It's been a month!!

Since I last posted... woah, that's terrible.

As you know, I've been extremely busy fundraising. And the fruits of my labor have paid off since I made my goal of $1800 in almost 6 weeks!

I've only just started my training for the 39.1 mile walk in May. But so far so good. Yesterday I started with 40 minutes of yoga (which I LOVE) and then took off on a 5 mile journey around town. It took me about an hour to complete and was very senic. Today I took a quick 2.5 mile jaunt, but this time tried to speed up the pace a little bit. I am really enjoying seeing parts of town that I haven't seen since I was foot-traveling teenager.

Since the weather is going to be so wet this weekend, I think that tomorrow I will stick to some yoga and try to get a 7 mile walk in on Sunday... if I'm not too tired/hungover from our fundraising keg party Saturday night.

If and when the weather gets nice again, I would like to make some trips to Weir Hill and also Salisbury Beach. If anyone is interested, give me a call!

If you love 70's Disco and/or Boobs
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Violet is for Hodgkin's Lymphoma... But... Pink is for...
Avon Walk for Breast Cancer!!

As many of you may already know, or will soon know, I have made the decision to participate in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. It should be called the Avon Walk Against Breast Cancer... because I'm definately not walking to get it!

As a participant, I have vowed to raise $1,800 and walk 39.1 miles in 2 days during 2 days in May!

I decided to walk for 2 main reasons. Breast Cancer will affect 1 in 8 women in her lifetime. If I name 8 women close to me, there's no way I can bear to see any of them going through this traumatic illness. My second reason is that I want to give back to the very institutions that cared for me during my illness. Between 2003 and 2006 The Avon Foundation donated over $150 million to research, hospitals, and social services. It's good to know that the money raised in Boston, will stay in Boston.

If you would like to make a donation to, or join me in, my cause or just see my "New Blog for a New Era" just click on the pretty pink pin up at the bottom of this post!!

Mwah!

My Final Surgery??

About 2 weeks ago, Todd and I returned home from an amazing trip to Sunday River. The next day, he called out of work and took me to Lawrence General to have my port-a-cath removed.

I was excited and a tiny bit nervous. But Todd and I laughed a lot and joked with the nurses so it was fun. :)

While we were fooling around, Dr. Gemis came over and took our picture. He told me about how he was going to remove all of the scar tissue left from the insertion and sew me back together with a thinner line. That surprised me... but hey, whatever looks better.
CUTE!!

This is a really good action shot of me getting my IV. Generally speaking, I HATE this part... but I specifically asked to have it put in my arm (because I know it hurts more in the hand). This way, because my veins have been poked so many times, I didn't even feel a thing. Which is kind of sad in a way... but good in another way.

When I came out of surgery all they gave me was some delicious apple juice. I was starving. I hadn't eaten since 10:30 PM the night before. The nurse said she couldn't let me leave until my blood pressure went up. And yet, they weren't giving me anything to eat. So they gave me a second bag of fluids in my IV instead. And I wasn't happy.
Finally, after begging and saying how hungry I was, the nurse let us go.
And I went home and took a vicadin and watched the Futurama movie!
The End.

**Since then I have been watching my scar. It looks kind of weird. So I am going to see Dr. Gemis tomorrow to have him look at it... and maybe fix it. Because he definately didn't say anything about a weird nub.

I'm doing pretty good.

I'm really busy and relatively healthy. Between 2 jobs, doctor's appointments and mini vacations... I barely know if I'm coming or going.

I took a 10 hour/week position at Hostelling International (www.usahostels.org) as the Media and Development Assistant. It means I spend a lot of time calling rish people and asking for money... and doing research I don't think that they are ever going to use. Oh well. It's nice to have an office job for once. Although- it definately doesn't beat Northpoint!! Holla!

I've been snowboarding quite a lot (more than I thought I would be) and it feels awesome! I'm trying to catch more air and be more daring... I mean, I did just beat cancer- what could be scarier? A little snow, a little speed, and my feet off the ground doesn't even come close. So far, I've been up to Waterville Valley and Loon... but my favorite has been Mount Snow, VT. Todd and I also have trips planned to Sunday River, Jay Peak, and Stratton.

(this is me and Marielle @ Bradford)

And of course-- FLORIDA!! We leave for Florida in less than 2 weeks. So... we're trying to pack, getting our bathing suits and sunscreen in order (which you can image is slightly precarious compared to snow gear for us!).

