Hi All,
The big news is that my bone scan is clean. Isn't that great news? I am beyond thrilled. I was sitting at the Crazy Flamingo on Marco Island with the college roommates (Monica, Trina and Emily) when I received a phone call from Nurse Kelly. She said, "How are you? You are going to be even better in about a minute." I thought that was a very cool way to tell me that the scan was clear. The ladies of ISU raised our glasses and celebrated the news!!!
I took the girls to the airport on Tuesday and picked-up Wayne. The time with my ladies was awesome. We laughed so hard. In fact a few times I laughed so hard it made my head hurt. The weather was fabulous when the girls were here and it has continued to be beautiful.
Since Saturday I have been to the spa, walked the beach, swam in the Gulf, had a few frozen cocktails, gone to Marco Movies, gone to Sweet Annie's (twice), read a book, read multiple magazines and I know Dr. G won't be thrilled with me, but he will have to agree that I look much better with a tan...almost healthy. The hair on my head is coming in, my eye lashes and eye brows are growing back and my fingers and toe nails are looking better everyday.
Wayne and I come back home on Sunday morning. When we cross the bridge and leave Marco we will pick-up all of our issues again. We head to the doctor Monday for Avastin and a doctor appointment.
However, while we are here our problems are on the other side of the bridge. This week started out great and will end great. It's nice to have a place to go where I feel protected from all of the tough things in life. Marco is without question my safe haven.
Cheers to safe havens!
Maria
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
"Maria" by Eddie Campbell (my almost 11 year old nephew)
My Aunt Maria is the most amazing person I know. She is hilarious, nice and a cancer survivor. She has had three different cancers and one of those she is currently being treated for. First, she had Hodgkins, which is a cancer of the blood. Next, the treatment for Hodgkins gave her breast cancer. Then, finally, her breast cancer spread to her lung so now she is having chemotherapy for that. We have many inside jokes such as paper bag and C.G. We go out to eat together and do other things too. I think she is the funniest, nicest person on the Earth, and the worst person this could happen to. She is beautiful in every way and she is the greatest aunt ever!
To my dear sweet Buddha - you made the blog! No one has ever said nicer things about me in my entire life. I would face cancer a million times to hear you say (and have you write) that I am amazing, hilarious, nice and beautiful.
Eddie - you mean the world to me. I love you with all of my heart, but don't tell Grace because she might get mad at you : )
To my dear sweet Buddha - you made the blog! No one has ever said nicer things about me in my entire life. I would face cancer a million times to hear you say (and have you write) that I am amazing, hilarious, nice and beautiful.
Eddie - you mean the world to me. I love you with all of my heart, but don't tell Grace because she might get mad at you : )
Monday, October 19, 2009
GREAT News - The tumors HAVE NOT grown!
Hello All,
I am so thrilled to be able to send this email.....the tumors have not grown...the tumors have not spread!
I will continue to receive Avastin (not chemo) every three weeks until the doctor tells me otherwise.
I have a Bone Scan this Friday to make sure that the bones are free of disease. Keep praying for great results. Once I have those results I will let you know.
Thank you all for your continued support. I am going to sleep easy tonight knowing that we won this round!
Love,
Maria
I am so thrilled to be able to send this email.....the tumors have not grown...the tumors have not spread!
I will continue to receive Avastin (not chemo) every three weeks until the doctor tells me otherwise.
I have a Bone Scan this Friday to make sure that the bones are free of disease. Keep praying for great results. Once I have those results I will let you know.
Thank you all for your continued support. I am going to sleep easy tonight knowing that we won this round!
Love,
Maria
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Updates on Life
Hello there,
Chemo - Chemo was canceled for this week (it should have been Tuesday, October 6) because my finger nails and toe nails are still looking pretty ugly. I will go in on Monday, October 12 and I will have Avastin and/or chemo, but that won't be decided until I see the doctor.
I'm not sure what is next, perhaps, he will order me to start the three chemos I haven't had, perhaps he will have me continue on Avastin, perhaps he will send me for a CT Scan, OR perhaps he will buy me a plane ticket and send me for a vacation.....I doubt the last one, but a girl can dream : )
Once I find something out I will let you know. Please pray that he will order a CT Scan. I'm about all out of patience (not that I really had any : )
Hand Lotion - Thank you to all who sent me hand lotions or hand lotion recommendations. I have purchased EVERYTHING recommended and a few things that simply sounded good. Of course my hands still look horrible, but I think I'm a little over sensitive to how they look. Since I haven't had chemo in a few weeks hopefully they will start to heal and look a little less sad.
Hair - My hair is growing back slowly, but surely. It is coming in a lovely salt and pepper. I'm hopeful that as it continues to grow the pepper will will overtake the salt OR I will be making a quick trip to the salon to have it dyed back to my natural color. I am almost over the hump of looking like a rat without my hats on. Once the hair is long enough all hats and scarves will be packed away. If it weren't for the hair loss you really could hide your cancer from those people you don't want to share it with and being able to do that would make it easier...most days.
Children are the BEST! - My good friend Nora shared this story with me and I hope she doesn't mind that I share it with you, but it touched me so deeply that I just can't help myself.
I went to Nora's house without my hat on one afternoon and I really didn't think anything of it because Nora's boys are young so I thought they wouldn't even notice. Well, I couldn't have been more wrong. So here's what happened....
Seems when Nora was tucking her son into bed that evening and they were starting their evening prayers she said my name (they pray for me every night - yeah me)
Well his response to hearing my name was "Mom, we don't have to pray for Maria anymore."
When Nora asked him why....he said because "she's not sick anymore." I think Nora was hoping he had some child to God conversation and knew something no one else knew....so she asked him what he meant and he said (I love this) "Mom she's didn't have her hat on" (Like duh Mom...no hat....all better.)
Now the fact that I still don't have much hair didn't bother him at all, but the fact that he connects no hair and my hats with my being sick...well that says it all. I have to admit that since Nora shared this story with me I have been feeling a little better : )
Have a wonderful rest of the week. I know I am looking forward to the weekend!
Maria
Chemo - Chemo was canceled for this week (it should have been Tuesday, October 6) because my finger nails and toe nails are still looking pretty ugly. I will go in on Monday, October 12 and I will have Avastin and/or chemo, but that won't be decided until I see the doctor.
I'm not sure what is next, perhaps, he will order me to start the three chemos I haven't had, perhaps he will have me continue on Avastin, perhaps he will send me for a CT Scan, OR perhaps he will buy me a plane ticket and send me for a vacation.....I doubt the last one, but a girl can dream : )
Once I find something out I will let you know. Please pray that he will order a CT Scan. I'm about all out of patience (not that I really had any : )
Hand Lotion - Thank you to all who sent me hand lotions or hand lotion recommendations. I have purchased EVERYTHING recommended and a few things that simply sounded good. Of course my hands still look horrible, but I think I'm a little over sensitive to how they look. Since I haven't had chemo in a few weeks hopefully they will start to heal and look a little less sad.
Hair - My hair is growing back slowly, but surely. It is coming in a lovely salt and pepper. I'm hopeful that as it continues to grow the pepper will will overtake the salt OR I will be making a quick trip to the salon to have it dyed back to my natural color. I am almost over the hump of looking like a rat without my hats on. Once the hair is long enough all hats and scarves will be packed away. If it weren't for the hair loss you really could hide your cancer from those people you don't want to share it with and being able to do that would make it easier...most days.
Children are the BEST! - My good friend Nora shared this story with me and I hope she doesn't mind that I share it with you, but it touched me so deeply that I just can't help myself.
I went to Nora's house without my hat on one afternoon and I really didn't think anything of it because Nora's boys are young so I thought they wouldn't even notice. Well, I couldn't have been more wrong. So here's what happened....
Seems when Nora was tucking her son into bed that evening and they were starting their evening prayers she said my name (they pray for me every night - yeah me)
Well his response to hearing my name was "Mom, we don't have to pray for Maria anymore."
When Nora asked him why....he said because "she's not sick anymore." I think Nora was hoping he had some child to God conversation and knew something no one else knew....so she asked him what he meant and he said (I love this) "Mom she's didn't have her hat on" (Like duh Mom...no hat....all better.)
Now the fact that I still don't have much hair didn't bother him at all, but the fact that he connects no hair and my hats with my being sick...well that says it all. I have to admit that since Nora shared this story with me I have been feeling a little better : )
Have a wonderful rest of the week. I know I am looking forward to the weekend!
