Two Down, Five to Go

Happy Easter Week Everyone!! It's not just a day, but a season to celebrate!
For miracles at sunrise, for promises come true...
May Easter be a hope re-renewing and inspiring time for you!
All the services of Holy Week were special and I was able to attend them all, including the 3 hour Easter Vigil with Greg. Poor Dave had to rest that evening despite the fact that he had attended several choir practices in preparation. We went to morning prayer on Saturday and all of a sudden Dave felt light headed and hot, then he felt cold. I asked him if he wanted to leave but he said he couldn't and laid down in the aisle. This happened a couple of years ago at work. I thought after he rested a while he would be able to get up so we could leave, but our Deacon thought we should call 911 which he did. So we spent a couple of hours in the emergency room (which isn't long according to some ER stays) where Dave got IV's and was tested. The doctor determined that he had "vasovagal near syncope" which has to do with a lowering of blood pressure for no apparent reason. Some people are just prone to it. Near syncope means that he didn't actually faint but came close. After resting Saturday and part of Sunday, he was fine. My brother Ken and niece Valerie came to visit us and Mom. We had a nice day. The sun was shining bright. We went to Erie on Monday and walked at Presque Isle State Park, went to a book store we like and had lunch (it's a tradition for us on the day after Easter) He was back at work on Tuesday and accompanied me to Roswell on Wednesday for Round 2 of chemo. Back on Thursday with friend Mary Jane (or Maria Janina in Polish). Today I got my shot, given by friend Anita. I had received training on how to give it to myself, but when I saw that the price of the shot was over $3,000 ($30 co-pay for me), it made me a little nervous. Since I am over 8 weeks from surgery now, I'm hoping I won't get as tired as last time. I'm feeling fine now.
The doctor has cleared me to go back to work on Monday (4/20) for half days the first week and I can also start riding my bike after a few days post chemo.
So we're optimistically moving along. Thanks to all for prayers for both Dave and I which I know without a doubt is what sees us through day by day. We are so grateful for the support we have received in so many ways.
May your flowers bloom brightly. I was so proud of our daffodils and hyacinths that rallied despite the fact that they got snowed on one day! A nice lesson for us.
Bunny Hugs and Blessings
Teri :)

Happy April!

Greetings from Fredonia where there has been snow on Monday, chilly sun on Tuesday, rain on Wednesday, sun and warmth on Thursday, and high winds and rain on Friday as we sailed from March to April. At least you can't say we don't have variety!
I left you last Friday after my 3-day marathon at Roswell. Saturday I went to Mass and grocery shopping with Dave, then I started going downhill energy-wise. Sunday was the lowest energy day I have had yet which is what other people who have experienced chemo told me. You feel it a few days later. I did manage to go for a walk in the afternoon with Dave but not much more. The recliner and I were fast friends for the day. Monday saw improvement and each day through the week. I never experienced much joint pain they said I might. So all in all, if that's the only side affect, good Lord, so many other people put up with much more than that.
On Wednesday, when I am not at Roswell, I go locally for a CBC (blood count) that is faxed in to Roswell. If they see there is a problem (eg. low white blood count making me more prone to infection), they will call and let me know. I did not receive a phone call so that's yet another thing to be grateful for. The Doc said the recovery from surgery would be six weeks and that occured on Thursday. So I should be able to do the bunny hop soon.
May your road to Easter joy be blessed!
Peace, Love and Bunny Hugs--
Teri

One Down, Six to Go

Hi Blog Checkers!!
This was the week for me to begin chemo. When I got up at 5:30a.m. on Wed. 3/25 and got the tea pot on for breakfast, I checked my daily calendar which had a message from God to start the day -- from Romans 15:13 -- "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." I knew after reading that, that all would go well.
My friend Judy picked me up at 6:30a.m. and we had a beautiful sunrise on the way -- another sign from heaven. There is a special wing for those involved in studies on the 7th floor -- private rooms with recliners, bathroom in room. Snacks and drinks are always available. Everyone is so nice. After preliminary paperwork and intravenous input, chemo began at 11:30 and continued until 3:00 -- doxorubicin and cisplatin along with saline, magnesium and potassium. I arrived home around 4:30 ready for a nap.
The next day, my friend Toni picked me up at 8:00 as we did not have to report until 9:30. Chemo began at 10:30 (Paclitaxel or Taxol is the brand name). They added a low dose of benedryl and I slept for 1 and 1/2 hours at Roswell, off and on in the car on the way home and again when I got home around 3:30. I was glad they gave me a low dose or I would still be bagging the zzzzzzz's I think.
I knew that I needed to get a shot on the day after chemo and right along they had been telling me that a nurse would come to my home for the first one and show me how to give the injections. That story changed yesterday when they told me they wanted me to come in today so they could observe me for an hour after the shot for any reaction. So back to Roswell today with friend Jan who has a flexible schedule. I learned how to give the shot and got an hour of reading in with no reaction. They say I will have joint pain for a few days but motrin should help with that.
So that is the story of chemo 1. So far, so good and I just know that all the prayers on my behalf are the greatest therapy of all. Thank you so much for keeping my PIT (Prayer Infusion Tube) flowing.
Love and Bunny Hugs--
Teri

