Saturday, October 10, 2009
Wow, 6 more days have gone by and already the side effects are strong. It is good to have the weekend. No trips into Princess Margaret Hospital now until Tuesday.
Thursday night, I got to enjoy Gary’s 60th birthday party (a friend of many years who we shared a number of New Years party with his family and friends). I didn’t know that was going to be the last of eating solids for a while. The cake was worth it.
My tongue now is very raw, swollen and open sores, blisters as well the gums all around the teeth have become even more sensitive. I was given a medicated mouthwash to coat the mouth to allow for some eating without the sensitivity. So far that has not been helpful. I must admit I thought I had a couple more days before this stage. Now I see where the feeding tube will have to be done. My hair has also started to fall out in chunks, again a little faster than I expected. I have had 3 weeks of radiation and 4 more weeks to go and two more chemo treatments. The next one being Tuesday, where I stay in the hospital overnight again.
I am continuously blessed by the kindness of humanity. Spirit shows up! I could never do this alone, although some do, I know myself, and I do better with the community of family and friends. I feel the need for touch, gentleness, laughter and sometimes just talking through some of the waves of emotions. Sometimes during the day I go to the poor me place and then a story comes in from another who lost her husband or my neighbor’s dear friend whose daughter went through it and the family was told to gather as she might not make it. That was 2 years ago and she is doing really well today and is cancer free.
Here are some pictures – the trach tube (see how red the neck was) now it is so much better. The mask that is put on for each radiation treatment, picture of me with it snapped into place and ready to go.
Just to balance things, here is a picture of ACE – our 6 month old pup who Julian named and reminds me – “We will ace this”!
Wow, 6 more days have gone by and already the side effects are strong. It is good to have the weekend. No trips into Princess Margaret Hospital now until Tuesday.
Thursday night, I got to enjoy Gary’s 60th birthday party (a friend of many years who we shared a number of New Years party with his family and friends). I didn’t know that was going to be the last of eating solids for a while. The cake was worth it.
My tongue now is very raw, swollen and open sores, blisters as well the gums all around the teeth have become even more sensitive. I was given a medicated mouthwash to coat the mouth to allow for some eating without the sensitivity. So far that has not been helpful. I must admit I thought I had a couple more days before this stage. Now I see where the feeding tube will have to be done. My hair has also started to fall out in chunks, again a little faster than I expected. I have had 3 weeks of radiation and 4 more weeks to go and two more chemo treatments. The next one being Tuesday, where I stay in the hospital overnight again.
I am continuously blessed by the kindness of humanity. Spirit shows up! I could never do this alone, although some do, I know myself, and I do better with the community of family and friends. I feel the need for touch, gentleness, laughter and sometimes just talking through some of the waves of emotions. Sometimes during the day I go to the poor me place and then a story comes in from another who lost her husband or my neighbor’s dear friend whose daughter went through it and the family was told to gather as she might not make it. That was 2 years ago and she is doing really well today and is cancer free.
Here are some pictures – the trach tube (see how red the neck was) now it is so much better. The mask that is put on for each radiation treatment, picture of me with it snapped into place and ready to go.
Just to balance things, here is a picture of ACE – our 6 month old pup who Julian named and reminds me – “We will ace this”!
It does help me to compare this to renovations, sometimes it gets wild and tough, but we keep our heart on the desired outcome. As Julian wrote on my mirrow - Mom rocks!
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