Maria
Monday, September 21, 2009
Chemo - Delayed
Today was a bit disappointing. Wayne and I got to chemo on time and the blood draw was quick and a painful because they had to basically take it out of my knuckle. We got in for treatment right on time, which was very exciting.
Unfortunately, the moment that the nurse saw my finger nails she said, "I don't think we can do chemo today." So she went and grabbed my Oncology Nurse and low and behold the decision was made that there would be no chemo today and that we can't do anymore chemo until my finger nails and my toe nails heal.
So today was only Avastin and a flu shot. I will watch my fingers and toes to see if they heal and I will keep the hospital posted on my progress. If things look good in a week or two I may have a chemo treatment, but if not I will have another treatment of Avastin in two weeks.
It may sound strange, but I was really looking forward to starting and finishing this round of chemo so this little set back is a bummer. However, feeling good for another week or two is a gift...YEAH feeling good.
I'll keep you posted on the healing process of my fingers and toes. I'm hoping they heal quickly.
You continue to be my strength and help keep me...keeping on!
Lots of love,
Maria
Unfortunately, the moment that the nurse saw my finger nails she said, "I don't think we can do chemo today." So she went and grabbed my Oncology Nurse and low and behold the decision was made that there would be no chemo today and that we can't do anymore chemo until my finger nails and my toe nails heal.
So today was only Avastin and a flu shot. I will watch my fingers and toes to see if they heal and I will keep the hospital posted on my progress. If things look good in a week or two I may have a chemo treatment, but if not I will have another treatment of Avastin in two weeks.
It may sound strange, but I was really looking forward to starting and finishing this round of chemo so this little set back is a bummer. However, feeling good for another week or two is a gift...YEAH feeling good.
I'll keep you posted on the healing process of my fingers and toes. I'm hoping they heal quickly.
You continue to be my strength and help keep me...keeping on!
Lots of love,
Maria
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Chemo #15 with Emily (one of the college roommates)
Today was a long, but good day. Emily picked me up early because of Oprah's need to shut done a portion on Michigan Avenue. Em wanted to be absolutely certain that we would not be late for chemo #15.
We actually got downtown quickly so we stopped into a store to get Kiehl's to use for hampoo for my semi-haired head. We laughed about me using something a "little" expensive on my head and I said, "I'd use liquid gold if it worked." Oh, which leads me to a question - if you use a hand moisturizer that you totally swear by please comment on the blog to me directly or email me (dinatalm@yahoo.com) and tell me what it is that you use. I have tried everything and I still think that my Grandma's hands look prettier than mine (she's 93), but I digress.
After our little shopping we went back to NWMH and I gave them some much treasured, increasingly more difficult to draw blood.
After this we were informed that (shocker) the infusion center was running behind. I was completely prepared for this because of the holiday on Monday so no bigee. Emily and I made a break for it and we were back on the streets checking out Michigan Avenue and all of the crazies lining up to attend Oprah's block party (for those of you not living in the Chi - Oprah did her opening show ON...YES ON Michigan Avenue between Wacker and Ohio - it was a mini-mess, but I guess when you are Oprah....Em and I stopped for lunch and just hung out - it was perfect.
We spent a lot of time today talking about our dear friend Becky Klein and we laughed, we laughed hard about all of the fun things we did together and all of the memories that regardless of what that horrible excuse for a human being did to our friend she will never be able to take our memories away! Our memories, our love, our friendship and our laughter will live on. It will live on in those that remain, Me, Emily, Trina, Monica and all of their children. Thanks Em - thanks for making it OK for me to remember our friend without crying or getting really, really angry.
Unfortunately, lunch ended and it was time to head back to NWMH for chemo (ick). We finally got into the room (a nice two bed with a window overlooking the Lake - definitely an upgrade from last week). Nurse Connie found a vein right away in my wrist (ouch) and away we went. Pre-Drugs (fine), Taxol (fine) and Avastin (fine) and 3 hours later the IV was being pulled out (a little roughly I might add - the nurse was sharing her anger towards Oprah and the street closures).
So another week of chemo is behind us folks. I really couldn't be happier, well I could be, but that would mean not doing this at all : ). Next week is an off week - yeah break. Wayne will be in Amsterdam and I will be in Indianapolis (the Amsterdam of America according to Rachel Madden - total crack up)!
Think good thoughts for our travel. Think good thoughts for a nice off week for me and I will think nice thoughts about all of you for checking in on me.
Lots of love folks.....lots of love!
Ria xxx
We actually got downtown quickly so we stopped into a store to get Kiehl's to use for hampoo for my semi-haired head. We laughed about me using something a "little" expensive on my head and I said, "I'd use liquid gold if it worked." Oh, which leads me to a question - if you use a hand moisturizer that you totally swear by please comment on the blog to me directly or email me (dinatalm@yahoo.com) and tell me what it is that you use. I have tried everything and I still think that my Grandma's hands look prettier than mine (she's 93), but I digress.
After our little shopping we went back to NWMH and I gave them some much treasured, increasingly more difficult to draw blood.
After this we were informed that (shocker) the infusion center was running behind. I was completely prepared for this because of the holiday on Monday so no bigee. Emily and I made a break for it and we were back on the streets checking out Michigan Avenue and all of the crazies lining up to attend Oprah's block party (for those of you not living in the Chi - Oprah did her opening show ON...YES ON Michigan Avenue between Wacker and Ohio - it was a mini-mess, but I guess when you are Oprah....Em and I stopped for lunch and just hung out - it was perfect.
We spent a lot of time today talking about our dear friend Becky Klein and we laughed, we laughed hard about all of the fun things we did together and all of the memories that regardless of what that horrible excuse for a human being did to our friend she will never be able to take our memories away! Our memories, our love, our friendship and our laughter will live on. It will live on in those that remain, Me, Emily, Trina, Monica and all of their children. Thanks Em - thanks for making it OK for me to remember our friend without crying or getting really, really angry.
Unfortunately, lunch ended and it was time to head back to NWMH for chemo (ick). We finally got into the room (a nice two bed with a window overlooking the Lake - definitely an upgrade from last week). Nurse Connie found a vein right away in my wrist (ouch) and away we went. Pre-Drugs (fine), Taxol (fine) and Avastin (fine) and 3 hours later the IV was being pulled out (a little roughly I might add - the nurse was sharing her anger towards Oprah and the street closures).
So another week of chemo is behind us folks. I really couldn't be happier, well I could be, but that would mean not doing this at all : ). Next week is an off week - yeah break. Wayne will be in Amsterdam and I will be in Indianapolis (the Amsterdam of America according to Rachel Madden - total crack up)!
Think good thoughts for our travel. Think good thoughts for a nice off week for me and I will think nice thoughts about all of you for checking in on me.
Lots of love folks.....lots of love!
Ria xxx
Secret Pal...Secret Pal...Secret Pal....
Secret Pal struck again last week. They sent the most beautiful (big) sunflowers. They are still brightening our dining room table.
Thank you Secret Pal for continuing to brighten my days. You really can't imagine how deeply you have impacted my attitude. Thank you so much.
Love,
Sunshine.....you are also loved! xx
Thank you Secret Pal for continuing to brighten my days. You really can't imagine how deeply you have impacted my attitude. Thank you so much.
Love,
Sunshine.....you are also loved! xx
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Brain MRI Results - Good Stuff
I think my father-in-law said it best,
"Maria’s brain MRI showed nothing in her brain but brain!!!!!"
Thank you for all of your prayers!
Maria
"Maria’s brain MRI showed nothing in her brain but brain!!!!!"
Thank you for all of your prayers!
Maria
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Lizzy (McGovern) O'Brien Sets the Chemo Bar High on #13, Monday, August 24
Just when I thought chemo wasn't a good time Lizzy (McGovern) O'Brien makes chemo on Monday, August 24 a wonderful memory that I will never forget.
What did she do you may ask to make it so memorable? Keep reading to find out!
The infusion center (chemo) was running very behind so I had Kelly (awesome nurse) paged so I could pop in and see her about some headaches I have been having and about the sties on my right eye, which was healing. Lizzy must be my lucky charm because we got to see Kelly AND Dr. Gradishar.
Meeting with Kelly and Dr. Gradishar went well. They were both happy to see that my eye was healing, but both were unhappy to hear about my headaches. While neither of them thought that the headaches were signaling that anything was wrong they agreed better to be safe than sorry so a brain MRI was scheduled for Monday, August 31 at 8:00am. I will post the results as soon as I have them.
