My Journey of Healing

Week 20 - Day 5 Final Day!
❖January 26, 2007
Week 20 - Day 5 (Week 7)

Good morning! Well, I sure couldn't sleep last night! I went to bed at 1:45 and was still awake after 3 o'clock! I woke up at 6:50 and thought I turned the coffee on. I got ready and went in the kitchen to enjoy my coffee and there was a nice fresh pot of hot air! Nobody preset the coffee, what a disappointment! Oh well, I made the coffee and got to enjoy almost a whole cup before I had to stop drinking. I arrived at the hospital at 7:50 with cake in hand. I'm not sure if they were happier to see me or the cake...I didn't ask. After my treatment the girls clapped and I shouted "Thank you God, thank you girls!" I can't believe it's over, what a relief. I have to say in all honesty, the radiation wasn't bad at all. Once I got dressed, I saw that girl Ellen again and we wished each other luck. The radiation department bought me a balloon which states Congratulations, you did it! with candy attached. They walked me to the front of the department, I read a poem and than rang the bell! The poem was sentimental and it made me tear.

I left there and went to mass and everyone there was thrilled for me as well. Father Eric told us that Ron Wagner died early this morning. He was only 63 years old and was not sick. He had a major heart attack. Please pray for the repose of his soul and for his wife Cathy and their family. I went home and Joe was ready to drive me to the airport. Everthing was on time and Uncle Jim picked me up in Philly. He's my personal valet service...not only that, he's nice and handsome too! We got to Denise's house and she had lunch ready. We had a nice visit and then it was time for Denise and I to leave for the retreat. We are meeting Michele and Kathy there. I'm going to say good night now, because I won't have access to a computer. Pray for our retreat and I'll pray for you! Good night!

Week 20 - Day 4 (Week 7)
❖January 25, 2007
Week 20 - Day 4 (Week 7)

Good morning! Today is William’s birthday, Happy Birthday William! I actually got out of bed before seven this morning. I made the coffee, emptied the dish washer, put away last nights dishes and made Maureen’s tea. As soon as she left for work, I had to get ready to leave. Silvia, Zuzana, Crissy and Dorothy and I met at IHOP at
8 o’clock to celebrate the end of my treatments. I didn’t wear my wig today, so I wore my pink Philadelphia Eagle’s breast awareness hat. I was there fifteen minutes when another woman walked in with no hair and a pink hat. I asked her what team she was wearing, it was John Deere. We talked for a minute and then she came over to our table. She goes to radiation at 8 o’clock, so she had just finished. I told her I was going at 9:10, but that I might see her tomorrow since I was going early. She told me I had more hair than she did, so I told her I finished chemotherapy on November 13th. She finished November 28th. She asked me where I did my chemotherapy and I told her Charlotte with Dr. Woodard...so did she. She asked me when I went and I told her on Monday, here she went on Tuesday. My follow up visit is February 12th and hers is the 13th. It’s really strange, but it’s almost like you have a sisterhood. It feels like you have such a connection to perfect strangers!

By the way, one of the things I forgot to tell you was something my surgeon told me. He asked me about my side effects from chemo. When I mentioned I couldn’t taste my food, he asked me if I had tried zinc. He said that some anesthesia effects taste and they did a study and found that for some reason most of the people effected, were low on zinc. He said that if you buy a generic brand of zinc and take it daily, that by three weeks these patients taste had returned. He said he would imagine it would be the same with chemo. I wanted to make sure I wrote it down so that it could possibly help someone else.

I had to go K-Mart when I left the hospital and then I picked up Terry Seen. We drove to the Sara Lee store to get some bras. I promised Michele I would pick some up before I came back. They are really cheap there. I dropped Terry off at her house and drove home. Joe and I had lunch together and then I drove to Gastonia. We had a meeting at the spa at 1 o’clock with a representative from Arbon. Tracy Roberts came and told us all about her product and was very interesting. We are all going to try it and see what we think. I guess I left the spa around 3 o’clock. I got home and made a chocolate pound cake for everyone in the radiation department for my last treatment. Joe is working 4:30 to 2:30 today. He got a call saying he could come in late, so that was great! We watched a little of an A&E show that we enjoy.

