The Day After

Not a good morning. Still feeling yucky, and tired. Guess due to lack of sleep and lots of drugs. I felt bad when people called and I felt terrible. So, if I don't answer from now on, that's why. I listened to an imagery CD that my dear friend Debra gave me and it helped a lot!!!! Very calming. And a great call from my friend Anne, who made me laugh and pulled me out of my funk! I love you!!!!
Off to the Doctor again to get a shot to build up my white blood cells, didn't hurt a bit (I'm a chicken!)  Thank you Nurse Carol Ann for your  gentleness and wealth of information. Next stop, the surgeon to have my port checked. All is well and good.
Thank you dear, sweet Sue for being my escort today! I Love you!

CHOP

Day Two of Chemo was a little different.
Different attitude on my part-I was tired due to all of the drugs from the day before that kept me up.
Different Nurse-Katie-who was outstanding and inspiring!
Different Mix of drugs-the Strong Stuff! (Think red Hawaiian Punch going in. . . )
Different length of time-shorter day!
Katie told us to go out to dinner that night so we did, but it didn't work out too well. Couldn't really eat my yummy steak so I had to bring it home.

How about some Hawaiian Punch?

The night was tough, but I had my sweet Craig by my side, and running up  and down the stairs getting things for me to settle my stomach. I love him so!!!!!

Drip, Drip, Drip

Ready to kick this thing!

Danielle hooking me up.

Chatting, of course!!!

Off to my first day of chemotherapy. Feeling good, looking good (I can brag a little), and ready to start the battle. Nurse Barbara hooked me up and sent me on my way. Nurse Danielle set us up in a prime location-flat screen TV and near the bathroom. It's all about location!

The Lavender Girls!

The staff was outstanding-friendly, informative and most importantly, genuinely sweet and caring Angels!!! With their help and my honey, Craig and dearest friend Lisa by my side, the Drip, Drip, Drip of the day passed without any major problems.
I actually came home feeling energized and full of pep-apparently due to all of the benadryl and steroids.
Special thanks to Janis for the absolutely delicious dinner! And of course, Prudence for knitting me the most beautiful blanket!!!!!!

A Prayer

May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.

The Chemo Companion

I read this little book yesterday that I received at the Cancer Institute and decided to finally read it.  It is called the Chemo-Companion.  Wow! I know this book was written to help prepare you for what's ahead but it kind of made me wish I could sleep through it all. Luckily, in the afternoon, I got to see so many of my friends from school and their words of encouragement, support and love helped me tremendously!!!! Thank you all so much. I love you!

Haircut

 

Before                                          

Being Measured for a wig

A toast to LIFE!

The Haircut

                                                      
Do you think I should cut more off?

                                                                        

Vanity

Vanity is a difficult issue to confront. I don't think it is so terrible to want to look good. My girlfriends and I often end up talking about our hair and where we get it cut and how a lot of times we are just not happy with it or our stylist. ( BTW, I Love My Stylist)  Sometimes, having a bad hair day can just ruin your day. Am I right, ladies? 

Well, in preparation for losing my hair, as the doctor said I most definitely will, I am cutting my hair shorter today. (Think Ellen Degeneres style without the flip in front!)  I'm thinking I would rather lose it in little clumps as opposed to big clumps. Sounds kind of silly, considering I have short hair already, but mentally I think if it is much shorter it won't be as bad when it falls out or I shave my head.  

I would like to thank my dear friend Sue for telling me that any haircut will look good because I have a beautiful face. XO

My Goal

Apparently, everyone believes me to be one strong willed individual so I will try to prove you all to be right! I am going to fight this and beat it as it IS curable. I have too many things left to do, places to go and people to see. With your love and support and a lot of humor, I know I can do this. As one of my favorite fortune cookies once said, "A Lifetime of Happiness Lies Ahead of You"!

Treatment

I just had my Port put in yesterday at Good Samaritan Hospital. The staff was fabulous, especially Nurse Beverly who just called to check on me. I did not expect to be this sore and I can't shower for two days so I will be in hiding until tomorrow.
I will begin chemotherapy on Monday and right now they are saying 6 treatments over an 18 week period.
FUN!!!!
I will be losing my hair, but as I told Craig, this is a great time of year for hair loss as there will be so many wigs available at the Halloween Store. As most of you know, I love to play dress-up so look out!!

The Diagnosis

Craig worked tirelessly to find me the best care possible with the best Doctor(s) possible. The Chief of Lymphoma at Sloan Kettering has my file and pathology and is working with a local oncologist (thank you Tyra for the hook up) and I feel I am in the best hands.

The Final Diagnosis-Non Hodgkins Lymphoma, B Cell, Low Grade Folicular. BUT low grade usually grows slowly and mine keeps going. You all know I have to be different!!

The Tests

Cat Scan, Needle Biopsy, Pet Scan and Bone Marrow Biopsy. These are listed in the order I took them-all within a 3 week period. Draining and exhausting and the constant waiting for results.

Fate

Everything happens for a reason. When I was in my car accident in April, all I could say is why me? This was my second one in a year- both rear enders. A few weeks later and MRI on my back showed what they thought was an aneurysm. Cat Scan said it was a swollen lymph node. Follow up required in 3 months.  The follow-up was not good. The mass, which it now was called, had almost doubled in size. Diagnosis- Possible Lymphoma. If I had not been hit, I would have never known until this mass was much further advanced and treatment would have been more difficult.  I feel as if I owe the guy that hit me a HUGE thank you!