When they sang, "Get up every mornin' to the alarm clock's warnin'." Some mornings I get up to the effects of chemo. Been awake for a couple hours now after about 4-5 hours of good sleep. Hence, the early posting of this blog page today. I'm sure there will be some nap time throughout the day today. Going to run some errands, but it is supposed to rain here all day. Perfect for napping!
I talked to the Nurse Practitioner yesterday and told her the only side effect I've been having after recent chemo treatments (in addition to the one I mentioned after the previous treatment that lasted for a few days) is the need to take a nap sometimes in the middle of the day. She said, "That's absolutely normal"(the best words you can hear from a caregiver - especially when she says taking a nap in the middle of the day is something you need to do - as an adult I wonder, "Why did I fight with my mother when I was much younger and she insisted I take a nap in the middle of the day?"). Back to the Nurse Practitioner...She said "The effects of chemo are cumulative. Remember, we are putting 'poison' in your body in 3 week cycles. When the previous cycle ends, it doesn't mean your body is back to normal. It means your body is at a point where we can put more 'poison' in. It's doing what it is supposed to do, but it will wear you down over time. It's OK to listen to your body and when you need to take a nap, do it."
I have gained some weight back, but had no idea where it was going because my waistline hasn't expanded (Thank God) and then I started feeling my calf muscles and biceps and realized that muscle tissue is returning. They were pretty spindly a few months ago. Muscle mass takes less space than fat mass, so that is a good thing.
She also told me that it is indeed OK to travel, but not to travel too far. She knows I take regular trips to DC for business, but advised to not travel farther than that for now. They want me to stay close to them so that they can care for me if needed (vs. relaying information to someone in another hospital). Darn, because this year's Men's ACC Basketball Tournament in Atlanta is going to be good! I'm picking Georgia Tech to win it all. I just got a hunch about it.
Shalom.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
In Order of Importance
1) Bo Baker - from his Caring Bridge journal: "Dear friends, our hearts were broken a little more today. Bo's tumor was a Stage 3. The cancer had invaded lymph nodes surrounding the kidney." He is facing a pretty long treatment program (25 weeks).
To follow his journey: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bobaker
Your thoughts and prayers mean the world to he and his family.
2) I've finally given chemo treatments a nickname: "Drugs and Hugs." That pretty much sums it all up.
3) I was running an errand after chemo treatment (er, I mean "Drugs and Hugs") today and saw a fellow treatment patient that was in the treatment room with me 3 weeks ago. He had spotted me and said to himself, "He looks familiar," and then I spotted him and walked over and asked him if he was who I thought he was (trust me, that's an error I didn't want to make - assuming it was someone who is being treated for cancer - there isn't much room for error in a salutation - FYI: I used, "Don't I know you from Johnston Willis Hospital?"). He was who I thought he was and we were having a good conversation and then I spotted someone who looked like someone from my church. He looked at me and came over and called me by the name of someone who goes to his church. The three of us had a great conversation.
It is those moments to which I can't assign the word "coincidence." I believe they are from a higher source than humanity. They are moments of grace and peace with the intent to comfort. They are real. I encourage you to look for them, facilitate them, recognize what they are when you receive them, but most of all "Go Good" with them!
To follow his journey: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bobaker
Your thoughts and prayers mean the world to he and his family.
2) I've finally given chemo treatments a nickname: "Drugs and Hugs." That pretty much sums it all up.
3) I was running an errand after chemo treatment (er, I mean "Drugs and Hugs") today and saw a fellow treatment patient that was in the treatment room with me 3 weeks ago. He had spotted me and said to himself, "He looks familiar," and then I spotted him and walked over and asked him if he was who I thought he was (trust me, that's an error I didn't want to make - assuming it was someone who is being treated for cancer - there isn't much room for error in a salutation - FYI: I used, "Don't I know you from Johnston Willis Hospital?"). He was who I thought he was and we were having a good conversation and then I spotted someone who looked like someone from my church. He looked at me and came over and called me by the name of someone who goes to his church. The three of us had a great conversation.
