Dear Family and Friends,
On June 3 I had my 2 month anniversary of my 2nd surgery. Yea! Every day is a gift from God!
I want to thank-you for your continuing prayers of love and support. I am able to maintain my calmness and inner peace during this incredible journey with your prayers and the grace of Jesus Christ.
Many of you have indicated how “heroic” you think I am. I am definitely no hero; I did not choose to have 3 surgeries (number 3 is going to be in August – date TBD), cancer, or chemo and radiation treatments this year. I just take each day – one day at a time. (I think true heroes volunteer or sign up for dangerous work – like our armed forces, our police officers and fireman).
You can‘t always choose what happens to you, but you can choose how you respond to it. It doesn’t matter who you are, we will all experience life, which is full of unjust situations. We (or those we love) will get serious illnesses, we will experience family challenges with spouses/parents/and/or children, financial issues, death of loved ones, job losses – the list is endless. You cannot let life’s challenges destroy your happiness, or steal your JOY.
I am curious how my cancer experience will shape my future. I already am seeing how God can take my bout with cancer and create a positive outcome. My daughter, Katrina and I go to radiation 5 days each week, with a standing 2:45PM appointment. Katrina and I enjoy talking with the same people each day, all of whom are there as drivers, or patients. There are smiles, laughter, hope and joy in the waiting room. A few, at first, seem scared, but all have starting smiling and sharing their stories. It is definitely a “safe place”. We are all there fighting for our lives and the chance to live a longer life.
My friend – Connie has set up a dinner website for the full 30 days of radiation. It has been an incredible gift. Since we are in downtown Denver Monday through Friday for radiation at 2:45 PM, we are not always home in time for dinner preparation. Almost all of the 30 days have been signed up for by friends and family. Thank-you all so much!!
Every morning I wake up and listen to the birds sing, and thank God for another day. It is amazing when facing the possibility of death with my surgery on April 3, how appreciative I am for each day. We will all die, we don’t know the date, but there is so much peace at having Jesus in your heart. He truly is the Holy Comforter.
Last Sunday morning was so joyous. I sat on the back porch, ate my breakfast and listened to the beautiful chorus of birds. We have several nests in our backyard. There are several house finches, a dove, and a chickadee family. I got out the binoculars and watched the mother chickadee feed her 3 babies for several hours – what a treat! My roses are beginning to bloom, my coral bells are lovely, and the columbine flowers under my pine tree are shades of yellow, purple, white and blue. My white peony plant is full of blooms and I am still waiting for the other two peonies to blossom. Spring is definitely my favorite time of the year! New life is flourishing all around me. :o)
Some of you have asked if radiation hurts – no, it really doesn’t hurt. It is just a bit weird and uncomfortable. Weirdness comes when the 2 foot thick door closes after everyone leaves and the flashes of blue light from the radiation begin. I am strapped to the table with a specially molded 2 foot by 3 foot mesh mask which attaches to the table and holds me – absolutely still during radiation. When the mask is removed my skin looks like “Lizard Woman”, for about one hour. I am pretty funny looking!
I have completed 13 radiation treatments – so only 17 to go! Yea! My next chemo treatment will be June 9. Michael has an early morning all store meeting and Katrina has to get Shari up with breakfast and lunch and then off to workshop. My friend Connie (Yes, the same friend who set up the dinner website) will be taking me to chemo. Michael and Katrina will come by later. Chemo takes about 5 ½ hours, so it is a long day. After chemo, Katrina will drive me downtown for my radiation treatments. My last chemo treatment was tolerable and not as bad as I expected. I am so fortunate that my doctor is giving me some very powerful and effective anti-nausea medication. As I get farther and farther away from my last chemo treatment – 20 days, today – I feel more normal and able to eat a more variety of foods. My hair is still on my head – although my scalp feels tingly, and it takes about 2-3 weeks to lose my hair. With the first loss of hair, I will go to my local JCPenny’s store where they have a private room, in order to have my head shaved. It is one way I can to control an uncontrollable situation. With my surgery scar from ear to ear, I am just going to wear scarves and hats. I think that a wig will “itch” my scar and be hot during the coming months. So, remember, this is the year of the HAT, so please all wear your hats and think of me. :o)
We had read where acupuncture can help during chemotherapy and radiation. So, I have been having 2 treatments each week, since beginning my chemo and radiation. My acupuncturist is passionate about cancer patients – her sister has had cancer 4 times! I am so lucky to have been able to find Jana.
My doctors are always impressed with my progress! I attribute this to your continued prayers, the grace of Jesus, regular acupuncture treatments, and my limited contact with my friends and family. Thank-you all for the understanding and cooperation during this time. I am, indeed, able to funnel all of my energy to my HEALING! Katrina has taken on the monumental task of my household chores, while taking care of all of my needs, and Shari’s needs. Katrina has done this on her own – I did not ask for her to give up her life for me for most of 2009. Boy, am I am lucky Mom! Katrina is doing all of this with a happy and joy- filled heart! I am able to channel all of my inner strength to healing. Michael has taken on additional household responsibilities, too, in addition to keeping his job at Nordstrom, which provides us with incredible health benefits.
As I mentioned before, my eyes continue to be a challenge for me. The radiation is causing my prescription to change, but it is useless to get new glasses until 3 weeks after radiation ends. The effects of radiation will not start until 3 weeks after the first treatment, and will continue for 3 weeks after – probably until the third week of July. My eyes get tired easily, and do not always work together. I see my eye surgeon every 2 weeks. It is a time for me to be patient until we see how radiation will affect my optical nerves. There is a 1% chance that I could lose partial or full eyesight in one or both eyes. So, thank-you all for your continued prayers. It is such a comfort knowing that you all have me in your thoughts and prayers. :o)
Much love,
Linda
On June 3 I had my 2 month anniversary of my 2nd surgery. Yea! Every day is a gift from God!
