Dr. Fearon

Today, I had an appointment with my primary doctor. She was the one who called me 14 months ago to let me know that the tumor was "highly suspicious and could possibly be intracystic papillary carcinoma". She strongly advised me not to go on the mission trip to the Philippines recommending that I have the surgery right away. She and I had several discussions from that phone call but I had not seen her since then, since I have gotten my care at the cancer center. Today, she wanted to give me a thorough check up. And that's what she did. Poked, asked questions, checked several things and then sent me to the lab for blood tests... and they took alot of vials, although the phlebotomist said when all is said and done, it's no more than 3 tbsp of blood. What was amazing to me was that she remembered about the mission trip. The first thing she asked me was "so, how was the mission trip?" I couldn't believe she remembered that after 14 months. It was really nice to see her again. She asked how the last year has been for me and how I'm feeling now. She wants me to have a bone scan sometime this summer to check my bone density. She is also checking my iron level, hemoglobin and white count. I reminded her that she was the one who started to check my white levels 3 years ago, since it was going up but not at an alarming rate. What she said surprised me... she said she was keeping an eye on it to make sure that I did not develop leukemia. I did not know that... at that time, she just told me that she just wanted to make sure that my blood levels stayed within the normal parameters. So, when it was discovered that I had breast cancer, I guess it didn't come too much as a surprise to her. I am so glad and so fortunate that I have a great medical team. All the people who have worked with me have shown not only professionalism but they also try to treat the human spirit; they show an interest in me as a person, not just me the patient.

so, the blood monitoring continues... hopefully not too often.... we'll have to wait and see what the results are...

Depression Recovery Group

So I got sick again as soon as I got home from California. I've had this cold that I can't seem to shake and it does affect my energy level more than usual. Plus, I hate feeling like there's an echo in my head. I sure hope that's only the cold and not my brain cells dying :-( When I was in Cali, Frendell started the Depression Recovery Group at our Chicago church. We have more than 10 people attending. Last Saturday, he went on a retreat with the young adults from our other church, so I was in charge of facilitating the group. It was great to share with others about the things we've learned about Nutrition and how it affects depression and nutrition and how it helps with healing. Sharon helped me out alot and I am glad that she was there. I made several things for people to try: walnut maple cookies, walnut spread, lentil spread along with cut-up vegetables and crackers and the flax-walnut sprinkle, used best for cereals. Everyone seem to like the food... and they were easy enough to make. When I made stuff on Thursday and Friday, I did not heed my pain and kept going and I paid for it. My arm was throbbing all week-end and I'm hoping that it will start to settle down now. Would you believe I drove myself to church? It was kind of a weird feeling... before all of my surgeries in the past years, I drove around all over the city and suburbs of Chicago, seeing patients and all. After my surgeries, it hurt too much to drive, so I haven't driven consistently in a long while. I didn't do too bad at all... in fact, I felt good that I almost drove up to Wisconsin... just kidding... I was tired and my arm was throbbing by the time I got home from church late that afternoon.

I have alot of paper work to do... I am so grateful to be able to take experience these things again. Cancer changes you but not all the changes are bad. Our friend, Mariezel, came to speak at our church at Frendell's request. She told of her experiences and challenges as an only child who took care of her dad, who died of multiple myeloma. She had put her career on hold to take care of him. He lived more than 2 years past diagnosis when initially he was only given 2 - 6 months. Two years later, she had to face similar feelings and challenges as her Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Mariezel has always shown a very strong faith in God and watching her go through these experiences challenged us to stay faithful and strong to God as well, regardless of what we're going through. In her young life, she's already faced what most people won't even face in a lifetime... and in spite of these things, her character reflects God's love in her life. Her story touched my heart and I was glad to see her and her Mom again. Going through this journey of cancer re-iterates in my heart and in my mind the resilience of the human spirit and it paints the very bold picture of a faithful God who is there through all that we go through.

