Treatment Number 12...NOT

That's right NO treatment for me.

I went to the hospital yesterday for my appointment with my oncologist and to have treatment. (I thought) When I went into the appointment room I first met with my nurse practitioner who told me that they were trying to get my CT Scan results (I had the CT Scan that past Monday). So we started going over my last 3 weeks and then she told me that I was going to be meeting with a Nurse Practitioner that specialized in pain management. I have been increasing my Neurotin and got to a level that it started affecting my cognitive abilities. I wanted off the meds or to try something different because I don't want to be living my life like a zombie. So that appointment was about switching to Lyrica instead.

During that appointment my oncologist popped her head in the room and said, "I have your CT Scan results." And then she said, "Everything looks great. Everything is stable. There are NO new tumors. This is great news." Then I started to cry. Everything is stable. OMG. It really is working. Finally something is working and I am doing great. This is all that went through my head. It had been a long week waiting to get the results. I choose to wait it out and have the conversation in person with my doctor. I am so glad I did!!!! I finished up the appointment with the other nurse practitioner.

My oncologist came back into the room and then proceeded to say, "I think it might be best to start doing your treatments every 6 weeks instead." "OK", I said. She said, "I don't want the neuropathy to become permanent and you are doing so well let's give your body a break." I said, "OK". She said, "Let's not do this treatment." I said, "What". She said, "Go home". I said, "What". She said, "Skip this treatment". I said, "Oh My God". She said, "I know I know your schedule." I said, "Yes my schedule." We all started to laugh!!!! She said, "It will be OK just skip every other treatment in your schedule." I said, "OK but what about the next scan and what if it starts to grow again and and and????" I was really concerned and scarred at this point. But then I realized how supported I am, how loved I am and how everyone in my life is holding for me to be "A Miracle". Especially me. This means that I will need to stop treatment eventually and continue living a normal life. I know that it is not totally gone right now but it will be and this is the next step in the process. So I went home.

And here I am updating my blog, by myself. This is all great news and I am so happy to have a week back to be able to play, work and be with my family on these sunny days of summer. Of course with lots of sunscreen! Hahaha. OK not that funny but very true.

Thank You to everyone that was supporting me this treatment and who I had to cancel.

My dear friend Max from Boston who comes every treatment to support and love not just me but my family as well. I am so sorry you can't get your hair cut this time. :) Thank you for all that you do. I will miss seeing you.

Thank you to all the neighbors that were going to deliver food.

Thank you Susan for arranging it all each treatment and

to all the neighbors that continue to deliver food

month after month aftermonth, without any hesitation.

It makes a huge difference

in my recovery process, Thank You!

Thank you to my MSIA Family that comes to give me Prayer Communion each treatment cycle. Thank you Alice for being my

Guardian Angel and for arranging it

and supporting me the way that you do.

Thank you to my Village of Angels!!!

My treatment support, Jann for loving me

just the way that you do.

Rose Angel for your words of inspiration and that

lovely rose I get before each treatment.

House Cleaning Angels assisting me so that

my surroundings are clean and fresh.

Thank you to everyone loving, praying, supporting

and holding that I will be "A Miracle".

God Bless each and everyone of us today and always.

Until next time,

Light, love and laughter,

Shari

Treatment Number Ten

For this treatment, things returned to "normal", in that my husband and daughter were here, Max was here, and other Angels came and went throughout the week.

Treatment was on Friday, May 22nd and my Rose Angel made another visit the day before with inspirational words to support me. We've added a new drug to the regimen; this one is intended to reduce the neuropathy and hand and foot syndrome (constant throbbing) that's been driving me batty from the beginning. I'm only taking one pill a day at the moment and it's too soon to expect results... but I had some lethargy and sore throat that are potential side effects of the new drug. Or maybe I just caught a cold. Time will tell.