Living in a House of Cards

Hi Folks!!
Looks like my entries come weekly or weakly :). With Suzi's help with the 20 or so steps to complete this, we share this picture of how we are using space creatively to display the many cards I have received since my surgery. Dave set up some string across the ceiling in the living room and dining room and Suzi strung as many as she could -- a museum of healing words, thoughts and prayers.
We had a great weekend with Greg and Suzi at home. It was warm enough for Scrabble games on the porch both Sunday and Monday. On Sunday, I went to Church for the first time since my homecoming, and after that we went to Sherman for pancakes and warm maple syrup. It's a family rite of spring that goes back about 20 years and I'm grateful that this year was no exception. The maple syrup is produced on site --- mmmmmmmm.
Yesterday was my day at Roswell for blood work, doctor check-up and echocardiogram. Chemo will begin next Wednesday and Thursday (I will most likely have to go 2 days as I am in a study and the group I was put in needs to have 2 days of chemo per session - 7 sessions with 3 weeks in between each). Today is the one month anniversary of my surgery and I'm feeling much better than I did on that day. A month of healing is good and the sun shines brightly. Dave took Suzi to the airport today. Back to Oklahoma. She will be in a concert on Sunday and back to school on Monday. We should see her and Jason at the end of June. Greg will be here for Easter which is not that far off at this point -- we're about halfway through Lent.
Today is the last day of winter too! So Happy Spring to all! It's been a long cold winter in New York with lots of snow so we are more than ready for the new life of Spring.
I continue to rely on your prayers, especially as chemo begins. Since my Prayer Infusion Tube is constantly flowing, I expect to ride this part of the journey on eagle's wings.
Peace, blessings, and bunny hugs--
Teri

P.S.

It occurred to me after I posted the blog that some of you might say "What about Jason?". Spring break wasn't long enough for Suzi and Jason to go in both directions and Jason had a musical commitment in Virginia so they decided to each go to their respective families for this break. We look forward to seeing Jason in the summer.

Mediport in Place

Greetings everyone! I have not been very good at giving you updates lately partly because there isn't much to report some days and because I'm doing more things as time from surgery increases. On Sunday I went to see my Mom at the County Home. I hadn't seen her in over 3 weeks so that was a good visit. On Monday I went to Prayer Group at St. Joe's. A group of us have been meeting to pray for an hour on Mondays for 20 years and we are strength for each other at times like these and always. We bring everyone we know who is in need before the Lord and always expect miracles.
Today I returned to Roswell to have the mediport placed, have an EKG, a CAT scan and more blood work. I was also supposed to meet with my oncologist about beginning chemo but the day was already so filled there wasn't time before the doctor had to leave so that meeting is scheduled for next week. That's fine with me as the mediport is supposed to take 2 weeks to heal.
The CAT scan revealed that I have some fluid on the left lung which they think will resolve itself with the help of water pills I take daily.
We are now looking forward to Greg and Suzi both being home this weekend for a few days of good family time and Scrabble games.
Thank you to all for your continued prayer, healing thoughts and expressions of support in so many ways. Day by day and step by step, our journey continues and we trust in the Lord's presence through it all.
Bunny Hugs--
Teri

The weather was a bit milder today so when Dave came home from work we walked outside to the end of the street and back -- about .2 of a mile -- not much but it's a start and felt great. Spring is in the air.

Not much else to report but my sidekick, little Pete, said he wanted to post a couple bunny jokes so here we go: What do you call an operation on a rabbit? (a hare-cut)

First Rabbit: Did you hear about the doctor who cut off the rabbit's left side by
mistake?
Second Rabbit: No, I didn't. How's the rabbit?
First Rabbit: He's all right now.

Laugh yourself silly :)
Teri and Pete