When he left I drove to Bitsy’s house to wish her happy birthday and then drove to Debbie Spada’s house for dinner. We had a delicious dinner and dessert and I got home around 9:30. I had to ice the cake, gather a few things, walk the dogs and write my journal. Now I have to pack and go to sleep. It’s already after midnight, so I’ll say good night!

Week 20 - Day 3 (Week 7)
❖January 24, 2007
Week 20 - Day 3 (Week 7)

Good morning! Five o’clock is just not pretty, I’m sorry. I guess I could never be a farmer! There have been times I’ve gotten up that early on purpose, but not many. I was fortunate enough to fall back to sleep and got up around seven. Yes, you guessed it, I had my coffee, did my readings and made Maureen’s tea. I went to mass and then on to radiation. I can’t believe I only have two more days, thank you Sweet Jesus! I stopped at Harris Teeter on the way home to pick up some things. I made a ton of stuffed peppers and cut up vegetables for salads. I wanted to bring dinner to Duffy and Dorothy and have enough for Crissy and her gang. I also wanted to bring dinner to Bitsy and Clyde and have enough for Martha since she’s home alone. I didn’t make them desserts, I was too busy. I decided to make poppy seed chicken for Joe and Maureen to have for dinner while I’m away. They should also have plenty of stuffed peppers left over. I figured I would make Joe one of his favorite desserts too, Jewish Apple Cake. It’s good I have plenty of energy, because I’m beat now! We ate dinner, cleaned up and now I’m ready to relax. Have a great evening, good night!

Week 20 - Day 2 (Week 7)
❖January 23, 2007
Week 20 - Day 2 (Week 7)

Good morning! I feel great and I can’t believe I only have four more treatments, thank you God. My cousin Kathy goes to the doctor today, please keep her in your prayers. I woke up around 5:15 again, but I didn’t get out of bed until 7:15. This is disturbing...not the time I rise, the time I wake, oh well! I was able to drink my coffee, do my readings and make Maureen’s tea. I got dressed and went to mass. Afterwards I went to radiation, which was not crowded at all. I don’t know what it is about Monday mornings. Maybe they just love seeing the doctor, go figure! Anyway, a woman came out of the dressing room as I was going into it. I almost told her she was in the wrong dressing room, she looked so much like a man. Thank God she was wearing a pink hat, that was my first clue to keep my mouth shut! It’s a good thing I didn’t say anything. She must be new, because I never saw her before.

I got home and had to look for the fax from Blue Cross. I couldn’t find it anywhere. I called Carrie to see if I left it at the spa, and I did. I was so glad I didn’t lose it. I wrote a letter to the insurance company and then drove into the spa again. I visited with the girls for a while, which I really enjoy and then came home. I was able to get a few things done and visit with John before he left for Greenville. He emptied the dish washer and folded the clothes in the dryer. Isn’t he a nice son? Maureen came home from work and then Doug Spada picked me up for an E.R. dinner. We had another new physician we were interviewing. I love it when we interview new docs, because we all go out to eat dinner and the Association pays for it. The couple was very nice and the dinner was delicious. Joe had to work, so I ordered him a dinner to go. We got home about ten minutes before Joe got home. Now we’re ready to relax, so I’ll say good night.

Week 20 - Day 1 (Week 7)
❖January 22, 2007
Week 20 - Day 1 (Week 7)

Good morning! I can’t believe this is actually my LAST WEEK of treatments. Praise God!!! I will be so glad to have all of this behind me. I woke up early again but waited until seven to get out of bed. This has to be my new routine, I guess it could always be worse. I had my coffee, did my readings and had Maureen’s tea all ready for her. Crissy called and said she hoped her appointment book was at church, because she can’t find it. Sophia knocked her purse over on Sunday. I went to mass and Marisa had brought the book down to her office for safe keeping. Dave Barker found it and turned it in. I drove down to the office and Marisa ran out with the book and then I left for radiation. It was really crowded today, maybe they were having a special. The girls told me they loved the brownies and they all wanted the recipe. I met with the doctor afterwards and she was pleased with my progress. My radiation dermatitis is healing well. I have been using a 1% cortisone cream, she told me to bring it to Philly, because I would probably need it. She said that she shortened my days because I have done so well, but I would probably burn and the cream would help. I left radiation and went to visit Duffy in the hospital. He had just returned to his room from a procedure. He looked great, his coloring was improved greatly. Susie and Dorothy were there, I gave them Crissy’s book. I stayed for a while and went home.

