November 10th is the Marine Corps Birthday. The best day of the year. November 11th is Veterans Day. As a junior in High School I joined the US Army National Guard. Having lived on a small boat with my parents in the…
EOTI Refit: Cushions, Bimini, and Pedestal Cover
Getting the interior and exterior cushions done on EOTI was an interesting process. Creative Canvas here in Fort Lauderdale was asked if they could do the work. I got their contact information from Just Catamarans. We had an interesting meeting…
Plot Twist: Radiation, a Hurricane, and a Broken Foot
The past month has been a steady pace of radiation treatments. Nothing exciting, just going in everyday at 9:20 am, spend 20 or so minutes getting the radiation treatment (lovingly called getting zapped). I had 17 total treatments and the…
Plot Twist: Starting Radiation
First a good news update. Remember that DVT (blood clot in my arm)? I had an ultrasound to check on it and it is gone! No blood clot, no need for blood thinners so I get to stop one pill.…
Plot Twist: Good news & bad news
So…I have good news and I have not as good news. First the good news. The eight weeks I was waiting has come to an end. I had another PET scan on Wednesday. I got the results on Friday. The…
Plot Twist: Waiting…
There is a lot of waiting involved in cancer treatment. A lot. Even when there is some urgency to begin treatment or perform a procedure, there is waiting. Sometimes it feels like you will wait forever. Maybe they forgot you.…
Plot Twist: It isn’t over until it’s over
I had the 4th PET scan on May 20th to determine how well the chemo worked (or if there was any cancer remaining). The results were inconclusive. I have a Deauville score of 4. There is still something there. It…
Son and Moon
Plot Twist: Chemo Cycle 6 (of 6)
This is it. The last Chemotherapy cycle. 6 cycles, 21 days each 126 days 18 weeks 4.5 months 30 days inpatient in the hospital 24 chemo bags 6 Neulasta/Fulphil shots 8 Rituxan treatments 43 Complete Blood Counts W/Auto Diff 43…
Plot Twist: Chemo Cycle 5 (of 6)
Cycle 5 has been very much like the previous cycles. In the hospital the nurses all know me and stop by my room to say hi even if they are not assigned to me. The routine is the same. I…
Plot Twist: PET Scan, Anemia, and a Transfusion
This week I had a third PET scan, the second since I started treatment. The results show continued progress in shrinking the tumor even if the results are not as dramatic as the last PET scan. Looking at the results:…
Plot Twist: Chemo Cycle 4 (of 6)
There is a routine to these cycles and cycle 4 had very little deviation from previous cycles. Monday I went in, had lab work done, saw my doctor, got the Rituxan injection, and then got admitted to the hospital where…
Plot Twist: I am not a pathology
A long time ago (well, 20 years) I was pregnant with twins at age 35 and I had placenta previa. This was a high risk pregnancy. My OB sent me to a perinatologist for the ultrasounds, amniocentesis, and to make…
Growing up on a boat
YouTube sailing channels are fun to watch. Usually young, beautiful, healthy, people travel to exotic locations and spend extensive alone time. Gorgeous sunsets, amazing sunrises, tropical breezes, and romantic locations all while wearing the least amount of clothes possible. Because…
Plot Twist: Chemo Cycle 3 (of 6)
Here we are at cycle 3. I have to admit that I went into this round of chemo with a little more enthusiasm since the results of the PET scan were so positive. Knowing that I am getting the right…