I like this story.
I do not believe the chemo process can truly be described unless you experience it yourself. Since MS is going to be my b*tch and chemo was its first whipping, Joanne and I were prepared to make the journey as comfortable as possible. In our world, comfortable comes in the form of entertainment, laughter, and the occasional whoopie cushion. I can tell you that there is an inevitable elephant that sits in the middle of the very small "treatment" room, where privacy is no option. Sometimes the elephant is so heavy, you feel guilty for laughing or smiling at the person in the chair 12 inches away from you.
Joanne picked me up for my last day of chemo. Per usual, we needed Starbucks. We glanced at the clock and collectively decided that we DEFINITELY had time to go to the "good" Starbucks, instead of the one that made us BAD coffees the previous time we went to chemo. So.... we rocked out to music in the mom-mobile, chatted a bit about what we might see at chemo since it WAS halloween, and wondered again why everybody always wants to drive into us. Whatev. We make it to Starbucks (drive thru, of course) & grabbed our lattes. We glanced at the clock again and made an executive decision that we ALSO have enough time to go to Dunkin Donuts for a box of 50 Munchkins. Oh yes... I DID write 50. Suhweet!
We made it to our destination, found a flipping place to park (which is NOT easy), and made it to the lab at 10:58am for an 11am appointment. Heck yeah! We were chatting with the man known as "the butcher" as we waited for me to have my IV put in. Joanne started to read her Starbucks cup and we decided, hands down, that the cup needed to be kept:
The Way I See It, #295
Can we laugh at cancer? Is it funny to lose your breasts? Am I crazy to have humor when I lose my hair? Should I ignore the giggles while receiving chemo? What if I nudge someone and sneak a smile, even though I have no eyebrows? Is it inappropriate? Don't be offended, it beats waxing!
---Julie Wade, Starbucks customer and cancer survivor from Seattle, Washington
That said it all.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Holy SMOKES!
Joanne here! So I made "captain" this year for the MS walk, must've been the soup and pot pie (no, not marijuana!). This should be a good walk, I am not pregnant so no babies to attend to. Last year was pretty much a last second plead for donations on my part but I had a lot on my plate. So I am going to TRY to be more involved this year. Should be fun times!
Make sure you get registered so we have a head count. I believe our sponsor (my husband) is going to get new FLASH shirts with the possible quote of "Walking to make MS Becki's bitch". We should probably find a more child friendly phrase so any ideas are welcome, you can even comment on this post!
If you've ever heard of HIPA, you just throw that piece of paper out the window when it comes to the chemo room! Check back often to find out about Anthony, the old make-up ladies, whoopie coushins, the butcher, IRMA, and all about what happens in the chemo room on Halloween!! Oh and the pee pee chair!!
Make sure you get registered so we have a head count. I believe our sponsor (my husband) is going to get new FLASH shirts with the possible quote of "Walking to make MS Becki's bitch". We should probably find a more child friendly phrase so any ideas are welcome, you can even comment on this post!
If you've ever heard of HIPA, you just throw that piece of paper out the window when it comes to the chemo room! Check back often to find out about Anthony, the old make-up ladies, whoopie coushins, the butcher, IRMA, and all about what happens in the chemo room on Halloween!! Oh and the pee pee chair!!
MS Walk, 2009!!!!!
Well Team..... the date is scheduled for the MS Walk at Forest Park! It will be our FOURTH annual appearance (can you believe it???).
The big day is Sunday, May 3rd at Forest Park. I know it is early, but it gives us all the more time to raise MUCH needed dinero!
Team FLASH is registered with the MS Society and we are ready to get this "thang" started once again.
To join us, go to.... www.msnewengland.org and click on "Walk" (it is in green this year). If you remember your username and password from last year, click on My Participant Center and enter that info. If not, click on "Sunday, May 3rd, Springfield"; click on "Register"; click on "Register to walk and join existing team"; locate Team FLASH and click on "Join Team" (located on the right); and take it from there.
PLEASE feel free to create your personal page (mine is done for the minute anyway).
There will be lots more info to come......
Yours Truly,
The Captain :-)
The big day is Sunday, May 3rd at Forest Park. I know it is early, but it gives us all the more time to raise MUCH needed dinero!
Team FLASH is registered with the MS Society and we are ready to get this "thang" started once again.