Unfortunately, there was much discussion about whether or not I would need one more cycle (three treatments of chemo) before a follow-up CT. Lizzy and I both came away from our appointment not sure about the final number of treatments that I needed. Sometimes when I'm talking to someone and I either have no clue what they are saying or lose interest and completely zone out I think it's because of what the drugs are doing to my brain. It made me feel better to know that Lizzy didn't understand what the Dr. and Kelly were talking about either.
Back in the waiting room Lizzy and I were just talking and all of a sudden this man walks in and I swear we both almost fell off our chairs with laughter. Imagine this - man walks in wearing a Panama Jack type hat, Tommy Bahama shirt, linen khaki colored baggy pants and is talking to the receptionist as if he is getting ready to order a Margarita. Then we see his companion who (I'm not kidding) in wearing shorts and a shirt that reminded me a a boat captain. We just looked at each other and could not contain our laughter. I mean they seriously both looked like they were getting ready to do the Limbo on the Lido Deck. I don't think that the woman sitting across from me, who was perplexed that the infusion center was running so far behind found our laughter all that amusing, but if she had just stopped in her anger to look around and find the humor in the people and things that were going on she and her friend might have been laughing as hard as me and Lizzy.
Finally, we were called into the infusion center. Laura (awesome chemo nurse)got to the bottom of the 6 treatments (2 cycles) or 9 treatments (3 cycles) then CT Scan confusion and well the answer is 9 treatments (3 cycles) then CT Scan. While I was really looking forward to a break after the next two treatments I guess if the drugs are working keep em coming. Bottom line I'll be done with chemo the first week in October. I don't think that my Christmas wish of hair, not peach fuzz, but hair will be granted....oh well...hopefully I will still get that Cabbage Patch Doll and Barbie Dream House (OK I'm cracking myself up).
Much to my dismay Lizzy and I got the bad chemo room that I have mentioned before. It is an interior room with three chairs (so three patients). Thankfully there were some light hearted patients in the room with us because Lizzy and I were about to be very loud.
Lizzy set the chemo bar high and let me tell you I would not want to go to chemo with me after her because Lizzy brought props - yes props. She brought two photo albums/scrapbooks, our senior year Nazareth yearbook, our 8th grade graduation autograph book, Nazareth Carnation Day cards (Naz Alum you know you remember), Appreciation Day cards (these were from second grade and I didn't even remember Appreciation Day until she reminded me) and no joke a homemade card that I gave to her when we were kids. I mean c'mon I would never have thought to do something so awesome.
The photo albums were great. I love looking at the people that I thought were SO important when I was younger and realizing that I picked some pretty awesome friends because those people are still in my life.
The 8th grade graduation autograph book was amazing because while I wrote like an 8th grader (one who swore a lot - I blame my older brothers) everything I wrote I still believe today.
The Naz Carnation Day cards brought back so many great memories. For those of you that didn't attend Naz -we had "Carnation Day" where you could send other students a carnation and a note for I believe $1.00. Again, everything I wrote on Lizzy's Carnation Day card is still true today.
The card I made for her was very pretty (not at all - I can't draw), but the fact that she still has it is very cool.
She is not going to be happy about this but it has to be said.....
There was a comment I made in one of the books along the way that said "you have been there through thick and thin." I can honestly say that when I wrote the comment I never knew how thick it would get. Lizzy is still in the thick with me. She is always standing beside me, holding my hand, giving me a hug and always lifting my spirit. We have been friends for so long that I don't remember a time when she hasn't been in my life. I could not get through from day-to-day if it weren't for her support.
I thank you and I love you Lizzy!
B/F/F
Maria
What did she do you may ask to make it so memorable? Keep reading to find out!
The infusion center (chemo) was running very behind so I had Kelly (awesome nurse) paged so I could pop in and see her about some headaches I have been having and about the sties on my right eye, which was healing. Lizzy must be my lucky charm because we got to see Kelly AND Dr. Gradishar.
Meeting with Kelly and Dr. Gradishar went well. They were both happy to see that my eye was healing, but both were unhappy to hear about my headaches. While neither of them thought that the headaches were signaling that anything was wrong they agreed better to be safe than sorry so a brain MRI was scheduled for Monday, August 31 at 8:00am. I will post the results as soon as I have them.
Unfortunately, there was much discussion about whether or not I would need one more cycle (three treatments of chemo) before a follow-up CT. Lizzy and I both came away from our appointment not sure about the final number of treatments that I needed. Sometimes when I'm talking to someone and I either have no clue what they are saying or lose interest and completely zone out I think it's because of what the drugs are doing to my brain. It made me feel better to know that Lizzy didn't understand what the Dr. and Kelly were talking about either.
Back in the waiting room Lizzy and I were just talking and all of a sudden this man walks in and I swear we both almost fell off our chairs with laughter. Imagine this - man walks in wearing a Panama Jack type hat, Tommy Bahama shirt, linen khaki colored baggy pants and is talking to the receptionist as if he is getting ready to order a Margarita. Then we see his companion who (I'm not kidding) in wearing shorts and a shirt that reminded me a a boat captain. We just looked at each other and could not contain our laughter. I mean they seriously both looked like they were getting ready to do the Limbo on the Lido Deck. I don't think that the woman sitting across from me, who was perplexed that the infusion center was running so far behind found our laughter all that amusing, but if she had just stopped in her anger to look around and find the humor in the people and things that were going on she and her friend might have been laughing as hard as me and Lizzy.
Finally, we were called into the infusion center. Laura (awesome chemo nurse)got to the bottom of the 6 treatments (2 cycles) or 9 treatments (3 cycles) then CT Scan confusion and well the answer is 9 treatments (3 cycles) then CT Scan. While I was really looking forward to a break after the next two treatments I guess if the drugs are working keep em coming. Bottom line I'll be done with chemo the first week in October. I don't think that my Christmas wish of hair, not peach fuzz, but hair will be granted....oh well...hopefully I will still get that Cabbage Patch Doll and Barbie Dream House (OK I'm cracking myself up).
Much to my dismay Lizzy and I got the bad chemo room that I have mentioned before. It is an interior room with three chairs (so three patients). Thankfully there were some light hearted patients in the room with us because Lizzy and I were about to be very loud.
Lizzy set the chemo bar high and let me tell you I would not want to go to chemo with me after her because Lizzy brought props - yes props. She brought two photo albums/scrapbooks, our senior year Nazareth yearbook, our 8th grade graduation autograph book, Nazareth Carnation Day cards (Naz Alum you know you remember), Appreciation Day cards (these were from second grade and I didn't even remember Appreciation Day until she reminded me) and no joke a homemade card that I gave to her when we were kids. I mean c'mon I would never have thought to do something so awesome.
The photo albums were great. I love looking at the people that I thought were SO important when I was younger and realizing that I picked some pretty awesome friends because those people are still in my life.
The 8th grade graduation autograph book was amazing because while I wrote like an 8th grader (one who swore a lot - I blame my older brothers) everything I wrote I still believe today.
The Naz Carnation Day cards brought back so many great memories. For those of you that didn't attend Naz -we had "Carnation Day" where you could send other students a carnation and a note for I believe $1.00. Again, everything I wrote on Lizzy's Carnation Day card is still true today.
The card I made for her was very pretty (not at all - I can't draw), but the fact that she still has it is very cool.
She is not going to be happy about this but it has to be said.....
There was a comment I made in one of the books along the way that said "you have been there through thick and thin." I can honestly say that when I wrote the comment I never knew how thick it would get. Lizzy is still in the thick with me. She is always standing beside me, holding my hand, giving me a hug and always lifting my spirit. We have been friends for so long that I don't remember a time when she hasn't been in my life. I could not get through from day-to-day if it weren't for her support.
I thank you and I love you Lizzy!
B/F/F
Maria
Monday, August 10, 2009
Chemo #10 with Mom August 10th (also K&ED's Anniversary - yeah)
Good start - we got our muffin, Starbucks and water - MD Anderson didn't have the right muffin, the Starbucks came out of one of those gas station cappuccino makers (not good).....from moment one this morning it was nice to be home.
Good day. The hospital was almost on time, but the delay didn't seem to bother either of us. We were busy watching the jets practice for the air and water show. I swear I thought the planes were going to come straight through the building.
We were finally called in for chemo (all of the blood work was fine) and I reminded them that I had a treatment while in Houston so today would be Taxol and Avastin. This shook them up for a moment, but then we were cruisin. Unfortunately, (for me) my normal nurse Lora (who I adore) is on vacation this week was I was unable to give her my personal run down on MD Anderson, but I will be sure to do that on the 24th.
