Wow! Today marks one year since I started this blog! Can't even believe all that has happened in this past year.
My intention of keeping the blog was so I could document my journey in one place and keep family and friends informed.
I kind of dropped the ball last June. Not much was going on anymore. I was still receiving Herceptin treatments every three weeks and feeling pretty good. My hair was slowly growing back and I felt I was getting my life back a little bit! I was looking forward to the birth of my first grandchild! How great is that?!?
About that same time, Scott and I decided it would be better to move closer to Reno, where all my medical care is. Also, closer to my family again. I really missed everyone, being just a little too far away in Janesville. So we started looking for something in the Cold Springs area. We did find a house with an amazing yard, and moved at the end of October.
During the summer, I was lucky enough to travel to San Jose with my sisters, Carolyn and Laura. We visited many relatives I hadn't seen for a long time! It was a special visit. I stayed at Laura's a few extra days after that. While there, I had a slight relapse of shingles in my right ear. Ouch!
Then around the first of September, my sister, June, and her children, Jess and Greg, came out for a visit! I cannot tell you how happy I was to see her! She had had her first chemo a couple weeks before, and had shaved her head. She looked beautiful! She had some wonderful scarves and hats, and was handling everything amazingly well!
We all traveled down to SJ once again. Unfortunately, it was for a funeral this time. My moms first cousin, Victor, had passed away. All of my siblings were able to attend the amazing service his nine children organized in his memory. I was lucky enough to have visited with Victor when I was down there earlier in the summer.
It was so good to have all six of us together again, if only briefly. I cherish my crazy, loving family!
By the way, June has finished all her treatment!!! Both chemo and radiation! Yay!!! I'm very happy for her and hope she finds some sort of new normal in her life now.
So, since we moved closer to Reno, I hosted a huge baby shower about two weeks after our move. Then I had more reconstructive surgery ten days after that, on Nov. 26. Yes- two days before Thanksgiving! It ended up being a bit more invasive than I thought it was going to be! Scott ended up cooking most of our Thanksgiving dinner!
Then, on December 7, our new grandson was born! Jonathon James Massey is the apple of our eyes now! What a sweetie! He is such a blessing to our family!
On Dec. 14, I ended up being admitted to the hospital where I spent three nights due to cellulitis. I had a high fever and my white blood cell count was up. My skin on my trunk and breasts was bright red and hot. I had been healing really well from my surgery, so we're still not sure the source of the infection. I am still on heavy duty antibiotics for that.
So my last Herceptin treatment got delayed a week, due to the illness. When I went in last Monday for it, my oncologist informed me he was suspending my treatment at this time. My last heart scan, which was on Dec. 11, showed a decrease in heart function. This is a side effect of the Herceptin. So that explained the shortness of breath and more tiredness. I had thought it was just life in general doing that to me!
I still managed to host Christmas Eve with about twenty people here! Of course, I had a lot of help! My sister, Laura, did a lot of the work! I didn't even have the energy to bake this year!
But I sure did enjoy being with my family!
At this point in time, I am just waiting until Jan. 15, when I will have my next heart scan to see if function is improving.
I have really remained positive throughout this last year, and have so much to be thankful for! But the last couple of weeks have been so difficult to remain in that frame of mind. When I was sick in the hospital, I felt more sick than any of the chemo ever made me feel. So frustrating...
And now the heart thing... How much can one take?!?
I only had about four more Herceptin treatments and the dr. Said if my heart function came back up, I could resume. I'm thinking I'm pretty much done with it at this point.
I thought I was goin to be able to go back to work and wa so close to having the ideal job. I ended up having to withdraw my application.
At least I have all kinds of free time for my grandson!
I guess I still need to just concentrate on getting better. Just thought this was almost all behind me now!
I'm really hoping the New Year 2014 will bring us all much health and happiness!
That's all for now. I'll try to check in a little more often, so I get things down before I forget!!
PS sorry for all the pictures, but I have been wanting to do a compilation of my hair growth!
RSS Feed