I got home in time to spend a short time with Joe. I worked on our vacation for a short time and then drove into Gastonia. We had a fax come from Blue Cross and Blue Shield that I had to pick up. I stayed for a while and got to see Maureen. She had a late afternoon appointment. I got home and John had heated up the dinner and cooked a pot of pasta. We had cheese tortolini with meat balls and sauce and fresh Italian bread, yummy! Maureen got home just in time for dinner. We did dishes and John left. Joe came home from work around 10 o’clock and we watched some T.V. Good night!

Week 19 - Day 7 (Week 6)
❖January 21, 2007
Week 19 - Day 7 (Week 6)

Good morning! Another 6:15 morning, I can’t stand it...of course I waited to get out of bed until after seven. I sat and enjoyed my coffee and it wasn’t long before Joe came in the kitchen. It’s not a very nice day today. It’s raining and foggy, thank God it’s not real cold. We were supposed to have a wintry mix. I had to be at church by 8:45 this morning. Caroline Poage asked me to be her sponsor for Confirmation and we were invited to attend class. I’m glad I went, Sue
Van Zomeren is the teacher and she is wonderful. I believe this is such an important class and I think the teacher should be fully alive in her/his faith and on fire for the Holy Spirit. Sue is all of that and more. After the class we went up to the church for mass. The confirmands and the RCIA candidates were announced and made their first rite of initiation. It was a very nice ceremony, Fr. Eric and Jean did a nice job...but they always do.

Helen and I went to Charlotte after mass. We went to a big sale and had lunch/dinner afterwards. As I got home, William and Sophia Hayes were leaving. Maureen was watching them so Crissy could get things together for Will’s birthday party. Her dad was readmitted to the hospital again on Thursday, so she’s been really busy. I showed Maureen and John my treasures and then Terry Seen came over and brought us dessert. Nelson made chocolate mousse and it was delicious! He used the recipe from the class we had last Sunday afternoon. John had to leave for Greenville again, he has a hockey game at 10 P.M. I am ready to get in my PJ’s and relax, so good night!

Week 19 - Day 6 (Week 6)
❖January 20, 2007
Week 19 - Day 6 (Week 6)

Good morning! I was so excited last night that we could all sleep late this morning. By late, I meant past seven o’clock! Lilly decided she needed to go out around 6 o’clock this morning. Joe took her out, but I couldn’t get back to sleep. Yes, I stayed in bed until just after seven...just incase I was able to fall back to sleep! I turned the coffee on and decided to update my journal, since I didn’t do it yesterday. I’m not sure what I’m going to do today, but I think I’ll do my readings now while it’s still quiet.

I didn’t do too much today, it was a rather lazy day for me. I had several things I needed to deliver and I caught up on some phone calls. I was looking for somewhere to go with Joe after this is all over. We thought we’d go somewhere in the United States, but we’re not sure where we want to go yet.

I talked to my sister Denise and she told me my cousin Kathy had a recurrence of breast cancer. Kathy was diagnosed with DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) about 2 ½ years ago. I don’t know the whole story yet, but they just found out she has DCIS in the other breast. Please keep her in your prayers.

Maureen is just getting home from helping out at the high school. We’ll probably eat dinner and watch a movie, so I’m going to say good night!

Week 19 - Day 5 (Week 6)
❖January 19, 2007
Week 19 - Day 5 (Week 6)

Good morning! I keep waking up around 6:15 but refuse to get out of bed until closer to seven. It’s a great quiet time for prayer. At least I get to see Maureen before she leaves for work and get her tea. I’m so glad coffee tastes good to me again. I always enjoyed my morning coffee and I have to say I really did miss drinking it in the morning. I switched to tea because it was one of the few drinks that tasted decent during my chemotherapy. I showered and dressed and went to mass, I even got to stay for the Divine Mercy since my radiation is later this afternoon. Helen and I went to White Oak Manor to visit her mother and Fran Lux. They were both so appreciative of the visit, I’m sure it gets very lonely there. Afterwards I went to Harris Teeter to get something for lunch. I made Joe and I a grilled ham, salami and cheese Panini on cheese bread. It was delicious!