It is those moments to which I can't assign the word "coincidence." I believe they are from a higher source than humanity. They are moments of grace and peace with the intent to comfort. They are real. I encourage you to look for them, facilitate them, recognize what they are when you receive them, but most of all "Go Good" with them!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Good Morning, Good Morning
Chemo Day!
Yesterday, a friend of mine said to me, "You are the only person I know who has undergone chemo treatments, that looks forward to and enjoys them. You are sick!" I told them that I have responded well to them and the people that work in the chemo room make it a great experience.
That's another lesson I've learned in this. No matter your job, position, activity in which you are involved, etc. you have an opportunity to make that moment enjoyable for someone else.
My brother told me a story last night about the time he was walking through Union Station in Washington DC and saw a kid on a class trip have an unfortunate event with her food while sitting outside and eating her lunch. The kid had no more money to buy more food, so he approached one of the chaperones and gave them more money out of his pocket to buy the kid some more food. Needless to say, more than one person came out of that event with a positive experience and possibly a different outlook on residents of Washington DC.
Go Good!
Yesterday, a friend of mine said to me, "You are the only person I know who has undergone chemo treatments, that looks forward to and enjoys them. You are sick!" I told them that I have responded well to them and the people that work in the chemo room make it a great experience.
That's another lesson I've learned in this. No matter your job, position, activity in which you are involved, etc. you have an opportunity to make that moment enjoyable for someone else.
My brother told me a story last night about the time he was walking through Union Station in Washington DC and saw a kid on a class trip have an unfortunate event with her food while sitting outside and eating her lunch. The kid had no more money to buy more food, so he approached one of the chaperones and gave them more money out of his pocket to buy the kid some more food. Needless to say, more than one person came out of that event with a positive experience and possibly a different outlook on residents of Washington DC.
Go Good!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Another View
A friend of mine in Maryland told me about a sermon her pastor delivered about disease and illness. Below is a portion of his sermon:
"Disease is what is happening to ones body. Illness is your response to disease. He told two stories. A woman free from cancer for ten years who had her name listed in the prayer list (without the cancer mention) until one Sunday cancer appeared after her name. She was ranting and raving after church and he asked her what was wrong. She said 'Now they will treat me differently now that they know I have cancer.' She was free from the disease but not from the illness.
The other person also had a disease but lived her life in a way free from illness. She was upbeat, did things for everyone else, and anyone who learned that she had a disease could not believe it."
"Listen to the Exhortation of the Dawn!
Look to this Day!
For it is Life, the very Life of Life.
In its brief course lie all the
Verities and Realities of your Existence.
The Bliss of Growth,
The Glory of Action,
The Splendor of Beauty;
For Yesterday is but a Dream,
And To-morrow is only a Vision;
But To-day well lived makes
Every Yesterday a Dream of Happiness,
And every Tomorrow a Vision of Hope.
Look well therefore to this Day!
Such is the Salutation of the Dawn!" - Kalidasa
"Disease is what is happening to ones body. Illness is your response to disease. He told two stories. A woman free from cancer for ten years who had her name listed in the prayer list (without the cancer mention) until one Sunday cancer appeared after her name. She was ranting and raving after church and he asked her what was wrong. She said 'Now they will treat me differently now that they know I have cancer.' She was free from the disease but not from the illness.
The other person also had a disease but lived her life in a way free from illness. She was upbeat, did things for everyone else, and anyone who learned that she had a disease could not believe it."
"Listen to the Exhortation of the Dawn!
Look to this Day!
For it is Life, the very Life of Life.
In its brief course lie all the
Verities and Realities of your Existence.
The Bliss of Growth,
The Glory of Action,
The Splendor of Beauty;
For Yesterday is but a Dream,
And To-morrow is only a Vision;
But To-day well lived makes
Every Yesterday a Dream of Happiness,
And every Tomorrow a Vision of Hope.
