One Year Celebration!

It’s hard to believe a year has passed since my initial diagnosis and grim prognosis. After a year of every three weeks of chemotherapy, I’m happy to report that I’m in a stabilization mode and we are here to CELEBRATE!!!! Yeah!!!! First off, I would like to thank my wonderful team of physicians, Dr. Brad Stoddard, Dr. Pat Gorman, Dr. Allen Salem, and my Oncologist, Dr. Brad Adams and Nurse Practitioner, Mike Parsons. Truly, without them, I would not be here. I would also like to thank all of you, my family and friends, for your continued positive thoughts and ongoing support. You all make my wheels keep spinning.

With that said, I’m not saying this year has been filled with roses. I, we, have certainly had our ups and downs. To be expected of course. But I always like to look at the glass half full versus half empty. This past year, I’ve had the opportunity to see my son graduate from college (and oh so proud of him), my daughter and son-in-law buy their first house, attend my first Relay for Life event (truly an amazing night), catch up with some childhood friends, see the publication of my sons book, The Joey Parker Movement, and the list goes on and on.

As I move into this coming year, I will continue to stay strong and living one day at a time. Each day is a gift that I cherish. Living in the moment, not dwelling on the past, and not worrying about the future is essential. I would like to thank my husband, Dennis, for walking along with me on this unforeseen journey. It doesn’t matter if I’m having a bad day or good day; he’s always there for me. To my kids-what would l do without you? Your daily phone calls, frequent visits, and company to office visits and chemo treatments are so appreciated. To my parents-your endless support means more than I could ever put in words. You are my rock, my foundation that I’m most grateful for.

10 Lessons Learned Through My Cancer Journey.

1.      It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

Since being diagnosed back in February, there’s been a whirlwind of emotions to say the least. Through the tough days, come the brighter ones.  But one thing I have learned for sure is, when you are having the tough days it’s important to embrace it. It’s okay to be a mess, just pick yourself up and move forward. When we immerse ourselves in facing the darkness, we begin to heal.

2.      Discovering Your True Friends

With the diagnosis, came the realization of who my true friends are. As sad as that may seem, it’s the truth. Those who truly care, make time to stay around. The phonies are left in my last chapter, and I have grown to be okay with this. Those who surround me are the ones I love the most.

3.      After Diagnoses, Family Members Need Support Too

 A diagnosis such as cancer involves the entire family, not just me. After many conversations with my family, I truly began to see how it affects not just me, but all those around me. It’s a journey we go through together, and by go through I mean GROW through. Be sure to ask how they are doing and involve them in the conversation. Encourage family members to go with you to your appointments and encourage them to ask questions. When I go to my doctor’s appointments, I always take a family member and the very first thing my oncologist does is acknowledge them. This validates their feelings and gives them an opportunity to express concerns they might be having.

4.      Focus On Today and Not Too Far Into The Future

As hard as it may be, when we live life through embracing the present, we can finally attract a sense of calmness within our lives. When we get caught up in the future, the anxiety will soon follow. It may not be easy, but it’s a practice that is important to implement into your life. When I need a nice reminder, I reflect back on this quote. It reads, “Don’t cry over the past, it’s gone. Don’t stress about the future, it hasn’t arrived. Live in the present, and make it Beautiful.”

5.      It’s Okay To Ask For Help

With cancer, or any health condition, comes an army of information that can become quite overwhelming. As someone who likes control of the situation, it was tough for me to learn this lesson. Asking for help, clarification, or just extra support is totally okay and necessary in order for you to remain sane. Don’t try and carry the load yourself, there are so many out there waiting to help you. Just take that first step.

6.      Express Your Feelings

As heartbreaking as cancer can be, it’s critical you garner the courage to open up about how you are feeling. Whether this be with your doctor, family or friends, just becoming vocal about the situation will help you out. Avoid holding it all in, because it will only build up and make it worse.

7.      Establish Routine

When you form a routine, life seems to become a bit more normal again. Instead of dwelling on your illness, you can begin to find a sense of normalcy again. It keeps you motivated, and your mind from constantly thinking about the scary C word. Also, your life may be much different than it was prior to being diagnosed, so give yourself the freedom to form a new routine and design your new normal.