Mom and I spent our time reading three different clinical trial studies that Dr. Green said we may want to consider in the future. OK... so for those of you who can't find the humor in cancer you will not want to read this part........Mom and I were laughing pretty hard about some of the side effects listed...to name a few...
Coma (Mom's biggest laugh), Spinal Breakage (my biggest laugh), a New Cancer, Heart Attack, Bleeding, Opening of Healed Wounds (think this one could really mess with me if it wanted to). It felt really good to laugh so hard about something so serious, but it felt even better to be laughing about it with my Mom. I know how tough this is on my parents so it is truly a gift to me when one of them really laughs.
It may seem odd to laugh about this sort of stuff, but when you are living it all you can do is look at everything presented to you and say is this really my life?
Then think to yourself, clinical trials in the future YES - I WILL EMBRACE YOU AND ALL OF YOUR potential bleeding, coma, heart attack, new cancer, burning, skin rash, shedding skin and spinal breakage side effects if it means you will give me more time with the people that I love.
Once treatment was over we headed back to the burbs for a little lunch (ya should always stop for a little lunch and chatting) in La Grange. We went to Grapevine along the tracks and I must say I had a lovely salad and turkey sandwich on multi grain bread with roasted peppers, Swiss, arugula, tomatoes that I would highly recommend. We chatted for a good while and then I went home and zoned out in front of the television.
Today was a good day, but of course it's now 2:06AM, I took an Ambien CR at 9:30PM (clearly they aren't working their magic anymore) and I am still wide awake. So today was good.......tomorrow not so much!
Good day. The hospital was almost on time, but the delay didn't seem to bother either of us. We were busy watching the jets practice for the air and water show. I swear I thought the planes were going to come straight through the building.
We were finally called in for chemo (all of the blood work was fine) and I reminded them that I had a treatment while in Houston so today would be Taxol and Avastin. This shook them up for a moment, but then we were cruisin. Unfortunately, (for me) my normal nurse Lora (who I adore) is on vacation this week was I was unable to give her my personal run down on MD Anderson, but I will be sure to do that on the 24th.
Mom and I spent our time reading three different clinical trial studies that Dr. Green said we may want to consider in the future. OK... so for those of you who can't find the humor in cancer you will not want to read this part........Mom and I were laughing pretty hard about some of the side effects listed...to name a few...
Coma (Mom's biggest laugh), Spinal Breakage (my biggest laugh), a New Cancer, Heart Attack, Bleeding, Opening of Healed Wounds (think this one could really mess with me if it wanted to). It felt really good to laugh so hard about something so serious, but it felt even better to be laughing about it with my Mom. I know how tough this is on my parents so it is truly a gift to me when one of them really laughs.
It may seem odd to laugh about this sort of stuff, but when you are living it all you can do is look at everything presented to you and say is this really my life?
Then think to yourself, clinical trials in the future YES - I WILL EMBRACE YOU AND ALL OF YOUR potential bleeding, coma, heart attack, new cancer, burning, skin rash, shedding skin and spinal breakage side effects if it means you will give me more time with the people that I love.
Once treatment was over we headed back to the burbs for a little lunch (ya should always stop for a little lunch and chatting) in La Grange. We went to Grapevine along the tracks and I must say I had a lovely salad and turkey sandwich on multi grain bread with roasted peppers, Swiss, arugula, tomatoes that I would highly recommend. We chatted for a good while and then I went home and zoned out in front of the television.
Today was a good day, but of course it's now 2:06AM, I took an Ambien CR at 9:30PM (clearly they aren't working their magic anymore) and I am still wide awake. So today was good.......tomorrow not so much!
Some May Say Who Was MD Anderson....
This post is really for my fantastic Auntie Gussie who thought I was being cute when I kept saying I was going to MD Anderson as if I was calling my doctor MD Anderson and when I kept saying MD Anderson she was thinking I was being a little overly cute.... (my actual Doc was a woman named Dr. Green).When she told me this I about howled. So just to prove that I haven't lost my sense of humor through all of this drama......
here you go Auntie Gussie.....let me introduce you to M.D. Anderson!!!
Who Was M. D. Anderson?
Frugality and thrift (we were clearly separated at birth), industry and integrity — these were the most prominent characteristics of Monroe Dunaway Anderson. To these may be added shrewdness and acquisitiveness, which made him wealthy beyond most men of his time. He was also friendly, humble, kind, humorous and a little bashful (again, bashful - it's like he's my brotha from anotha motha).
Monroe Anderson was born June 29, 1873, in Jackson, Tenn., a small city 70 miles northeast of Memphis. His father was the first president of Jackson’s First National Bank, which he helped organize. His mother was the daughter of the Rev. William Monroe Dunaway, a Cumberland Presbyterian minister. His Scottish Presbyterian ancestors pretty well endowed him and his siblings with frugality and thrift; indeed, these qualities prevailed widely in a South devastated economically as well as physically by the recently ended Civil War.
Monroe attended Jackson’s public schools and Southwestern Baptist University at Memphis before going to work in Jackson’s other bank, the Peoples’ National, where he learned the banking business thoroughly. In 1904, his older brother Frank and Frank’s brother-in-law, Will Clayton, decided to establish a partnership to engage in buying and selling cotton. They needed more capital and invited Monroe to become a partner. Thus was established Anderson, Clayton & Co., with its principal office in Oklahoma City, a new city in Oklahoma Territory where cotton grew bountifully. In 1905, Ben Clayton, Will’s younger brother, was made a partner, raising the partnership to four members — two Andersons and two Claytons.
In Jackson, Monroe continued his banking career until 1907, when he moved to Houston to give his company access to larger banks and, eventually, to deep water shipping on completion of the Houston Ship Channel in 1914. With full-time devotion to partnership affairs, he became the chief financial officer and later, following incorporation, he was named treasurer. For a time, he also served as president of Anderson, Clayton & Co. The company continued to prosper, and Monroe became wealthy through a combination of good management, good fortune, and the capable efforts of himself and his energetic associates. Anderson, Clayton & Co. came to be the world’s largest merchant of the world’s most popular commodity; for nearly a century it was known as “King Cotton.”
In the mid-1930s, M. D. Anderson and Will Clayton owned more than half the corporation’s stock. The death of either, if resulting in a large estate tax, might have made it necessary to liquidate the company. Partly for this reason, in 1936,
M. D. Anderson created the charitable foundation that bears his name and funded it with about $300,000. This foundation was destined to receive $19,000,000 more after Monroe’s death in 1939.
The charter of the M. D. Anderson Foundation did not specify precisely how its money should be used, but the trustees leaned strongly in the direction of health care. Soon after taking possession of the estate from its executors, the trustees noted that the 1941 Texas Legislature had authorized The University of Texas to establish a hospital for cancer research and treatment somewhere in the state. No location was specified, but $500,000 was appropriated for the purpose. The Anderson Foundation agreed to match this sum if the hospital would be built in Houston and named for its benefactor. A site was offered in the new Texas Medical Center, another creation of the Anderson Foundation.
The hospital began its operations in temporary quarters on the James A. Baker estate at 2310 Baldwin Street in downtown Houston during World War II, under the acting director, Dr. E.W. Bertner. M. D. Anderson Cancer Center rightly regards the Baker home and extensive grounds as its place of birth. Several war-surplus buildings were added in the late 1940s and 46 patients were being treated in those primitive quarters when the hospital moved to its current site in March 1954. The first permanent building, clothed in pink marble, is now the core of a complex of more modern buildings that surround it. Those buildings are sheathed in concrete and glass; the Georgia quarry was depleted of pink marble before the demands of M. D. Anderson ran out.
M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is deeply indebted to the people who worked there. Dr. Bertner deserves special thanks for developing a great medical center for Houston and serving as first president of the Texas Medical Center, as well as acting director of the cancer center during the organizational years, 1942-1945.
In 1946, the first full-time president, Randolph Lee Clark, M.D., took firm charge of the fledgling institution and lifted it to great heights in terms of successful operation and worldwide recognition. He served 32 years until retirement in 1978 and was replaced by Charles A. LeMaistre, M.D., who continued the great work begun by Dr. Clark. Dr. LeMaistre’s retirement in 1996 after 18 years brought in the third full-time president, John Mendelsohn, M.D., who in every way is living up to the standards of excellence exhibited by his predecessors. It may truthfully be said that M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is as much a monument to Lee Clark and his successors, and to the thousands of physicians, scientists, nurses and others who dedicated themselves to this splendid institution, as it is to the memory of the man whose name it bears.
