Oh hero, my hero...

1/4 done with chemo treatments! Next week, I'll be 1/3 done!

I was flooded this week with "You are a Cancer Survivor" notes.
I will tape them up under my windowsill so I can see them every
day. Thank you everyone.

So many of you have sent emails, letters, and gifts to me. I have not had
time to respond to all of them. But I will. Please be patient.

This week's chemo was special. I had an extra set that required me
to get injections Monday and Tuesday. Fortunately, it was a pretty good
week. I had some crappy days, but no fevers.

I also had to get a shot every day this week, including the weekend.

By Friday, my chest was hurting. The doctors determined that the Neupogen
shots I received every day (medicine that increases my white blood cell
counts) were working a bit too well, so I was able to skip my Saturday
injection. The Neupogen was causing my *bones* to hurt. Wild, wild stuff.

I was pretty active on Saturday. Brad and I went to see Harry Potter (good
translation of the book), went to lunch, and did a bit of shopping. I wore out
the tennis balls on the bottom of my walker! I also tweaked my back at the
same time. State Street was not built for walkers. It really worked my
stomach muscles, of all things.

My hair is falling out, but slower than I had thought. I'm going to shave it
this week. I wear a hat every day, so there's no point in keeping my fading mop.
Besides, hair is starting to get everywhere as it falls out and showers will
become much easier once I don't have to wash the upper follicles.

I'm finding that fighting cancer can mean fighting moment-by-moment. The
moments can be days, hours, and even minutes. When I was feeling crappy
this week, I had to focus on the very minute I was feeling bad. No thoughts
about the next meal or the next day. Just concentrate on sliding to the
next minute. And when my chest started hurting for no apparent reason,
I had to understand that this problem is one to be understood, conquered,
and survived. Some of my problems will happen again, some won't. I take
them on and then I move on.

I've really been enjoying the time I've had with my brother, Brad. Even though
he's taking care of me (clothes, dishes, etc.), we're having a great time, talking
laughing, driving around. Even though I'm fighting a terrible disease and he's
sacrificing so much to take care of me, we'll look back on this time as
something incredibly warm and special.

I wish everyone a fantastic week. Let's hope my friendships stay
tight and my stool stays loose.

m