8.      Be Involved With Your Plan of Care

It’s so important to surround yourself with knowledge as you head down this new path. Yes, it may be a lot of information, but when you are educated, you can begin to ask more questions, challenge the docs, and be more in the know with your body.

9.      Learn Relaxation Techniques

Often nights can be tough on me, so finding a way to silence the thoughts is important. Meditation or visual imagery have helped me calm the mind in times of inner chatter. I also like to pray to the higher power, asking for calmness, strength, and continued healing.

10.  Focus On Gratitude

The practice of gratitude will transform your life for the better. When we live in the moment, and embrace the beauty around us, our world will become brighter. 

A Recap of Summer - A Taste of the Fall!

Wow…where did the summer go? Eight months ago, my oncologist told me that I needed to “go enjoy my summer.” I thought to myself, “What does he mean by that?”  “Should I expect a change in my condition come the fall”, or “Do I just take one day at a time and make the best of it”? You know me…I chose the latter. I had a great summer filled with countless visits from family and friends. Many fond memories were made and I am convinced today, there are more to follow.

Birthday Weekend

The summer started out with my cousin, Beth and her family coming up from Tucson to spend the 4^th of July with us. It was wonderful having family here for the holiday and we were excited to show them our great fireworks show. Unfortunately, the show was delayed due to an accidental drowning down by the falls. Shortly after that, my brother, sister-in-law, and their two dogs drove up in their new 40 foot 5^th wheel and we camped up in the Island Park area for 3-4 days. It was great spending some one on one time with them. During their visit, we celebrated my 52^nd birthday at mom and dad’s cabin. Den, Joey and Kelli drove up from Island Park, Kristi and Greg came down from Livingston, my Aunt Sandy and Uncle Lyman were here to help us celebrate. It was a great time together although the emotions were high. I started thanking everyone for coming and …well you know it…the emotions came out. Not only from me, but from everyone else there. Oh well, I guess that is to be expected under the circumstances. Midsummer, my brother and sister-in-law flew up and we took a quick trip up to Livingston, Montana to show them Kristi and Greg’s place. The Livingston Food Pantry, whom Kristi was working for, was having their annual fundraiser which we all attended. It was a great night filled with yummy food, drinks, entertainment, and raffles. The latter part of the summer, I had visits from my cousins Mindy, Sabrina and her husband Larry, and some friends, John and Glenys Wilbur who I had not seen in over 30 years. It was great spending time with them catching up on old times. Ok…so much for the summer company.

In between spending time at the cabin, which I did a lot of this summer, Den and I tried to spend some quality time together. We took a week to drive down and see his mom in Arizona. While there, we took the opportunity to go to a Diamondback baseball game, my first at this stadium. It was lots of fun and happened to be “Dog in the Park” day where everyone got to bring their dogs. I had more fun watching the dogs than I did watching the game. It was extremely hot that week and I welcomed the cooler air at the stadium. We also took the opportunity to do some “birding”. There were several places fairly close to Idaho Falls where we would pack up the dogs and go see what we could find. Camas Wildlife Refuge and Market Lake were some of our favorites. We saw different birds each time we went out on an exploration. Some of our favorites were the swans, grouse, red-necked blackbirds, cranes, and blue-herons. The dogs enjoyed going just as much as we did. We enjoyed having them go with us!

Toward the end of August, that dreaded fluid around my lung had built back up and I was admitted to the hospital for a week. It was decided that they would insert a chest tube hoping to drain all the fluid from around my lung. Unfortunately, some of the fluid had become “loculated” and wouldn’t drain. My pulmonologist inserted two different types of medication into the chest tube attempting to break down the wall barrier. After two attempts, we were successful and all fluid was gone. It was at this point, that he decided to do a procedure called a pleurodesis, where he injected some talc powder through the chest tube hoping to seal the two linings of the lung together. This was quite an uncomfortable procedure causing extreme pain that night. I didn’t hesitate to call and ask for some pain medication. I was discharged the next day feeling quite weak but excited to get home to my own bed. That next morning, I could hardly wait to get a shower, wash my hair and shave my legs. Without much warning, my head began swimming and the next thing I knew, I was laying on the shower floor. When I awoke, I thought to myself, “What the hell am I doing on the floor of the shower?” Thank goodness I wasn’t hurt but had a pretty good bruise on my hip where I had fallen and landed across the shower door. I slowly got up and made my way back to bed.

