Wednesday, August 31, 2011
It's Been a Good August
5:00 PM
August has been a very good month. It started off at Adventure Camp. I had the special privilege of working with eleven wonderful ladies as they taught the Bible classes. It was wonderful to be able to support the teachers and then to watch them as they taught the campers. It was a blessed week as we taught the children how to pray 24/7/365. It was extra special as the entire McKenzie family was working at camp. Ken was the Activities co-coordinator which kept him hopping. Kenna helped Susan as they worked with the campers making tie-dyed t-shirts. She also created several for her family members. Kendall was working at the camp as maintenance support along with running the afternoon wood working shop. The campers had the chance to make/finish either a walking stick, cutting board or bird feeder. Kedrick was a CIT (cabin leaders in training) and coordinated the evening campfire. He also had the opportunity to work with the fifth graders on the low ropes course several days. Kalyn was an OTS (opportunity to serve) on crutches. She hurt her knee at her camp but that didn’t slow her down at all. She did breakfast KP, ran the speed cup station, helped in the wood working, and then was available for dinner KP if needed. It was a great week to be together serving the Lord and working with children. J
Another wonderful discover at camp was that my hair was beginning to grow!!! That was a definite reason to celebrate. I’ll still be wearing hats for a while but it was nice to see some peach fuzzy beginning to show.
I returned to the Palo Alto clinic the Monday of camp for my second infusion of Herceptin. I also had one later in the month so I only have five infusions left. God has blessed me with another reason to celebrate.
The Monday after camp was my first radiation treatment. My dear friend, Paty went with me as Ken need to be in Napa that day. Each treatment takes about 10 to 15 minutes. The treatments are just tedious having to go each day Monday through Friday. The odd numbered treatments go very quickly. On the even numbered days they have to tape a sheet of plastic onto my chest which causes the radiation rays to be defused differently. I have a feeling the technicians are very good at gift wrapping. They literally tape me to the tape. It is quite an experience. I see the doctor each week to make sure my skin is handling the treatment. So far, I’m doing okay especially since God created me with fair skin and light colored eyes. My skin is beginning to look lightly sunburned which is to be expected. I have a lotion that I apply three to four times a day which is helping the skin to recover. Today was treatment #18 which means I only have TEN more. Yes, I’m beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
August also was the celebration of Ken and mine 29th anniversary. We spent the afternoon at the Monterey Bay Aquarium being able to enjoy the exhibits without any children. We had dinner on Cannery Row being able to hear the surf on the shore and then enjoyed watching the sunset as we walked along the coast. When we turned around to return to Monterey, we were treated to the full moon rising. I had a very special day spent with my sweetheart.
The rest of the month has been spent enjoying time as a family. Kendall has been home during the week which has been a treat. Kedrick and Kalyn have been preparing for school to begin along with enjoying time with friends. Ken has been busy taking care of the garden and beekeeping. We are enjoying lots of fresh tomatoes along with the first crop of apples. Yum, yum.
It has been good to spend time in August recovering and beginning to get my strength back. I’m looking forward to finishing up radiation in Sept. and continuing to heal. I’m looking forward to 2010 finishing on a more positive note than it began with.
What a great month God has blessed our family with.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
The Next Leg of the Journey Begins
10:41 PM
Several of you have asked what is going to happen next so I thought I’d update you on the next leg of the journey. The new journey began Mon. July 11th when I drove myself to the clinic for the first of eight infusions of Herceptin, a target therapy drug which just attacks the breast cancer cells. This first infusion lasted 90 minutes but the infusions in the future will just require 30 minutes. I only have seven infusions left – one every three weeks.
Later that day I visited a new surgeon since mine is still on his much earned sabbatical. Dr. C felt that my medi-port needed to be removed since part of it was exposed. There was no time for it to be done on Monday so I returned to the clinic on Wed. to have it removed. Praise the Lord that I didn’t get an infection. The incision is now healing. Without my medi-port I will have to have the Herceptin infusion via an IV but it’s only seven times and there is no blood draw prior to Herceptin so I feel blessed. It’s great that oncology nurses are excellent at starting IVs.
