Starting Chemo May 2008

Thinking of you, Randie.  

 (To everyone - I'm leaving tomorrow on a bicycling vacation, so probably won't post much for the next ten days.  But I'll try to check in when I can.)

Linda

Randie

I am so, so, so, so, so  shocked, stunned, and saddened by your latest post and news. I was thinking about you yesterday -- thinking about all of us and feeling that you were the one who had to endure more than the rest of the gang and that we'd all look back in a few months and say, man that sucked for Randie but all is well now. What I see, now, is that all is NOT well and though I'd love to wish it away, I can't and I am so sad about that. I, too, would be in major panic and be taking valium, etc., to try to calm my nerves but it is a very overwhelming time for you and your family. I know that we human beings are like cockroaches -- we adjust to all kind of wild circumstances and find a way to go on. You, my dear, are not a cockroach, but you will soon have to use that spirit to adjust to your new circumstances. Know that I have friends who have lived with mets for a very long time. I have a friend in stage 4 cancer who has lived more than 10 years after the mets arrived. Know that my friend, Joanie, has mets on her lungs and is currently in Nicaragua with her daughter and she has been doing very well. I am thinking of you all the time.

Please continue to connect when you feel like it. 

Women, we are heading out the door Monday...seeing shows, heading to Canada, etc. I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off as I prepare my 16-year-old to leave for Israel for several weeks and prepare us to head out. Below is today's blog post...sorry to double it. Read if you wish and know I will try to check in...won't be back until July 10. Love you all.

We are busily packing for trips abroad and trips to the East Coast. Our house is being taken care of by Michel Jean and the weather here is perfect while it is raining in the East. We do not care about any stupid rain. We understand rain and we know how to deal with it. We are not going there for the rain. We are going there for the INSIDE activities...

Max may be flying to Israel with a friend from Bainbridge who is going with a different group. That would be nice. But we get him for the first several hours.
As usual, Adam is going through his pre-travel stuff. I think some people's bodies react differently to the idea of leaving home. He currently has two stitches in his head which we will have to remove somewhere in New York or Canada. Some may ask, well, hey, how did your son get two stitches in his head? That is a very good question. He has this little bald spot on his head and the dermatologist who agree that it was not serious and not anything to worry about decided to biopsy it anyway. Even though there is hair growing back in, she thought a shot in the head and a scrape of the scalp would be fun. And you know, those heads really bleeds so that explains the stitches. I am hoping no brains fall out when we cut out the stitches. Plus, he ate two bagles and 30 cherries and drank no water before going out to play a couple of hours of tennis in the son and, you are not going to believe this, but he threw up. Fluish? No. Fever? No. Cherry and chocolate chip bagel fever? Yes.
Max has been great about laying low these last several days. He is catching up on sleep and watching baseball and relaxing before his journey. I appreciate that very, very much as lots of people are catching major flu so we are happy he is hanging around here.
We watch Billy Elliott in anticipation of the show. Can't wait. I have a ton to do today so off I go. It's a gorgeous sunny and terrific day.
The best part of this journeying, I think, is that I feel it's the first REAL trip after chemo even though herceptin counts as simple chemo. I am jazzed to go. Ciao for now.

RanD~ Stay strong my dear, no matter what we are with you in heart mind soul and prayers. Miracles do happen!

Randie - Sweet RanD . . . I was so sorry to read your recent post.  We are all here with you, holding your hand, trying to comfort you so you are able to sleep.  Jen stated it perfectly, we are with you in heart, mind, soul and prayers. 

(((((((((hugs))))))))) to RanD and May '08.

Jean

And here I've been feeling guilty for getting on with my life a bit and not coming here so often...and you guys are all getting on with your lives a bit and not coming here so often..life is funny.

RanD, I am so so sorry to hear your news and I would also be taking valium.  As others have said, you are not alone and many people live for long years with mets...but I still wish it were different.  I wish you didn't have to deal with this at all.  You are in my prayers, every day. I pray for you to have strength and wisdom and endurance and PEACE. 

I miss you all. I miss the "us" that was.  Still looking forward to a reunion somewhere with blueberry pancakes and jammies and funny stories and deep conversations.

Love all of you.

Hey to Rock.

Sue

P.S. Please pray for our house to sell so that I can get over to Georgia and start building that house with all the porches for us to hang out on...

Hey, Randie.  (And Dana, where are you, sister?)

I bought a pair of tough-looking black boots and have worn a skirt and tights for two days in a row. I look like a hippie/beatnik and going through my head is "Who's tripping down the streets of the city, smiling at everybody she sees...Who's reachin' out to capture a moment, everyone knows it's Randie..."

I am thinking of you and Dana and trying to be extra happy even though if I think about you guys and your mets for more than 12 seconds I want to cry, cry, cry.

Love you. Love you and rooting for you...

Hi RanD - hope everything went well today.  Please keep us posted.  We are still there for you - every step of the way, whichever way.  Dana, still thinking about you, too.  Stop by if you feel like it.

It is nice to hear everyone's normal stories.  Safe travels to all.  Sue, I just know your house will sell.  I'm up for some porch sitting.

Roxi - how was your weekend?

Need some prayers for tomorrow.  Another one of my mom's sisters found out she has colon and lung cancer and is having some of her colon removed tomorrow.  My mom is really upset.  This isn't the sister that had bc or the sister that had the mini stroke back in the spring.  The family tree keeps getting a little more complicated every month.  This particular branch is getting kind of heavy.  Thanks so much!

Hugs to all - Julie

Julie - Prayers to your aunt and your family. 

RanD - Hoping that you are able to get some rest and that the tests go well.

I am DAT and headed to bed.  Pre-surgery physical identified an inactive thyroid in my neck, likely blasted by radiation.  They have wanted to put me on medication (starting this week) and I asked if I could wait a month and do another test to be sure.  I am draggin and wish I would have started the meds. 

Happy Canada tomorrow!  Happy and safe 4th to all. 

Lots of love!

Jean

Hi All

I am sitting here at the hospital in Lexington, waiting to have the bone scan done.  Have already been injected with the radioactive dye and now have to wait 2 hours for the test to be done.  DH is waiting for me to start glowing!  Hadn't really thought too much about it, but this morning some PTSD set in, remembering the last time that I had a scan done and ended up being flown here.  Took some Xanax and feeling better now.  Praying that all that shows up is some arthritis. 

Randie-Your strength amazes me and know that I am with you everyday-you are always in my thoughts and prayers.  

Dana--Hoping that all is well with you, and hoping that you check in soon!

Rock--Have I told you that I really admire the work that you do?? 

Sue--I am looking forward to all of us sitting on a porch--laughing, crying, hugging and just being us. 

Told space invader #1 that she is now living at our house on borrowed time and that she needs to get it together and get a job--my patience is wearing very thin at this point.  It's been almost 2 months and she has put forth very little effort to find a job, apartment or anything.  Then, to top it all off, she used part of her child support to get a new tattoo--I wasn't happy about it and I let her know it.

Better go and see if they are ready for me.  Think that I have crashed my laptop--willl have to work on it when we get home.  (Using the computer in the resource area right now!)

Love, hugs and happy thoughts to everyone!

Guys, check out Randie's FB page. What does it mean? Tell me it doesn't mean she has died. PLEASE. Please, please, please, please, please, please.

Oh, Randie.

This is the sun that came up this morning, about an hour after I realised that Randie had died.  It was a brilliant, brilliant pink.

I am at a loss for words.  I am incredibly sad and angry.  Numb.  I am wrapping my arms around all of you.

OMG please tell me this isn't true. No Rand please no no no NO. I love you RanD! My heart is breaking right now. :O(