runnin runnin

I have held true with my new years resolution of juicing every day and exercising daily. Well my brother juices a lot for me and so does Bryan so I should give them some credit!   I actually started running again, and it feels great. I am only doing 2 miles and I'm very slow but it is still nice to work up a sweat. I feel so good on my off weeks and so awful on my chemo weeks. I am dreading tomorrow!

I have a drainage scheduled for tomorrow before chemo.  I really don't think they will think there is enough there to drain but it is worth a try.  This is my last treatment I will be getting at the Faulkner center.  They are closing and after this I will have to go to the actual Dana Farber center that is a little bit further into Boston.  This other one allowed us to miss some traffic, too bad they are closing.  I will miss my chemo nurse.  I will continue to see the same Dr. though.

Our cruise is getting closer and we are getting very excited! I am going to talk to the Dr about how often I can skip a week between treatments just for something to look forward to.  It is a little expensive to keep going on cruises although wouldn't that be nice!

I am on chemo indefinitely, so not having a count down or a light at the end of the tunnel is very daunting and depressing.  I am fortunate enough that I have these good days in between but also know that this chemo will not work forever. Eventually the cancer will build up an immunity to it and they will have to try something else that might not leave me feeling so good on the off times.  The Dr said the average for this chemo is a year for it keep working, so I am hoping I can go that long.  I just can't imagine any other type leaving me feeling this good in between.

I need to register my daughter for Kindergarten in the next month and it just blows my mind.  For one, I can't believe shes turning 5 in a week or so and that she's going to be going to kindergarten but also I don't know how long I will be around to see her in school and anything regarding the distant future always puts me in a sad mood of just not knowing.  I always think of how I could just be killed in a car accident and not have this prognosis but just go suddenly with no warning.  I don't know if it's better to have some kind of warning like I have or not.  It certainly makes me appreciate life more and every moment with my kids.  I cherish every minute that I feel good and that I can hold them and that I can spend with my family and I don't think I would have been so present in each moment if I weren't given this prognosis.  Here's looking at the positive right?

Thank you! Thank You! Thank you!

So those that came on Saturday, Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!  Those that were involved in the planning and executing and everything involved in the amazingness that happened on saturday, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!  Those that were there in spirit and couldn't make it, Thank you!  My company that put this on, Sea Corp, you are amazing!  I had so many people tell me they wanted to come work at my company after seeing how awesome they are!  We have the term, Sea Corp Family, and it really feels like it.  The amount of support and love that they show, feels like family!

I seriously cannot believe the amount of support and love and in general, people, that showed up on Saturday to show their support.  I have to admit I had to pretend several times during that night that all of you weren't really there for me, that I was just attending an event, otherwise I would have teared up and ended up losing it! 

I have heard that they sold out of tickets, so that means there was at least 500 people that came through the door, craaaaazy!

The food, raffle items, music, everything was amazing.  I hope I was able to get to talk to most of you and say thank you for coming and get a hug or a little chat in, but I know I didn't get to everyone! 


I feel like I can't write a post good enough to express my gratitude and appreciation for everyone and everything.  The local businesses that supported by donating raffle items and food and the Elks club for letting the event take place there, just amazing.  And the bands were all awesome, great music!

So I just wanted to say thanks, and that I'm still smiling and still feeling the energy and Love from Saturday, and I hope I can keep that little warmth of it all burning for a very long time!

--also here are a few photos from the night, my best friend, Kim, and me and my husband Bryan and Me.  I know there was a photographer there and a videographer so when I get a hold of those I will share!

 

vacation!

I did not get drained on Monday.  They took forever to get me into my Dr's apt and then by the time they started chemo I missed my apt for drainage.  I also seem to fluctuate so much, my stomach was down so I didn't feel it necessary to try to get it done.  I had the apt after chemo which is when I feel the sickest.  I made one for next time before chemo so they can at least check and see if there is enough to drain.  This will be nice because we are going on a cruise in February and it will at least make me feel like I can wear a bathing suit!

Bryan booked us a Caribbean cruise!  I am hoping we can use some of the money from the event to help pay for this.  It is so nice to have something to look forward to after I get chemo, it's all I can think about now.  We leave February 9.  I know i can't keep planning vacation after vacation but I hope we can come up with something else to look forward to after this because it is such a good motivator to get through the tough days.

chemo tomorrow

I have been feeling OK.  My stomach continues to give me problems and I have a drainage scheduled for tomorrow after chemo.  My stomach flucuates between being really big and swollen and only being a little big.  I am not sure there will be enough to drain tomorrow but if I feel well enough after the chemo they are going to try.

I have been juicing every day and exercising so I feel like I am doing all I can to fight this.  I am looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday, I hope you can make it!

Band Together for Leah

Hi Everyone!!

Just a little over a week till we Band Together for Leah!! Hope you’re planning on stopping by!

On behalf of the “BTL committee” I wanted to post a couple things:

-         Need tickets? We have a lot of tickets out there, but not many have SOLD

o       There may be a “distributor” person in your community.

         Are you a ticket distributor? We’d like to collect all money by Monday January 13^th if possible.

o       Call Kevin at 401-324-4117

o       Contact Kim (me): 401-862-4127, kmccarthy1040@gmail.com, or on Facebook through the event page

o       Leah or her family can point you in the right direction

o       Tickets will be on sale at the door. The event probably wont sell out after all, though we’d like to sell as many advanced tickets as possible so we can get a good head count

-         Want to help? We desperately need help with the first 2 items, and GREATLY appreciate it!!

o      Volunteer your time the day of the event

o       Bring food the day of the event

o       Got something to donate for the raffle or silent auction? We're hoping to collect all items by Monday January 13th. Please get in touch using the ways listed above, or mail to:
       Band Together for Leah
       SEA CORP
       62 Johnny Cake Hill Rd
       Middletown, RI 02842

-         What should you expect at the event? (Besides good music and everything that’s advertised on the flyer…)

o       Magnets will be on sale. The cancer warrior stick figure is Leah’s design from her t-shirt. Her neighbor, Celine, added the text along the borders.

o       Wristbands will be on sale. Is your Ploutz Power wristband fading, or is it time for a change, or you just never got one before? You’re in luck with these fancy new versions that say “Band Together for Leah”!

o       Awesome raffle items and silent auction items include sports tickets, timeshares, restaurants, golf, hotels, spa, coffee, gift baskets, etc…. You don’t have to be present to win.

 o       Limited tables and seating available at event

little concerning

I have had some stomach issues and lots of pains lately.  It is weird, I have the pain in my shoulders I had after my surgeries where it feels like air is trapped in my abdominal cavity. I don't know if this is from fluid that is slowly building up or what.  I don't feel like there is enough there to get drained, nor do I want to go through the process, since I have managed to wait so long.  I have been more tired than usual and all these things are making me nervous about the chemo not working as well. 

Please pray for these things and that I'm feeling well enough to enjoy the band together event that I am so looking forwad to!