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From Caregiver to Patient

Posted on July 29, 2018July 30, 2018 by Annie Modesitt

For 2018 Kathleen and I had decided that the ModeKnit Yarn calendar should be really crammed.

It seemed like a good idea at the time; try out a bunch of new shows (Iowa, Yarn Con, Houston) and stick to some old favorites.

Our schedule included The Michigan Fiber Fest (Aug), Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Fest (Sept), North Country Fiber Fair in South Dakota (Sept), an October meeting of the Minnesota Knitting Guild in St. Paul, SAFF in North Carolina (Oct) and back to Minneapolis for VK Live (Nov)  Kathleen and I bit off a LOT of travel for late Summer.

However, I’m facing the reality that this will not be happening for me.

Disappointing is way too shallow of a word for the deep, deep well of sorrow I inhabit.

I live for these shows.  I love seeing our customers, our friends, our reward for the hours of hard work I put in alone, the extrovert yang to my introvert yin side.

I had figured that after Houston Kathleen and I would have about 6 weeks to prepare for the second half of the Summer.  And I was obviously still in denial that there was something remotely serious going on with my health, even with all of the warning signs I’d been feeling since April, or even as far back as last October.

So I figured that I had the entire month of July to rest and ready myself and dye a bunch of yarn for upcoming shows.

Little did I know that instead of resting, I’d be writhing.  Because, Cancer.

Plum Jasper

Allow me explain using the language of color and dyeing that’s become my lexicon for the past 5 years.

MY BACK
is split, literally, into pieces and my spine is cracking with a large tumor that was growing free and unstopped within the T10 vertebra; it’s a dark red pain, rich and full and velvet, but also lumpy with extra bits of unground pure pigment.  Thick, viscous pain.

Carol Peletier

MY CHEST
and underarm area is permeated with lymph nodes, swelling and soft and tenderly painful, individual lumps of light, pale, soft, half-cooked dough with a peppering of dark grey.  There’s a bright garlic sting, a shine of neon-yellow, in the center of each swelling and, if bothered, they explode into eruptions of glowing torment.

Rose Quartz

MY NECK
has a gaggle of tiny sarcoma floating around in the back, each one acting as a teensy sound amplifier. 

When a high pitched voice, the squeal of hospital cart tires on linoleum, a wailing oxygen sensor alarm breaks the silence by my bed, these rock hard little jewels light up and send that sound directly into the top of my skull, spine and jaw as an exquisite, thin, light pink flush of opal misery.

These three separate areas of metastasis were what alerted my docs that I do, indeed have cancer.  A needle biopsy under my right arm on Tuesday, into one of those tender little gnocchi of suffering along my chest, was what was required to determine origin.

The source of the cancer is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle.  It felt as though I spent most of Tuesday, Wed & all of Thursday swaddled in the fallopian tube of an MRI machine, wrapped in warm white blankets with earphones and a contrast drip while they searched through my organs and bones for some sign to tell them more about my “Cancer of an Unknown Primary”

The waiting period for that diagnosis was wretched.  My biggest fear was that the culprit would be a solid mass tumor in a yet uncharted organ.  Liver, I thought, would be worst.  Colon not so great, either.  As each organ was observed, photographically sliced and metaphorically grilled (with a fava beans and a nice chianti) and rejected as the Primary, I sighed with relief, tapping my foot, waiting for the biopsy results.

FInally, late on Friday the initial diagnosis revealed:

Diffuse large B-Cell Lymphoma, Stage 4

It’s a very violet diagnosis, don’t you think? It’s only initial, but it’s oh-so-HOEPEFUL!

Nuke Me ‘Til I Glow / Let me Rest so Health will GROW
I will NOT be doing any dyeing in the near future.
(And, if I have anything to do with it, I won’t be doing any DYING anytime soon, either!)

And I won’t be visiting any yarn shows or fiber fests, and I will not be teaching any time in the near future.  Not only will I NOT have the energy or physical ability, but I need to dramatically reduce my association with the masses because my immune system will be shot.

Aside from the physical barriers I’m dealing with right now, I can already feel my sense of humanity —Self?— draining away. After only one week of radiation I am tired, foggy, absolutely exhausted and confused.  Of course, that confusion is also due in part to the to the head spinning rapidity of the events of this week and the liberal use of opioids which allow me to successfully pretend there’s not a gigantic tumor sticking out of my back.

TREAT THIS, MF’er!
So here’s an outline of the plan of my treatment, as it stands, and it will change.  These things are never carved in stone.

The first, most immediate step was to immobilize my back so that the tumor that was causing the cracked vertebra wouldn’t create more damage, and so that I wouldn’t bend over in some odd way and cause ‘catastrophic damage’ to the spinal cord.