While he died unmarried and childless, M. D. Anderson was the “father” not only to the Texas Medical Center and the institution that bears his name, but also to libraries, auditoriums, college buildings and even a planetarium in his native Jackson. If he were to return to earth and look about, he would be amazed and probably a little amused at the prominence his name has attained throughout the civilized world.
— Thomas D. Anderson
The late author, Thomas D. Anderson, was Monroe Anderson’s nephew and a devoted friend of the institution that bears his uncle’s name. He was a member of the M. D. Anderson Board of Visitors from 1962 until his death in 2007, and chaired the board from 1965 to 1974.
New Chemo Schedule
I have just finished my third chemo treatment in the first cycle. My first and third treatments were done at Northwestern. My second treatment was done while we were down in Houston at MD Anderson (I will write more about that trip later). I will have next week off and begin again on August 24th (YEAH WEEK OFF).
Monday, August 24
11:30AM - Labs
12:00PM - Chemo
Monday, August 31
10:30AM - Labs
11:00AM - Chemo
Tuesday, September 8
11:45AM - Labs
12:20PM - Appt. with Dr. Gradishar
1:30PM - Chemo
I am hopeful that Dr. Gradishar will order a CT Scan for the end of the week so that we can see if the tumors have continued to shrink.
Monday, August 24
11:30AM - Labs
12:00PM - Chemo
Monday, August 31
10:30AM - Labs
11:00AM - Chemo
Tuesday, September 8
11:45AM - Labs
12:20PM - Appt. with Dr. Gradishar
1:30PM - Chemo
I am hopeful that Dr. Gradishar will order a CT Scan for the end of the week so that we can see if the tumors have continued to shrink.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
I'm Happy To Report Good Scan Results
Yesterday was a very good day. I had my scan at 7:30am and it only took about two hours, which is quick. Then I went to various departments within the hospital to retrieve films, slides and files to bring with me to MD Anderson on August 3.
Shortly after 2pm my phone rang at it was Kelly (Dr. Gradishar's nurse) with the results of the CT. I have to say something about Kelly - she is marvelous. The first words out of her mouth were "I have good news!" Prior to that statement I had been holding my breath so...I took a deep breath and she gave me the results.
The largest of my two tumors has shrunk by approximately 60%
The second tumor has shrunk by approximately 40%
This is wonderful news!
So the follow-up treatment that they are recommending is:
2 or 3 more cycles of Taxol and Avastin. So that is either 6 or 9 (I had 9 this time) chemo treatments. Looks like I will be bald and tired a little longer. Do you think it's too early to start writing letters to Santa asking for hair for Christmas?
I will have my first treatment in this cycle Monday, July 27 (time TBD) and then I will have a week off when I go to MD Anderson (or maybe they would do the treatment there - who knows).
If MD Anderson agrees with Northwestern's assessment of my treatment plan then we will come back to Chicago and continue treatments. If MD Anderson has something different in mind then they will talk with Northwestern and come up with a treatment plan.
The Madden's won this round and the tumors are shrinking. I am not thrilled about more chemo, but I will take it happily since I now know it is working.
Thank you for your love, prayers and support. Keep em coming. I try to remind myself at least once a day that this cancer battle is not a race, but a marathon. You don't know how much your emails, calls, cards, gifts, dinners out, walks and hugs fuel me so I can keep going.
Make it a great day!
Maria
Shortly after 2pm my phone rang at it was Kelly (Dr. Gradishar's nurse) with the results of the CT. I have to say something about Kelly - she is marvelous. The first words out of her mouth were "I have good news!" Prior to that statement I had been holding my breath so...I took a deep breath and she gave me the results.
The largest of my two tumors has shrunk by approximately 60%
The second tumor has shrunk by approximately 40%
This is wonderful news!
So the follow-up treatment that they are recommending is:
2 or 3 more cycles of Taxol and Avastin. So that is either 6 or 9 (I had 9 this time) chemo treatments. Looks like I will be bald and tired a little longer. Do you think it's too early to start writing letters to Santa asking for hair for Christmas?
I will have my first treatment in this cycle Monday, July 27 (time TBD) and then I will have a week off when I go to MD Anderson (or maybe they would do the treatment there - who knows).
If MD Anderson agrees with Northwestern's assessment of my treatment plan then we will come back to Chicago and continue treatments. If MD Anderson has something different in mind then they will talk with Northwestern and come up with a treatment plan.
The Madden's won this round and the tumors are shrinking. I am not thrilled about more chemo, but I will take it happily since I now know it is working.
Thank you for your love, prayers and support. Keep em coming. I try to remind myself at least once a day that this cancer battle is not a race, but a marathon. You don't know how much your emails, calls, cards, gifts, dinners out, walks and hugs fuel me so I can keep going.
Make it a great day!
Maria
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Secret Pal Strikes Again
What a wonderful day. I slept well and I woke up feeling good. Then the door bell rang and it's Phillip's Flowers with a delivery from my Secret Pal. The cards reads,
You did it! Round 3 over - Great! And - you are still ------------SO LOOVVED!
Secret Pal is pretty cool. Secret Pal's timing is always perfect. The 1st gift came on a really bad day and it made me feel SO much better. The 2nd gift came on a REALLY bad week so I never even blogged about it, but the kindness did not go unnoticed and the 3rd gift came on a wonderful day, which just made the day even better.
All I can say to Secret Pal is thank you for loving me so much! I don't know who you are, but I know I love you with all my heart!
You did it! Round 3 over - Great! And - you are still ------------SO LOOVVED!
Secret Pal is pretty cool. Secret Pal's timing is always perfect. The 1st gift came on a really bad day and it made me feel SO much better. The 2nd gift came on a REALLY bad week so I never even blogged about it, but the kindness did not go unnoticed and the 3rd gift came on a wonderful day, which just made the day even better.
All I can say to Secret Pal is thank you for loving me so much! I don't know who you are, but I know I love you with all my heart!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
CT Scan - Monday, July 20 at 7:30AM
Yesterday's chemo was tough - I think it must have known it was the final time because it kicked my butt. I almost fell asleep, which only happened one other time and that was after my Annual Meeting (so it doesn't count - I could sleep standing up on the L after my Annual Meeting).
Oh and our chemo room was the worst room ever. We were in a room with two other people receiving treatment and we were right across the hall from one of the internal waiting rooms. I saw Laura (favorite nurse) in the hallway and I said to her "Seriously, what is up with the room today - are you mad at me - you are killing me." She burst out laughing and said "sorry we are swamped today - I know the room isn't great. Would you prefer to wait for a better room?"
The thought of waiting for a better "chemo" room cracked me up....I thought to myself...really...this is what my life has come to I am considering waiting for the "suite" of the chemo treatment rooms." I didn't wait for a better room - I figured better to get the stuff in me so we could get out of there.
The drive home was a complete blur and then I sat and tried to watch TV, which was silly. The drug finally got out of my head and went to the rest of my body around 7pm and then all was well.
My follow-up CT is all set for Monday, July 20 at 7:30AM. The hospital will call me with the results (most likely Tuesday, July 21) and then Wayne and I (and perhaps Katherine for another set of ears) will go in to discuss the results and what they would recommend as our next course of action.
I informed Northwestern that we were headed to MD Anderson (Monday, August 3) for the second opinion and they said that was a great idea and the perfect time to do so after a scan.
Once I know the results....you will know the results.....remember we are praying for tumor shrinkage and maintenance drugs (oh I did find out one good thing yesterday.....Avastin is only every three weeks not every week).
When we were leaving chemo I looked at Laura and said, "so if I end up on maintenance drugs what kinda room do I get then or am I in the hallway?" She laughed and said "no, with maintenance drugs we bring em to you on the curb outside." Ya gotta love cancer humor. We are a sick bunch (no pun intended).
Have a lovely week folks!
Maria
Oh and our chemo room was the worst room ever. We were in a room with two other people receiving treatment and we were right across the hall from one of the internal waiting rooms. I saw Laura (favorite nurse) in the hallway and I said to her "Seriously, what is up with the room today - are you mad at me - you are killing me." She burst out laughing and said "sorry we are swamped today - I know the room isn't great. Would you prefer to wait for a better room?"
The thought of waiting for a better "chemo" room cracked me up....I thought to myself...really...this is what my life has come to I am considering waiting for the "suite" of the chemo treatment rooms." I didn't wait for a better room - I figured better to get the stuff in me so we could get out of there.
