Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Fired Up and Ready to Go!
Yea! Yesterday I had my last chemo until after I go to Africa on July 8. I still have the moon face, some blemishes and a cough as a result of the medicine, but my hair is slowing growing out, and I am still relatively pain free. Thanks for all the meds and other items you have sent for JoAnn. We will be sure she and her patients get them!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Good news and jubilee
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In the photo above, you will see Rose and JoAnn working on Jo's jubilee finery! Jo is back in Africa now and the outfit awaits only the finishing touches.
I got good results on my CT scan. Dr Wang Gillam told Donn and me that the tumor is the same, the mets have changed little, the blood clot is slightly smaller and there is no change in the lung lesion.
The symptoms, especially the fatigue, are slightly increased.
Under the circumstances, it is exceptionally positive news.
Thanks for all who are praying for me, especially Becky, who was ASSIGNED to pray for me!
XO
Friday, June 8, 2012
Sister Jo's Wish List. Items Needed before July 4th
WISH LIST FOR
RIGHT NOW – PLEASE CHECK THE EXPIRATION DATE FOR THE LONGEST PERIOD
- Plastic snack bags - 500
- Gallon zip bags - 60
- White socks most people are barefoot and have wounds on there feet – when I treat and dress it would. Help if I could put a sock over it – like a tube sock
- Sleeves of plastic measuring cups – great to give mother for child’s med 4 sleeves
- ASA 81mg - I can use about 1,200 a month
- Children’s multivitamins – I could use about 1,000 a month
- Amoxicillin Suspenion 125mg/5ml – use about 40 a month
- Amoxicillin Susp. 250mg/5ml – use about 50 a month
- Decongestants for children and adults – I can always use
- Combo decongestant and antihistamines as well
- Over the counter Eye Drops – small bottles – I could use 10 a month
- Small tubes of antifungal cream – I can always use
- Small tubes of hydrocortisone cream – I can always use
- Benzocaine 20% gel – I think it’s called Oralbase for mouth sores/pain
Monday, May 14, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
No News Is Good News!
Sorry this blog has been silent! I have been busy, and fortunately, have not had any challenges worth mentioning. That's why I say no news is good news!
Health-wise I am doing pretty well. There is still some neuropathy in my feet and sometimes hands It is not painful, but I have lost my balance and landed on my ass trying to make a great big tee shot! Yes, there is still golf...this week at Bellerive and Westwood!
A second drawback is the fatigue. I do best on days that I get to take a 2-3 hour nap, and I am winded with relatively mild activity. I still life weights three days a week and have been going other days to do cardio to increase my stamina. The chemo schedule is still three Tuesdays on and one off. The end of this month I will have a CT to see the status of the cancer.
So, overall, i feel like things are going really well. I am not in pain, and I am not throwing up; that is good!
Shawn, I did finally cut my straggly hair over at Alison and Mary Sue's. Pictures are included! But, I am just at 1/2 inch...not shaved. So, you are safe for now!
Jo is still keeping track of my medicine, because my memory is shot. Sometimes I can come up with what I am trying to say within a few minutes. Work stuff is easier to remember than personal stuff and names. But at least I am usually taking the rights pill and the right shot at the right time.
I have been able to be at work and do work at home more than I expected I would, and that contributes to the fatigue. We are taking over the Medicaid nursing in our program, and although my role is supportive, I have some of the history and relationships that contribute to a very complicated process for our staff. My job partner, Joe, our Administrator, Kim, our new CFO, Steve, and our social workers, Joan and Chien, are all doing a great job!
The big news is that I am going to Africa! You know we have been working on a birthing center in Gulu (see www.maternityclinicgulu.com), and finally the land issue has been solved. You can see a google earth photo of the site on the website. JoAnn is going over next week for two months to push the selection of a builder, and I am going in July with two friends, Don and Buff, for 10 days. We will all come home together in plenty of time for JoAnn's jubilee in August. And that will be a great event. My friend, Rose, and I are dusting off our sewing skills to make her an Africa themed outfit for the ceremony. Fingers are crossed!
During early April Cec came for my birthday and a couple of awards I was receiving. One was the Doorways Edlin Award, and the other was the Civil Rights Enforcement Agency Award for Distinguished Service in Fair Housing. It was great to have her here, and I think it was reassuring for both of us for her to see me upright and doing well! She likes her new digs at Carondelet Center. Her room looks out to the Getty and to the Pacific beyond.
