Updates and Helping Hands

I want to let you all -- those who are thinking of and supporting Jane -- know that I will use the blog to update you with her successful surgery and recovery. Please feel free to contact me (stephen.lowe@paragon-c.com or 978.263.9725) if you need, but I hope to use this blog as my main form of communication.

To coordinate visits with Jane and meals for our family, I have set up an account with Lotsa Helping Hands, and some time soon, I'll be posting the needs we've identified. If you would like to get announcements and participate (e.g., see times for visiting or when much-appreciated meals would be useful), please register at https://my.lotsahelpinghands.com/community/jane-c.

Thank you.

Steve

Supporting Jane / Next Steps

Hi everyone,

Debra (Jane’s friend) here in Acton.  

Our lovely and loving Jane is readying herself for the next big step in her treatment.

Next Tuesday (April 4) she’ll be having a significant surgery, and I know we all want her to know how incredibly held and buoyed and rooted for she will be!

So here’s the task: beginning at 7am and continuing through the afternoon, will each of you send "good vibes” (as Jane calls them) to her? 

Perhaps other phrases speak to you: holding her in the light; surrounding her with love; keeping her in prayer; lifting her up to gods/God/higher powers. Or Sending Good Vibes! Whatever your flavor, please deluge Jane all day on Tuesday. Let’s be so amazing that she can’t help but know this, and feel this, from all of us. Thank you. 💜

With gratitude,

Debra Simes

Belly Blues

Jane's belly on 3/27/17 - Planned stoma site.

Lots of appointments today! First meeting with Dr. Francone (colorectal surgeon), then with Ostomy nurse, then 2 pre-op appointments/blood tests, then meeting with anaesthesiologist. UGH. Reality is setting in about this major event next Tuesday that will permanently change my body and life. I had Steve take a picture of my belly after they marked it for the ostomy site. It will never look the same again. My digestive system will never work the same again. After next Tuesday, I will have an "appliance" forever attached to my body. Still in a bit of disbelief that this is all happening to me. 

A day in the Portuguese sun

Today was a sun, scenery and delicious memory-filled day hiking on Rota Vicentino. It felt so wonderful to hike the beautiful cliffside trail high above the deep blue waves, feel the cool winds off the Atlantic, and explore the gorgeous beaches and little fishing villages with my loves! This day was totally magical. It will provide me with images and memories to last throughout my upcoming months of recovery. 

Xox, jane

Like mama said, our Portugal trip has entered a new dimension of coolness these past few days on the ocean. Away from the beautiful but busy Lisbon streets we have been able to spend more time with each other, get plenty of steps counted on our fitness apps, and enjoy beautiful seafood in even more beautiful scenery. All three of us have felt like this is one of the more incredible regions we have ever been to. Empty of people - tourists or locals, the Rota skirts steep cliffs and offers incredible views of the rugged coastline and the big blue Atlantic. I am glad to be spending time with mom and dad in this incredible place. -Rory

In Portugal, in the Alentejo, Spring is here! Everywhere there are flowers, from bushes, herbs, and trees. I love the many different kinds of plants. Oh, and then there's the ocean and the wind. Our first glimpse of the wide blue coast took my breath away! Large rolling waves crashed into the rocky shore way down below with winds blowing at 30-40 miles an hour.  This is a beautiful place to create memories of travel with loved ones, food, the pristine environment, and the joy of life!  - besos, steve

Tears

I had my pre-op meeting with the plastic surgeon who will 'close me up' at the end of APR surgery next month. I was shocked to hear that he plans to remove my pelvic floor muscles and take my gracilis muscles (from both inner thighs) to replace them. Up until this point no one has mentioned removing/moving muscles, so I am in shock. There will be a long scar down the inside of each thigh, in addition to the other (less visible) scars that I was anticipating. In addition he painted a picture of a much longer recovery and enumerated scary complications that had not been explained to me before. I don't know why I am getting different stories from my different doctors. I did check out the things the plastic surgeon told me with my cancer support group, and they confirmed the lengthy recovery and myriad of possible complications.

The plastic surgeon said to plan on three months off work to recover. I already told work I would take 6 weeks off, which is what my colo-rectal surgeon had told me. Im scared! Will I be able to return to a healthy, productive, and active life? This surgery is a much bigger deal than I anticipted! Trying to take it all in but the tears keep coming this evening. I WANT MY NORMAL LIFE BACK!!!