I read all the comments, usually several times ;) I love them and appreciate them and they always make me smile. Keep them coming!!!
Love y'all!!!! Reba/Becky/Chemo brain
*Hey, today's the 26th! 1 month until my 47th birthday. I'm so happy I'll be seeing it!!! Life is good.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
3 months ago today...
2/24/10 The day I made an emergency entrance into the hospital due to the fact that a 6 inch tumor had been discovered in my abdomen. 2 days later I had surgery and was told I had cancer. It's been a roller coaster ride since then... 2 surgeries, 2 rounds of in-patient chemo, neutropenic fever, countless blood tests, MRIs, CTs, bone scans, you name it... I literally feel dizzy when I think about it! Sometimes it just doesn't seem real. I'll wake up feeling like it was just a dream but then I realize I have no hair or I feel the scar on my tummy and realize it is indeed true. I'm fighting cancer AND happily, winning the fight!
Today I'm 48 hours home from Round II of chemo. My doctor was successful in staying ahead of the nausea this time and that made a huge difference. She also kept me extremely hydrated so I think that helped also. I'm sleeping well, eating regularly and getting out a couple times each day to walk. Once around the block leaves my heart racing and me feeling pretty winded but it feels good to move and get some air and sunshine. I'm very fatigued and a little sore still from surgery. I also have a little bit of chemo brain (slow, slow, slow), but it's not all that bad really. All in all I feel remarkably well and for this I am grateful :)
Although I'm a little lonely, I plan on pretty much being a shut-in this time around, sticking to home and avoiding the general public as much as possible. My immune system should be zero here any day now so it's time for the extra precautions. No raw foods, very limited visitors and lots of hand washing! The good news is once I crash I start rebuilding so if it goes as well as last time I'll be as good as new in no time. Pray for white blood cells to flourish!!!
Happy hair! God bless my hair ;) It's coming back with a vengeance. Especially one little hair right on top of my head... It's 4 times longer than the rest and I lovingly call it my happy hair, the little hair that could! I noticed it just before I went in the hospital and it made my day. It just looks so happy and so determined. Of course Dr. X said, "You know we are going to kill that hair"? Shhhhhh, don't tell my happy hair that! Sad that my new hair will be falling out soon but inspired by the fact that it will indeed come back again when all is said and done.
Well my friends, I'm pooped! Time to rest. I really wanted to catch up the blog and say hello to everyone. I'm not sure my thoughts were articulated as well as I would have liked but as my new motto states, "blame it on the chemo" ;) I'm actually thinking of having a bumper sticker made to that effect.
3 months... sometimes it seems like it's gone so fast and sometimes it seems like it's been a lifetime. What's made it bearable is all the love and support you all provide. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
xo Reba
Today I'm 48 hours home from Round II of chemo. My doctor was successful in staying ahead of the nausea this time and that made a huge difference. She also kept me extremely hydrated so I think that helped also. I'm sleeping well, eating regularly and getting out a couple times each day to walk. Once around the block leaves my heart racing and me feeling pretty winded but it feels good to move and get some air and sunshine. I'm very fatigued and a little sore still from surgery. I also have a little bit of chemo brain (slow, slow, slow), but it's not all that bad really. All in all I feel remarkably well and for this I am grateful :)
Although I'm a little lonely, I plan on pretty much being a shut-in this time around, sticking to home and avoiding the general public as much as possible. My immune system should be zero here any day now so it's time for the extra precautions. No raw foods, very limited visitors and lots of hand washing! The good news is once I crash I start rebuilding so if it goes as well as last time I'll be as good as new in no time. Pray for white blood cells to flourish!!!
Happy hair! God bless my hair ;) It's coming back with a vengeance. Especially one little hair right on top of my head... It's 4 times longer than the rest and I lovingly call it my happy hair, the little hair that could! I noticed it just before I went in the hospital and it made my day. It just looks so happy and so determined. Of course Dr. X said, "You know we are going to kill that hair"? Shhhhhh, don't tell my happy hair that! Sad that my new hair will be falling out soon but inspired by the fact that it will indeed come back again when all is said and done.
Well my friends, I'm pooped! Time to rest. I really wanted to catch up the blog and say hello to everyone. I'm not sure my thoughts were articulated as well as I would have liked but as my new motto states, "blame it on the chemo" ;) I'm actually thinking of having a bumper sticker made to that effect.
3 months... sometimes it seems like it's gone so fast and sometimes it seems like it's been a lifetime. What's made it bearable is all the love and support you all provide. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
xo Reba
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Chemo - Day 2
Just a quick note...so far so good! Reba isn't having any side effects at this time. She sat by the fountain today with Rondi and has pink, rosy cheeks. She's eating, joking and chatting up the nurses.
