Getting ready for Relay for Life

I have not had a good week, as my abdomen wound developed some type of infection, so I've been on a lot of pain meds this week. With all this rain, it has been real easy to stay home under my new afghan and read/take naps.

Thanks to my wonderful co-worker, Carrie Miller, I was reminded that the Relay for Life is this Friday at Christiansburg High School. Since my office sponsored a team in my honor, I hope to walk the Survivor Walk that night. I am blessed to have the best co-workers!! I told Carrie that I might not make it around the full lap, but I was sure going to try, as I definitely want to support the team.

I have my (hopefully) last chemo treatment next Friday (June 5th), then will have another PET scan 3 weeks after that. Please keep those thoughts and prayers coming my way!

I love you all!

Round 1 Results

I had the new Round 1 of chemo last week and were it not for a previous wound, all would have gone great. No nausea and so far, I haven't lost any of my new hair! (If you call my cellphone, my default ring tone is "Give Me a Head of Hair," from the "Hair" musical soundtrack)!

I'm at Day 10 right now of my 21-day chemo cycle. My blood level went to .9 this past Monday, but was back to the normal level of 1 yesterday. Thanks to my wonderful friends, Kay and Joe Hunnings invitation, I stayed at their house Tuesday and last night just in case my energy level dropped quickly as it has in the past. I'm back to my own home today.

However, my original port-au-catheter sight opened up and abscessed almost immediately and I developed another blood clot in my right leg. Both were quite painful which required stronger pain medication, but thankfully neither required surgery or hospitalization -- for which I am TRULY thankful!!

Round 2 of chemo is scheduled for the first week of June, then 3 weeks later I will have another PET scan to determine if the mass still has "activity" or not. If there is no activity, I will begin what I hope will be the recovery process from everything.

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers that I continue to gain my strength and return to normal health (whatever that will be for me!!).

Thanks!

Round 2 of Chemo

I had the first of what will hopefully be the last of my chemo treatments today. For the first time since November, I feel like I can see a tunnel. I'm trying to avoid "negative waves" as my late sainted mother would say and hope that the light will not be far away. I am truly ready for all of this to be over so I can try and get back to a normal life again!

I had a wonderful weekend with David, Trisha and Heather in Greenville, NC for Mother's Day. Nothing lifts my spirits more than being with my children (now including new daughter-in-lawTrisha, of course!), and hearing them laugh. We had after dinner drinks at an outside bar who had a live band in New Bern Saturday night. I even got up and danced the Electric Slide!!

I sure have come a long way!

Port Out

After developing a blood clot in my new port-au-catheter, the incision had to be opened to drain last week. Unfortunately, as it was draining, the port was pushed to skin-level so Dr. Stoeckle had to remove it today. So no port-au-catheters for me.

I have an appointment with Dr. McCoy (oncologist) tomorrow, to find out the results of the PET scan done last Saturday, and when chemo will begin. I'll update the blog after that.

I am SO ready for my body to heal and chemo to be completed so I can begin to get a normal life back. I've lost 48 pounds so have had to buy all new clothes which is costly. Since I'll not go back to work until late summer, I just bought comfortable "stay-at-home" clothes for now. Once chemo is completed, I'll have to get some "working" clothes.

I'm going to Greenville to be with David, Trisha and Heather for Mother's Day and am looking forward to that. I'm going to spend the night with my aunt and uncle in Danville to break up the trip since it will be my first trip by myself.

As always, thanks for the thoughts and prayers.