To join us, go to.... www.msnewengland.org and click on "Walk" (it is in green this year). If you remember your username and password from last year, click on My Participant Center and enter that info. If not, click on "Sunday, May 3rd, Springfield"; click on "Register"; click on "Register to walk and join existing team"; locate Team FLASH and click on "Join Team" (located on the right); and take it from there.
PLEASE feel free to create your personal page (mine is done for the minute anyway).
There will be lots more info to come......
Yours Truly,
The Captain :-)
Is MS my B*tch yet??????
Update:
I had my last chemo treatment on Halloween. WOOOOOOOOT WOOOOOO!!!! Joanne & I journaled our experience through the endless HOURS we spent during the chemo "process". I plan to share some of it here at our blogspot, but I need to weed through it a bit first. Some of it just wouldn't make sense to anyone else.
Anyhoo... My last dose was increased again because my bloodcounts just refuse to go down- the doc says I'm "tough" (and to think he needed a specialty in oncology to figure that one out). So.... I was much sicker this time. And although I did not think I was going to live through the first night, I kept reminding myself that it was my last treatment (at least for now). I lived and I am getting a little stronger every day!!!!!! :-)
To all of you who joined the prayer circle.... THANK YOU.
To those of you who supported me, near and far.... THANK YOU.
To those of you who made me soup or brought me groceries.... THANK YOU.
To those of you who visited me and/or brought me movies.... THANK YOU.
To Joanne.... I am finally speachless.
I had my last chemo treatment on Halloween. WOOOOOOOOT WOOOOOO!!!! Joanne & I journaled our experience through the endless HOURS we spent during the chemo "process". I plan to share some of it here at our blogspot, but I need to weed through it a bit first. Some of it just wouldn't make sense to anyone else.
Anyhoo... My last dose was increased again because my bloodcounts just refuse to go down- the doc says I'm "tough" (and to think he needed a specialty in oncology to figure that one out). So.... I was much sicker this time. And although I did not think I was going to live through the first night, I kept reminding myself that it was my last treatment (at least for now). I lived and I am getting a little stronger every day!!!!!! :-)
To all of you who joined the prayer circle.... THANK YOU.
To those of you who supported me, near and far.... THANK YOU.
To those of you who made me soup or brought me groceries.... THANK YOU.
To those of you who visited me and/or brought me movies.... THANK YOU.
To Joanne.... I am finally speachless.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Our first Buddy Walk...
Our T-shirts
Vinnie's sweatshirt (arms of it)
Vinnie's sweatshirt (back of it)
Ahh...just in time for the Walk part!!
And the after party...tennis anyone?
Uhm, Jimbo? It's only a game!
A Thank You!
You may never know what it feels like to have a few words rock and shatter your world. It’s like a sucker punch to the gut. You could almost pass out, your knees want to give. Fear and sorrow all rush through your body. You can’t breathe but yet you have to reclaim yourself because in front of you is the most beautiful baby you’ve ever seen. This moment will be embedded in me for the rest of my life. “The test for Trisomy 21 came back positive”
I sent out a letter a while back, explaining the Buddy Walk and asking for participants and sponsors. Some of you it was just in conversation that you found out about it, some others from a jar sitting on a counter. But all of you touched our lives by walking with us, donating, or simply throwing a couple bucks into a can.
Our first Buddy Walk was amazing. As a team, I believe we made a donation that was almost $2000.00 in honor of Vinnie. Words can not express how grateful we are to have such wonderful people in our lives. The amount of support and love that this little man has brought into our lives is almost overwhelming.
“The test for Trisomy 21 came back positive”…at that moment, 8 months ago, I couldn’t even imagine the beautiful things that were and still are ahead of us. Thank you for being part of our miracle.
I sent out a letter a while back, explaining the Buddy Walk and asking for participants and sponsors. Some of you it was just in conversation that you found out about it, some others from a jar sitting on a counter. But all of you touched our lives by walking with us, donating, or simply throwing a couple bucks into a can.
Our first Buddy Walk was amazing. As a team, I believe we made a donation that was almost $2000.00 in honor of Vinnie. Words can not express how grateful we are to have such wonderful people in our lives. The amount of support and love that this little man has brought into our lives is almost overwhelming.
“The test for Trisomy 21 came back positive”…at that moment, 8 months ago, I couldn’t even imagine the beautiful things that were and still are ahead of us. Thank you for being part of our miracle.
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