Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?

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  • IllinoisLady
    IllinoisLady Member Posts: 29,082
    edited February 2015

    Carole, I was always of the opinion that you had to "declare" yourself even if you did not owe any taxes so I'm going to be looking for clarification on just how this all works.  The thing that happened is that our tax return this year gives us back everything that was paid in -- so this is why we no longer have to file an income tax form.  I am un-easy and figured surely someone here would have reached this stage for themselves and might say. 

    I think repairs on things are all pretty pricey.  From your description of the damages Carole -- how in the world could it be so much.  Though some difference might come up maybe owing to how deep the round dent is.....I thought garages had those "suction" things that could basically pull a dent out -- like from to inside to back up to surface level  and as for a tail light -- even knowing more is charged for a total replacement today, I still can't see it.  One hour of labor with more than a half hour left over sounds about right to me.  Sigh !!!!

    I have had a rather ugly dent in my 2004 Blazer.  Dh had it ( hmm, something about dh's driving their wives cars here ) and had stopped at a filling station to get a cup of coffee.  Apparently while inside some one with a piece of farm equipment somehow managed to park so close that they caused part of the back lower front door and some of the second passenger door behind to be bent and caved in.  Due to deductible which Dh had set rather high when we had that insurance company I drive around in a car that could make other people nervous, who knows !!!!  Since my car is getting older all the time and since it is hard for me to do without --- with a lot of reluctance I keep on going with it.  The car has always run very well.  Replaced batteries a couple of times and tires twice ( from the original set ).  I guess I will drive it till it won't go anymore  -- with the dents remaining. 

  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Member Posts: 2,913
    edited February 2015

    We got welcome news today. Mike's only sibling, a sister, is a 10/10 bone marrow match! There was only a 20% chance that she would be any kind of a match, much less 10 out of 10. There are 10 major hormone markers called HLA's on the surface of all our cells that tell our body that a particular cell belongs to this particular body. When a cell from someone else is introduced into your body your immune system realizes it is not "self" and attacks, even if the blood type is the same. The more HLA markers are the same between donor and recipient, the milder the attack.

    After the transplant, Mike will have his sister's bone marrow and therefore her immune system because his own will have been wiped out with heavy duty chemo and total body radiation before the transplant. Once it is established in it's new host body, his sister's immune system will consider Mike's body as alien and mount an attack against all his organs. (Graft vs. Host Disease) The more cell surface HLA's that match, the better chance Mike has of surviving the transplant process. Drugs are given to minimize the Graft vs Host Disease but many patients die of organ failure or suffer debilitating illness the rest of their lives. 

    Transplant doctors will not perform a bone marrow transplant unless there is at least an 8 out of 10 match because it WILL fail. Even a 10/10 match is no guarantee, especially because his sister is well past the 18-44 age group whose stem cells are stronger and healthier. The age cut off for a donor, even a sibling, is 60. She is 60 now but will be 61 in June so there is no time to spare. The chance that the Mike will survive the transplant process as an older patient of 67 with a 10/10 match from a 60 year old donor is 50%.   

  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited April 2015

    Sandra, such wonderful news for Mike and Sister!!

  • IllinoisLady
    IllinoisLady Member Posts: 29,082
    edited February 2015

    Sandra -- breathing a sigh of relief.  I'm so glad about the 10/10 explanation.  Would be nice is sis was younger, but wonderful that the match numbers are what they are.  If we got everything we wanted a 'match' would never have been needed.  Prayers of thanksgiving along with continued positive energies and heatlh.

    Blessings

    Jackie

  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited February 2015

    Sandra - fantastic to be starting out with that 10/10 match. Hooray

    Carole - I caught my front wheel well on the side of the garage trim when I was in chemo & not "tracking" (backing) straight. I just have a dent & a small scrape, but it's over $1000 to fix, I also have a 2003 Camry that's paid for and runs very well. I hate driving w/the ding but it's not rusting. It doesn't make sense to spend that money at my age.