Joe left for the spa, so I cleaned up, made a few phone calls for the spa and went to visit Bitsy. I stopped very briefly at Duffy’s house to drop off a small plate of the Symphony Bar Brownies I made last night. Dorothy is always sharing food with everyone, I just wanted to return the favor. She is such a thoughtful person. I was glad to be able to visit with Bitsy too, I missed seeing her each morning while she was in the hospital...but I’m glad she’s doing better. I wasn’t fortunate enough to be able to visit with my mother often because of the distance, so this is therapeutic for me as well.

I left in time for my two o’clock appointment and delivered a big plate of the brownies. They looked extremely happy to see me, somehow I think it was more for the brownies! I also brought in an extra wig stand I had at home and the catalog from which I ordered my wigs. Eileen, one of the radiation technicians daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer and has to undergo chemotherapy starting next Wednesday. I thought they would be helpful for her. I also brought her the copy of my Oncotype DX, which is a new, clinically validated diagnostic test that quantifies the likelihood of distant recurrence in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. That is the test that determined the need for chemotherapy for her and for me. We are very fortunate that we were diagnosed when we were. This test is only two years old and there is only one lab in the world that does it. The paperwork explains the numbers and the degree of likelihood for the cancer spreading. My sister-in-law Kris gave me a book written by Eileen Sutherland (someone local to her) entitled “Mom and the Polka-Dot Boo-Boo” . It’s a gentle story explaining breast cancer to a young child. This young girl is in her 30's and has two young children. I ordered the book for her because I know it will be helpful to all of them and Eileen has been very good to me. Anyway, I forgot to tell you that Dr. Maddox was able to condense my remaining treatments into six instead of eight, so I can stay in Philadelphia without having to go back and forth.

Joe, Maureen and I went to Ruby Tuesday’s for dinner and then Joe and I went to the movies. We saw the movie “Dream Girls.” It’s a musical, which is supposed to be based on the Supremes story. It was a little slow, but the actors did a great job and they had great voices. Eddie Murphy did a fantastic job, I was impressed. We got home and I immediately called US Airways to change the date of the return on my ticket. Luckily I bought it with frequent flyer miles and I could change the date without a penalty. Afterwards we relaxed...good night!

Week 19 - Day 4 (Week 6)
❖January 18, 2007
Week 19 - Day 4 (Week 6)

Good morning! I got out of bed around 7 o’clock again, but it was dark and cold! We had freezing rain through the night and it’s a mess down here. Luckily the roads didn’t look bad here, but the news said they are bad in the Charlotte area. Maureen was told to come into work a little later this morning. I enjoyed my coffee and readings with Lilly, everyone else was asleep. Today is Fr. Eric’s day off, so I didn’t go to church. I left for radiation, but my car was covered with ice, it’s good I gave myself a little extra time. The roads weren’t bad and so it took me no time to get to the hospital.

I didn’t tell you that I’m going on a retreat with my sisters the weekend of January 26 through the 28th. Unfortunately, I have two more radiation treatments scheduled after that, so I have to come home. Then I will have to go back up to Philadelphia to go through my mother’s things with my siblings. I mentioned it to the doctor and she is going to look at my treatments today and see if she can arrange to increase the dose of radiation so I finish on Friday. That way I won’t have to worry about coming home on the 28th. It will make life a lot easier if that happens. This is when they change my radiation anyway, it’s time for the “Boost”. That is when they concentrate on the area where I had cancer, so I mentioned it at the perfect time. She was going to work on that today anyway, God is so good!

I came home from the hospital and spent the day at home. I was working on the laundry and several other projects. Joe was home as well, but he was busy with paperwork all day. When Maureen came home we went to the country club for dinner. We had an awesome dinner there, Jason was the chef tonight. He sent us out a delicious tuna appetizer in lobster sauce on the house. He is such a good chef. We are home now and I am baking something to take the girls at radiation. They are so good to me, I just want to do something for them. I figured that chocolate is always a good thing. Well, it should be finished in a few minutes, so I’m going to say good night!

