Mariners Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day

Teri, Lisa & Sharon heading off to the 
Mariners Pancreatic Cancer Awareness
game in MY Hummer!

Salvador, Kelly, Chris, Teri, Sharon & Lisa
standing in front of Teri's favorite (aka CUTEST) Mariner, Franklin Gutierrez.
LOOK, Mom!  I got you a T-Shirt :)

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO: 
Making Sushi (California Rolls) !

Gifts! Gifts! Gifts!

What a wonderful day at work. My friends, Dawn, Candice, Roxanne and Jeanna surprised me with a basket of gifts; fresh farm eggs, garden zucchini, romaine lettuce and snap peas, and a "pancreatic purple" (that's a real color now in case you didn't know!) throw, piano classics music CD and a beautiful angel engraved with Psalms 148:2-3. I am so blessed to work with my friends. Thank you so much!

Saturday in Sunriver

Saturday I spent most of the day in Sunriver with my girls and friends, Marianne, Babs and Jonah.  We listened to classical pianist, Di Wu's recital rehearsal. She plays beautifully and with such grace. I had the pleasure of meeting her and she even autographed my program!  She was also gracious enough to allow me to have my photograph taken   with her. She is a talented, beautiful lady.

After the recital rehersal we enjoyed lunch on the deck at the Meadows.  We also took this opportunity to extend a "birthday toast" to Marianne who celebrates her ??? birthday on Monday. 

 

 Happy Birthday, Marianne!

Feeling Good!

I had a wonderful visit with my oncologist on Friday. My platelets are UP - they doubled from last week! As expected, my red and white blood counts are low, but not abnormal considering the treatment. My low red blood counts help explain my incessant cravings for Wendy's cheeseburgers! Taco Bell's crunchy tacos are pretty good too :)  My oncologist says that he considers me in the 95th percentile of how i'm responding. This is great! My next infusion is Monday, August 30. I will also start taking Xeloda, a pill form of chemotherapy. I will be taking this pill daily while having my weekly chemotherapy infusions.  See this link for more info:  http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/212DCE.htm.  Until then, I'm enjoying feeling full of energy and grateful that my appetite seems to be insatiable. I'm also looking forward to a productive week at work with my Bend Surgery Center family!  Thank you, Deb Harris for the delicious soup from the Village Baker - it hit the spot!   

Cycle 1 FINISHED!

On Friday, I completed my first cycle (3 total infusions)! WHEW - now a much deserved break!  Cycle 2 (3 consecutive weekly infusions) begins Monday, Aug. 30. My plateletts went up so it seems that we have found the right dosage of Gemzar. I am also pleased that I'm in no pain so no need for pain medicine!  I thank God that the infusion residuals seem to be much less than last week. I lost 3 lbs but I am off to a good start gaining back because I am eating anything my girls put in front of me, including some delicious crab bisque that my friend, Marianne cooked especially for me.Some more good news is that my 2 sisters (one from Las Vegas and the one from San Diego) will be visiting next month. The three of us are planning a respite on the Oregon Coast at the end of Cycle 2 (3 total infusions). Thanks to our generous friends, Rick and Janice, they have opened their beach home to us.  They are so kind.Tomorrow (Tuesday) My girls are leaving for a couple days to tend some business at their jobs. I am so thankful that both my girls are blessed to have good jobs with Oregon and Washington State. They both will be back on Friday just in time for my afternoon appointment with my oncologist. Thursday I am going with my friend, Marianne and her sister, Pauline to listen to Chinese classical pianist, Di Wu at the Sunriver Great Hall. This should be an audible treat!

 

Fun in the Sun!

My girls having fun in MY car while I'm at home recuperating from my Friday infusion!

"Too Cool For School!"

Thanks to my daughter, Billie, I have these new sunglasses! According to Teri, I'm "stylin' and profilin' " (whatever that means).

Haircut

What a difference a haircut can make! After eating a refreshing Baskin and Robbins ice cream cone, my friend and hairdresser, Deanne, gave me a much needed haircut. I initially went into her salon insisting she cut my hair down to 1 inch all around. Deanne, being the expert, fortunately disuaded me and I am very grateful for her that I trusted her opinion because I just love my new hair-do! Thank you, Deanne!

