Books Stephen King Recommends discussion
Do I Know You?
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Where's Debra Been?
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I'm sorry about your health struggles but it sounds good about the new diagnosis. Hopefully the treatments will not make you too sick and fatigued! I love your pictures and kayaking is such a relaxing activity! My thoughts are with you at this time.
Debra, I'd love to hear about some of your close-encounters with your spirit guide someday! I hope you get the rest and treatment you need and every day is filled with inspiration, peace, love, and laughter--some of the best medicine there is!
Wishing you all the best Debra with lots of spiritual inspiration and inner strength. The heron pictures are quite something. Seems you've been chosen by an amazing and majestic bird ; )
I don't know much about you and haven't participated in the group, but I picture a very strong and resilient lady with a passion for family, nature, the outdoors, and love of reading! What a great life, All the best and wishes for strength, joy, and wellness.
Mod
And it's great you all understand and are enthusiastic about my connection with nature and my great blue heron spirit guide! Yes, Larissa, I'd love to share my close encounters... it would take lots of pages, tho! lol
Yesterday I had bloodwork, a visit with my oncologist, and the last of my 4 chemo-lite sessions.
Unfortunately, I've had no reduction in my symptoms, so it appears chemo-lite may not have been the answer. We will know for sure when I get a new pet-scan on 9/15, then see my oncologist again on 9/20. His feeling is that we will not likely see a reduction in the size of my tumors, but who knows! We can always hope and pray.
If the news isn't good, then I will have a harsher chemo regimen, and test again.
Now I have a whole month of more waiting and not knowing what to expect! However, I'm just ELATEDI don't need a stem cell transplant!! Hallelujah to that!!!
As a cancer survivor myself, all the best to you.
Mod
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Amazing, Janice! Thank you!!!!
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Congrats, MIssy! We are fighters, all of us! Thanks for the kind wishes.
So, here's the latest news about why I've not been around here lately:
As of today's phone call from University of Michigan, I have been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Follicular Lymphoma Grade 3A. This was after three biopsies of three different tumors and being told I was Grade 3B, which is very bad, and would need immediate intensive treatment followed by a stem cell transplant. 3A is a low-grade, non-curable Lymphoma which I will have my entire life, and be in and out of treatment for. However, life-expectancy is good. The down side is that my diagnosis could change to something worse in time... to 3B or Leukemia resulting in a transplant. But for now, we are VERY happy to hear I'm not as sick as everyone originally thought!
I'm actually getting "chemo-lite" (Rituximab) for 4 weeks, every Wednesday to see if any of my physical symptoms resolve. (It was one of the drugs I received last time I had cancer (about 5 years ago). Many of my symptoms are puzzling my doctors, since some of the worst ones are not usually related to Lymphoma. I have terrible neuropathic pain, a bad rash in several areas, shortness of breath, a nagging cough, lack of appetite, mouth sores, and some unexplained weight loss (about 20 pounds since February... 26 total since November 2016). However, I present as a well-nourished healthy woman for an overweight 60-year old (although, I'm really liking my "slimmer" me), and my blood work is excellent! Go figure!
I've already had 2 chemo sessions, and am tolerating it well. Just exhausted, light flushing on my face... but nothing serious. On the 16th, I will have blood work done again and meet with my Oncologist, then have my last chemo-lite session afterwards. We will discuss how I feel and choose/schedule my next treatment options. I'm expected to be off work for the rest of this year. As far as I know, I will NOT be losing my hair... a nice blessing there! Also, it is distinctly possible I have an autoimmune disease, which would explain some of my symptoms. However, the Lymphoma has to be dealt with first, then I'd be referred to a specialist.
Since I'm off work and have lost that income, I've qualified for M-Support from U of M. They are paying off ALL my past, current, and future balances until 5/31/18. Yay!!!! No more monthly payment plan, which helps a lot financially! My dear brother is sending me money as needed to cover the monthly bills. He paid all my medical co-pays 5 years ago when I had cancer; a whole LOT of money! So, he's getting off easy this time. LOL!
My son, Kenneth, arrived late last night from Florida. He's here to stand up in a friend's wedding, but extended his stay to be sure he had a few days to spend with me! We haven't seen each other in 6 years! My brother (Brian) and sister-in-law (Linda) will also be here soon. My sister and I haven't seen them since their wedding in Las Vegas May 2012. Brian hasn't seen his nephew since Ken was a teenager, and Linda has never met him. I'm hoping he will do his mother proud and make a great impression on them both!
Brian and Linda have expressed interest in going kayaking with Jeff (my hubby) and I. Keep your fingers crossed the weather is nice on Monday and/or Sunday! Jeff and I have been going on river trips almost weekly, and the last two times I risked taking my phone with me. I have sooooo many amazing pictures and videos; especially of my wonderful spirit-guide, totem animal, whatever you believe, the Great Blue Heron! I've had some amazing, uncanny, can-no-longer-be-considered-just-coincidence experiences with MY HERON (they are ALL MY HERON! LOL! He/she (I think of it as male for some reason) is always around EVERY day I go looking for him at the local lake (or along the park drive) we like to frequent. (There are probably only 2-4 in that small park). He's even flown by slowly FOUR times where I work, located in a L-shaped strip mall, with a giant parking lot, far away from a water source. And twice I've seen him fly by where we gas-up our cars! And of course, Jeff and I see dozens of them whenever we go to the rookery/marshes at Kensington Metro Park. The heron's close relation, the Snowy Egret, is usually around, too!
But what does that all MEAN to me? Well, I get strength, hope, confidence, love of nature, love for others, my fighter/survivor attitude, a sense that all will be right in my world, a sense he's good sign/omen/you name it, and so much more from this majestic bird.
Here's a Great Blue Heron haiku I found online:
I walk by moonlight
following a trail of light
path always changing
Lastly, I have been so busy, so fatigued, in so much pain, so worried, so antsy, so unable to focus, I've hardly gotten any reading done, and haven't been getting online with you all! It is a source of sadness that I'm rarely able to read and participate, even though lately, I've certainly had the time! I'm hoping that I will finally be able to relax, get some relief from symptoms, and get down to my favorite hobby!
That's more than enough for now. I'll keep you posted!
Thanks sooooo much to all of you for being there for me!
Hugs and love!
Debra