This time around Reba is noticing the really special details of Mercy. Every night a prayer is said over the loud speaker. It's filled with thanks and love. Reba also noticed today that periodically there is a nursery rhyme over the PA system. She figured out that the hospital does that every time a baby is born. It's a sweet few minutes reminding her (us) that there are little miracles happening all the time. Reba's recovery is certainly one of them. Hugs, Louisa
This time around Reba is noticing the really special details of Mercy. Every night a prayer is said over the loud speaker. It's filled with thanks and love. Reba also noticed today that periodically there is a nursery rhyme over the PA system. She figured out that the hospital does that every time a baby is born. It's a sweet few minutes reminding her (us) that there are little miracles happening all the time. Reba's recovery is certainly one of them. Hugs, Louisa
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Round II starts Monday, Ding Ding!
Hello all!
I'm lacing up my gloves and preparing for Round II. I met with my oncologist this morning and it looks like I'll be checking back into Mercy for chemo this coming Monday. It'll be a 5-day stay. Because of the rarity and aggressiveness of my cancer, both of my doctors feel in-patient chemo is best for me. I was hoping for out-patient because quite frankly, I'm really burned out on hospital stays! But if my doctors feel in-patient, big gun chemo is necessary, I am not going to argue.
Once again Dr. Xavier called me a healing superstar and she said my labs look great. My nutrition is higher than she'd even hoped for and this will only help me withstand chemo. I was really hoping I would get a break until the end of the month but I had a feeling she'd tell me we are on for next week. Why? Because I'm just starting to feel really good ;) While I feel a little sad, Brenna had a good point when she told me, "The sooner you get Round II completed, the closer you'll be to the completing this fight!" Such a wise daughter I have.
Well my friends, please muster up all those positive vibes, prayers and well wishes to carry me through next week's treatment. Knowing you are all pulling for me helps SO much. Many many thanks to you all :)
I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day!? Mine was fantastic. Travis, Brenna, Tate and I went to the Scripp's Aquarium and then the kids took me to a delicious lunch in La Jolla. I had the added pleasure of spending the evening at Travis' parent's house. It was so nice to see them, and Travis' sister and her fiance. We had a yummy Chinese dinner and outrageous desserts!!! Fun fun!!!
I'll check in (or have Louisa update you) next week. Here's to chemo! Cheers!!!
xo Reba
I'm lacing up my gloves and preparing for Round II. I met with my oncologist this morning and it looks like I'll be checking back into Mercy for chemo this coming Monday. It'll be a 5-day stay. Because of the rarity and aggressiveness of my cancer, both of my doctors feel in-patient chemo is best for me. I was hoping for out-patient because quite frankly, I'm really burned out on hospital stays! But if my doctors feel in-patient, big gun chemo is necessary, I am not going to argue.
Once again Dr. Xavier called me a healing superstar and she said my labs look great. My nutrition is higher than she'd even hoped for and this will only help me withstand chemo. I was really hoping I would get a break until the end of the month but I had a feeling she'd tell me we are on for next week. Why? Because I'm just starting to feel really good ;) While I feel a little sad, Brenna had a good point when she told me, "The sooner you get Round II completed, the closer you'll be to the completing this fight!" Such a wise daughter I have.
Well my friends, please muster up all those positive vibes, prayers and well wishes to carry me through next week's treatment. Knowing you are all pulling for me helps SO much. Many many thanks to you all :)
I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day!? Mine was fantastic. Travis, Brenna, Tate and I went to the Scripp's Aquarium and then the kids took me to a delicious lunch in La Jolla. I had the added pleasure of spending the evening at Travis' parent's house. It was so nice to see them, and Travis' sister and her fiance. We had a yummy Chinese dinner and outrageous desserts!!! Fun fun!!!
I'll check in (or have Louisa update you) next week. Here's to chemo! Cheers!!!
xo Reba
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Success at last!
I am catheter free! Soooooooooooooooooooooo happy about this. I also had a bone scan yesterday and everything looks perfectly normal. I have been having back pain but I think it's due to lack of abdominal strength and inactivity?! I'm walking better each and every day so the exercise should help :)
I'm feeling good and I am looking forward to some real quality healing time now. I need to build some strength and gain some weight before chemo starts. I'm amazed how far I've come in such a short time... sometimes it seems like a dream. Thanks as always to every one of you for your help along the way.
Today's shout out is for Louisa's niece, Emily, and her husband Ruben. Congratulations on their new baby! Joseph Benjamin Martinez arrived today weighing 9 lbs 2 oz. A BIG happy healthy baby boy, what a blessing :)
Hope you are all enjoying this amazing weather.
Reba
I'm feeling good and I am looking forward to some real quality healing time now. I need to build some strength and gain some weight before chemo starts. I'm amazed how far I've come in such a short time... sometimes it seems like a dream. Thanks as always to every one of you for your help along the way.
Today's shout out is for Louisa's niece, Emily, and her husband Ruben. Congratulations on their new baby! Joseph Benjamin Martinez arrived today weighing 9 lbs 2 oz. A BIG happy healthy baby boy, what a blessing :)
Hope you are all enjoying this amazing weather.
Reba
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