Dennis and I had the privilege of watching our grand dog, Clyde for two weeks the latter part of summer while Kristi and Greg spent a week in Mexico for their delayed honeymoon. Now I have to tell you, Clyde is just not your ordinary dog. He has severe separation anxiety but at the same time very intelligent. Earlier this summer, my daughter ran into the store and left Clyde in the truck with the windows partially cracked so that he wouldn’t get too hot. The next thing she knew, there was an overhead page in the store asking for anyone with a tri-color corgi to please come to the front of the store. She thought to herself, “Clyde must be having a panic attack in the car.” As she approached the front of the store, there was Clyde in someone’s arms. He had been rescued inside the store as he was wondering up and down the aisles looking for Kristi. She thought to herself, “Clyde, how did you get out of the car?”  As she went to put Clyde back in the car, she could see that he had slid opened the back window with his snout, jumped out and made his way into the store. Now if that isn’t a smart dog for you, not sure what is!!! The two weeks that we had him, nothing that exciting happened. He was a good boy and enjoyed our company.

 

Kristi was registered to run her first half marathon Sunday morning after returning from Mexico City late Saturday night. My mom, dad, Joey and Clyde drove up to Bozeman, Montana to stay the night. We met up with Kristi and Greg Saturday night at the airport to return Clyde. He was one happy camper knowing that he was going to be reunited with his mom and dad. We were excited to get up the next morning to watch Kristi race. We parked ourselves along the side of the street near the end of the race. One by one, the runners rounded the street corner and headed to the finish line. We anxiously watched for Kristi as time went on. The next thing we knew, she was right in front of us racing to the end. She looked great and finished the race in one hour and forty nine minutes. Not bad for a first half marathon race, arriving home from Mexico the night before, and having an upset tummy. Way to go Kristi!!!!

 

As we transitioned from summer to fall, I was so looking forward to the all-day fly fishing trip for two, down the South Fork, that I won on the silent auction at Relay for Life. Our guide for the day was Mike Parsons, who happened to be the nurse practitioner to my oncologist, Dr. Adams. Small world it is. I had gotten to know Mike in the office and was excited to spend the day with him on the river. October 5 was the magical day. It was a crisp fall day with the morning temperature around 32 degrees. We bundled up in layers as we knew the day would warm. We drove to Swan Valley and prepped the boat for launching at a place called “Huskies.” Mike had his own guide boat, fishing rods, and flies. My dad had decided to lure fish as this is what he was accustomed to. We were on the water by 9:30 and a beautiful day it was. The sun was shining with very little wind. The fall colors were spectacular. Mike gave me some quick fly fishing lessons before we headed down river. Fishing was a bit slow and I struggled to get my fly more than eight feet from the boat. At one point, as I began to tire, I hooked my green wooly bugger into Mike’s shoulder. Ouch…I felt bad. He took it in stride as if this was not the first time this had happened to him. Midday, we took the boat to shore to take a break and have some lunch. Mike had packed a BBQ and we roasted some brats. Did they ever taste yummy!!! We floated about 9 miles of the river and ended up at the South Fork Lodge. Fishing was spotty to say the least. Dad landed several during the day and Mike was able to fish a little along the way. He was kind enough to let me land a couple of his fish that he had hooked. Unfortunately, I didn’t catch any but that didn’t matter to me. I loved being on the water, spending valuable time with my dad, and just enjoying the great outdoors. Thank you Mike for the unforgettable day and the great memories that were made!!!

 

Last but not least, I must mention the great time I had at the cabin this summer. Mom and dad-you’re the greatest. I so enjoyed our morning walks, cumshaw card games, fishing trips, cribbage contests, evening BBQ’s and yes, mom, the time spent on the computer. It’s been a great summer and I have so enjoyed the time that I have spent with you. Family is everything, and we have the greatest family. I love you all!!!!

With that said, I will close until next time. It’s been a great summer. Hard to believe we are already into fall. Fall is my favorite time of the year. I love the changing of colors, the crisp mornings, and the smell of burning fires. We have the holidays to look forward to…yeah, more family time and memories to be made. Cheers to all of you my friends and family!!!