Week 19 - Day 3 (Week 6)
❖January 17, 2007
Week 19 - Day 3 (Week 6)

Good morning! I got out of bed at 7 o’clock, started the coffee, the tea water for Maureen and did my readings. I’m always happy to see Maureen off to work. I went to mass and then to radiation. As of this morning I only have ten more radiation treatments, I can’t believe it! I still have the dermatitis, but I can live with that. It sure beats the reactions from the chemotherapy, which I am happy to say are all going away. My fingers aren’t tingly anymore, but my nails are still ugly. The red crescents turned brown and they have worked their way up from the center of my nail bed. Now it looks like I have dirty fingernails. My toes are still tingly, but I can live with that too...that may or may not go away. I have my taste back, which is a real God send! I think I hated that more than anything, yes even more than losing my hair...which is starting to grow back.

I came home after mass and Joe was here, he didn’t have any patients at the spa today. I had to do the wash and work on Quick Books. We ate lunch, talked about business and went over some paper work. After Joe left for work I practiced some music that Helen gave me yesterday. It’s a piece that she, Chris and I are going to do together. Julie Brame called and I met her over Raquel’s house. What a nice visit with all the girls, Victoria and Jenna are both getting so big. Victoria will be two and Jenna will be one in a couple of weeks. I left there, went to Harris Teeter and then stopped to visit Duffy. As I arrived Susie and her daughter Kathryn were pulling up. Chrissy and her family were already there, they had just finished dinner. Dorothy is such a typical Italian mother, as soon as I walked in she insisted I sit and eat. She always feeds me. They are such a nice family. Duffy looks much better than he did, thank God. Julie Brame stopped over while I was still there too.

I came home, did some wash and heated up soup for Maureen. She got home late because she had dance tonight. I think we are going to relax together and watch some T.V. Good night!

Week 19 - Day 2 (Week 6)
❖January 16, 2007
Week 19 - Day 2 (Week 6)

Good morning! I got out of bed around 6:45 this morning. I did my readings, enjoyed my coffee and made Maureen’s tea. I left for radiation at 7:40 because they were going to do my treatment early today. I left there and went to mass and from there I went to the eye doctor. I had to have my retina checked again. Thank God there was no change, so I don’t have to go back for another year, unless of course if I have trouble. I had to go to the supermarket to pick up some things for the girl who cleans the house. I dropped them off and went to Garden Club at Jeanne’s house. Sally Taylor was there doing the program. She carves and paints gourds, they were really beautiful.

I met Debbie Spada for lunch, mailed several packages at the post office and then came home. Kathryn needed my old phone, she dropped hers in the toilet. I can’t say anything, because I dropped mine in the toilet years ago, I’m just glad we have an old one to send her. I mailed it priority, so she should get it by tomorrow. She has insurance on her phone, but they don’t have hers in stock now.

Joe is working 4:30 P.M. to 2:30 A.M. tonight and he’s at the spa now. If he comes home in time, we’ll watch the show “24" before he goes to work. That is such a good show! We watched it, boy was it good. If you don’t watch it, you should. It’s a real cliff hanger. Maureen got home from work, so we’re going to eat dinner and then watch a movie. Good night!

Week 19 - Day 1 (Week 6)
❖January 15, 2007
Week 19 - Day 1 (Week 6)

Good morning! Today is my parent's wedding anniversary. They would have been married 58 years! I woke up around 7 AM this morning, but I missed Joe. He left at 6:45 because he is working days. I had a cup of coffee and actually finished my readings before Maureen came down stairs. I got her tea ready before she left for work. I went to mass and from there went to radiation. I met with the doctor today and she told me I only need eleven more treatments...praise God! She was pleased with how I am doing. My skin isn’t burned yet, but I still have radiation dermatitis. God willing it won’t get that way, we’ll see.

I came home and John was here. He has to go to a funeral this morning. A man he played hockey with and former manager of his hockey league died. He was 60 years old and was a diabetic. I ate lunch and then went to see my surgeon, Rob Laney. My appointment was at 1:45 and they said he was still in surgery. I waited and saw him at 2:45, he’s so nice though...you can’t get annoyed. He was pleased with my progress and wants to see me again in six weeks. He also said the blue on my breast should disappear by May.

I stopped at the food store and picked up stuff for dinner. I made pork and sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, corn and applesauce. I think it’s probably a favorite of all of ours...Yummy! I made the brownies we got the recipe for from 5 East too. They were really good.