Death Star Valkyrie

A huge, white back brace was built for me in a day, and allow me to tell you that IT IS STUNNING.

Like a Valkyrie rising high above the stage in the incomparable Death Star Production of The Ring Cycle, I glide through the hallways of St. John’s Hospital in Maplewood, MN like a slowly moving diva.

Or, this halloween I’ll make Gerry a wiffle bat costume, and we’ll be a matched set.

For the past week I’ve been undergoing radiation to shrink the tumor on my spine.  This will continue for another week and a half, and at that point they’ll assess the situation to see how successful it’s been.

Victorian Valkyrie

After a short break for some more testing (Spinal Tap, anyone?) and to let the radiation “settle” I will begin a course of chemo therapy to work on the lymphoma.  All while wearing this spectacular brace. How could a girl get any luckier?

Gerry realizes he already IS one lucky guy because he snapped me up (and got that $5 ring on my finger!) 25 years ago this Aug 21.  We are lucky we met, and lucky we’re still here together.

Hell, I’m damned lucky that last Sunday, before I entered the hospital,  I tried to manually raise the garage door on my own.  It could have gone very wrong, I could have snapped my spinal cord.  Literally,

I am VERY LUCKY.  Ever since we fought against, and found peace with, Multiple Myeloma in Gerry’s 12 rounds (and counting) we’ve considered ourselves one of the luckiest families on the planet.  That luck holds.  The good news is I only have to wear the brace when I’m walking for any distance or up and down stairs.  And for Sunday and Wednesday matinees.

The chemo will be tweaked to determine how often I need it, how much I need, how much I can take and all those other mysteries of medicine.  And I guess after that I just keep doing what they want me to do.  And, most important, I think I get to go home today.  It’s been a week, I’m ready.

They told me to expect my port to be in for about a year, chemo could run shorter or longer than that, there are still SO many unknowns that making any kind of guess about duration and depth of treatment would be a fool’s game.

I am terrified, but I am ready.

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82 thoughts on “From Caregiver to Patient”

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  1. Marietta says:
    July 31, 2018 at 10:11 am

    I have no special words or ideas to share – – I just sincerely hope that what lies ahead of you will be as easy & successful as it can possibly be – – that you can feel the love and care that so many of us have for you. Do nothing that does not increase your care for yourself, Gerry & your children. Nothing else matters! Knit on . . .

    Reply
  2. Knitsiam says:
    July 31, 2018 at 11:03 am

    Sorry to learn of your news and sending healing thoughts and prayers for you and your husband. My spouse is dealing with DLBCL (diagnosed while I was recovering from surgery) in addition to Waldenstrohm’s diagnosis from ’93. It’s been rough, but he can do this… You can too. Take care of what matters (your health) and the rest will come..
    Bonnie

    Reply
  3. Ann Shayne says:
    July 31, 2018 at 12:29 pm

    Dear Annie,

    Thank you for sharing this stupendous piece of news. I really hope that in a year, you’ll be writing us an equally dazzling post about how you have come through all this medical business with flying colors. I’ll be thinking about you as you make your way through this maze of treatments. Sending lots of love and healing thoughts.

    Reply
  4. The Other Kristen says:
    July 31, 2018 at 12:35 pm

    Annie, it is a little spooky for me to see this post, because I have been thinking of you a lot in the past week, wondering how you and Gerry and the kids are doing, and fretting that you hadn’t posted in a long while. We have never met, but I am fan. And now this. You have responded with more grace than I can imagine, and I wish you health, love, and happiness. I am sending you a virtual, non-spine-damaging hug.

    Reply
  5. Chris T says:
    July 31, 2018 at 2:24 pm

    Sending healing thoughts and prayers.

    Reply
  6. Amy says:
    July 31, 2018 at 3:30 pm

    Holy shit. Girl, I’m so sorry this is happening to you. But your strength is clear in your words. Are those doctors ready for you, because HERE COMES ANNIE AND SHE’S TAKING NAMES AND KICKING ASS. xoxo

    Reply
  7. penny says:
    July 31, 2018 at 8:08 pm

    Sending love.

    Reply
  8. Roxie Day says:
    August 1, 2018 at 3:29 pm

    The worldwide knitting community is wrapping you in a cozy blanket of love and support. As my husband says in his battle… “cancer picked the wrong target.”

    Reply
  9. Amayita says:
    August 1, 2018 at 3:29 pm

    Thanks for sharing, I hope you recover soon!
    You will overcome this, your strength shows through and it is immense.
    Many hugs from Spain.

