Let Us Give Thanks for Friends
Stephanie here:
Here are some more pictures from Shauna’s Thanksgiving at home with friends and family:
A woman who needs no introduction, since this is her blog and her journey. Shauna!
Doug, Linda & Dan Dionne
Lana, Samantha and Aiesha
Cindy, Alan and Doris Waddell
Doris does the Mashed Potato
This is what happens when both the photographer and the subject are caught unaware. Katie looks like she is wearing a hat made out of keyrings.
Tricia checking out mom’s cell phone
First off, thank you to Daniel at AMR for approving Shauna’s transport. A special thank you to Laurel for making the request and shepherding it all the way through to the top so Shauna could be home. And thank you Cris, Laurel, Nisa and Dominique for transporting her to and from.
Now, for some pictures!
Cris and Laurel helping Shauna into her wheelchair
A happy Craig
Alan and Cindy gave Shauna a bottle of yellow mustard because she always gets the wrong kind with her sandwiches in the hospital and it’s a hassle to get the kind she likes so she can eat. This way, she always has it on hand!
Nisa & Dominique with Shauna before they put her back on the gurney and return her to the hospital.
Shauna and Dominique in the back of the ambulance.
Shauna had a great afternoon, surrounded by friends and family. I think it did her a world of good. She sat in her wheelchair for the entire time and that is a major accomplishment in itself. She was able to eat a few bites of real home cooked food (thank you Alan, Cindy and Doris). It was completely awesome.
Stephanie here:
Shauna remains in the hospital indefinitely, probably until she can get around enough and lift her legs for steps at home.
The oral chemo has left her very nauseous. The radiation is making her extremely tired. She has lost 14 pounds. And they removed a patch of skin cancer from her shoulder.
This one is not metastasized breast cancer, it is skin cancer. When she is stronger, they are going to remove a bigger patch of skin and then cauterize it. It doesn’t seem to be a really big deal right now.
She is getting extremely good care and love from her doctors, nurses and paramedic transport teams. They just love her, as they should. 
Stephanie here:
Shauna will get to home for Thanksgiving for a few hours. The ambulance company that transports her to and from radiation is donating the time and the crew to transport to and from home. Awesome!
Shauna’s direct dial number at Santa Theresa is 408-574-2724. She’s in room 312, Bed 2.
Shauna has been moved to Room 312. The reason for this is she has enough “frequent flyer” miles to warrant being moved into a room in which each patient has their own flat screen television, instead of having to share 1 TV. I will have an updated direct dial phone number tomorrow and will post it as soon as I can.
She is doing well, and sounds to be in good spirits. Radiation is going well. She’s having some nausea as a side effect of the oral chemo but it is controlled with meds and she is actually able to eat real food.
Stephanie here:
Shauna started radiation treatment today. She will be going Monday - Friday for 2 weeks.
She was in really good spirits today when I talked to her.
Stephanie here:
First, I owe everyone an apology. I haven’t been as quick to update Shauna’s blog as I should have been and I know everyone is concerned about her. I have been having a difficult time juggling everything in my life and admitting to myself that although it feels very selfish to say it, I often find myself having a tough time coping with Shauna’s cancer. It has been a really tough year, most especially for Shauna and her family. So, I’m sorry that I haven’t done updates as quickly as I should have.
So, on to the news.
Shauna’s still at Kaiser Santa Theresa, she’s in Room 320, Bed 2 now. Her direct phone number is 408-574-2752.
The breast cancer has metastasized into her bones. The MRI scan done about a week and a half ago showed spots not only in both thigh bones, which she fractured and had surgery on; but also in her legs below her knees, her lower back, and her upper arms above her elbows. She started oral chemo last weekend and the effects are starting to show up. Set up for radiation is scheduled to take place Friday, 10 November. If the set up goes quickly enough, they may be able to start her radiation treatment on Friday as well.
She will be taking bone regeneration and blood thinning meds in about 6-8 weeks. She gets PT once a day but still cannot get out of bed on her own.
Earlier this week she was told that none of the 3 extended care facilities were willing to take her because of the combination of her cancer and her fractured legs, so she is remaining in the hospital until something else is worked out, or she can go home.
The hospital staff loves her and tell her she has quite a reputation around the hospital as a fighter, as someone motivated to do everything she can to kick this nasty disease. That motivates them even more to fight with her and help her in every way possible. It’s a helluva way to find out how much people love you.
Please keep her in your prayers, call her, visit her, whatever you can think of that will help. Let’s also keep each other in our prayers, it isn’t easy for any of us who love and cherish this strong, stubborn woman.