Debbie Reuscher just got here, she’s going to cut John and Maureen’s hair. She is so sweet to do that for them. She saw me without my wig and is excited that my hair is coming in so well. She said we’ll probably have to keep it trimmed so it comes in right. That will be a nice change. Well, I’m going to visit with Debbie and then call it a night. By the way, Uncle Jim had his CT and bone scan today, please keep him in your prayers. Good night!

Week 18 - Day 7 (Week 5)
❖January 14, 2007
Week 18 - Day 7 (Week 5)

Good morning! I got out of bed around 7:30 so I could have coffee and start baking. My friend Lisa asked me if I would bake a lemon meringue pie for her mother. I know her mother bakes pies from scratch, so I knew it would be important that she have a scratch pie for her birthday. She is a neighbor of mine and her husband died about 9 months ago and I know that little things make a difference, so of course I would bake her pie. I just happened to have a full day today. I made the crust and then I made the rest of the pie. It turned out beautiful, I’m sure she’ll be very pleased. Silvia picked me up around 9:40, because we had choir practice before mass. I saw Lisa at mass this morning and she said she’d pick up the pie after church.

Silvia brought me home and we all had lunch. Lisa came after lunch to pick up the pie and was very pleased. I had a “Girls Party” to attend at Two Doors Down (a woman’s dress shop uptown), at 2 o’clock. I picked up Jeanne at 1:45 and we met Silvia, Jeanne and Terry there. I won’t say a whole lot about the party, but we had a great time. We laughed a lot!!!

Terry, Jeanne and I left a little after 3 o’clock for a cooking class/wine tasting party at 5 East. We met Joe, Nelson, Maureen, etc. at the restaurant. Hunter did a great job with the class. He cooked sea scallops for an appetizer with a Di’Jon vinaigrette dressing on a bed of lettuce, we had a salad afterwards and he showed us how to make a balsamic vinaigrette dressing, a stuffed beef tenderloin with blue crab and for dessert we made a chocolate mousse. Everything was paired with some kind of wine. What a magnificent meal and class! We all enjoyed it tremendously. Now we are home and are ready to relax, so I’m going to say...good night!

Week 18 - Day 6 (Week 5)
❖January 13, 2007
Week 18 - Day 6 (Week 5)

Good morning! I woke up early but was able to get back to sleep. I got out of bed around 8 o’clock, it felt great! I sat with Joe and enjoyed my coffee. I finished the wash, straightened the kitchen and started writing my thank you notes between phone calls. I had to go to Belk Department Store to buy two baby gifts and picked Joe up for supper club. We went to Ni Fen’s and had a really good evening. We’re back home now and I’m tired, except the Eagles are playing. They’re the underdog tonight, but stranger things have happened. We’ll see...Go Eagles! Good night!

Week 18 - Day 5 (Week 5)
❖January 12, 2007
Week 18 - Day 5 (Week 5)

Good morning! I don’t know why, but for some reason I keep waking up around 5:15 A.M. every day. Fortunately most days I can fall back to sleep, but some days I get a lot of praying done...like today. I got out of bed around 7:10 so I could make Maureen’s tea and enjoy a cup of coffee and do my readings. I left for church and was happy to see a crowded parking lot. It always makes me happy when the chapel is crowded. I’m sure it pleases God that people are taking the time out of their busy lives to begin their day with Him. What a privilege to be able to do that, not everyone’s schedule will permit it. After church I went to radiation. I neglected to tell you how many nice people I have met throughout my treatments. Most of the people I met at radiation are older men. They are so nice and everyone is willing to chat, it’s not as somber as I’m sure a lot of you think it would be.

Joe is at the spa, he has patients throughout the day. I started writing my thank you notes, but unfortunately my phone rang off the hook. Crissy called and her dad (Duffy) is having more problems, please keep him in your prayers. Hopefully they will be able to get him in to see the spine surgeon so he can have some relief. I told her I will try to find someone to do private duty nursing. I promised to meet Julie Brame for lunch today, so she called a few times so we could coordinate our schedules. Silvia called for lunch too, so we all decided to meet at Showmars. We had a great visit and a good lunch. A friend of Silvia’s, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time, visited our table. God is so good, it was obvious we needed to meet and discuss things that only someone that has experienced chemotherapy and radiation would understand. We left the restaurant and I had to go to the mall to buy an engagement card for my nephew Tommy (He is Denise’s son that had the tumor is his heart). He is a doctor in Philadelphia and Amy is a nurse he met at work. She’s a very nice girl and we are all very pleased. I continued getting multiple phone calls, but I can’t go into who they were from or what they were about. The things that go on in life just amaze me!