  • Wren44
    Wren44 Member Posts: 8,585
    edited February 2015

    Sandra, I've met Mike. He's going to make it. Good news on the 10/10.

  • MomMom
    MomMom Member Posts: 523
    edited February 2015

    Sandra, What wonderful news of the 10/10 match!! Positive thoughts that it can be done asap. I know we are all cheering for you both.

    Take care of yourself.

    Paula


  • bonnets
    bonnets Member Posts: 769
    edited February 2015

    Sandra, good news when you needed it! So happy for you.

    I'm with the others who have had a car damaged, but didn't fix it, as the cost was over the top. Was at the local Medical center for a BC gathering, last summer. My Mitsi was parked in the lot. Some one must have had a large SUV or truck and nailed me with their mirror. Nice long scratch/gouge. No note left or anything! I used touch up paint and live with it.

    Nine degrees this morning and sun is shining.

    Getting a cardiac event monitor delivered tomorrow, for my palpitations tachy. Have to wear it for 2 weeks. Has anyone done this before? Then have a stress a week from Monday. Love getting old!

    Stay warm. Hugs, Jean

  • MagicalBean
    MagicalBean Member Posts: 362
    edited February 2015

    What great news, Sandra and Mike. I pray for continued blessings for your family.

  • Chevyboy
    Chevyboy Member Posts: 10,786
    edited February 2015

    Sandra! Congratulations on the great news! A transplant will work! Our neighbor DID have a heart transplant... Long slow process, but it did work out! I'll be praying for both of you... When will this happen? I know.... so many "if's" .... BUT......just take each day at a time.........

    Carole... that is right.... A little ding is no big deal.... I got a couple with my last car... one on each side of the rear end, from bumbing into ANOTHER car backing out at the same time! We didn't think it was worth it to spend that much money... This was our 1999 Chevy Prizm, which we just sold to DH's Nephew and we bought my 23011 Chevy Prizm from him... a private dealer. I was pulling into our garage, and DH had the paper shredder on the floor, and we had a BLOCK of 2 2X4's... to keep my car from hitting anything.... but one slid off the other, and I rolled over them, and into the wire-mesh paper shredder basket... it scraped some paint off my NEW CAR!!!!!!!!! So instead of standing there sobbing and swearing, I ordered the perfect match spray paint, primer online, and I'm waiting for the weather to warm up, and then I'll sand it, and repair it myself....

    It's just at the bottom, but I can SEE it, so I have to take care of it... Nothing dented, just the paint came off when we washed it with one of those high pressure hoses at the car-wash.... NOW DH fixed that problem with a 4X12" cinder block for my front wheel to stop at.....


  • Puffin2014
    Puffin2014 Member Posts: 961
    edited February 2015

    Sandra: great news about the 10/10 match, hope they can get the transplant done soon.

  • IllinoisLady
    IllinoisLady Member Posts: 29,082
    edited February 2015

    No doubt we would all agree with the sentiment:  “There’s more to life than things.”  Yet much of our lives seem to be spent in the acquisition, maintenance, and disposal of material goods.  Certainly we cannot enjoy the basics of food, shelter, and clothing without a concern for things.  The truly important things of life, however, are those which cannot be encountered by the physical senses, purchased with money, or placed on a shelf.  When we take a look at what we value most in life, we generally find family, friends, health, peace, contentment, laughter, helping others, and communion with God foremost on our list of priorities.
     
    Unattributed

  • IllinoisLady
    IllinoisLady Member Posts: 29,082
    edited February 2015

    Good morning,

    Wondering about that -- one of the little nuisances of life -- we need (  I know it is not the right name for it ) a thermocouple type thingy for our tankless water heater so the only hot water we will have for the next couple of days, till the part arrives from Vermont, is what we heat ourselves.  It seems this so far ( furiously knocking on wood ) this yr. has been sort of like that.  Nothing earth shaking and we have only had to replace parts in machinery, but it seems everything that we NEED to have on a consistent basis, has had to have something.  Twice our furnace, and now the water heater. 