 

Relay For Life-Jodi’s Bulldogs

Jodi's Bulldogs

As the nights begin to get cooler and the leaves start their changing of colors, I reflect back on the summer months that have passed so quickly. One of the highlights of this summer has to be the Idaho Falls Relay For Life event, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, held on July 12 at Bonneville High School. I have to be honest with all of you…I was not aware of what Relay For Life represented or had I ever been a part of it. It wasn’t until my former department contacted me and said they wanted to form a team in my name. I was so honored. Thus the name of Jodi’s Bulldogs came to life.

Before I get into the nuts and bolts of this memorable evening, let me inform you a bit of what Relay For Life represents. At Relay For Life events, communities across the world come together to honor cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that has already taken too many. The personal donations and funds each team raises truly make a difference in the fight against cancer. Approximately 14 million survivors will celebrate another year of survival. As the evening of events unfold, Relay For Life teams camp out overnight and take turns walking around a track or path at a local high school, park, or fairground. Events are up to 24 hours long, and because cancer never sleeps, each team is asked to have at least one participant on the track at all times. 

So…my team began planning for the evening of this event months in advance. Whitney Anderson, one of my previous employees, sits on the planning committee for the Idaho Falls Relay for Life and was the catalyst to forming a team in my name. Nadene Anderson, another former employee, took on the assignment of being the team captain. Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center’s administration was supportive and paid for the registration of the team and had a beautiful banner made – Bite Back. Jodi’s Bulldogs! The team consists of 20 employees/co-workers/friends that had a special interest of being a part of this team and were committed to raising money for the great event. Of the 20, there were 6 survivors on the team with 3 currently receiving treatment.

So the work began. Personal donations were made. Luminaries were sold to individuals who then decorated them with a personal touch, which were later used the evening of the event for the infamous luminary lap. Another big money raiser for our team was the Midsummer Get-Away Raffle which consisted of a limousine ride, $50 dinner gift card at a local restaurant and a luxury suite at the Hampton Inn plus two movie tickets. We sold over 250 raffle tickets at $5 each or 3 for $10. Gift baskets were donated, food was planned to be sold that night, tents tables, chairs, and BBQs were donated. Everyone pitched in together to make this a successful occasion. I was so touched that my former department was so engaged in supporting me, even though I had been out of work for five months. How I loved my department!!!! and still do. I must mention my division boss, Barb Ashton, who got the support from the Mountain Division in supporting this great cause. She and her husband made the trip from Salt Lake City and spent the evening with all of us.
 

 

The night of the event was a very emotional one for me and my daughter Kristi, who accompanied me that evening. Upon our arrival, we were treated to a meal. We picked up our survivor and caregiver packets. Shirts were waiting for us to wear that night. Opening ceremonies were in the middle of the football field. Music was playing, speakers talked about their personal cancer experience, and survivors stood based on their years of survival. This one gentleman I remember was a 45 year survivor. I thought to myself, if he can do it, so can I!!! Then there was the silent auction of five beautiful quilts that individuals had made. There was one that stood out that I really liked. I happened to be sitting next to one of my physicians who is also a personal friend, Dr. Brad Stoddard. He got the bidding going and going and going. It was quite entertaining and really got the crowd involved. This one quilt eventually sold for $1250. Yes, one quilt.

After the opening ceremonies were over, we all returned to our individual team tents. From there, an initial survivor lap was completed followed by a caregiver and an opening lap. As we took our turns walking around the track, it was quite impressive to see what each of the individual teams had made and were selling all in an effort to raise money for the American Cancer Society for continued cancer research. I was quite impressed with our team’s efforts-subway like sandwiches, BBQ corn (very popular and thank you Burke Webster for this great idea), sliced watermelon, drinks, gift baskets, and doggie towels with hoods.
 

 

As the evening went on, each of the team members would take turns walking around the track, thus the name Relay For Life. This went on throughout the night along with family games, activities, and entertainment. Then there was the infamous Luminaria Ceremony where luminary bags and candles were lit to honor loved ones who have passed or are fighting the disease. The stadium lights were turned off and the glow of the bags lit the night time skies. If this didn’t give you goose bumps, I’m not sure what would!