Last Monday, July 18th, I returned to the El Camino Radiation Clinic to have the first of two pre-radiation appointments. I had a CT scan and will return one day this week to be positioned on the machine and tattooed to facilitate the process. Right now I’m scheduled for 28 days of radiation therapy beginning Aug. 8th. Ken and I had previously met with the radiation oncologist and it was recommended that I have radiation treatment. The doctor was flexible and agreed to letting me start treatment after Adventure Camp. Yeah!!!!!
Right now I am busy preparing for Adventure Camp and slowly getting my strength and stamina back. Luckily the side effects of radiation are the possibilities of fatigue and of tender skin where the treatment occurs. It looks like by the end of Sept. I will be done with my treatments and can get busy recovering and picking up the different pieces of my life that I’ve had to put aside since December.
I continue to feel blessed and humbled by all the people praying for me and blessing our family. Thank you for your faithful devotion.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Done, Finished, Completed!!!!!!
9:45 PM
At 3:30 today I finished up with this round of Chemo. HALLELUHAH!!! What a relief to have this portion of the journey completed. One of the wonderful things about the Infusion Center is how personable everyone is. Several of the nurses took time to celebrate with me and remind me of how well I’m doing. Carmel and Tonji, the receptionists, even joined in the celebrating.
To continue the celebrating, Ken took me to Wendy’s for a frosty. He wanted to do more but a Wendy’s frosty was what sounded good so… It’s a reminder that the simple things in life can bring the greatest joys. I had the frosty finished before we made it home so it definitely hit the spot.
Ken and I were reminiscing that my first infusion was on a rainy day and how interesting that it was raining again today. Maybe God was crying with me as He knows how challenging this is.
Today would have been my mother’s 80th birthday. Somehow it felt right to complete this leg of the journey on this day. I continue to be amazed at God’s timing.
Empty Nesting
9:42 PM
Ken and I are having an interesting experience this week. Since Sat. we have been experiencing having an empty nest. Kedrick and Kalyn were invited to go to Yosemite for the annual camping week. They were both delighted to be able to continue the tradition of spending a week in Yosemite hiking, swimming, biking, playing games and just being with very special friends. What a treat. Kedrick went with the Swanson family and Kalyn is being a “Suit” for the week. Ken and I feel very blessed that the children were able to go.
Sunday, Ken and I drove over to Santa Cruz and walked along the cliffs. It was easy walking for me. What a joy to be able to hear the surf on the beach and to people watch. We enjoyed talking to each other and bird watching. We rounded out the evening eating at “The Dolphin” which is located at the end of the wharf. It was such a beautiful day that we sat outside and enjoyed our bread bowls of clam chowder. Ken enjoyed watching several men fishing off the wharf while I enjoyed watching the sunshine dance on the water. It was a lovely day made even better when the SF Giants won that night’s baseball game.
To make my week even better I had two lunch dates; one with Becca, Diane, and Lisa and the other with Juliet. What a treat to be able to go out to eat and enjoy the fellowship of other females. I also got to visit with my brother, Brent, and sister, Janet, who came down for a quick visit. I continue to feel truly blessed.
Tonight Kendall comes home so we get to have some one-on-one time just with him. That will be a treat.
Friday, June 17, 2011
June 14th - Six Months
12:56 PM
June 14th marked the 6 month anniversary of being on this journey. It also was the date of my third treatment with the dose-dense AC. The infusion went well. Jane, my nurse, was able to use the port which is always a relief. My blood work came back with very good numbers which is also a positive.
I’m realizing that chemo is also mental game. It’s hard to go to an appointment that you know is going to leave you feeling run down, along with other possible unappealing side effects. I was really struggling with this infusion but God was good. When I arrived home from the treatment I discovered a floral arrangement left for me along with a note from Chandra (one of this week’s angels). It truly lifted my spirits and reminded me of how blessed and loved I am.
