I thank God for His steadfast presence each day. My body is once again feeling like her regular Self. She is not in pain, she is eating well, she is getting stronger, her incisions have healed, and she is getting stronger each day.
I am relieved that the cause of my rising CA19-9 cancer markers that terrorized me for 4 months and defied detection were found and treated.
I will continue my Holistic Cancer Recovery approach to make my body inhospitable to cancer (www.HolisticCancerRecoveyHub.com ) and will maintain Surveillance tests and scans to monitor my cancer.
In the meantime, I Am Grateful and Joyful to Be Alive, Walking with God each step of the way!
Special blessings to my children and loving, dedicated husband for shepherding me through this trying episode of my cancer journey.
I end with this quote from Olympic Gold Medalist Noah Lyles: “I have Asthma, allergies, dyslexia, ADD, anxiety, and Depression. But I will tell you that what you have does not define what you can become. Why Not You!”
In response, I say, “Why Not ME!”
My Love, Blessings, and Prayers for cancer patients around the world.
WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER!
WE CAN EMPOWER OURSELVES!
#JudithAnneDesjardinsPancreaticWarriorMaiden
#AblationIsANewOptionForCancerPatients
#AStoryofDeterminationandResilience
#HopeForCancerPatientsAroundTheWorld