The drive home was a complete blur and then I sat and tried to watch TV, which was silly. The drug finally got out of my head and went to the rest of my body around 7pm and then all was well.
My follow-up CT is all set for Monday, July 20 at 7:30AM. The hospital will call me with the results (most likely Tuesday, July 21) and then Wayne and I (and perhaps Katherine for another set of ears) will go in to discuss the results and what they would recommend as our next course of action.
I informed Northwestern that we were headed to MD Anderson (Monday, August 3) for the second opinion and they said that was a great idea and the perfect time to do so after a scan.
Once I know the results....you will know the results.....remember we are praying for tumor shrinkage and maintenance drugs (oh I did find out one good thing yesterday.....Avastin is only every three weeks not every week).
When we were leaving chemo I looked at Laura and said, "so if I end up on maintenance drugs what kinda room do I get then or am I in the hallway?" She laughed and said "no, with maintenance drugs we bring em to you on the curb outside." Ya gotta love cancer humor. We are a sick bunch (no pun intended).
Have a lovely week folks!
Maria
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Tomorrow is the last chemo in this round....that's a very good thing!
Tomorrow at 10am is the final chemo in this round - tomorrow is number 9! Hopefully it is lucky number 9!
Wayne and I will meet with the Dr. tomorrow to set-up a CT Scan for the week of July 20. Once the CT results have been reviewed we will meet with Dr. again to find out the results and what he would recommend for the next course of action.
Because I am a planner and all of this waiting is SO not good for my psyshe I have made an appointment for a second opinion with MD Anderson down in Houston, TX. I figure the more people that review my films - - - the better. Once we consider what Northwestern recommends and what MD Anderson recommends we will make a final decision about the next course of action (I'm really hoping for maintenance drugs and NO chemo)
If you have a moment say a little prayer for a clean scan the week of the 20th. Once I know the results I will post them.
Have a great day tomorrow - I know I will.
Love - Maria
Wayne and I will meet with the Dr. tomorrow to set-up a CT Scan for the week of July 20. Once the CT results have been reviewed we will meet with Dr. again to find out the results and what he would recommend for the next course of action.
Because I am a planner and all of this waiting is SO not good for my psyshe I have made an appointment for a second opinion with MD Anderson down in Houston, TX. I figure the more people that review my films - - - the better. Once we consider what Northwestern recommends and what MD Anderson recommends we will make a final decision about the next course of action (I'm really hoping for maintenance drugs and NO chemo)
If you have a moment say a little prayer for a clean scan the week of the 20th. Once I know the results I will post them.
Have a great day tomorrow - I know I will.
Love - Maria
Friday, June 26, 2009
Hat Party
I have always been blessed with strong friendships. I honestly don't know how people can make it through life without friends to rely on, confide in and share the good days and the bad.
She's going to be mad at me for this, but I am going to talk about a very special friend in my life that did something particularly kind recently. I don't remember a time in my life when Lizzy O'Brien (McGovern) wasn't in my life. She has been there during all the major moments in my life and has always been a great source of support.
Well this cancer thing is another moment in my life and thankfully Lizzy (I know people call her Liz now that we are older, but I will always call her Lizzy) is right there with me. A few weeks ago she offered to throw a "hat" party for me at her house and I said sounded like "good times."
The party was on a Thursday night and the number of people that came was wonderful. Thank you all for taking the time out of your busy schedules to spend some time with me. It was a fantastic evening with friends, food and of course HATS.
I received cool hats, fun jewelry and some lovely scarves. Of course, my friend Amanda had to show me how to wear a head scarf properly, so I didn't look like a dork. Thankfully, I have the scarf thing down now.
The night was full of surprises...to name a few.
- Patti brought two PRICELESS photo albums from high school and I must say that we were all looking very cool. The late 80's early 90's were not the best years for fashion so the clothes were big, flowery and loud and the hair was big, hair sprayed and full of bows. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
- My sister-in-law Gwen did the coolest thing - she gave each friend a note card to write a funny "Maria" story on so when I am feeling down I can read them. The amazing thing about this was that my brother Marc, brother Michael and sister Cara all wrote the same story - they all have fond memories of a young Maria and the Sheep Joke - people are still laughing AT ME not WITH ME. FYI folks - I have had some rough days and I have read the cards multiple times - some are committed to memory....."sitting at the beach......."
- Another awesome gift was from my nieces and nephews. I am now the proud owner of a lovely hat with patches that stand for each one of the kids. When I wear it I feel like I have a little piece of my kids with me.
See what I mean about friendship? Lizzy took the time to put all of this together while working, being a wife and raising two awesome boys. I know that no matter what happens in my life Lizzy will be there during the good and the bad - to lend an ear, a shoulder, or to offer a house full of people to lift my spirits.
I will never be able to fully explain how much her friendship has meant to me throughout the years.
Lizzy......... B/F/F.............Maria : )
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Chemo #6 - Monday, June 15 w/Mom
Wayne, Mom and I drove downtown and arrived at Northwestern without much excitement. Once there Wayne went off to work and we went off to pick-up my muffin and head to chemo. Everything was running smoothly, which is always a nice surprise. We joined another woman and her friend in a lovely room overlooking the lake (OK... it's not the Ritz and no one offered us tea, but at least there was a window) and we settled in to enjoy (well you know what I mean) our time together.
I must start this next paragraph by saying that during chemo my sensitivity to noise is heightened. For example, if someone is talking loudly it can be painful and give me a headache (the tone of the voice and the actual voice do make a difference), television commercials are like nails on a chalk board, but thankfully the VERY LOUD voices of my family are still music to the ears (most of the time). However, the two women we shared a chemo suite with were beyond normal LOUD, although happy - it was her last treatment - we believe. Mom and I found ourselves whispering to talk and thankful when they left (I am sure they were also thankful).
After, that we had a woman who was unable to get her treatments due to low blood counts (that is horrible) and a lovely gentleman who could not speak a word of English who didn't know why his machine kept beeping (it means the nurses need to fix it, turn it off, start it again, etc.) and then it just stopped and I was concerned for him, but thankfully the nurses attended to him and he was fine.
Three different groups had been in the room with us and Mom and I were still hanging out. The pre-drugs, Taxol and the Avastin were finally administered and we were on our way out of the hospital and into the world.
Mom and I decided to stretch our legs a bit down Michigan Avenue and straight into the Cole Haan store - that's right - I may have little energy and less patience, but I can take a moment to see what's on sale at Cole Haan. Nothing screamed "buy me" so we went back to the hospital to meet our driver (Wayne) and headed back to the burbs. We stopped off at a very exclusive restaurant, "Chez... P.J. Klem's" for a quick bite and then headed home.
I am not a parent, but I can imagine how difficult it would be to sit there while someone pumps poison into your child (although I am 35, I am still my mother's child -thankfully). I'm not sure who chemo was harder on, me or Mom (I think Mom). I believe that she would have traded seats with me in a minute, but I would never trade places with her. While I am very important to the family dynamic, my Mother is the glue, the paste, the cement, (get-it?) that holds the entire family together. The DiNatale Family would NOT function properly without a strong, healthy, and perky Adele. I must admit that it is easier to be strong (throughout life that is) when you know your Mom is sitting at the kitchen table waiting for you to call (you know what I'm talking about Mom - thank you for always answering).
I must start this next paragraph by saying that during chemo my sensitivity to noise is heightened. For example, if someone is talking loudly it can be painful and give me a headache (the tone of the voice and the actual voice do make a difference), television commercials are like nails on a chalk board, but thankfully the VERY LOUD voices of my family are still music to the ears (most of the time). However, the two women we shared a chemo suite with were beyond normal LOUD, although happy - it was her last treatment - we believe. Mom and I found ourselves whispering to talk and thankful when they left (I am sure they were also thankful).
After, that we had a woman who was unable to get her treatments due to low blood counts (that is horrible) and a lovely gentleman who could not speak a word of English who didn't know why his machine kept beeping (it means the nurses need to fix it, turn it off, start it again, etc.) and then it just stopped and I was concerned for him, but thankfully the nurses attended to him and he was fine.
Three different groups had been in the room with us and Mom and I were still hanging out. The pre-drugs, Taxol and the Avastin were finally administered and we were on our way out of the hospital and into the world.
Mom and I decided to stretch our legs a bit down Michigan Avenue and straight into the Cole Haan store - that's right - I may have little energy and less patience, but I can take a moment to see what's on sale at Cole Haan. Nothing screamed "buy me" so we went back to the hospital to meet our driver (Wayne) and headed back to the burbs. We stopped off at a very exclusive restaurant, "Chez... P.J. Klem's" for a quick bite and then headed home.
