Spring is getting closer

We started off the week with a visit from Paul and Deb. They buzzed in last Friday for a weekend visit. It was a quick one, but it’s always great to spend some time with them—thanks for the pizza! (No not normally part of our diet plan but hey Paul and Deb don't get in from Florida every weekend now do they?)

I’ve gone on and on about the “Pink Ribbon” culture.  I hate anything to do with it and all that they really don't do for cancer research and cancer patients.  What I do love is that our neighbor Jeff came over on Super Bowl Sunday to fix a hole in our soffit where critters were getting in.  He embodies the true meaning of neighbor and helping. He put together a solid temporary repair that will hold til better weather arrives. 

After the weekend a fairly uneventful week followed (always a good thing in our book).  And the former boyfriend now has another week to go poison free since we're doing chemo every three weeks now instead of every two. We're crossing our fingers and drinking our green juices, since this next treatment will be proceeded by another scan.  (actually Johnny is more interested in the fact that pitchers and catchers report to Indians spring camp in Arizona Sunday) Have a great weekend everyone!

one happy grandma

Jeff heads for the roof

Yuck week

This was a chemo week for Johnny.  And it was one of the scarier ones for me – because I had a cold.  I have done everything humanly possible to keep from giving it to Johnny and oddly enough, even with his weakened immune system, he has not gotten it.  Due to the chemo he’s obviously not feeling all that great, but so far (and pray it stays that way) he has not gotten sick.  Maybe we found a magic potion in Kombucha and green juice.

We try to stay healthy and away from germs the best that we can.  We don’t go to many public places, as most are nothing more than giant germ-factories.  But we can’t lose contact with people entirely so it’s gallons of hand sanitizer for us wherever we go.

Anyway, I guess this week is a bit of a boring story but if you have Stage 4 cancer, are on chemo, or are in remission you can never take health for granted.  What’s an inconvenience for some people can easily turn into a trip to the doctor or hospital for us.  But luckily we’re both ok, and we’re both getting closer to operating at 100%.  We’re getting back on track, catching up on mail, personal stuff and chores that need to be done.

This weekend Paul and Deb will be here from Florida and Josh and Sarah from Cleveland.  Johnny and I will be recovered just in time to enjoy a weekend of family activities.  We hope you enjoy the weekend also.

Watching geese at the park

And lounging in front of the fire

The weather outside is.........

........incredible weather for January. Last weekend it hit 60. This week it was in the fifties!  We took full advantage.  For us there is nothing like being able to go for a comfortable walk in the park with the dogs.  So that’s exactly what we did. Truer winter weather has since returned. But the warmth already has  us working on plans for RV trips once warm weather returns for good.

And this week it was also time for Johnny to check in with his Primary Care Doctor, Donald LeMay.  Dr. LeMay was extremely pleased (and think somewhat surprised) to see how incredibly well Johnny is doing.  His blood work looks better than most people without cancer.  And Dr. LeMay was very interested in all the alternative modes of treatment that we have been using.  He even made a couple of suggestions for us to try.  It’s such a blessing to have caring, understanding guy like him in our lives.

And we came across a very inspirational story this week about a man named Scott Gill.  He too was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer (with a poor prognosis) and has survived by following a diet very close to what we use.  This man also uses exercise, stress reduction and he concentrates his time on things he loves to do.  He also believes that mediation played a huge part in his recovery (Johnny & I meditate every evening).  It’s been 20 years since Scott Gill was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer, today he’s 52, cancer free and healthy.  There’s a lot of comfort in his story.

Have a great weekend-Love you all. 

 

Sunday afternoon in the park

Friday night party night

Today I had an appointment with my new Primary Care Physician Dr. Donald LeMay.  In a world where so many people have to deal with Obamacare and a shortage of doctors Johnny and I are very blessed to have access to the medical care we do and the insurance to make it possible.  It was a great appointment- I worked with Dr. LeMay for years at OSU. I’ll have more blood work in a couple of months and then a follow up in 6 months.  Johnny will see Dr. LeMay next week. He's seen Dr LeMay for some time now.

This evening we had a neighborhood get together for Wayne’s 69^th birthday.  The vodka flowed freely (Johnny and I abstained) and the toasts included friends and family, dead dogs, and animals with and without penises.   Sorry folks I can’t make this stuff up.  We wish you all a great weekend.  Love you all.

Wayne and Johnny

Another dose of chemo

All good things come to an end. And so it was with our chemo holiday.  We were back at the Zangmeister Center for another infusion this week.  Unfortunately Johnny dealt with nausea a good portion of the week.  I’ve read about so many drugs to prevent or alleviate nausea,  I’ve searched WebMD, the National Cancer Institute, and Pub Med and a ton of peer reviewed articles, but so far nothing we have tried has worked.

A part of Johnny’s nausea is triggered by smells another is just the anticipation of the chemo infusion.  I’m also wondering if it could be from an allergy to the chemo itself that is making him sick.  We’ll be speaking with his treatment team again to see if there is another treatment they can recommend. Having cancer is bad enough Johnny shouldn’t be nauseated as well.

But now that it’s Friday and he’s had two hyperbaric treatments and two sessions in our infrared sauna he’s getting back to the Johnny we all know and love.  Just in time for a great weekend.