Watch out for details for WALK TO EMPOWER CHICAGO MAY 9 - Mothers Day. I hope all of you will consider walking with our MPOWER team.... last year we raised close to $1000.00 for breast cancer. This year, we hope we can surpass that goal. Faith has so willingly and graciously agreed to be our captain again... she is awesome and I thank her for her time and sacrifice. So, start saving up your dollars and change.... and even if you don't walk with us, please consider making a generous donation. Have an awesome week!!! :-)

Family

The kids had no school on Monday... so they had the TV installed...

I loved Christian's expression when they got ready to put it up on the wall... WOW!!!

family picture :-)

crazy family picture...

Hanging out with friends

We visited Jun & Lalaine... Jun had knee surgery last week...

Lauren, Lou and Kuya Kevin...

We celebrated Kevin's birthday... can't believe he's in college already!!!
Lou, Ross, Ats, Lauren, Kevin, Jessie & Yvonne...
good food, great company...

Friends in the journey...

Our friend Jerma and her family live in Hanford. She & her family were missionaries in Africa but they had to come home due to medical issues. Jerma had a baby girl last December.... so adorable

The girls... Janine, Jerma, me, Ate Grace and Esabelle...

How fast they grow up... Janine and Joshua...

Anklung

Christian, Lauren and Kori at Stockton Central Church

Lauren teaching Kori how to play the angklung....

Angklung choir played for special music....

Rainy California

It's so nice to be in California with family... but the weather has been very temperamental. But I guess it's to be expected, it is winter here after all. I was here for 5 days already before the sun finally came out... the intermittent days were rainy and cold... yes, my friends, it does get cold here too, at least enough for a jacket. It's colder in the bay area and last week-end, we visited some friends near the San Francisco area, and I was cold.

Well, I ended up sick again. I've had a temperature off and on since last Sunday, coughing and sneezing. Yuck... I was hoping coming to a warmer place would get rid of my cold :-( But I've had fun spending time with the kids and just hanging out with them. I'll try to post pictures next time. I had my treatment today and the doctor I went to turned out to be someone who attended PUC in Angwin around the same time Frendell & I were there. What a small world!! He also graduated from Loma Linda Medical school. Amazing. I had to tell the doctor today how we usually do the shot.. my side effects were worse today, probably coz I'm not feeling too well. I'm hoping the sun will stay out the next several days.. at least until I go home next week :-) We're hoping to go into the city sometime this week-end. We'll see how it goes. Please pray for one of my sister's friends... she was having back pain last Friday and was taken to a hospital in Sacramento. MRI & CAT scans showed a tumor on her back and 5 lesions in her brain. We visited her the other day... she's very optimistic and her spirits are high, but her husband and son are having a hard time with it.

We've spoken to my Mom several times. My Auntie Juaning's funeral was last Sunday at Gen Trias, Cavite, Philippines. Mom and Auntie Esting are very tired and Auntie Esting is not doing as well; she's taking it very hard. My cousin said that she's having more moments of confusion and dementia. My Mom's having a difficult time with this as well; it was very difficult to comfort her when she's in another part of the world during this very difficult time in our family... she's very glad that she had gone to the PI to spend time with her sisters and that she was there when her oldest sister died. I have many fond memories of my aunt, especially during the summer months when we would leave the hot city of Manila and spend a month in the province. My aunt would always make sure we got the best fruits and desserts when we were there. She owned a store in the town market, so after we woke up, we would go to the market and she'd take us around to the different food places and get us breakfast. Then we could play in the store or try and 'help' out. Then we'd go back to the house and play and eat lunch. Towards the late afternoon, we would walk back to the market with one of our older cousins and stay there until my aunt goes home with us. Some days, we would be at the church for VBS and we'd get all sorts of delicious breads and foods there. When I was little, it seemed like the walk from their house to the church to the market took forever. When I went there last year, i was so surprised that it didn't even take that long to get from one place to the other. We were able to watch the band play at the town square... my cousin used to play in that band and I remember watching him during parades, sometimes following the band when it passed by the house. My aunt barely recognized me when I last saw her. I hope that she did not suffer during the last moments of her life. I am comforted by the knowlege that someday we will all be together again in heaven... and we can reminisce about all those times we spent together in Cavite....