I am not a parent, but I can imagine how difficult it would be to sit there while someone pumps poison into your child (although I am 35, I am still my mother's child -thankfully). I'm not sure who chemo was harder on, me or Mom (I think Mom). I believe that she would have traded seats with me in a minute, but I would never trade places with her. While I am very important to the family dynamic, my Mother is the glue, the paste, the cement, (get-it?) that holds the entire family together. The DiNatale Family would NOT function properly without a strong, healthy, and perky Adele. I must admit that it is easier to be strong (throughout life that is) when you know your Mom is sitting at the kitchen table waiting for you to call (you know what I'm talking about Mom - thank you for always answering).
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Marco Island is the BEST medicine....
We have been on Marco one full day and I already feel more like myself than I have in weeks. Yeah...Marco!!!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Chemo #5 - Monday, June 8 - Joey DiNatale
I must say my brother Joe offering to take me to chemo was a big shocker. My brother DOES NOT like hospitals, doctors, or anything having to do with anything medical. I mean no one likes the hospital, but Joey brings dislike to a whole new level.
When I had my spleen removed he barely came into the hospital room to say hello - come to think of it - did he come into the room or wave from the hallway? From time to time during radiation (Hodgkin's 93') he would run away from me in the house and say don't touch me I'm gonna get the cancer (sorry Joe - but this is one of my memory highlights from that year).
We got to the hospital and although I wouldn't say he loved the 21st floor he seemed at ease. When we headed into the treatment room I loved that he commented on the fact that he thought they could make the rooms a little brighter (I agree). He also had several comments about their ancient technology (bad TV's - again I agree).
I am a major creature of habit - I am a total type A personality so for everything that I do there is a routine and I usually don't deviate from the routine unless it is absolutely necessary (I bet some of you didn't know that). I explained the routine to him and off he went to get me my weekly muffin (remember the Au Bon Pain story) and a Starbucks. I told him he could get my coffee at Au Bon Pain, but he knows me so he went to Starbucks - it was a wonderful surprise.
He got back and we hung out, chatted and then we were all done. It was a pretty easy day. We returned home and I stopped by his house to get a squeeze from Genna (niece age 3), which could make the sickest of people feel better.
They say that truly loving someone can bring out an amazing strength in people...well...it must be said I felt the love and I saw the strength.
When I had my spleen removed he barely came into the hospital room to say hello - come to think of it - did he come into the room or wave from the hallway? From time to time during radiation (Hodgkin's 93') he would run away from me in the house and say don't touch me I'm gonna get the cancer (sorry Joe - but this is one of my memory highlights from that year).
We got to the hospital and although I wouldn't say he loved the 21st floor he seemed at ease. When we headed into the treatment room I loved that he commented on the fact that he thought they could make the rooms a little brighter (I agree). He also had several comments about their ancient technology (bad TV's - again I agree).
I am a major creature of habit - I am a total type A personality so for everything that I do there is a routine and I usually don't deviate from the routine unless it is absolutely necessary (I bet some of you didn't know that). I explained the routine to him and off he went to get me my weekly muffin (remember the Au Bon Pain story) and a Starbucks. I told him he could get my coffee at Au Bon Pain, but he knows me so he went to Starbucks - it was a wonderful surprise.
He got back and we hung out, chatted and then we were all done. It was a pretty easy day. We returned home and I stopped by his house to get a squeeze from Genna (niece age 3), which could make the sickest of people feel better.
They say that truly loving someone can bring out an amazing strength in people...well...it must be said I felt the love and I saw the strength.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Long Chemo Day #4 - Monday, June 1 w/Wayne
After a lovely week off of chemo heading back on Monday, June 1st to start another round was tough. It was a long day. Started with blood draw, then a visit with Kelly, my oncology nurse (she is very cool), and then chemo (Taxol and Avastin). Everything went well, but it was just one of those longggggg days.
I was pretty impatient with everyone who crossed my path. I didn't sleep well the night before, which always makes for a rough next day. I was even impatient with the lady at Au Bon Pain - seriously the lady at Au Bon Pain - she deserved that, right? Of course the person that gets the worst of it is Wayne. At one point I thought he might try to put me out of the car on the way home, but of course he was patient and loving as always, which just made me angrier - awesome!!! I am thankful for my very patient, very calm husband. Baffled by him, but very, very thankful : )
Wayne and I made it until the end of the day and went to bed. I woke up feeling better and headed to work. All I can say about the June 1 chemo is that another visit to the hospital was checked off of the calendar.
Goal for today (Monday, June 8) was to be nicer to the lady at Au Bon Pain, but I didn't get my chance because my newest chemo buddy went there and picked up my muffin (thanks Joey). I promise to kill her with kindness on June 15 - she probably won't remember me, but I remember her.
Have a great week and remember to be extra nice to the people at Au Bon Pain, Corner Bakery, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Baskin Robbins (Dad... if you go for ice cream this week feel free to call me and ask if I want a milk shake) and all your other favorite spots.
I was pretty impatient with everyone who crossed my path. I didn't sleep well the night before, which always makes for a rough next day. I was even impatient with the lady at Au Bon Pain - seriously the lady at Au Bon Pain - she deserved that, right? Of course the person that gets the worst of it is Wayne. At one point I thought he might try to put me out of the car on the way home, but of course he was patient and loving as always, which just made me angrier - awesome!!! I am thankful for my very patient, very calm husband. Baffled by him, but very, very thankful : )
Wayne and I made it until the end of the day and went to bed. I woke up feeling better and headed to work. All I can say about the June 1 chemo is that another visit to the hospital was checked off of the calendar.
Goal for today (Monday, June 8) was to be nicer to the lady at Au Bon Pain, but I didn't get my chance because my newest chemo buddy went there and picked up my muffin (thanks Joey). I promise to kill her with kindness on June 15 - she probably won't remember me, but I remember her.
Have a great week and remember to be extra nice to the people at Au Bon Pain, Corner Bakery, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Baskin Robbins (Dad... if you go for ice cream this week feel free to call me and ask if I want a milk shake) and all your other favorite spots.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Thank You...for Shaving My Head
I woke up on Memorial Day and decided that enough of my hair had fallen out, been pulled out (both by me and my nephew Eddie - not every ten year old can say he pulled his Aunt's hair out) and enough hair had clogged the shower drain. I asked Wayne to call my brother Joe and ask him to call his good friend Traci Carmignani, who luckily for me is a professional hair stylist, and ask her if she would have time to shave my head. Traci called me moments later (seriously it was about 2 minutes....how awesome is she?) and said come on over.
This is the third time in 35 years that my hair has fallen out. I mean are you kidding me!!
The first time was 1993 - post radiation and only the underside, lower portion of my hair fell out (it never came back). My sister Katherine and I were working downtown at a doctor's office. My hair was really big (it was the 90's - big hair was in) and it was falling ALL over the place. Katherine was following me around sweeping up my hair and patting me on the back trying to distract me so I didn't know. SUCH a big sister!
The fist time that I had the pleasure of deciding to shave my head Wayne and I were on Marco Island after our 2007 wedding reception.....being on Marco softened the blow.
Memorial Day 09' was the second time that I had the pleasure of deciding to shave my head and I can not express in words how much it meant to me to be able to go to Traci because she is someone who knows me and cares about me. I explained that my head had been hurting since my hair started falling out so she was extra gentle. She took her time and was thoughtful about every move she made. The moment the hair was gone my head started to feel better and the nagging headache began to subside. I looked in the mirror and felt a a sense of self that I hadn't felt in weeks.
You never know when or how you will have the opportunity to impact another person's life. Traci has impacted my life more than she will ever know. She made a difficult day easier and really what more could I want? When I recall the second time I had my head shaved I will now recall it as the day we decided to go to Traci and Scott's house.
This is the third time in 35 years that my hair has fallen out. I mean are you kidding me!!
The first time was 1993 - post radiation and only the underside, lower portion of my hair fell out (it never came back). My sister Katherine and I were working downtown at a doctor's office. My hair was really big (it was the 90's - big hair was in) and it was falling ALL over the place. Katherine was following me around sweeping up my hair and patting me on the back trying to distract me so I didn't know. SUCH a big sister!
The fist time that I had the pleasure of deciding to shave my head Wayne and I were on Marco Island after our 2007 wedding reception.....being on Marco softened the blow.
