Eye Appointment

So I woke up one day and couldn't see and my left eye has been very irritated, red and several people commented that it looks swollen. I figured the decreased ability to see is attributed to my being OLD now and I know that your vision can change because of that. So, I made an eye appointment @ the hospital with the ophthalmology dept to get fitted for contacts. I figured an hour was long enough, right? So, my appt was scheduled for 9 a.m. and my treatment shot for 10 a.m. Little did I know...

Arrived there, talked with the tech and then the ophthalmology resident came in. Checked the eyes, the lids, behind the eyes, lots of bright light that hurt my eyes... then he asked me if I have always had big eyes. Ohhhkkkkkaaayyyy... he looked at my latest lab results and noted that my thyroid is being monitored. More questions... more poking around... he asked what symptoms I've been having... then, he called the optometrist in... more bright lights... more poking... ah, this time, we had some refraction done and all... they consult... they talk to me... consult some more...

So 3 HOURS later they both agreed that I need to see another doctor within the next week... they are trying to determine if my thyroid is affecting my eyes. Apparently, it looks like my left eye is bulging. They even took measurements on how far out my eyes were bulging... it wasn't too bad, but they still want to make sure that they have ruled out everything. The WORST thing that the resident doctor had to do was pull out eye lashes from my left eye; apparently the lashes on the bottom are going straight up and poking my eye.. they think that may be the cause of the irritation and redness on the left eye. Ouch.. I told him I barely even pluck my eyebrows, let alone my eye lashes. that took a while cause I was tearing up and I couldn't keep my eye open knowing that metal tweezers were coming. It was pretty bad.. kinda like having a breast MRI or a root canal... And the conclusion? I have to see another doctor... wait and see if the irritation will still be there now that the eyeylashes have been pulled...

I can tell you though, I came home, ate lunch, took a nap and I still CANNOT see. They dilated my eyes and also put some mild anesthetic (for when he pulled the lashes and poked around)... It still feels gritty and it hurts when I close my eyes... but I was reassured that I'm not going blind and my retinas are not detaching!!! thank God for good news :-) Have you had your eyes checked lately? You better... you don't want to have an eye appointment like I did!!

MRI

Well, I finally got it done. The doctor talked to the insurance company and they approved the MRI... so I went to the hospital at 8 this morning and got it done. It was deja`vu. I remember getting the IV set up and I asked the tech last time if this was gonna be my life from that point forward... full of blood draws and IVs. She said maybe for a year or two but it won't be forever. And she was right. Now, I'm down to at least once a month, once in a while a little more.

It was very hard to lay down in prone (on your stomach) for 45 minutes for the whole thing. They set up the IV and I was asked to get down on the table. Then I was slid back into the tunnel and then I heard the door click. Of course, the tech, Phil, told me to not take deep breaths because it could cause some movement that will blur the pictures. Okay, so if you tell me NOT to take a deep breath, I'm going to want to take a huge one. As soon as that door closed, the knocking began. They gave me ear plugs but it was still very loud in there. I told myself NOT to take a deep breath... 'Shallow breaths, Glady, shallow breaths'. I tried to visualize myself at the beach relaxing and reading a book. I imagined my entire body turning into jello and just relaxing. Then I recited Psalm 23 and even sang it in my head. Most of the time, I imagined the kids faces and their smiles... all the kids in our family... playing, smiling and sometimes asking me to fight... that helped me focus. I kept telling myself that it was only 45 mins of my life. And pretty soon, I felt the dye going through the IV and I knew it was towards the end. Some 10 minutes later and before I squeezed the bulb to tell them I needed to sit up, I heard Phil's voice telling me, "you did well, Glady... we're all done". Yeay!!! I was very dizzy and stiff when I got up, but I made it. Whew!!

In leaving the place, I realized just how many women are getting diagnosed with this disease. Two were leaving as I was coming in and then 2 more were arriving when I left and there was another one waiting in the waiting room. I was aware that I am so blessed that I have been feeling much better lately... and my trips to the cancer center and the outpatient centers are diminishing... God has been so good and faithful to me... He has given me so much hope

Anta

My girl, Anta surprised me with a visit today :-) I have missed her as she has been traveling all over the world, it seems like...

we celebrated her being home for now (she's leaving again in June and then again in August for a year abroad)

and catching up on what's new with her...

