Ann and Bernie

Lunch with Ann and Bernie at the Blue Max Cafe in Forest Park...

I met Ann and Bernadette when I first started working at the hospital in 2000. We have stayed in touch (even though all of us no longer work there) and have remained friends since then...

The man on the left is Bernie's handsome husband, Dave... and the man on the right is our favorite Hugh :-)

It was great being able to spend some time with Ann and Bernie and the food was delicious too :-)

MRI postponed

I wondered how the new health law that just got signed will affect us. Well, I found out today. I just received a call from the hospital's business office that our insurance company has not yet approved coverage for my MRI... it is 2 hours before the scheduled appointment. They are waiting for more information from the doctor of why it is needed. Hhhmmmm.... I guess the fact that I have history of cancer and am having some symptoms is not enough. I did not have this problem the first time I had to have the MRI done in Oct'08. So, we will see if the MRI will happen.. they've postponed it for now... Life has changed so much... I think it will be a nightmare with this new healthcare plan... lesson learned? try not to get cancer or sick with anything... it is the only way to avoid all this... sorry if I sound a little bitter... I didn't mean to.. I've really been trying to think more positive and I hope that things will all work out in the end :-)

MRI

So our life has gotten progressively busy these last few weeks. We started a Depression Recovery Program class at Northbrook church 2 weeks ago. Last Sunday, Frendell met with the volunteers for the CHIP class he's starting at Deerfield church. On our way home from the class on Sunday, Mom called that they're on their way to Chicago. They had been in Missouri for the week-end, where Mom did some presentations with some friends from Va. Beach. They arrived really late Sunday night and left early this morning. Very quick trip but it was good to see them.

Tomorrow, I have an MRI scheduled. Someone just called me to ask me some questions like: do you have a pacemaker? body piercings? permanent tattoos? are you claustrophobic? do you have breast implants or expanders? can you tolerate being on your stomach for 45 minutes? I told her I didn't know about the last questions. So, we'll try tomorrow and see how it goes. I don't mind having MRIs when I'm on my back, but having the MRI done on your stomach is a totally different torture in itself. It was hard enough when I had it before the mastectomy.. I'm not sure how it will be tomorrow... I guess I'll find out tomorrow. I hope I can sleep early tonight so I can get enough rest...

Corn Muffins

So with us doing the Depression Recovery Program and Frendell starting the CHIP (Coronary Health Improvement Program) at the end of the month, I have been trying very hard to try new vegan dishes. I'm using the CHIP programs cookbook, The Optimal Diet and also the Depression Recovery book.... this one has recipes rich in omega-3 and tryptophan. I made the chili and thought I would make the corn muffins to go with it. Well, suffice it to say that it didn't turn out the way I expected and not in a good way. Sorry :-( I tried, but neither one of us liked the way it tasted. It had tofu in the recipe and it tasted too much like tofu to me. So my question to you is, do any of you have a recipe for vegan corn muffins? I found my old recipe but it has eggs and milk. But, trying out all these new recipes has helped changed Frendell's sweet tooth. We continue with juicing and he has cut out processed sugar. I'm so proud of him... we walk when we can and take as much Vit D as we can. He said his knees are feeling better and he's even itching to play tennis. Spring is here and I am looking forward to more sunny days. I wish I could garden but I don't have a green thumb :-( What are you up to these days? I'm glad that God gives us sunshine and rain so that the flowers can grow... can't wait to see them blooming. Have a great happy day.

Walking

I'm glad I woke up today with no fever. I stayed home from church yesterday because this cold has gotten worse. It has moved down to my chest and I have been coughing and sneezing and running a low-grade temp for a couple of days now. Aarrrgggghhhh.... I wanted to go to church yesterday as it was a warm and sunny day. Oh well... I hope it warms up this week... but no such luck.

Frendell & I have started walking to train for the Mothers Day walk. I remember last year when I started walking and he warned me that I was not even waking a mile and I was convinced that I was walking at least two :-) So, he clocked it in the odometer last week so I can see how far I really have to walk for 3.5 miles. He cautioned me not to go too far yet... but I always think I could go further than i really can... especially since this is only our 2nd time to walk this far outside this winter. So, around 1.5 miles, I started coughing hard and I got dizzy and my foot hurt and I just wanted to go home. Yeah, whiny, I know. But I knew that if I just walked further over the bridge and turn right for 3 blocks, we would be home. Don't tell him I said I should've listened to him earlier when he said to only go a mile, since I have not been feeling well. And the sun went behind the clouds again... at least I got some Vit D for about half an hour. I hope it won't rain this week so I can try and walk everyday. I hope you are all walking already... or running, if that's what you prefer. May is coming around the corner and I hope you'll join me at the starting line. Walk, walk, walk....

