Toshiko's Day(s) Out(Photos+videos)

[Toshiko]

Hi, everyone

This is Mad Dog. Toshiko was able to come home today. She'll still need to visit the hospital once a day for a while, but so far the treatment is going well. She looks much better, the incision looks to be healing properly, and she is glad that the hospital meals will no longer be a part of her daily diet. (I tried a little of her dinner and liked it, though. Then again I can enjoy anything that's edible.)

So it would seem to be the proper time to end this topic that was started to honor the Estoril, Portugal show. Thank you, everyone, from my heart and soul for your support during this difficult time for my wife. We'll stay positive and look to the future.

And Toshiko and I hope all of you are able to enjoy this holiday season with your dear ones, your families and friends, and that your days will be spent in the joy that this time of year brings. May the fellowship here in the forum and in your lives warm your hearts and souls.

Always yours,

Rolf

[solitude]

wow thats great news.im very happy she's back home, and i bet she will get back to her usual energetic self in no time.

here's to both of you mate!!cheers!!

[Dawn]

Hi Rolf and Toshiko!! I am so happy that you are home now and on the mend. Keep those positive thoughts going!! I am happy for your both to spend the holidays at home with each other. Happy Holidays!!!

[torrone77]

Toshiko,

I am happy and relieved you are home and doing well. You are one strong lady and you are both amazing people!!

Wishing you a happy and relaxing holiday season.

Ciao!

Sal

[Yuliya]

I'm so happy to hear Toshiko's much better now! Rolf, give her my best wishes and greetings!!!!
Thanks for your wishes! I also would like to wish you two to leave all the troubles of 2008 in that 2008, and step into a new year with joy and happiness!!!! I wish troubles and illnesses leave you for ever from now on! And i'm sure this will come true! there's so many people around who wish that!!!
Best wishes!!!!

[MagdaStarzyk]

Great new that Toshiko's much better now! Best wishes and greetings for you

[ScorpsDiva]

Wishing you a speedy recovery Toshiko!

Huggs

Sherry

[Blackout fan no1]

I am glad to hear she is back at home and out of the hospital.

[Toshiko]

Four days have passed since I was released from the hospital and usually, in Japan, we can stay from two weeks up to one month the hospital, but the hospital where I stayed has a policy to where you must leave within 10 days. I wanted to have more of an IV pain-killer because the hospital offers much stronger medicine then when you're on an out-patient basis, but oh, well.

The pain made me so irritated and angry but I had no place to release the feeling.
Today, finally, my doctor gave me a stronger pain-killer so the pain went away a little.

I would like to thank everyone who wrote me warm, kind, and considerate messages and email.
My battle is still going on and I have a lot of ups and downs each day, but I believe something good will come after a bad thing happened.
If anyone who is suffering with the same situtation or any other similar problem, please hang in there together.
I am not strong and so am not a type of person who can comfort other people well, but I can share the pain and anger and sadness with you.

I would like to share these photos with you all for a little bit of a comforting feeling.

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr25/estoril2008/42c229a5.jpg
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr25/estoril2008/1a7467e1.jpg
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr25/estoril2008/bluesky.jpg

These things are always given to us from the God, and even if you don't realize they are there, God will still continue offering them to you because you can feel healing and love. This is what I believe.
I want to be loved.
I want to feel love.
So I want to love you, too.

[Blackout fan no1]

Hi Toshiko. I wasn't in hospital for long with my first breast cancer either but then I had to go back and get the second one cut out of me and I had to go back for another operation for the reconstruction. It all takes a lot of time, stress, sleepless nights, anger and stress. I am still suffering now from the chemo last year and from the dam cancer tablets. If you want to talk you know where to find me. Take care, eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and get lots of rest.
Big wam hugs and love from Mara.

[Rūta]

Hi Toshiko!

Your message touched me so deeply, I'm with you from all my heart dear. Keep strong.

My aunt was diagnosed breast cancer few years ago and I thank God everyday she is still with us.

Kisses

Ruta

[solitude]

im very glad to see you are at home tos, dont worry be strong every thing will be fine.

take your time in recovering and never loose hope, if you fall remeber there are a lot of ppl who will catch you and get you back on ur feet.we there for you stay strong my friend!

[gohesse]

I was told to leave you alone so I will.