I got home and marinated two pork tenderloins for our Book Club Christmas Party, yes I said Christmas. We always have our celebration for Christmas the first or second weekend after New Years. We had a very nice time and didn’t get home too late. Sorry I didn’t write or post until today, but we wanted to relax, so for last evening...good night!

Week 18 - Day 4 (Week 5)
❖January 11, 2007
Week 18 - Day 4 (Week 5)

Good morning! I woke up around 7 o'clock because Lilly was sick. She has thrown up each night for the past three nights. I made Maureen's tea and then I had my coffee and did my readings. I went to the hospital for my radiation and then went back home. Today was my twentieth treatment, that means I have more done than I have remaining. Thank you God!

I called Kerri and asked her to stop at the Gaston Gazette to purchase a Sunday paper. She checked to see if the insert was included in the paper, and it wasn't. When I got home I had to get in touch with the girl that does our marketing. She said that it is only in the subscribers papers and there shouldn't be a problem. I left after I talked to her to take Lilly to the vet. Poor Lilly has a GI problem. She had to get a shot for the vomitting and then her rabies vaccine. He also gave her pills for vomiting and another one for her diarrhea. It was an expensive visit because I had to get her heart worm and flea medicine as well.

When I got home, we had to sneak food to Gracie because Lilly is not allowed to eat. Joe and I left for the spa and got there in time for his 1:15 appointment. We had punch, cheeses, summer sausage, grapes, chips and dip for the open house. It looked nice, but not too many people showed up. We think it was because of how it was worded in the ad. Anyway, we did have some people come and make appointments. I'm going to say good night now, because when I get home I want to relax. Good night!

Week 18 - Day 3 (Week 5)
❖January 10, 2007
Week 18 - Day 3 (Week 5)

Good morning! I was hoping to sleep a little later today because I didn’t have to get up for the 8:30 mass, but I guess you really can’t teach an OLD DOG new tricks. Joe got home from work around 7:30 A.M. and went to bed. I had my coffee, did my readings and got ready to leave. I went to the hospital for my radiation. Today is the day they take the films to make sure things are going the way they planned. After radiation I went over to the hospital to visit Duffy. He looks so much better than he did. When I got there, his son and Mike Brame were there. Mike had to leave because he had another case in the O.R. Suzy got there with her dad’s clothes because he is being discharged this afternoon. I left the hospital for church.

Helen and I are singing at Roberta Andrews’ funeral mass and we are going to go over the songs before mass. The mass started at 11 o’clock, Father Eric did a great job, he always does. I believe he is gifted as a homilist. The funeral was touching, as Milt gave all his family members a long stem rose with a purple ribbon (the ribbon for pancreatic cancer) to place on the casket. There was a luncheon at the Episcopal Church fellowship hall following the burial. Mike Chen catered it, need I say more? The food was delicious (Mike owns a Chinese restaurant in Shelby).

I came home and Kathy, the girl who cleans, was in the kitchen. I wanted to bake a pound cake for the Duffy family, but I couldn’t get in the kitchen. I sat in the living room and started reading "Quick Books for Dummies." The boss bought it for me a while ago and I’m just starting to be able to concentrate a little better...I don’t know how people that are in school do it while they are having chemo. Cindy Burke came over and brought me some homemade chicken noodle soup with home made noodles too and some flowers from her garden. Once she left, it was too late to make a pound cake, so I made a pineapple upside down cake. I brought some of Cindy’s soup for Duffy too, because the last I heard Dorothy was making meat balls and I didn’t think he’d be up for that. Joe and I drove over to deliver the goodies. I couldn’t believ it, pineapple upside down cake is actually Duffy’s favorite cake. God is so good, here I thought he would be settling.

We got home just in time to heat things up. Maureen got home from her dance lesson about ten minutes after we did. We ate dinner, which was delicious, cleaned up and now we are going to relax. Good night!