ICK...

It was too good to last. I felt pretty good Saturday; I ran a few errands, entertained a few visitors and ate frequently;  but yesterday I spent most of the day in bed with complete and overwhelming body fatigue.  Nothing I have ever felt, except maybe when I've had the flu, but still not this extreme.  Fortunately, I had no other symptoms but the heavy body fatigue.  I suppose this is what is to be expected for the first few days following my chemotherapy infusions (that's what my girls and oncologist keep telling me but it's just so hard to accept that I can be so inactive). I know the best thing for me is to listen to my body (and my girls, of course) so I will heal and stay healthy.  I'm feeling better today and must thank my dear friend, Roxanne for the delicious pumpkin/carrot soup she delivered today.  Bless her heart because she herself is not feeling so well today. So selfless you are, Roxanne. THANK YOU so much. The soup is perfect :-)    And THANK YOU to Deanna for your garden fresh vegetables! I sautéed them in olive oil, garlic, arugula, tarragon (from Billie's garden) and some small shrimp. It was delicious!

Cycle 1 - Infusion 2 DONE!

2 down, 1 more to go in my first cycle of chemotherapy infusion. My platelets took a nose dive which is not so good because the risk of infection increases. However, on a positive note this also means that I am responding to the Gemzar :)    The best news is that I gained 3 lbs since last Friday!  Not surprising - I am definitely not experiencing a loss of appetite. I am eating small portions frequently (well, actually constantly) during my waking hours.  If  i'm awake - i'm eating!  Today my taste buds were delighted with some culinary gifts from my dear friends, Marianne and Roxanne.  Marianne suprised me with her home-made chicken salad and she even packaged small individual portions for me!  And Roxanne surprised me with some wonderful home-made asian soup. Yummm-O! The flavors are delectable!  My 3rd infusion for this 1st cycle is scheduled for is next Friday and then I have a break until 8/27/2010.  Thank you for all your prayers, healing energy and words of encouragement.. and of course, ALL the good foods!! :)

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Holistic Treatment or "Hocus Pocus?"

I had my first acupuncture treatment of my life today. The idea was to have this type of treatment to prevent and/or minimize possible side effects of my chemotherapy treatments - specifically nausea and vomiting.  The acupuncturist used approximately 15 needles in my hands, feet, forehead and even my belly button! She also placed a heat lamp over my stomach (I’m still not sure what the purpose of the heat lamp was for because I wasn’t cold! ). The room was filled with aromatherapy scents and relaxation(?) music.  During the 45 minutes I lay on the table I thought to myself, "how do I know if this is working since I haven't really had any nausea or vomiting symptoms?" and "I can do this at home..well, except for the needles" and I even went as far to refer to the therapy as "hocus pocus" when I relayed my experience to my daughter, Teri.

Teri told me that she felt benefit from acupuncture for her migraine headaches and nausea she experienced when she had to take Methotrexate (a pill form of chemotherapy) for her rheumatoid arthritis. She told me she noticed a significant difference after several treatments; however the treatment was only palliative. 

So maybe it works, maybe it doesn't. Teri reminded me that it not just the physical treatment that helps in healing but that the mind is equally and often, more influential in recovery and healing.  Yes, I am skeptic, but I will continue to keep my mind open to all healing techniques throughout this new chapter of my life.    

  

Port-A-Catheter Implant

This morning my girls and I arrived at Bend Surgery Center at 6:30 am for my port-a-cath implant. My girls were thankful to meet so many of the wonderful people I work with and I think they have a better understanding of why I feel so strongly that Bend Surgery Center is my "other family." The abundance of over-flowing compassion and heartfelt love is overwhelming. I can feel the healing energy and prayers from all of you. Thank you so much for kind and loving spirits.  See you at work next week!

Waiting Room - Soooo Excited!

Getting Ready

Kathy, Lee, Sarita, Dr. Tim McNary (Anesthesiologist) & Corrine

Molly & Jeanna

YAY!   All Done!