Family Life

Today was my 14th treatment and it went fine. I had physical therapy appointment  right after it and that always makes my arm feel better.Plus, I love talking to my physical therapist, she is a neat lady and I am grateful that we have become friends. You know...one can never have too many friends! :)  I have to continue to do my exercises every day for my arm, so that I can reduce the chances of getting lymphodemia. I have to admit after reading about it and knowing women who have it...I really don't want to get it. I actually saw a lady today come into physical therapy who had developed it and she was hurting. She seemed so worn out. She had already endured a mastectomy, went through chemo ( evidence by her wig ),is now going through radiation and has developed lymphodemia in her hand...it looked swollen and painful.

There are times that I just want take all these ladies... that are there suffering from cancer and the terrible side effects of the treatments and run away with them. It is hard to watch others suffer. One other lady today in the waiting room was there with her little knitted hat to cover her head and a pink ribbon blanket. I walked by and told her that I liked her blanket and that I had a pillow case that was soft and looked like that. She was talking about how sore she always is and so she carries a blanket to keep her warm and protect her chest. We talked till I got a smile out of her, I found out that her mastectomy was in October and so we had some things in common. We didn't talk long, because she had an appointment and I was heading to my chiropractor's appointment.. But we connected for just a moment, touched hands and wished each other health and healing. As I walked to my car, I felt blessed to be where I am, even with one breast and all. I tell you I would never make a very good nurse...I just would have a whole house full of kidnapped patients and trying to take care of them and ease their pain!

After I got my back and neck fixed I felt so much better that Amy, Angie and I went to the mall, actually we only went to one store but it still was the mall. I was able to get a  few more sweat suits  since that is all I ever wear or want to wear lately plus they were on CLEARANCE . Cheap and Soft... is good! It was so fun to be out and about and have some energy. My doctor at the Cancer Center gave me a remedy to help my fatigue, she said that it might take a week to kick in and it was 6 days, to be exact. I had moments starting Friday of energy and then it has continued today. That is 4 whole days that I haven't been completely exhausted, most of the time but not all of the time! Oh, I am sooooo grateful for that. It is fun to feel good enough to spend time with Amy and Angie, lately when they have been over I usually have to end up taking a nap most of the time.

Tonight during Family Home Evening we started out doing our calendar for the week, we also mentioned what we would like to do next week for the Winter Break, which is for 3 days. I didn't really have a lot to say because I can't miss radiation appointments, they are every week day. Lee then told us that he had basketball practices and games that were to be played all during Winter Break, so that changed our plans a lot. Lauren and Jeff had their hearts set on going camping to Port Townsend and I was hoping to spend the weekend visiting my friend and her husband in Sequim. It was hard trying to figure out what to do and there was lots of frustrations and some tears but I guess that is family life. I am not sure what we will end up doing but...I hope we can at least help each of them have some fun on their vacation. Every body needs a break!

I need to go and get to bed soon and finish up the last preparations for my speech tomorrow night. I have 45 minutes to an hour to teach about Self Worth and Self Esteem. I love doing my motivational speaking but it is funny how nervous I get before I do it. I guess I will always stay humble this way. :)

Thanks for your friendship and encouragement.

 

"In my life's chain of events nothing was accidental. Everything happened according to an inner need."

                                                            ___Hannah Senesh

"It's not what you do once in a while, it's what you do day in and day out that makes the difference."
-- Jenny Craig