Posts Tagged ‘radiation’

A New Chapter

Tuesday, June 19th, 2012

Front Desk At Focus On The FamilyThe experience at Focus on the Family was PERFECT; just what the doctor ordered. It forced me to get my stamina back with the schedule we kept, we made some great new friends, and enriched old friendships. It was a wonderful April!

Now we look forward to a whole bunch of anticipation to our “Rivers of Europe” river boat cruise.  From Amsterdam to Vienna on a ship that holds 150! I am trying to learn about the area, mostly Germany — Castles, middle ages, war trials etc. It’s kind of my “Jubilee” and victory trip over the trials of 8 months of Chemo and Radiation.

From Vienna we head to Barnoldswick,  England to see friends and family and from there to a family reunion in New Jersey.

So hold on to your hats, here we go again.  God is so good, and it is sooooo awesome to have my health back and that dark chapter of cancer behind me. The prayers, cards, books, and meals were so much appreciated. They got me through.  Amazing!

Cross At Focus On The Family

The New Positive is a Negative

Friday, March 16th, 2012

Positive is a NegativeThe best news I can get is a negative, a zero. How did the test go? Nothing there! In this respect, I want to fail these tests. Earlier this week I had a pet-scan where they put radioactive isotopes through me via IV, put me in a dark room, and an hour later processed me thru a large donut that clicks and whirs. Then the cat-scan is where they put holy-mother-of-hot-sauce thru my veins and send me thru again. These chemical cocktails attach and light up any fast growing cells in my body (and my trip to cancer started with this 8 months ago). But they showed NOTHING. I’m smiling, really big! Hallelujah!

I’m not complaining, but while I was going thru chemo and radiation, I was doing something to fight this. Now I am on my own and the only thing I can do is be healthy. I must eat better, sleep more, de-stress, and continue to rely as heavily on my faith as I did in the dark times. My doctor (who I love) will see me a couple times a year to put me thru those test once again. And I will pray for a negative and be at peace because I had some truly remarkable people who walked with me and gave me such appreciation for the cancer journey I was on.

After all, ultimate healing is heaven with Christ, and that’s a real positive!

Flunked!

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

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

Tuesday, December 27th, 2011

Chick Magnet

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

Volcano GermsOr 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

Thursday, December 8th, 2011

CamelIt’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

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

Radiation SymbolRAD 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

Friday, November 11th, 2011

Plan BPlan 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

Trip to Cancer

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Last year was an awesome year of travel; 22 weeks away from home and on the road!  The sights and tastes of the journey were incredible, awesome, priceless.  From Barnoldswick, England to Pisa, Italy,to Orland, Sweden the adventure far exceeded all expectations. And the people; oh the kindness of Raymond, Alessandro, Gunner and Dieter, Miranda, Giovani, Father Piernino, and many many others.

We returned home with some inklings that all was not normal, so doctor appointments started lining up. Sonagram, pap,biopsy, specialists, waiting, and then the day you have a date with an oncologist. How do you be cheerful as you walk in that door, the one at the very end of that long hallway?

But just like the adventures in Europe, the doctors, nurse-practitioner, staff and volunteers at Scripps-Mercy Hospital, Scripps-Green and RB joined with all my friends and family to hold me up in prayer. Betty and Mary and Andy babysat me after surgery, Donna cooked and Steve e-mailed updates. I was so loved and cared for that fear NEVER had a chance to take hold. Radiation zapped some strength, but not the knowledge that God loved me and had placed me amongst the most wonderful people in the entire world.

I need to get a map with some bright pins to mark all those special destinations I hold in my heart. Just not sure where to put the trip to cancer pin, cause  I don’t want to forget it…it too became a good memory.

December in Vegas

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

All Carnations!

My tales of this years’ travels would not be complete without mentioning LasVegas!  Steve was covering a convention for Pharmacists Dec. 6-9 at the Venetian. It was cold and rainy, but  the storm dusted the surrounding mountains with snow and left everything so fresh and clear.  I was eager to see how Vegas decorates for Christmas and I was mostly disappointed, except in the Bellagio; oh my , what a showstopper!! Lights, flowers, pointsettas, snow, music, and a little magic. 

We also enjoyed meeting up with the Finnanes for dinner at the restaurant “Switch”, a restaurant whose walls and ceiling change decor every 20 minutes, and Suranowitzes for dinner at Grand Lux Cafe , owned by Cheesecake factory.  I had a great time being on my own: window shopping, reading, people watching.  A lot of the Italy scenes at the Venetian tugged at our hearts as they reminded us of our time spent seeing the real thing (like the mimes, or musicians or the art).

Long drives, but got a book on tape from the library and it made time speed by.   Now I return a week behind for my Christmas plans ,and to embark on Radiation. Then I can have a Holiday Glow too!