Just one thing;
I want to be loved...... You are loved. God loves you, he always has, and always will.
I want to feel love........You will when your focus in on the right things.
So I want to love you, too. "I know you are my disciples BY YOUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER"

With healing thoughts,
Seika

[Gabi6912]

Wise post Seika.

I was just a silent contenplater of the events.
Toshiko, I sincerelly feel sorry about your healthproblem, and I am so very sorry for your strong pain, and that something was necessary to be operated on your breast.
My simpathy is yours in your illness, and sincerelly wishing you a speedy recover from anything.
However, breastcancer is a serious thing, you aren't lucky if you have it but you can recover from it.
You are lucky if you don't have it, so it is not a good game neither with other fanmates' nor with the bandmembers' feelings and emotions.
The word "cancer" has a strong influence for people's feelings, everybody intuitively think minimally chemotherapy and radiotation treatment behind the lines, human psiche works on this way.
This is absolutely not disregretful fact, if a cancered tumour was operated from your breast, or something else that is negative not positive, and it is just question of time to recover from it.

[gsantana]

Toshiko & Rolf:

Hope that the Holidays brings joy for you. You have brought joy to me reading your reviews and seeing you in many different places around the world. Again I am very lucky to have you all as friends and hope to see you at Scorpions shows in 2009. (Hope for Tokyo and Fukyoka shows)

Merry X-mas and Happy New Year.

[Toshiko]

This is Mad Dog. We hope you are all enjoying the winter holidays and that 2009 will be a happy and healthy year for one and all. (With many Scorpion shows for one and all.)

Again, since there are many questions from many kind forum members about Toshiko's current condition, I would just like to give a short update. The first night after her surgery, it appears that the inner sutures were stretched, causing internal bleeding in that area. When her outer stitches were removed on the 16th, the doctor decided to remove the pooled blood. First, he used a syringe but the blood was too thick, too coagulated for this so he made a cut and squeezed the blood out. This was extremely painful for Toshiko, especially since she did not expect it. The doctor had not explained what he was going to do. He then inserted a tube into her chest to allow the blood to drain and covered this with a massive wad of gauze.

Because of the gauze, pain, and medication, Toshiko (and I) were unaware that she had this tube until a nurse mentioned it that night when we visited the hospital for an IV for Toshiko. So we switched hospitals and doctors so that Toshiko could get better care. However, with the switch, we have had to jump from doctor to doctor because of the holiday season here in Japan. And I've come to relearn that some doctors are deaf to everything (i.e. their patients), except for what they hear through their stethoscope.

We did meet a wonderful nurse today and Toshiko will see her main caregiver tomorrow. So with Christmas Eve coming tomorrow, things are looking up.

And I pray that all things in your lives are just as positive.

[Blackout fan no1]

Hi Mad Dog. It is such a relief that Toshiko does not have cancer. I know that the operations are still horrible and stressful but Thank God Toshiko's lump was benign. I can imagine you and Toshiko are very relieved about that. Please send her my love and tell her I am thinking about her and hope she is feeling better real soon, and give her a big hug from me to please.

[solitude]

hey tos and mad, im glad u can update us in this tough time, but be strong.we are here for support and any thing you need.

my regards for both of you, and my prayers so that tos gets back to 100 asap.god bless and god speed my friends.and season greetings.hope it lets you guys forget the tough you are facing even for while.

cioa and keep us posted.

[Toshiko]

This seems to be another night where Toshiko won't be able to sleep so I am online again. Yes, we were very relieved to find out once the tumor had been removed that it had not metastasised. And that we didn't wait any longer than we did for her operation. Once the growth was biopsied, the doctor agreed. I have learned a lot these past few weeks through the Internet, and through her original doctor's explanation, about the risk factors for women and breast cancer. I advise every woman to be checked, even if you feel you are not at high risk. Please do not wait. I do not mean to scare anyone, but please do not wait.

Obviously our holiday season this year is not the one we expected. Traveling to the hospital every day, waiting for test results, scheduling tests for other growths, and we don't know if or when everything will be finished and can return to a more normal lifestyle. Even though we do not feel in a celebratory mood this year, every day we try to stay positive and look forward to the future.

[Dawn]

Hello Toshiko and Rolf. I am Ecstatic that the tumor was benign!!! I know that the pain of the surgery and the post op is hard but waht a blessing for you both to know it is not cancer. God bless you both and have a VERY VERY Merry Christmas. You have received the best gift of all!!!