I want to thank-you for your continuing prayers of love and support. I am able to maintain my calmness and inner peace during this incredible journey with your prayers and the grace of Jesus Christ.
Many of you have indicated how “heroic” you think I am. I am definitely no hero; I did not choose to have 3 surgeries (number 3 is going to be in August – date TBD), cancer, or chemo and radiation treatments this year. I just take each day – one day at a time. (I think true heroes volunteer or sign up for dangerous work – like our armed forces, our police officers and fireman).
You can‘t always choose what happens to you, but you can choose how you respond to it. It doesn’t matter who you are, we will all experience life, which is full of unjust situations. We (or those we love) will get serious illnesses, we will experience family challenges with spouses/parents/and/or children, financial issues, death of loved ones, job losses – the list is endless. You cannot let life’s challenges destroy your happiness, or steal your JOY.
I am curious how my cancer experience will shape my future. I already am seeing how God can take my bout with cancer and create a positive outcome. My daughter, Katrina and I go to radiation 5 days each week, with a standing 2:45PM appointment. Katrina and I enjoy talking with the same people each day, all of whom are there as drivers, or patients. There are smiles, laughter, hope and joy in the waiting room. A few, at first, seem scared, but all have starting smiling and sharing their stories. It is definitely a “safe place”. We are all there fighting for our lives and the chance to live a longer life.
My friend – Connie has set up a dinner website for the full 30 days of radiation. It has been an incredible gift. Since we are in downtown Denver Monday through Friday for radiation at 2:45 PM, we are not always home in time for dinner preparation. Almost all of the 30 days have been signed up for by friends and family. Thank-you all so much!!
Every morning I wake up and listen to the birds sing, and thank God for another day. It is amazing when facing the possibility of death with my surgery on April 3, how appreciative I am for each day. We will all die, we don’t know the date, but there is so much peace at having Jesus in your heart. He truly is the Holy Comforter.
Last Sunday morning was so joyous. I sat on the back porch, ate my breakfast and listened to the beautiful chorus of birds. We have several nests in our backyard. There are several house finches, a dove, and a chickadee family. I got out the binoculars and watched the mother chickadee feed her 3 babies for several hours – what a treat! My roses are beginning to bloom, my coral bells are lovely, and the columbine flowers under my pine tree are shades of yellow, purple, white and blue. My white peony plant is full of blooms and I am still waiting for the other two peonies to blossom. Spring is definitely my favorite time of the year! New life is flourishing all around me. :o)
Some of you have asked if radiation hurts – no, it really doesn’t hurt. It is just a bit weird and uncomfortable. Weirdness comes when the 2 foot thick door closes after everyone leaves and the flashes of blue light from the radiation begin. I am strapped to the table with a specially molded 2 foot by 3 foot mesh mask which attaches to the table and holds me – absolutely still during radiation. When the mask is removed my skin looks like “Lizard Woman”, for about one hour. I am pretty funny looking!
I have completed 13 radiation treatments – so only 17 to go! Yea! My next chemo treatment will be June 9. Michael has an early morning all store meeting and Katrina has to get Shari up with breakfast and lunch and then off to workshop. My friend Connie (Yes, the same friend who set up the dinner website) will be taking me to chemo. Michael and Katrina will come by later. Chemo takes about 5 ½ hours, so it is a long day. After chemo, Katrina will drive me downtown for my radiation treatments. My last chemo treatment was tolerable and not as bad as I expected. I am so fortunate that my doctor is giving me some very powerful and effective anti-nausea medication. As I get farther and farther away from my last chemo treatment – 20 days, today – I feel more normal and able to eat a more variety of foods. My hair is still on my head – although my scalp feels tingly, and it takes about 2-3 weeks to lose my hair. With the first loss of hair, I will go to my local JCPenny’s store where they have a private room, in order to have my head shaved. It is one way I can to control an uncontrollable situation. With my surgery scar from ear to ear, I am just going to wear scarves and hats. I think that a wig will “itch” my scar and be hot during the coming months. So, remember, this is the year of the HAT, so please all wear your hats and think of me. :o)
We had read where acupuncture can help during chemotherapy and radiation. So, I have been having 2 treatments each week, since beginning my chemo and radiation. My acupuncturist is passionate about cancer patients – her sister has had cancer 4 times! I am so lucky to have been able to find Jana.
My doctors are always impressed with my progress! I attribute this to your continued prayers, the grace of Jesus, regular acupuncture treatments, and my limited contact with my friends and family. Thank-you all for the understanding and cooperation during this time. I am, indeed, able to funnel all of my energy to my HEALING! Katrina has taken on the monumental task of my household chores, while taking care of all of my needs, and Shari’s needs. Katrina has done this on her own – I did not ask for her to give up her life for me for most of 2009. Boy, am I am lucky Mom! Katrina is doing all of this with a happy and joy- filled heart! I am able to channel all of my inner strength to healing. Michael has taken on additional household responsibilities, too, in addition to keeping his job at Nordstrom, which provides us with incredible health benefits.
As I mentioned before, my eyes continue to be a challenge for me. The radiation is causing my prescription to change, but it is useless to get new glasses until 3 weeks after radiation ends. The effects of radiation will not start until 3 weeks after the first treatment, and will continue for 3 weeks after – probably until the third week of July. My eyes get tired easily, and do not always work together. I see my eye surgeon every 2 weeks. It is a time for me to be patient until we see how radiation will affect my optical nerves. There is a 1% chance that I could lose partial or full eyesight in one or both eyes. So, thank-you all for your continued prayers. It is such a comfort knowing that you all have me in your thoughts and prayers. :o)
Much love,
Linda
