THANK YOU!!!

I just wanted to send out a big THANK YOU to everyone for your prayers, thoughts, and words of encouragement. I really appreciate it!

NO CHEMO!!!

Dave and I left around 7:30 a.m. for Tucson. My appointment was at 10:30 with Dr. Persky who is a Lymphoma specialist at the Arizona Cancer Center at UofA. We had a long wait - over 2 hours, but it was totally worth it! He spent a long time with us going over my history, my records, results of the tests, and examined me (especially all the places where lymphoma usually hangs out). Then he told us his recommendation for treatment: Watch and Wait. Boy, were those the words I wanted to hear!!!! He wants me to follow up in 3 months with Dr. Chang. He is also going to examine my pathology slides and make sure that it is indeed 3A. If it is higher, I need to do chemo ASAP, but he doesn't expect it to be higher. He is also going to discuss my case with his fellow doctors because my case is so rare. I can't even explain how happy and relieved I am! I have my life back! I can play with grandkids, travel, etc. Happy day, happy day!!!!

That's the FAX!

I made an appointment for next week with the specialist at UofA last Thursday. I immediately contacted Dr. Chang's office to have my records sent. I was hoping to get in this week because next week is crazy graduation week. The UofA office called today and asked if I could come in tomorrow! Just what I was hoping for! Then I found out that my records were never sent! I went to Ironwood Cancer Center, got a copy of my records, and faxed them myself. I should have done that in the first place! Hard lesson learned.

Oreganos!

Dave, Tannis and I went to Oreganos to celebrate! And I could taste it!!! The results of the tests were as good as was possible. No signs of cancer. Dr. Chang still wants me to do Chemo. She wants me to start this week, but will let me wait 2 weeks until after Tannis' graduation. She told us about a Lymphoma specialist at the U of A in Tucson who may have a clinical trial that I may be a candidate for. I am checking that out ASAP, in fact Dave left a message for him today. I really like Dr. Chang. I like how she encourages me to weigh my options, instead of insisting I do what she says. For the Chemo, I will have to have a port installed and a heart test. And I'll be shopping for a wig. None of this would be my choice of activities, but I need to get over all that and move forward and do what I gotta do.

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I don't love ya, tomorrow

Tomorrow I find out the results of the blood test, PET Scan, and Bone Marrow Biopsy. This whole experience has been absolutely SURREAL! Has anyone else ever felt like that? Things like this happen to other people. I don't even want to go to the appointment. Best case scenario: No signs of cancer, but the doctor still wants me to do Chemo. If that happens, I will probably get a second opinion.

Before Elder Mason Crandell called on Sunday, I asked my other kids if I should tell him about the Chemo. I had told him everything else, but not that. Everyone said I should tell him so that I could tell him on the phone instead of a letter. So I told him just before we hung up. I really don't want him to worry, but the faithful prayers of a missionary might come in handy.

Dave and I went to the temple tonight. I'm trying to be calm and accept whatever happens. It's hard.

What's that Smell?

I haven't been able to smell or taste for over a month. I thought I was just having allergies (which I've never had before). I haven't been able to smell candles burning, poopy diapers, nothing. We've saved $$$ because I won't go out to eat if I can't taste it! It has been so frustrating! Preston had us over for a BBQ. Nothing! For Dave's birthday (over a month ago) we went to Black Angus to get his free steak dinner. I couldn't taste a thing! I need to eat, but it is no fun when you can't taste. Funny thing is, I have NEVER been hungry all these weeks. I just have to remember to eat. How could we market this diet? Anyone who knows me knows that food is my life. I love to eat more than anything! Maybe that is one reason I have been depressed lately (besides doing tests for cancer!!!!) Normally I'd get me something fabulous to eat, and all would be right with the world. At least for a little while. I finally got some medicine last night for my sinus infection. I just went to Wal-Mart where someone was making and selling Kettle Corn, with free samples. I could taste it! So if this continues, we are at Oregano's TODAY!!!!

Bone Marrow Biopsy

I went to Banner Baywood today for the Bone Marrow Biopsy. They had to take my blood to test it before they could do it. 2 pricks, not fun. Then a more experienced nurse came in to put the IV in (for the anesthesia). It took her 2 tries, or maybe it was 3. She kept apologizing and digging around. After that, it was pretty much a breeze! The lady doing the test was preparing the area (lower back on the right side) and the anesthesiologist was preparing his stuff. I asked him if he was going to put me out before they deadened the area. He said "yes" and that's the last thing I remember. Everyone was SO nice. Dave joined me and I finally got some water to drink! It's been 9 hours, and I am not that sore. Miss Christi and Miss Kelee from preschool brought us dinner! Thank you!

PET Scan

I had my PET scan today. I was REALLY nervous about it because I am claustrophobic. It wasn't bad!!! The nice lady, Jennifer, took me in a room and pricked my finger to check my sugar level or something. Then she put an IV in (one prick, she was good) and shot the dye in. Then she took the IV out! I thought it was going to stay in the whole time! I took an anti-anxiety pill that the doctor had prescribed. Jennifer left the room after covering me with a warm blanket. I rested for an hour, took a pee, then approached the machine. It was the donut type, but thicker, not the open glass one that I had seen on google. I put a washcloth over my eyes so I wouldn't know when my head was inside. I thought of my kids and grandkids. Emery with her little princesses, Ian pushing his dumptrucks in the sand, Landon lining up all his cars, and Elliot repeating everything in a book. And I sang primary songs in my head the whole time. Before I knew it, she comes in and said I was done! 10-15 minutes tops!