I must say how proud I am of our team. For a first year team, our contributions made a difference. Jodi’s Bulldogs ended up with nearly $4,700 in contributions and a silver team designation. We were also in the TOP TEN teams finishing #6 overall out of 87 teams. The total amount raised from the Idaho Falls Relay For Life event was $125,000. As much as I have inspired my employees/co-workers/friends, they have inspired me. Thank you all for your efforts in making this event so memorable for me and one that I will never forget. You will all be forever cherished and in my heart!

Farewell to EIRMC...

After 21 years at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, it's with great sadness that I will not be returning. Life throws many curveballs that often take us by complete surprise. Last February, I was diagnosed with lung cancer that turned my world upside down. Moving forward it's important for me to close this chapter, and begin to focus on the journey ahead.

Through these past years at EIRMC, I have met some of the most incredible individuals who have helped me grow, learn, and become an overall better person. Many who will be lifelong friends and relationships I will forever cherish.

I want to thank all those who helped me with the various committees that I chaired over the years, including Diversity Week, Geriatric Forum, and those who lent support, time, and their generosity in creating our EIRMC parade floats every year.

Cancer is tough, but I know I'm tougher. With a positive mindset I will give my all in fighting this disease that doesn't define me. I am, and always will be the Jodi you saw walking the halls. Thanks for all the great memories.

A Reflection of My Nursing Career

As I reflect back on the 32 years of my nursing profession, I realize that I am now at a crossroads and major decisions will need to be made soon. Ending my career this early was never in my forethought but either was being diagnosed with Stage IV Terminal Lung Cancer at the age of 51. I’m grateful I had these 32 years of being able to give back and care for others just as I’m being cared for today. The old saying, “What goes around, comes around” certainly is true.

I had the wonderful opportunity of working as a nurse’s aide at St. Joseph’s Convalescent Hospital during my high school years (1978-1979) in Ojai, California. This is the same facility my Grandpa Meyers inspected back in the 1950’s as a building inspector. I considered this my first job and really the kickoff of what was to come for my future. St. Joseph’s was a Catholic run facility and the Brother’s that worked there were so patient teaching me the very basic skills of nursing. I grew to love the job and would often go in on my days off to help feed that patient’s and wash and set the ladies hair. The love that I showed them came right back at me. How quickly I got attached to these wonderful individuals.

After graduating from high school, I was fortunate to get a nurse’s aide job at Ojai Valley Community Hospital while attending Ventura College. Due to the small size of Ojai Hospital, I was privileged to work in the many different areas of the hospital and gain some valuable experience from all departments. I had some great mentors there who loved to teach. For this, I was most grateful.  For two years, as I was working at the hospital, I attended Ventura College working on my pre-requisites to get into the 2 year Associate Degree Nursing Program. I actually had to wait a semester due to the number on the list waiting get in. This gave me time to complete all prerequisites so when I did finally get accepted, I was all done with those classes. The next two years were some of the most challenging, fun, scary, hard-working years of my life. My buddies that I bonded with became my second family. Through all the perseverance and hard work, I graduated the youngest in my class of 88 nurses at the age of 20.

From there, I landed a job at Community Memorial Hospital, in Ventura, California, working nights on a Med/Surg floor. I did this for about two year before switching to a day shift position on a brand new Oncology (Cancer) Unit that I actually got to help develop. I did that for the next 8 years and it was the job that I most loved. I worked with the greatest physicians, nurses, therapist and support personnel. It was here that I met my beloved husband Dennis who was working as a Respiratory Therapist. Within a year, we were married and I gained two wonderful step-sons-Bryan and Jimmy.

Our family quickly grew from four to six, as Kristi and Joey were soon born, and we were living in a two bedroom home. We knew we would eventually need a larger house but couldn’t afford a new place in California. Dennis and I were visiting my parents in Island Park, Idaho and decided to take a drive to Idaho Falls to see the hospital, Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC). We both got interviews and were offered jobs on site. We quickly went home, sold the house, and moved to Idaho. Kristi was three and Joey was 18 months at the time.