When Frendell & I were at Hinsdale, Anta was our sunshine girl.. her smile and her laughter always lit up the room

We tried to use the timer :-) funny results...

we talked about my surgery and the challenges I've had to face since then...

it was good to be able to spend time with her..

until next time you're home... we'll do lunch again thanks for the visit

Pat

Last Sunday we were pleasantly surprised by a phone call from Pat saying that she'll be stopping by O'hare for a couple of hours before she heads home to Washington. I'm so glad that we were able to visit with her... even though it was only for a short time... It is always great to spend time with her and we hope that we'll be able to spend more time next time she stops by :-)

The visit was long enough for a banana chocolate sundae with pecans :-)

I didn't eat any, I promise :-)

10000 Steps for Date Night

Ooopppss... the pictures posted backwards. So, start the story from the bottom :-)

Yesterday was such a beautiful day in Chicago... our first 80 degree day in over 6 months... so, Frendell had a brilliant idea...

Let's take the train to downtown for date night and walk as much as we can (homework for both the CHIP program and our Depression Recovery Program... that's what happens when you facilitate.. you must do what you prescribe your students to do)

Success!! We walked ALL OVER Navy Pier to look for Frendell's favorite dessert... and he said his reward for all the walking we did.. Finally found it at an Italian Cafe in front of Navy Pier. Strawberry and coconut.. it was delicious....

Now we must start walking back to catch the train... 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 steps.... I must admit, I had to rest a couple of times on the way back...

My back and my feet were hurting so I decided to take a break next to... do you recognize him? This is his couch for his patients in his show...

It's supposed to be Bob Newhart...

Frendell was fascinated by the underside/bottom of the bean... where am I???

Can you find us?

We took the blue line to Washington and Wabash and walked to Millennium Park. I tried to get the name in the picture but just couldn't quite do it... there were alot of people walking, playing, roller-blading, lounging outside. It was a beautiful day and we walked around the park for a bit. Then we decided to walk to the lakeside so for some fresh air... after we got there (Monroe and Lake Shore Drive by the Chicago Yacht Club), we looked to the left and decided that Navy Pier didn't look too far, so we kept walking and walking...

1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 steps... maybe more... an adventurous date night :-)

Team Captain's Lunch

We're all set to go.. please join us for the Network of Strength Walk to Empower on Sunday, May 9th at 9 a.m. in Grant Park, downtown Chicago. We attended the Captain's Luncheon to kick off this event!!

Our dear friend, Faith Langtiw, is our captain and organized our team this year and last year. She has been tireless in coming up with ideas to raise funds for our team and she has been so very encouraging and supportive through this whole ordeal with cancer. Faith, I am honored and humbled that you thought of this last year in my honor... I love you and appreciate you

Here are our co-captains... Ron & Claress Rodriguez. Ron designed our team logo for Team MPower... check it out in our website at https://walk.networkofstrength.org/mpower1

Claress organizes us always :-) and picked out where and when for our team.

Thank you to all of you... you have shown me how a loving community could help someone during their challenging times. It has always been an honor and privilege for Frendell & i to work with all of you... we love you guys...

We met this lady who started the whole thing to begin with. I apologize for not putting in her name. I have a name in my head that I thought I was told was her name, but my 'chemo' brain is not always accurate, so I do not want to mis-label her.

Anyways, the lady in our midst started the Y-Me organization about 20 years ago... that organization is now known as Network of Strength.. and the whole purpose of the organization is to make sure that no one faces breast cancer alone. They have 24/7 peer support, trainings and they also help pay for mammograms for women who cannot afford them.

Won't you join our team on May 9th? or if you are not able to, please consider making a donation towards this worthy cause

Da 4 Horsemen

The guys below are Frendell's friends and co-pastors here in Illinois....

Nirma (wife of Tony, 2nd on the left next to Frendell); Kimberly (wife of Ken, all the way to the right). Whitney, the young lady on the right wearing red is NOT a pastor's wife (she wanted me to make sure I emphasized that :-) and we were all admiring her beautifully done nails..

Frendell, Tony, Jose and Ken

They're very affectionate with each other and they are very funny when they're together... I laugh alot when I listen to them "shoot the breeze"....

Frendell and I are so blessed to have friends who have been there with us through this whole journey of cancer... they understand Frendell's challenges with ministry while taking care of me... thanks everyone