Jade came again the day afer treatment for a visit and another cranial-sacral session. My thoughts seemed clear after the session... although I don't generally have discomfort or other side effects until later in recovery week. And as the days passed, my pain level seems lower than in previous treatments (blessedly), with just the usual general tiredness and afternoon lethargy. I am raising afternoon naps to an art form.

For those who haven't seen me in a while, you might be surprised that my hair is growing back! They tell me it's unusual for this to happen during ongoing chemo, but that's no surprise to me, since I've had all the unusual side effects throughout my treatment history. *This* one I'm happy about. Pictures will be forthcoming!

All in all, a fairly low-key and uneventful week. Next treatment is scheduled for June 16.

Yay Team!

My next treatment (scheduled for April 28) was shaping up to be interesting to say the least. For starters, Tom and Daria were going to be away the Friday before treatment for 10 days in North Carolina to take care of our grandkids. A needed vacation for both of them and a lot of work. This was the longest I had ever been away from Daria since she was born. I missed my little girl very much. They had a great time away and we all missed each other very much.

The next thing that would be different about this treatment was that Jann was unavailable to go with me to treatment, which meant that I needed a ride to treatment and possibly home as well. In enters my dear friend Candy. She said, "Oh, I will come over the night before, stay with you and take you for treatment." What a blessing. Thank you Candy for a great night and all of your continued support. Next change was that Max would not be available to be with me at all this recovery period. Uh oh, now what? Yes, you guessed it, a revolving door of support. I arranged for different Angels to care for me all week long while I recovered from treatment.

The only thing that was the same about this treatment as all the others is that a rose and words of encouragement appeared on my doorstep the day before treatment... I so appreciated that one constant in a week of change.

Jann was with me after treatment for Tuesday evening. I am usually high after treatment from the steroids and this treatment was no different. We spent the night scrapbooking which was a lot of fun and kept my mind off of what would be soon to come.

Jade came on Wednesday and stayed until Thursday late afternoon. Jade was my doula when Daria was born, a message therapist, herbalist and a whole lot more. Jade had just recently taken a course on Cranial Sacral work so before she left on Thursday she gave me a session. Prior to the cranial-sacral work, I was feeling pretty low. Not feeling like doing anything, resting on the couch, feeling sort of blah. By 5pm that evening, an hour after she left, I was up and about and feeling great.

Thursday until late Friday afternoon was Jann's shift. When she came in on Thursday I had just had my session with Jade and she found me lying on the couch resting. We spoke for a while then I sat up and said, "I am ready to play, let's scrapbook some more." Since Jann had left her stuff her we did just that. We "scrapped" until dinner and then a while after dinner until bedtime. I was truly amazed by my energy and clarity. I did continue to experience some pain and discomfort in my body but my head and my thoughts were clear and I had great energy the whole rest of the week. I truly beleive that the session I had with Jade made a difference. I felt so grateful.

Then Friday afternoon Mair came for the evening. She stayed with me until I was ready to go to bed and she took care of Summer (our dog) for me. Put me to bed and locked the door behind her. I had a great visit with Mair becasue I was feeling like I could do anything.

My last 2 caregivers were my parents. They came Satursday morning and stayed until Sunday after dinner time. While my parents were visiting, there was more scrapbooking, puzzle putting-together, and my dad kept busy doing little jobs around the house. Handy to have a handyman in the family. Tom and Daria returned late on Sunday night and I was feeling fabulous!

Thanks to everyone who made my recovery week such a success.

Birthday Blessings

On December 10th, Shari celebrated her 29th Birthday (Again!) :-) To celebrate this very special occasion, Shari had a Birthday Tea with Tom, Daria, and her dear friend Jann. This was a perfect opportunity to celebrate all that is wonderful in Shari's life. Here are some pictures from that fabulous day:

Aren't they a beautiful family?


Mother and Daughter

Aunt Jann, Daria, and Shari

Precious angel

Happy Birthday, Shari. We all wish you a year ahead full of health, blessings, and happiness!