A year of treatment

I was at the Bernadine Cancer Center today. I suppose you can say it was an anniversary of sorts. Agnes, one of the nurses with the clinical study I'm a part of, came over to talk to me about how my treatments are going and had me fill out a "Quality of Life" questionnaire. So many things have happened in the past year and when she asked me how I am doing, I can honestly say that I am doing so much better. Is there pain? Always, but tolerable and manageable. Sleeping? Most nights about 5 - 6 hours. Appetite? Not too bad. Energy level? I wish it were better, but it's better than last year. Nausea? yes during treatment week, the rest of the time I just have a funny taste in my mouth. Other side effects? numbness and tingling/pins & needles in the bottom of my feet and my hands. So far, I am doing well. So, the treatments will continue.

The nurse called me yesterday with some lab results. Very low vitamin D level. Normal is 30; mine is 4. So, they are starting me on an intense Vit D supplement medication something. Anyways, I take one pill once a week for 3 months. Then another level is drawn to determine if it has improved. I will also have a bone scan later on this summer. Plus they discovered I have hypothyroidism. They'll have to re-check in 6 weeks.

I saw Dr. Robinson today and she has always been so encouraging to me. We talked about things and decided that I will have an MRI of the other side. Both to make sure and also to put my mind at ease. So, we will see what happens with the MRI and then I will see her again next month. I am so very fortunate that my medical team is very open to dialogue with me; it hit me today that I should have brought something for the staff in Clinic E. I know I've been there for a while now because everyone recognizes me and asks me how I am doing and one even tapped me on the shoulder and said, 'how you doin' girl? how was your trip?'. Now, that is a sign that they have been a part of my life, probably even more than some of my friends. They're all so very nice and so very helpful. I'm trying to decide what I should bring them next month... so I'm a little late on our anniversary :-) I'm sure they won't mind....

The sun came out today, so Mahal & I decided to take advantage of it and try to get as much Vit D as possible. He told me NOT to wear my sunglasses so I won't block out the sun. Okay, so I was squinting the entire time we walked. Of course I have this grandiose idea in my head that I can walk 2 miles already, even thought I haven't walked that far in so long. He tried to warn me, but I wouldn't listen. I didn't do too badly, although more than halfway towards home, i had to stop and take a breather and I was really feeling nauseous. I still am. I do worry about my left foot... remember my plantar fascitis? Well, it never really completely left... so I hope it will not get too aggravated when i start walking everyday. We'll just have to wait and see..

Today, I celebrate a year of treatment.. I am so grateful for a God who has granted me another year of life. God has been faithful and has provided our needs, way beyond our expectations or what we deserve. He is the source of my HOPE. I am blessed and so thankful for a husband who has taken every step of this journey with me; he didn't even blink. And if he did, he never let on. He just said, 'okay, if this is what we're gonna have to do, this is what we're gonna do'. Even through his times of challenge, I know his mind was always on me and my well-being. He shows me everyday how much he loves me and I am forever changed because of him. I am surrounded and so thankful for a loving family who continues to provide support and sacrifices for me. Whether near or far, I know I can always count on them for whatever I may need. I am overwhelmed with the generosity and support of a wonderful community of friends and church family who have taken this journey through cancer with me and Frendell; people who have prayed for me, cried with me, brought me food or have taken me out, given me gifts of time and others that are tangible, cheered me up, driven me around, kept me honest, challenged my fears, listened to my grumbling, formed a team for our walks... no matter where they lived, they showed me their love and their hope and their concern for me. It has been a year of growth and I am am so thankful to be here. I cry even as I write this because I know that the lessons I learned this year has made me a stronger person. Elizabeth Edwards said that "cancer changes you forever and you are never the same". I found in my own experience that that is indeed true. Cancer has changed me, but the gifts that I learned the past year can never be replaced. And that is enough to celebrate... so, whoever wants to celebrate this milestone with me, give me a call :-) Thank you to all of you who have followed this journey through this blog... I appreciate your interest and your support. Have a great rest of the week!!

WALK TO EMPOWER

Rabbit! Rabbit! and Happy Spring everyone.... can you believe that it's almost a year since we did the Walk to Empower? Yes siree!!! that was Mothers Day last year... and here we are, only 8 weeks away again from this very important event. Please join me and our captain, Faith Langtiw, as we raise money for breast cancer. This year, I am setting a personal goal of walking all three miles. I tried to do it last year, but as you all recall, I didn't quite have the strength and endurance to do it, plus I was still in a lot of pain from the surgeries. But this year, the pain is more manageable and I am working on my strength and endurance... So, I am challenging you all, my family and friends, to come and join our team MPOWER... come and walk with us... or donate... or volunteer... whatever you decide to do, I hope you won't decide to just sit there and not participate. Even if you don't live in Chicago, find a walk in your city... or better yet, come and spend the week-end with us here in Chicago and join us. It is alot of fun and so energizing to be with over 40,000 people, ready to fight against breast cancer.

Please visit our website and join our TEAM MPOWER!!! We couldn't do it without it. And many thanks to our dear friend Faith, for being our captain and Claress, our co-captain. I know I couldn't have made it this far in the journey without you guys... So support our team and see you at the starting line!!!

https://walk.networkofstrength.org/mpower1