Tuesday evening I was able to attend PandaMania VBS at the church and enjoy seeing the opening and closing ceremonies. I was able to watch from the sound booth which limited my exposure to germs. What a joy to watch the VBS Praise Team lead the worship time. I have to admit that I had my eye on two of the members (Kalyn and Kedrick) but I enjoyed watching them all.
I was also able to be there on Wednesday evening too.
Since Thursday I have been struggling with fatigue, one of the main side effects with this chemo treatment. The fact that it is cumulative doesn’t help either. I’m also trying to get over a cold so it a little bit more challenging. I’m spending lots of time just reading and resting. What a blessing that school is out and the children have activities to keep them busy.
WEEKLY ANGELS
12:52 PM
God sends me lots of different angels every week. Several weeks ago my angels were Becca and Paty who checked on me via email or phone calls to make sure I was doing okay while Ken, Kedrick and Kalyn were in San Diego. What a treat it was to hear from them! They also rejoiced with me as I received news from the gang in San Diego.
Angels also began appearing again last week bringing us meals. What a gift to have a meal arrive at our door by 6pm several times each week. Thank you to Gini, who is the angel that makes sure this happens.
My next angel appeared last Thursday evening. Iris came over after working a twelve hour day to shave my head. She made something that I was dreading pleasant. I have been very concerned about losing my hair but Iris made me feel special and loved. She even spent time showing me several different ways to wear a scarf. What a gift she gave me. She also managed not to get any hair one the floor which I still find amazing.
Juliet was my next angel. She emailed me on Thursday wanting to see if we could go to Aqu in Campbell for lunch on Friday. When she emailed she didn’t know that going out on Friday would be my first trip out having to wear a hat and being “bald.” We enjoyed eating our wraps of salmon, mango, jicama and rice while catching up with each other’s lives. After lunch we walked around downtown Campbell while Juliet shared her favorite local haunts with me.
I feel very blessed by the different angels God sends to me each week. Sometimes the angels are the ones who call or send a card or just say a prayer for me. Thank you if you have been one of those angels.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
They're Home
9:43 PM
Ken, Kedrick and Kalyn arrived home around 6:30 this evening. Praise the Lord. They are all very tired but glad to be home. Both Ken and Kedrick have colds so they don't get to sit near me, bummer.
Kedrick was pleased with how he did at the tournament. He and his partner, McKenna Stevens, received 4th place in their Duo, Lewis Carrroll's "Through the looking glass".
He came in fifth in his Expository on "Small Things" and sixth for his humorous piece. The highlight of the event was receiving fourteen place for sweepstakes, an award given for overall performance. The caliber of the 500+ speakers at this National Tournament of Champions was very impressive. To even be there was an honor.
Both Ken and I are very proud of Kedrick. He really challenged himself this season and was very responsible and disciplined. He pushed himself to exceed and we feel blessed that the Lord rewarded his efforts.
Kalyn was also very busy at the tournament. She timed 8 rounds of speeches and was a constant encouragement to many speakers from all over the United States.
Kedrick was pleased with how he did at the tournament. He and his partner, McKenna Stevens, received 4th place in their Duo, Lewis Carrroll's "Through the looking glass".
He came in fifth in his Expository on "Small Things" and sixth for his humorous piece. The highlight of the event was receiving fourteen place for sweepstakes, an award given for overall performance. The caliber of the 500+ speakers at this National Tournament of Champions was very impressive. To even be there was an honor.
Both Ken and I are very proud of Kedrick. He really challenged himself this season and was very responsible and disciplined. He pushed himself to exceed and we feel blessed that the Lord rewarded his efforts.
Kalyn was also very busy at the tournament. She timed 8 rounds of speeches and was a constant encouragement to many speakers from all over the United States.
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