My nursing career at EIRMC started out working again on a Med/Surg floor where I quickly worked myself into a charge nurse position. I frequently worked with Oncology patients giving them their chemo, some of the same drugs that I’m currently receiving today. After several years of this type of nursing, I was asked to be one of three case managers in a new Case Management Program being developed. I was excited about the change and the new learning opportunity I was about to endeavor. That’s what I love about nursing-so many opportunities for growth.

After two years of being a med/surg case manager, I was asked to be the Manager and went back to school to get my Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing at Idaho State University, all while working, raising two small children, and caring for a husband who was not well at the time. Fortunately, I had two very good friends who decided to go back to school with me, and the three of us persevered together. After several years, the department continued to grow and I was asked to be the Director of Case Management and Social Services. This necessitated me to return to school, once again, and pursue my Master’s Degree in Nursing which I did with an emphasis in Executive Nursing Leadership. My two cohorts were right there with me and we graduated together in 2008 from Research College of Nursing out of Kansas City, Missouri.

Fast forward 21 years from the time we moved to Idaho and I started my employment at EIRMC. My department had grown from 3 case managers to 12, in addition to having 10 social workers. We covered all areas of the hospital 7 days a week between the hours of 6:00am to 10:00pm. These employees that worked for me the past 18 years are some of the finest, hard-working, dedicated individuals that I have ever known. They made my job easy as they knew what was expected and they went out and did it. No micro-managing. They worked autonomously and got the job done. I loved my department and I saw myself working with them until I retired.

Then the bomb dropped. Something I never expected or wished upon for anyone. I was diagnosed with Stage IV Terminal Lung Cancer at the young age of 51 on February 14 of all dates. Yea, right…Happy Valentine’s Day to me! I was discharged from the hospital after my diagnosis on February 16. I haven’t been back to work since and continue to be out on short term disability which is up on July 10. After 12 weeks of being off work, my employer decided it would be best to fill my position. I was hoping that they would have held off until the latter part of June, after my follow-up CT and echo, but that didn’t happen. I was quite disappointed, as was my department.

As for now, I have a decision to make, do I return to work or not??? I have completed 6 rounds of chemo. Luckily, I have tolerated the chemo pretty well except for a couple of days post infusion. My hair has thinned, but still have it. My eyes react every third week post chemo becoming red, irritated and very swollen. This last’s about a week. I’m quite emotional, will cry at the drop of a hat. I blame this on the chemo although it’s probably a combination of everything that has transpired the last 4 ½ months. I fear that the stress from work may hinder my recovery efforts. I want to be able to give it my all and fear now is not the right time. I need to take this time and take care of myself, spend time with my family, and do the things that I want to do. So hard for me to say that, since I have always cared for others during my lifetime. But I must refocus now. It’s about me and my family. One day at a time.

Progress being made!

Mom, Dad, Kris & Granddog Clyde

I am now 12 weeks into my new journey and the “new normalcy” has seemed to set in. I had the opportunity to take a road trip with a dear friend, the middle of April, up to the college town of Missoula, Montana. We met up with a mutual friend and had a great time shopping and dining. We sat for hours catching up on stories, sharing our laughs and tears. It was a great time and felt good to get away and spend time with friends. It helped make the time pass as I was scheduled for a CT scan the day after I got back. This was to be a follow-up CT scan from my initial one done at the time of diagnosis. The thought of having this done brought a mix of emotions spiraling through my head.

After a leisurely drive home and a great lunch at an old school house in Dell, Montana, it was time for me to mentally and physically prepare myself for tomorrow’s test. The thought of having this done made me feel both anxious and excited at the same time. Anxious because the results could be not such good news and excited because any positive news gives you renewed hope and encouragement. In preparation for the test, I was to drink 8 ounces of Bar-o-cat, a liquid contrast to help enhance the images of the scan. This was done at 10:00 pm the night before and then repeated the morning of the scan. Joey got up with me and went to the hospital. He was a great support and stood my side the entire time. The scan was completed in less than 30 minutes and we were on our way back home. The most difficult part was now waiting for the physician to call with the results.

