Friday, May 23, 2008
Looking Up!
This is my very first post. I wanted to tell you all that I went to the doctor today and he said that things were looking good. The fluid around my left lung has cleared and the fluid around the right lung has decreased. Looks like the chemotherapy is doing its job. I am looking forward to going to a graduation party this weekend for some of my nieces. With oxygen in tow, I'm looking forward to getting out for some fun. Thanks for the love, support, and prayers, it means so very much to me. I have all my beautiful cards and childrens' artwork hanging up where I can see them. Hope all of you have a wonderful Memorial Day and bless you all.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Bald is Beautiful
Today my mom went in for the second chemo treatment. She was a little nervous because she doesn't even remember the first treatment and because the last time she went in for a test she ended up in the hospital for two weeks. She did wonderfully! She has a new oxygen system that is light enough for her to carry and she moves so much better. She chose a chair where she could look out at the snow capped mountains, watch the clouds move through the sky, and she relaxed into the hours of treatment.
The people in the chemo room were some of the most positive people I've met in a long time. The other patients and families reached out to my mom, the new member of their group, and showed her tricks to walking with the IV pole, warned her to always dress in layers, taught her how to work the chair, and generally just stopped by to visit. They were an amazing group and very inspirational. I've always known it but cancer does strike at random, from the young mother who was getting her introductory tour carrying her bag covered with pictures of her kids, to the biker in his leathers with a heart warming smile. My mom sat among this group and looked beautiful in her black shirt, white pants with black pin stripes, her purple hat and her very own smile. She was dressed to impress. She is an amazing woman!
The people in the chemo room were some of the most positive people I've met in a long time. The other patients and families reached out to my mom, the new member of their group, and showed her tricks to walking with the IV pole, warned her to always dress in layers, taught her how to work the chair, and generally just stopped by to visit. They were an amazing group and very inspirational. I've always known it but cancer does strike at random, from the young mother who was getting her introductory tour carrying her bag covered with pictures of her kids, to the biker in his leathers with a heart warming smile. My mom sat among this group and looked beautiful in her black shirt, white pants with black pin stripes, her purple hat and her very own smile. She was dressed to impress. She is an amazing woman!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Feeling Lightheaded ;-)
OK, so you'll need your sense of humor to read this posting. My mom suggested this title while laughing and smiling so keep that picture in your head.
We went to the new primary care doctor today. I think my mom was excited to get out of the house. She got dressed up and looked beautiful like she always does when she is going out for the day. For those of you who know her, you'll appreciate the fact that she is sitting down to call people and I'm telling her that we need to leave for the appointment. Really, we should have left at least 10 minutes before we started the conversation/discussion. Along the way, we discuss that perhaps she'll need to plan a little more time in her day. She can't move as quickly as she did in the past and she has a lot more equipment to consider. She says, "I'm sure your dad will gladly help me work on that." It is a constant joke that my dad liked to arrive early and my mom...well we're glad whenever she happens to arrive.
When we get to the medical offices, the handicap parking is full and the close in parking is worse. I finally park in the patient pick up/drop off zone directly in front of the No Parking Allowed sign. Her current oxygen is too heavy for her to carry and so she and I are tied together and I can't make her walk too far. We get her checked into the building and to the correct floor and then I run back down to move the car. Needless to say, we were late - imagine that. But they were gracious and her new doctor is absolutely wonderful! He spent almost an hour with my mom going over everything and I mean everything. She told him about what I did for a living, asked him where he grew up, and of course her medical history and the game plan for the next week. He arranged for my mom to get a lighter oxygen unit that she can carry herself (Yes!) and he was pleased by how healthy and strong she is. He put her on a new medicine that might make her dizzy or lightheaded and said to watch this. Her sodium looks great. My mom of course loved him.
On the way home, we stopped for a hamburger because that sounded good to her. I was just going to go through the drive-thru but since it was raining and the driver's window on my car has been temperamental lately, I decided to go in to order and leave my mom in the car. I come back out to find that the hazards are going the alarm is beeping and my mom laughing in the front seat. She swears that a car went speeding past and set off the alarm but she looked guilty to me. Once we get home, she says that she is feeling a little lightheaded. I'm concerned but she is just sitting on the couch smiling at me. She was being funny because her hair has begun to really fall out making her head a little lighter. She says she is getting lighter by the minute. She had picked out her outfit and dressed up nicely but her clothes look like she has been hanging out with a shedding dog. She makes me laugh. She's lightheaded and light hearted. She is the most positive person I know.
She is excited because tomorrow is Derrik's baccalaureate and we've borrowed a wheelchair so hopefully she can attend. She says to tell you all, "Hi." She loves your comments, cards, and phone calls. She also said that a few visitors would be welcome. She has a lot of appointments scheduled so please call first.
We went to the new primary care doctor today. I think my mom was excited to get out of the house. She got dressed up and looked beautiful like she always does when she is going out for the day. For those of you who know her, you'll appreciate the fact that she is sitting down to call people and I'm telling her that we need to leave for the appointment. Really, we should have left at least 10 minutes before we started the conversation/discussion. Along the way, we discuss that perhaps she'll need to plan a little more time in her day. She can't move as quickly as she did in the past and she has a lot more equipment to consider. She says, "I'm sure your dad will gladly help me work on that." It is a constant joke that my dad liked to arrive early and my mom...well we're glad whenever she happens to arrive.
When we get to the medical offices, the handicap parking is full and the close in parking is worse. I finally park in the patient pick up/drop off zone directly in front of the No Parking Allowed sign. Her current oxygen is too heavy for her to carry and so she and I are tied together and I can't make her walk too far. We get her checked into the building and to the correct floor and then I run back down to move the car. Needless to say, we were late - imagine that. But they were gracious and her new doctor is absolutely wonderful! He spent almost an hour with my mom going over everything and I mean everything. She told him about what I did for a living, asked him where he grew up, and of course her medical history and the game plan for the next week. He arranged for my mom to get a lighter oxygen unit that she can carry herself (Yes!) and he was pleased by how healthy and strong she is. He put her on a new medicine that might make her dizzy or lightheaded and said to watch this. Her sodium looks great. My mom of course loved him.
On the way home, we stopped for a hamburger because that sounded good to her. I was just going to go through the drive-thru but since it was raining and the driver's window on my car has been temperamental lately, I decided to go in to order and leave my mom in the car. I come back out to find that the hazards are going the alarm is beeping and my mom laughing in the front seat. She swears that a car went speeding past and set off the alarm but she looked guilty to me. Once we get home, she says that she is feeling a little lightheaded. I'm concerned but she is just sitting on the couch smiling at me. She was being funny because her hair has begun to really fall out making her head a little lighter. She says she is getting lighter by the minute. She had picked out her outfit and dressed up nicely but her clothes look like she has been hanging out with a shedding dog. She makes me laugh. She's lightheaded and light hearted. She is the most positive person I know.
She is excited because tomorrow is Derrik's baccalaureate and we've borrowed a wheelchair so hopefully she can attend. She says to tell you all, "Hi." She loves your comments, cards, and phone calls. She also said that a few visitors would be welcome. She has a lot of appointments scheduled so please call first.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)