I also joined the gym at work. I went 3 days last and it feels great. Instead of trying to bust my butt on some awkward cardio machine I've taken to the pool (and sometimes the hot tub!). The pool is small- but just big enough for me to make it across without drowning. I've never been a good swimmer. So, for about 20 minutes of back and forth I feel the burn... plus it's heated... so, besides snowboarding, I've definately found the perfect workout. So long as it doesn't turn my new hairdo green.

Speaking of hairdo- it's cute. It's still super short but it's growing fast. It's showing some signs of curl which is making me nervous... because I don't feel like having the new afro for the cancer-cured white chick. But, what can you do, really? I guess I could always cut it.

I have my pre-op appointment on Thursday for my surgery next Monday (after we get back from Sunday River). I've got to get this port-a-cath remoooved!! Finally will I feel a little more like this is all over! Which has also been a little difficult for me, not knowing what to do next.

And yesterday I had the most awful feeling like it might come back. Like "cancer" was lurking over my shoulder waiting to get me... just when I was starting to feel like myself again.

An Entry in Images


This is where I scanned my ID card every day upon arrival. As you may be able to see, my machine, the second one down the list, is 30 minutes behind... but that's OK! It also lists which doctor's are on duty to see patients... 'cause you have to visit with The Man at least once a week.

In the meantime, I'll just hang out with my cool nurse, Lynn. After a quick visit Lynn advises me that I have my port flushed. Whaaaat? It hasn't been accessed in over a month and in the off event they need to use it again... she has to flush it with saline. Fine, whatever, I have like an hour wait anyway. It takes Lynn 3 stabs before she gets it, but I didn't mind because she used a numbing solution first which was like first-class treatment as far as I'm concerned. She's really good... she even got a blood-return!

Then... it's Johnny time! Enter the changing closet and choose your weapon. Not much of a choice really... and would you know, I get the one with only one string every time!! If you're ever faced with this situation I suggest choosing the Johnny that looks most new. :) You'll look more shabby sheek... trust me.

Before I know it I'm face to face with Machine 15!!

Say hello...
Don't be scared...



So... this is where it all takes place.

And this adorable Francis and Amy, the technicians that run Machine 15 every single day. I think Francis had one day off during my whole treatment. They're good folks. :) I made them cookies.


And so ends An Entry in Images.

January 7th, 2008

FINALLY... an update.

Today is Monday-- and Wednesday is my last radiation treatment.

I've sort of been tackling this portion of my treatment with a blind eye-- it's easier since it's less painful-- going to the hospital everyday like it's a simple errand. And it's so routine that it's easy to forget why I'm even there.

I drive into the parking garage, spiral into the bowels of the cement edifice, walk 5 seconds over to the Brigham & Women's building, press L2 in the elevator, turn right and walk to the end of the hall, scan my ID card, change into a johnny, wait in the waiting room with other johnny-clad patients. I usually read a magazine... I'm all caught up on Architect's Digest, Audubon, Sport Diver, and Better Homes.

Sometimes I wait for hours and sometimes not even a minute.

When they call my name I enter the treatment room through a lead door and am greeted by my beautiful radiation technicians. Literally, they're all gorgeous. At first, my superficial assessment weirded me out, until I realized that it was their amazing personalities and extreme kindness that made laying under their machine that much less annoying, not their pretty looks.


So, I greet the technicians and lay down on the narrow, cold table. They undo my johnny, line up my tattoos with the lasers in the machine, pull my hips .5cm to the left, and then one of them says "Here we go, this looks perfect." They turn on the lights and leave me there with the sounds of Jimmy Buffet or smooth jazz and the beeping starts and I feel my esophagus melting. I try to close my eyes but I can't so I stare into the big, black eye of the machine.

The technicians are sort of like a little clan of Oopmpa Loompas working for Wonka or a band of Christmas elves working with their little tools, doing all the ground work for the big guy... Dr. Mauch.

When the beeping stops they come back in, raise the table up to the ceiling, and rotate the machine underneath me to get my cancer from behind. And they leave and I'm left alone with the machine again.


The beeping stops again and I tie up my johnny as they lower the table and we chit chat and say "See you tomorrow" and "Have a nice night." I pay the parking attendant anywhere from $2 to $8 bucks. Go home to Todd and we make dinner and watch movies and go to bed-- to do the whole thing over again.

Wednesday is my last radiation treatment... but that doesn't mean I'm home free. I've already got the go-ahead from Dr. Fisher to have my port-a-cath removed which means another surgery. I also have a follow-up appointment with Fisher and Mauch on February 21st, the day after I return from my birthday-vacation-in-Florida.

After that though, I guess I'll be done for the next couple of months... until...

MY NEXT SCAN!!