That afternoon, each time the phone rang, I would answer with eagerness hoping it was my physician and good friend waiting to tell me the hopefully good news. After all, it was a Friday afternoon and the Radiologist would have to read the scan before it would be available to my three following physicians, whom I had learned to trust and have complete confidence in. It was now 4:00 in the afternoon and I was convinced I wouldn’t hear anything until Monday morning. I was wrong. At 4:30 pm, the phone rang and it was my physician with the following news, “Nothing bad. The pericardial effusion remains moderate to large. The pleural effusion remains small. The mass-like area of consolidation showed a decrease in size…YEAH!!! The CT of the abdomen and pelvis are negative. The excess pelvis fluid that was seen previously on CT was completely gone.” He was pleased with these results and thought that we were headed in the right direction. Chemo was doing its thing.

I have to be honest with you…I was a bit disappointed and discouraged by this report. Dennis could hear it in my voice. I thought to myself, “I have gone through three rounds of chemotherapy and I still had a large pericardial effusion and continued fluid within the pleural sac of the lung. But…when I really thought about it, I had a lot to be thankful for. Of all things, I did not expect the consolidated area in the left lower lobe of the lung to decrease. The chemo must be doing something right. I quickly did an attitude adjustment and looked at the positive things in the report.

The following Tuesday, I had my routine appointment with my Oncologist, prior to my 4^th and last scheduled chemo of Carboplatin and Alimta. Again, I had mixed feeling about this being my last chemo with the BIG gun, Carbo. I even asked my physician, Dr. Adams, if it would be possible for me to continue with both, as the combination of the two drugs seemed to be working and my bone marrow was responding nicely to the Neulasta injection I received after each chemo round. His reply was, “No, the Carbo is too toxic on the body. We will just be doing the maintenance with the Alimta.” Ok, I thought. I trust that he knows what he’s talking about, which I did. I did have a discussion with him about the continued moderate to large pericardial effusion and how I continue to feel my heart pounding, especially with any exertion and at night while sleeping. He was just as concerned and talked to Den and I about the possibility of doing a pericardial window. This was a surgical inpatient procedure where, under anesthesia, you go to the operating room and they remove a section of the pericardium to allow the fluid to drain. This sounded like a major event and quite scary to say the least. We left the appointment with him going to follow-up with Dr. Gorman, my Cardiologist.

From there, we went over to the hospital to have my blood drawn prior to chemo. I just happened to run into Dr. Gorman who had just gotten off the phone with Dr. Adams. He felt that it would be best to do a pericardialcentesis, inserting a needle into the pericardial sac and draining the fluid, instead of the more aggressive surgical procedure. After all, it was much less invasive with fewer complications. Prior to this procedure, he wanted me to have a repeat Echocardiogram to get a more accurate reading of the fluid around the heart. He explained to us that when you measure a pericardial effusion on CT, it’s not always accurate due to the contraction/relaxation of the heart muscle itself. He wrote a prescription for me to have this Echo and pericardialcentesis on Thursday afternoon. I went ahead and had my 4^th scheduled chemo Tuesday afternoon, April 23, and all went well.

Thursday afternoon came around quickly. I was still recovering from Tuesday’s chemo and Wednesday’s Neulasta injection. We arrived at the hospital and slowly made our way up to the 2^nd floor of the hospital where the Cardiology Department was and where we registered for the outpatient procedure. We were escorted to Cardiac Pre and Post holding area where the Echo would be performed. An IV was started and things moved rather quickly. The Echo was completed and again we waited for the results. Time passed…Dr. Gorman was on call and was trying to fit us in in between his scheduled appointments/procedures. We finally got the report and good news it was. The Echo showed a significant decrease in the pericardial fluid and pericardialcentesis was not going to be needed. Procedure was cancelled and we were able to go home. Again, things were moving in the right direction and something to be so grateful for. I know I was.

Today, May 3, I have much to be thankful for. I’m 10 days out from my last scheduled chemo and I still have my hair, although it is quite thin. I’m getting pretty good at comb overs to cover those thin spots. We celebrated Den’s birthday May 1 by going out to dinner with our dear friends, Bill and Kelli Reed.  Mom and dad arrived yesterday and we opened the cabin today. Yeah…lots of fishing to be done. Joey’s graduation from college is next weekend. Den and I are now proud grandparents of Kristi and Greg’s three egg laying hens. Yes, LIFE IS GOOD!