    Reply
  10. Lisa E Sorensen says:
    August 1, 2018 at 3:29 pm

    You gave me the courage to knit.
    I love you Annie.

    Reply
    1. Annie Modesitt says:
      August 1, 2018 at 4:00 pm

      That’s one of the most empowering things anyone has ever said to me!

      Reply
  11. Thea says:
    August 1, 2018 at 3:39 pm

    Sending love and strength.

    Reply
  12. Judith says:
    August 1, 2018 at 3:55 pm

    I am so sorry you are having to endure this illness. My husband has stage 4 kidney cancer with lung metastasis. So I now understand what this diagnosis does to a family and of course the patient. I am sending you prayers and good thoughts for your treatment and recovery.

    Reply
  13. Jess S says:
    August 1, 2018 at 7:26 pm

    I’m lucky to have had the opportunity to take a class from you this Spring – combination knitting has changed my game, and made my knitting much more pain-free at a time when I was losing hope I’d be able to sustainably do so in the future! I wish you the best in your journey kicking cancer’s ass, and am sorry you have to deal w/this mess in the first place.

    Reply
  14. Barbara Keil RN BSN says:
    August 1, 2018 at 7:53 pm

    I am so sad to hear of your cancer. I have enjoyed your post and how you wrote it. There is something positive about this for you. I am a recovery nurse for patients who have just had surgery. I will tell you what I tell them one small step at a time, keep positive and surround yourself in beauty everyday. I will look forward to further posts.

    Reply
    1. Annie Modesitt says:
      August 1, 2018 at 8:13 pm

      That’s lovely, Barbara!

      Reply
  15. Bogga says:
    August 2, 2018 at 1:05 am

    I’m so very sorry you have to go through such a trial. But after reading your post I also see that you are a fighter and I know you can do this with the love and support of your family and friends. Stay strong and kick this MF in the but!

    Reply
  16. Gerry Kay Walrath says:
    August 2, 2018 at 11:34 am

    My prayers are with you and yours……….My husband is in remission with leuccimia!!!! I can really feel for you…….A posative attitude will help……….Sorry for the poor spelling but packing to go to a wool show this weekend. Anything you need let us know………We will miss you at North Country this year!!!!!! Luv Ewe Gerry Kay

    Reply
  17. Jan Hamby says:
    August 2, 2018 at 11:47 am

    When next I podcast, I’ll encourage listeners to come read your words. Just like the Annie I know, they don’t shy away from telling it like it is — and showing that vulnerability and strength exist best when they exist together. You are well-loved by many and we are with you on this journey to beating this bastard. Love, Jan

    Reply
  18. Kym says:
    August 2, 2018 at 6:23 pm

    Hi Annie. Although you have always been one of my “knitting heroes” you’ve never heard from me before. Until today. I just wanted to tell you that I, too, went through treatment for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. Ten years ago. (That’s the important part there . . . the “ten years ago” part.) Although nasty (because cancer), the treatment protocol for our particular kind of cancer has come a long, long way in the last 15 years. And you (my diffuse large B-cell sister) are lucky. And strong. And I’ll be sending you The Good JuJu every day. XOXO

    Reply
  19. Chris Papps says:
    August 2, 2018 at 10:42 pm

    With your class, your personality and your book I realized I didn’t not knit incorrectly and did not need to be corrected. You gave me confidence. thank you. I hate hearing that you have to go through all this. You are in my thoughts for sustaining yourself through all this. You are one creative and brave lady!

    Reply
  20. Annette says:
    August 3, 2018 at 7:33 am

    Cancer, smancer- no words about it – you ROCK, and can keep on rocking for a very long time! Us knitters are behind you.

    Reply
  21. Marylouise says:
    August 3, 2018 at 11:03 am

    I wish you good luck. That “C” word diagnosis is not what anyone wants to hear. On the plus side, you will find strength, determination and a stubbornness you never knew you had. Fight. Will pray for you.

    Reply
  22. Brian O'Leary says:
    August 4, 2018 at 6:47 pm

    Thoughts and prayers from your friends in South Orange 🙁

    Reply
    1. Annie Modesitt says:
      August 4, 2018 at 8:08 pm

      Cur. You’re a cur! Oh, I SEE WHAT YOU DID! Well, all of those lasagnas and baked zitis that Liz made in the 80’s and 90’s are now going to be my ticket to the head of the chemo line! Thank the lovely Liz for me, sweetie!

      Reply
  23. Honore Francois says:
    September 7, 2018 at 10:48 am

    I arrived here via ASKATKNITS. I I wish you strength and I send you love.

    Reply

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