Look well therefore to this Day!
Such is the Salutation of the Dawn!" - Kalidasa
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
It Just Gets Better
I was having a conversation last night with someone who told me about a show they saw on The Discovery Channel. The show was about an atom sized particle that doctors have either discovered or created that when injected into the bloodstream, will attach itself to a cancer cell. It then gets absorbed into the cell and once it is in there, it destroys the cancer cell. How cool is that?!?!?!
With that said, remember Superhero Bo and also my theater friend today and send good thoughts their way in the manner of your choosing.
With that said, remember Superhero Bo and also my theater friend today and send good thoughts their way in the manner of your choosing.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Cool Stuff
Found it amusing when I was working in the yard on Saturday and listening to music on my IPod that I listened to Waylon Jennings, Rich Mullins and Michael Jackson. Now there's an assortment. Yet, I believe if they all ever had a chance to meet, they would be friends with each other.
Diversity is good.
Yesterday in church, as the bell choir started a song called "Morningdance," I thought to myself, "Wouldn't it be neat if one day they played 'Simple Gifts?'" I kid you not, in the middle of the song, out came the melody of "Simple Gifts." In the Methodist church, the word "grace" is important. I enjoyed that moment of grace as I enjoy the moments of grace in the chemo room.
Talked to an older gentleman yesterday that was diagnosed and treated for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma 3 years ago. He is still "clean" and told me he lost 85 lbs and has kept it off. He also said the chemo treatments were awful for him. He said at one point he asked them if they were trying to kill him. I told him I enjoy chemo days as I have lots of fun in that room. I guess it is another example of everyone reacting differently to their treatments. It's very important to understand that reality as a patient, or as someone who knows someone who is being treated for cancer. Unless I hear it from my oncologist, statements about alternative treatment, how someone else reacted to treatments , etc., I have learned that I shouldn't be concerned why my reactions are different.
Countdown to chemo #6: 3 days.
Diversity is good.
Yesterday in church, as the bell choir started a song called "Morningdance," I thought to myself, "Wouldn't it be neat if one day they played 'Simple Gifts?'" I kid you not, in the middle of the song, out came the melody of "Simple Gifts." In the Methodist church, the word "grace" is important. I enjoyed that moment of grace as I enjoy the moments of grace in the chemo room.
Talked to an older gentleman yesterday that was diagnosed and treated for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma 3 years ago. He is still "clean" and told me he lost 85 lbs and has kept it off. He also said the chemo treatments were awful for him. He said at one point he asked them if they were trying to kill him. I told him I enjoy chemo days as I have lots of fun in that room. I guess it is another example of everyone reacting differently to their treatments. It's very important to understand that reality as a patient, or as someone who knows someone who is being treated for cancer. Unless I hear it from my oncologist, statements about alternative treatment, how someone else reacted to treatments , etc., I have learned that I shouldn't be concerned why my reactions are different.
Countdown to chemo #6: 3 days.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
What A Day...
No taunting to my UNC friends(Although I did ask Bo the Superhero to pull for his second favorite red team yesterday. He must have.).
I kept my word and did yard work yesterday (i.e. raking pine tags, leaves, etc. and then fertilizing and overseeding the grass). Thought about quitting a couple of times due to fatigue, but broke it up and got it all done. Raking is a good upper body workout and it felt good to break a sweat.
On her journal, Bo's mother lists this quote by e.e. cummings as one of her favorites:
"The only wasted day is one without laughter."
I kept my word and did yard work yesterday (i.e. raking pine tags, leaves, etc. and then fertilizing and overseeding the grass). Thought about quitting a couple of times due to fatigue, but broke it up and got it all done. Raking is a good upper body workout and it felt good to break a sweat.
On her journal, Bo's mother lists this quote by e.e. cummings as one of her favorites:
"The only wasted day is one without laughter."
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