Six Month Check Up

I had my six month post-chemo check up today. It was so exciting. As I drove up to the cancer clinic, I sat in the car and stared at the building for a few minutes thinking about all that I had been through in that building. I thought of all the times I had sat...

Emergency Underwear

My son, Steven, flew in to stay with me for ten days following my great escape from the hospital. He was in charge of my pain medications and driving me to and from hyperbaric treatments and doctors appointments. Since I was restricted from using both arms, he was...

I Only Got Lost Once

Have you ever noticed that whenever you get cocky, it comes back to bite you? Today was one of those days. I traveled with Gene to Minneapolis so he could attend a meeting and I could visit with my old friend . . . the mall. We arrived a bit early and checked into the...

Early Celebration

After exhausting the Iowa pumpkin supply, Gene and I traveled to Texas over the holidays to celebrate the near end of my treatment with my family. Gene has marked the completion of each chemo session these past 15 months by blowing up a pumpkin or watermelon for me....

The Decision

When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, I had to make a lot of decisions about my treatment in a short amount of time. I was understandably frightened, nervous, uncertain, and worried as I worked my way through half a dozen doctor’s appointments and...

Who Moved My Cheese? (Part 1)

About ten years ago, there was a popular book out entitled, “Who Moved My Cheese,” that discussed how people reacted to change.  Who knew that ten years later, this phrase would come to mind so often.  One of the side effects to chemo is called chemo...