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jsugrin
member
25 years ago.....pretty much right now
jsugrin
member
I coughed up a lung, cool huh 
. It was the quite the way to kick of the New Year, nothing like a trip to the ER when you're OOT for the holiday's. Thank god my aunt lives 20 min from UCLA med.
My story: **** Warning - This involves blood and gore****** Oh yeah, and it's long.
As a kiddo I loved to swim and didn't let the fact is was awfully cold stop me from enjoying my aunt's pool. That decision pushed me into my 12th case of "pnuemonia" is 2.5 years and right when my fever broke I had some blood drip onto my leg, only to realize it was coming out of my nose right around the time I got racked with a massive coughing fit that involved more of the red stuff. I'm not going to get too descriptive but it was bad, really bad. They estimated I lost at least a full pint in 8 hours.
I spent 21 days at UCLA and for the first two weeks they were scratching their heads with the most likely diagnosis being CF. At that point they were 1 of only 10 facilities with this new fangled MRI machine, which finally showed them a tumor in my bronchial passage. It had completely choked off the oxygen supply to my lower two lobes of my right lung so in addition to the tumor out the two lobes came too. When path came back with a diagnosis of Carcinoid but showed both the tumor and 12 lymph nodes taken were " non- malignant" (it would not be called pre-malignant) they send me on my merry way, scheduled my follow ups but told me I would never have to worry about it. It was the 24th case in the world of Carcinoid diagnosed in a child.
If you've been around these parts long you know the Dr.'s were wrong and if you haven't the rest of my story involves odd joint problems starting at age 16, teams of rhumetologists at Stanford at 20, getting so sick I had to quit working at 27. All the while every single Carcinoid related test I had came back as negative, something was wrong with me but they were sure it wasn't the carcinoid. Well, everyone except me was sure. Guess who was right
. A few months before I turned 30 I was finally re-diagnosed and let me tell you, if you're freaking out about facing down 30 there is nothing like being told you have malignancies in your (get ready for this list) Shoulders, Elbows, Wrists, small joints in hands, Right hip, Knees, Ankles, small joints in feet, vertebrae and skull to make you insanely excited to turn 30. I think outside of my 8th birthday when I got a canopy bed that 30 was my best.
8 years ago when I heard the words "we are definitely in the world of oncology now" from my ortho I had no idea what was in store for me but oddly enough I was thrilled to know what was wrong, what had been making me so miserable and know that now I had something to attack and take on. Never did I see myself married to a man whom feels lucky to have me cancer and all, nor did I begin to imagine the two little munchkins who bring so much not only to my world but that of my parents (only grandkids).
So as I sit here tonight remembering, I am grateful, grateful that I am even here remembering and excited for all there is to come in the future.
I hope that 2012 brings everyone wonderful and amazing things. That this board sees tons of BFP's, that those of us with older kids survive the transitions to pre-school and kindergarten and that most of all that everyone gets at least a small amount of peace, quiet and special time with their SO.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: 25 years ago.....pretty much right now
Thank you for sharing! That is an incredible story!
I too hope everyone gets what they wish for this year! BFP's, adoptions, new jobs, peace, joy, health, love, and success! This is an amazing board and I am grateful to 'know' many of you! Happy New Year!
(Wubbin, put down the wine! You are getting sentimental!)
Happy New Year to you too!! We have a lot to be thankful for and a ton to look foreward to this comming year.
WOW that's quite a story. I had no idea. So glad you got answers and have such a happy family!
Best wishes for the New Year to you and the rest of the board
PM me for our family/baby blog
Haley Beth ~ March 3rd, 2011
Wow. That's quite a journey. Thank you for sharing.
Happy 2012!
jsugrin- you are on the very top of my list of nesties I would love to meet in person. Thanks for your friendship ove rthe years, I'm sending you some big nestie love today.
Heather
Thank you for sharing this. It helps gain perspective and I appreciate your sharing so openly.
I hope 2012 offers you and yours a smooth and fun journey.
Money Matters The other half's blog.
EJ is growing up too fast!
Thanks for sharing your story J. Wishing you and your boys the best in this new year. I'm also wishing all the bumpies/nesties the best in this new year,
What an incredible story. I admire your strength in all of this.
I also wanted to say thank you.. with everything I faced this year you were one of my biggest supporters and you barely know me!! Thank you thank you and big big hugs!!
Mama's Clone - 07/18/12