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
Monday, September 21, 2009
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
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