Arch and Deb also came from Michigan to check up on me and we all stayed out at Rosie and Sue's for a couple of days. Fun slumber party!
My great friend, Evelyn Cohen, and her son Andy of Bravo TV, were featured in the Parade Magazine Mothers' Day issue, and his new book, Most Talkative, is taking St. Louis and the media world by storm. It has been fun. Buy the book!
Speaking of books, the best thing I have read recently is Jewball, about a professional Jewish basketball team in New York in the 30's. It is great! I have also read Fifty Shades of Grey (interesting and disturbing), Defending Jacob, three by Kristen Hannah, Gilead-a Novel, Wading Home-A Novel of New Orleans, An Eve Duncan Collection by Iris Johansen, the Hunger Games Trilogy, Remarkable Creatures: A Novel, The Habit by Susan Morse, Crossed Dressed to Kill, The Orphan Master's Son, Little Bee, Down Town by Ferrol Sams (a friend of Jo's), the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Fat is the New Thirty: The Sweet Potato Queen...
And, we saw a great movie: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
So there, that's all I can think of for now. Thank you for all the love and prayers!
Lynne
Health-wise I am doing pretty well. There is still some neuropathy in my feet and sometimes hands It is not painful, but I have lost my balance and landed on my ass trying to make a great big tee shot! Yes, there is still golf...this week at Bellerive and Westwood!
A second drawback is the fatigue. I do best on days that I get to take a 2-3 hour nap, and I am winded with relatively mild activity. I still life weights three days a week and have been going other days to do cardio to increase my stamina. The chemo schedule is still three Tuesdays on and one off. The end of this month I will have a CT to see the status of the cancer.
So, overall, i feel like things are going really well. I am not in pain, and I am not throwing up; that is good!
 |
| It was a hair-razing moment! |
Jo is still keeping track of my medicine, because my memory is shot. Sometimes I can come up with what I am trying to say within a few minutes. Work stuff is easier to remember than personal stuff and names. But at least I am usually taking the rights pill and the right shot at the right time.
I have been able to be at work and do work at home more than I expected I would, and that contributes to the fatigue. We are taking over the Medicaid nursing in our program, and although my role is supportive, I have some of the history and relationships that contribute to a very complicated process for our staff. My job partner, Joe, our Administrator, Kim, our new CFO, Steve, and our social workers, Joan and Chien, are all doing a great job!The big news is that I am going to Africa! You know we have been working on a birthing center in Gulu (see www.maternityclinicgulu.com), and finally the land issue has been solved. You can see a google earth photo of the site on the website. JoAnn is going over next week for two months to push the selection of a builder, and I am going in July with two friends, Don and Buff, for 10 days. We will all come home together in plenty of time for JoAnn's jubilee in August. And that will be a great event. My friend, Rose, and I are dusting off our sewing skills to make her an Africa themed outfit for the ceremony. Fingers are crossed!
During early April Cec came for my birthday and a couple of awards I was receiving. One was the Doorways Edlin Award, and the other was the Civil Rights Enforcement Agency Award for Distinguished Service in Fair Housing. It was great to have her here, and I think it was reassuring for both of us for her to see me upright and doing well! She likes her new digs at Carondelet Center. Her room looks out to the Getty and to the Pacific beyond.
Arch and Deb also came from Michigan to check up on me and we all stayed out at Rosie and Sue's for a couple of days. Fun slumber party!
My great friend, Evelyn Cohen, and her son Andy of Bravo TV, were featured in the Parade Magazine Mothers' Day issue, and his new book, Most Talkative, is taking St. Louis and the media world by storm. It has been fun. Buy the book!
Speaking of books, the best thing I have read recently is Jewball, about a professional Jewish basketball team in New York in the 30's. It is great! I have also read Fifty Shades of Grey (interesting and disturbing), Defending Jacob, three by Kristen Hannah, Gilead-a Novel, Wading Home-A Novel of New Orleans, An Eve Duncan Collection by Iris Johansen, the Hunger Games Trilogy, Remarkable Creatures: A Novel, The Habit by Susan Morse, Crossed Dressed to Kill, The Orphan Master's Son, Little Bee, Down Town by Ferrol Sams (a friend of Jo's), the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Fat is the New Thirty: The Sweet Potato Queen...
And, we saw a great movie: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
So there, that's all I can think of for now. Thank you for all the love and prayers!
Lynne
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| Come, on down to AliSue's Kitchen Salon! |
Friday, April 6, 2012
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