Memorial Day 09' was the second time that I had the pleasure of deciding to shave my head and I can not express in words how much it meant to me to be able to go to Traci because she is someone who knows me and cares about me. I explained that my head had been hurting since my hair started falling out so she was extra gentle. She took her time and was thoughtful about every move she made. The moment the hair was gone my head started to feel better and the nagging headache began to subside. I looked in the mirror and felt a a sense of self that I hadn't felt in weeks.
You never know when or how you will have the opportunity to impact another person's life. Traci has impacted my life more than she will ever know. She made a difficult day easier and really what more could I want? When I recall the second time I had my head shaved I will now recall it as the day we decided to go to Traci and Scott's house.
The third time I lost my hair will always be a good memory....
Thank You Traci!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Special Delivery - Secret Pal
Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
Today I received beautiful flowers and the card read...
"Hang In There - You Are Loved! Your Secret Pal"
Well...Secret Pal - thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. The lovely flowers and the fun of your secret identity have cheered me up more than I can say!
Today I received beautiful flowers and the card read...
"Hang In There - You Are Loved! Your Secret Pal"
Well...Secret Pal - thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. The lovely flowers and the fun of your secret identity have cheered me up more than I can say!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Chemo #3 - Wayne
Today was a long day...
Got to the hospital had blood draw then waited for about 40 minutes to start chemo. I thought I was seeing the doctor today, but I was informed that I am actually seeing the doctor next week. My bad.
I have to tell you about an experience that upset me this morning - I mean aside from the fact that we were at chemo. While we were waiting there was this woman just abusing the front desk personnel because her 10am blood draw was probably not going to actually happen until about 10:30am. She complained and complained and then kept going up the ladder to complain and I just wanted to shout "WAIT YOUR TURN, SIT DOWN, RELAX WOMAN." How a person can sit on the 21st floor of the Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center and freak out about a late appointment is amazing to me. How can someone be so self-absorbed? There are really sick, sad looking people all around and you are going to be all put out about a 30 minute wait? I wanted to yell at this woman, but I didn't. I just ate my muffin and prepared myself for chemo. OK all better - thanks for letting me vent - I feel much better now.
About 10:45am they started the prep drugs (no problem) then the Avastin (no problem), which they started at the quicker pace than in the past and then the Taxol (no problem). About 1:45om we headed to a new Dermatologist that specializes in treatment related skin issues - a - Dr. Mario Lacouture. His name alone is worth going to see this guy - all I could think about was is he Spanish, Italian, does he were couture clothing (answer is 50%) - I digress. The appointment went well and now Wayne is at Walgreen's filling a large number of prescriptions the most important one being my Ambien CR - I am going to sleep tonight.
The chemo is doing a number on my skin, my stomach and my ability to sleep. So now that we have Ambien, Dr. Lacouture, and my nutritionist working on my - - sleep, my skin (I can't stand when I have bad skin) and my stomach I am extremely hopeful that the issues will subside.
Next week is an OFF week so NO CHEMO - YEAH ME!!!
Got to the hospital had blood draw then waited for about 40 minutes to start chemo. I thought I was seeing the doctor today, but I was informed that I am actually seeing the doctor next week. My bad.
I have to tell you about an experience that upset me this morning - I mean aside from the fact that we were at chemo. While we were waiting there was this woman just abusing the front desk personnel because her 10am blood draw was probably not going to actually happen until about 10:30am. She complained and complained and then kept going up the ladder to complain and I just wanted to shout "WAIT YOUR TURN, SIT DOWN, RELAX WOMAN." How a person can sit on the 21st floor of the Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center and freak out about a late appointment is amazing to me. How can someone be so self-absorbed? There are really sick, sad looking people all around and you are going to be all put out about a 30 minute wait? I wanted to yell at this woman, but I didn't. I just ate my muffin and prepared myself for chemo. OK all better - thanks for letting me vent - I feel much better now.
About 10:45am they started the prep drugs (no problem) then the Avastin (no problem), which they started at the quicker pace than in the past and then the Taxol (no problem). About 1:45om we headed to a new Dermatologist that specializes in treatment related skin issues - a - Dr. Mario Lacouture. His name alone is worth going to see this guy - all I could think about was is he Spanish, Italian, does he were couture clothing (answer is 50%) - I digress. The appointment went well and now Wayne is at Walgreen's filling a large number of prescriptions the most important one being my Ambien CR - I am going to sleep tonight.
The chemo is doing a number on my skin, my stomach and my ability to sleep. So now that we have Ambien, Dr. Lacouture, and my nutritionist working on my - - sleep, my skin (I can't stand when I have bad skin) and my stomach I am extremely hopeful that the issues will subside.
Next week is an OFF week so NO CHEMO - YEAH ME!!!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Chemo #2 - Katherine
Wayne is out of town this week so my sister Katherine (K) had the pleasure of escorting me to chemo. It was a lovely day, which always makes a trip to the doctor better for me. When it rains I curse and say "what God can't throw me a bone and at least have the sun out" - I think Wayne thinks I'm nuts.
I digress....
We arrived at Northwestern on time and much to my surprise the hospital was running on time. I had blood draw, my pre-meds and then found out that I only had to have 1of my 2 drugs. The Avastin is every other week (yeah for me). So I had the Taxol - finsished up and Ka and I were on our way. OK - well on our way after she realized she lost her parking ticket. She says she has sympathy chemobrain and I must admit I think she does. Of course she was honest (always) with the lady behind the desk and she gave us the discounted parking anyway and then K realized she recognized her from when she worked downtown a long time ago - unreal.
Away we went back home to La Grange. I had the pleasure of picking up the youngest Campbell's at school and got to see the oldest when they got home.
That evening my dear friend Emily came over and we had dinner and girl talk. What a wonderful way to end the day.
No major issues this week just tired and having a great deal of trouble sleeping, my scalp is starting to hurt so I know my hair is going to start falling out next week. Once I get the sleep issues resolved I will feel 100% better.
I digress....
We arrived at Northwestern on time and much to my surprise the hospital was running on time. I had blood draw, my pre-meds and then found out that I only had to have 1of my 2 drugs. The Avastin is every other week (yeah for me). So I had the Taxol - finsished up and Ka and I were on our way. OK - well on our way after she realized she lost her parking ticket. She says she has sympathy chemobrain and I must admit I think she does. Of course she was honest (always) with the lady behind the desk and she gave us the discounted parking anyway and then K realized she recognized her from when she worked downtown a long time ago - unreal.
Away we went back home to La Grange. I had the pleasure of picking up the youngest Campbell's at school and got to see the oldest when they got home.
That evening my dear friend Emily came over and we had dinner and girl talk. What a wonderful way to end the day.
No major issues this week just tired and having a great deal of trouble sleeping, my scalp is starting to hurt so I know my hair is going to start falling out next week. Once I get the sleep issues resolved I will feel 100% better.
Chemo #1 - Wayne
I don't remember much about chemo #1 because I fell asleep about 5 minutes into it. I had just returned two days prior from the COMMON Annual Meeting (via train - yes train) from Reno Baby, Reno (so much to say about Reno so little time)and I was beyond exhausted. So this was actually a great chemo - as chemo goes.
What I do remember is that my nurse Laura was AWESOME so keep Laura in your prayers. She will be my nurse throughout chemo, which is so nice because you want people who care and will remember you for more than your patient number.
So we finished #1. Starting chemo is the hardest part (for me). So now we have begun the mission to battle this thing one more time.
No crazy side effects - just the typical stuff. So good first week.
What I do remember is that my nurse Laura was AWESOME so keep Laura in your prayers. She will be my nurse throughout chemo, which is so nice because you want people who care and will remember you for more than your patient number.
So we finished #1. Starting chemo is the hardest part (for me). So now we have begun the mission to battle this thing one more time.
No crazy side effects - just the typical stuff. So good first week.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Chemo Schedule
FIRST CYCLE
#2
Tuesday, May 12
8:45am
#3
Monday, May 18
9:45am
SECOND CYCLE
#4
Monday, June 1
10:30am
#5
Monday, June 8
8:45am
#6
Monday, June 15
9:00am
THIRD CYCLE
#7
Monday, June 29
11:30am
#8
Monday, July 6
10:00am
#9
Monday, July 13
9:00am
#2
Tuesday, May 12
8:45am
#3
Monday, May 18
9:45am
SECOND CYCLE
#4
Monday, June 1
10:30am
#5
Monday, June 8
8:45am
#6
Monday, June 15
9:00am
THIRD CYCLE
#7
Monday, June 29
11:30am
#8
Monday, July 6
10:00am
#9
Monday, July 13
9:00am
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