Morales22.com

Back In The Saddle Again

Debbie — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:39:56 +0000

I vividly remember sitting in front of my little blue record player with cowboys all over it playing my 33 1/3 yellow discs and singing this song by Gene Autry. I even had a Gene Autry cowboy hat and holster set. Don’t know why Mom and Dad didn’t give me Dale Evans or Annie Okley. I also remember sticking a bobby pin in the open socket above the record player plug, and learned to NEVER to do that again. I couldn’t have been older than 4 years old. Where did that segway come from?

The stimulating shots for my white blood cell count worked. Would you believe those shots are made up of medical E. coli? Shutter! So I whined and pleaded and got them to resume my chemo that very afternoon. Yay?

9 more weeks, can you hold on with me a little while longer?

Flunked!

Debbie — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:01:26 +0000

With radiation now behind me (thank heavens!) I was “looking forward (?)” to finishing up the last three chemo sessions and getting on with my life. I need good numbers on my blood work and then we would be set to go!

Blast it! I should be between 3-5 on white blood cell count and I’m a 1. That’s the number that fights infection. The red count is low too, but not as critical to proceed, that’s the energy one. So NO CHEMO this week.

I am infusing spinach, iron, and wheat grass and anything I can think of into my diet that might help…and praying. The sooner I resume, the sooner it’s over!

Another blood test this Friday. Study, study, study.

Twitter Announcement December 27

Andy — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:34:12 +0000

radiation OVER!!!

— Debbie Morales (@Debbie_Morales) December 27, 2011

Chick Magnet

Debbie — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:38:04 +0000

Or rather, make that a germ magnet. When it comes to germs, I haven’t met one my body didn’t like.

Two courses of antibiotics, I still bark (cough) like a seal, a port infection, and now volcano virus — erupting from everywhere! I missed radiation yesterday but at least the dashes to the bathroom are fewer today and radiation is back on (yippee). Jeez, some days it’s hard not to get down. I am missing all the holidays teas, lunches etc to be with the porcelain fixture. Thanks for letting me unload (almost said “dump”).

One bright spot, today the bank received my first Social Security check. I’m getting it early while there is still $$. Now I just need to live long enough to enjoy it!!

Hump Day

Debbie — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:30:41 +0000

It’s official!! Dec. 7th was my half way point of all chemo and radiation treatments. So I take joy in the fact that it’s downhill from here! (Come on, gotta find something to celebrate cause this sucks. Did I say that? )

Thank you for your prayers, they lift me up when I don’t even have the strength to pray for myself. And this is a long haul, so I appreciate those who haven’t forgotten about me.

In March 2012 we can have balloons, streamers, confetti,and fireworks for the end of this journey, but for now, yippee, it’s Hump Day!

Radiation Day 6

Debbie — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:13:07 +0000

RAD Patient: that’s what my parking pass says. This pass lets me park right in front of the building, whose basement I must enter for my daily treatment! This RAD patient gets gowned and enters a Star Wars room of huge machines and laser lights that align with my belly and its “tattoos.” Low dose radiation is beamed at my abdomen to sterilize any little molecules that are wandering around. A total of 15 minutes and I’m out of there!

I will have a total of 25 treatments that bring with them nausea and drowsiness. So that means I cannot drive heavy machinery (does that count refrigerators and stoves — my excuse for not doing much cooking lately).

All of this fun ends Dec. 23 , and then, I get a week off before we return to Chemo. RADical!

Blessed Are The Flexible

Debbie — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:18:04 +0000

Plan A was always my first choice. You know, the one where everything works out to be Happily Ever After. But more often than not, I find myself dealing with the upside-down version where nothing goes as it should. This isn’t MY idea of a good time

At this point the real test begins, of my character, that is. Do I sink or swim? Do I wallow in self-pity(sometimes)? Do I think of myself as the victim or simply turn a page and make the best of the situation??? The choice is mine. Life is all about how you handle plan B! Lemonade anyone?

Radiation starts next Thursday

I get cards!

Debbie — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 00:21:35 +0000

I have received so many cards, the postman has thanked me personally for giving him job security. Sooo many dear friends want to help, provide, cook, visit, transport, and yet there are so many limitations and not enuff little tasks. So funny cards, sentimental cards, religious cards, they all say I pray, I care. I have so many cards that IF I set them on fire, they’d keep me warm the rest of my life, and they will!

Chemo 3 of 6 under way, thank you for your love.

Pins And Needles

Debbie — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 19:16:28 +0000

Well, I tried acupuncture, a service provided to any cancer patients who wants it. One session did not a convert make, but we will see. Chemo II laid me so low, so early, I would have tried anything.

I have pictures to add of 6 needles coming out of each ear. Anyone had a successful experience being a pin cushion? oh I’m such a caucasian skeptic!

Wigged Out

Debbie — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:29:11 +0000

October 1, Saturday, almost like a starter’s gun went off, the hair started to leave the head! Weird feeling, like you’ve parted your head the wrong way all over the place.

Wig shopping with Betty and Steve at a place I highly recommend ”the Headquarters.” Hundreds of wigs to choose from and an insurance that covers it all. I tried on dozens in all colors, lengths, and styles. Bought FOUR!!! A blonde, a brunette, and two auburn. Steve was hoping the “Farah Fawcett” look would be the real me, but we dashed that fantasy with the way it looked.

Today a good friend, who is a beautician, in shaving the remnant hair so I have a clean start . I choose to have fun, and I certainly am (most of the time)! Photos coming soon.

My blood work from Friday showed my white count back up and I can rejoin the world and feel pretty good for a week or so when we can do it all over again next Friday!