Week 18 - Day 2 (Week 5)
❖January 9, 2007
Week 18 - Day 2 (Week 5)

Good morning! I got up early this morning because I had an early radiation treatment today. Kathryn and William are leaving for school at 9 o’clock. I went to mass afterwards and then came straight home. Kathryn was packed and ready to go, but William was running late. They probably left closer to 9:30. I was trying to get several things done and unpack from Sunday...I know that’s bad. I just didn’t feel like doing it Sunday when I got home or yesterday. Joe is home, but he’s going to go to sleep soon, he’s working nights. Beth Lacy called and wanted to take me out to lunch, but I told her I had to go to Gastonia. She had to go too, so we went together. We ate at Panerra’s and went to Sam’s Club. I had to buy things for the Open House we are having at the spa on Thursday night. Afterwards we went looking for something Kathryn asked me to find. I did find it, but I can’t say what it is just yet. We left there and went to the spa. We brought all the food for the open house and visited with the girls for a short time. We drove back to Shelby and made a brief stop at BJ’s Gift Shop.

I got home just in time to meet Belkis at the funeral home for Roberta Anderson’s rosary and visitation. I can’t believe she is dead, she was only diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in July. God bless her and her family. She and Milt had five children. There was a pretty good turn out for the rosary. I paid my respects to the family and came home. We ate dinner and now I’m getting ready to relax with Joe before he leaves for work. Good night.

Week 18 - Day 1 (Week 5)
❖January 8, 2007
Week 18 - Day 1 (Week 5)

Good morning! I woke up this morning at 7:20 and I think I could have slept much later. I don’t think I’ve been sleeping well with everything that has been going on with my mother. I’m probably tired physically and mentally. Several things I should mention, I have most of my taste back, which is a wonderful thing. My fingers don’t hurt anymore, although they and my toes still tingle. I’m still constipated, but perhaps that’s the chemotherapy leaving my body! My hair is actually starting to grow back. I can’t pull it back into a pony tail yet, but I do have dark stubbles! I forgot to mention, on Saturday night I got a rash on my sternum and the right side of my chest, which was very itchy. I showed it to Joe and he said it looked like radiation dermatitis.

I went to mass and then on to radiation. As I was pulling up to Valet Parking, I saw Crissy Hayes. Her dad was getting admitted to the hospital. Today is Monday, so I get to see the doctor after my treatment. The doctor checked me today and she said I had radiation dermatitis...go figure! I just have to put a steroid cream on it so it won’t itch. Other than that, everything else was good. After radiation, I went over to the hospital to visit Duffy (Crissy’s dad).

I got home in time to see Joe before he left for the spa. I did a few things and then I met Helen at Ruby Tuesday’s. She wanted to take me to lunch and then we had to discuss the music for Roberta Andrew’s funeral. Roberta is a friend of ours from church, that died from complications due to pancreatic cancer. We left the restaurant and went to visit her mom in the nursing home. We left her room and went down the hall to visit with Fran Lux, another woman from our parish. On my way home, Kathryn called and asked me to meet her at Julie Brame’s house so we could visit with her and Jenna. We stayed for about an hour and then went to the mall to buy thank you cards and a part for Kathryn’s computer.

We came home and I started heating up dinner. Maureen and Joe came home from work and we ate dinner. Now I am ready to relax, so good night!

Week 17 - Day 7 (Week 4)
❖January 7, 2007
Week 17 - Day 7 (Week 4)

Good morning! We got up at 6:30 this morning so we could leave early. The Eagles play at 4:30 and we promised John and Joe we would be home in time for the kickoff. We ate breakfast, packed the car, made lunches and were on the road at 7:26 A.M. Debbie Spada called just as we were about half way home and told us she would be bringing dinner. There wasn’t a lot of traffic and the weather was nice until just before we got into North Carolina. It was rainy and a little foggy. We got home at 3:50 P.M., thank you God for a safe journey.

William had met Lynn and picked up the dogs, so they were here when we arrived home. William came over shortly afterwards and brought a big pot of Chicken Taco Soup that Martha made for us. Belkis came shortly after he did with a mass card, roses, coffee, cinnamon pecans and a votive candle. Debbie and Douglas followed shortly after them with tons of food from Ni Fen’s. Several of our friends went together and Jeanette out did herself. We are blessed with a fabulous family and great friends. I have to tell you, my mom felt much better about me being sick so far away, because of the wonderful support system I have in Shelby. I know she is looking down smiling. I also know she’s rooting for the Eagles. I’m going to relax now so I’ll say good night!

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