    Over all -- it is a small thing and I'm not much concerned -- though I won't be liking my sort of spit baths from a basin -- but such a small in-convenience, easily fixed so I'm happy about that. 

    Anyway, I hope to have a really productive day as I have lots planned. 

    A little surprised by the number of us driving around in dinged-up cars.  After that happened we did do a couple of small backing into things incidents but they didn't do anything which was great.  This car is the first one in our life, that didn't get fixed and my dented area is more than a ding.  The driver side door is hard to close and Dh has had to toy often with the weather stripping for that door -- we had water getting in a time or two just for a hard rain.  To fix it we would have been out of pocket about $800.00 -- but I think part of the whole thing was the fact that both doors were involved.

    Later on, maybe someone thinking ( due to this damage ) that my locked door would be easy to break into -- I found an area just past/around the window that was slightly bent.  Someone was trying to slip some sort of tool between the frame and into the car to pop the button.  Here's the thing --- about the only time I carry anything much of value in my car is when I go to the feed store and buy dog and cat supplies.  Then I have three or four large bags which I sometimes have to leave in the car.  My windows ( the car came that way ) are heavily tinted so I don't know if the " possible" thief saw the bags -- or since I keep other feeding supplies ( my back deck area looks full of interesting things ) in the area used for hauling things, thought I must have some 'great' things that he/she/they should avail themselves too, I don't know --- but in addition to the other issues is a door that clearly ( though you have to look at it directly to see it ) has the appearance of having had someone attempt to gain entry while the car was locked.   Oh well as Mary Englebright  ( a local artist here ) would say " life is just a chair of bowlies. "

    Blessings

    Jackie

  • mommarch
    mommarch Member Posts: 584
    edited February 2015

    Sandra glad to hear that some good news is comming your way Jackie when I was pregnant with my first we lived in iowa and everything froze. The only water we had was from a hydrant outside. DH would have to stuff insulation between the outer pipe and the water line and put desil fuel on it and set a match to it and let smolder.we heated water in metal buckets for everything. What fun. Well things looking up. Our neighbor had a 95 ford pu he sold us for 300 runs well. Our bank has approved a new car loan. Going to El Paso morrow and get a Focus.









  • Wren44
    Wren44 Member Posts: 8,585
    edited February 2015

    My previous car had scratches on the right side. My job was in a big old house with a circular driveway. The rear portion had a berm lined with concrete blocks and curved to match the driveway. In the winter time it was covered with moss and it was dark when I got off work. Someone else put at least one scrape on it. I just drove it that way.

    Bonnets, I wore the halter for a week. It cured my heart's acting up. It was totally normal the entire time. Hope your results are good.

  • bonnets
    bonnets Member Posts: 769
    edited February 2015

    Wren, That's what I figure. I won't have anything while I'm wearing the monitor! 2 weeks, I'll be itching to death. Jean

  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 5,712
    edited February 2015

    Sandra so excited for you and Mike, I know it is scarey but how cool is it t hat his sister is a mater,.....fingers crossed and thoughs and prayers.

  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 6,887
    edited February 2015

    Add my gladness that Mike has a 10/10 match.  I'm so hoping the transplant works for him and that he and you, Sandra, have more years together to take cruises and enjoy life. 

    Mommarch, it's good to hear that you have working wheels and will be getting another car as well.  It sounds like you folks need several working vehicles, given all the bad luck! 

    Come on, Jackie, don't be such a good sport!  LOL!  Complain about not having hot water.  It's only normal!  I would be grumbling big time.

    Today was a pretty day, cool to start off but it warmed up nicely.  I played golf and had some good holes as well as some REALLY bad ones.  My nemesis is landing my golf ball in the sand.  Best of all, my bum foot didn't bother me much, not even when I went to Walmart's afterwards  I put the New Balance insoles back into my athletic shoes I wore today and also used a foam partial insole I bought from the podiatrist.  That setup seemed to suit my feet. 

    Hugs to Blondie, Mike and Sandra, and Cammi and everyone else. 

  • ohiofan
    ohiofan Member Posts: 206
    edited February 2015


    Wonderful news, Sandra!  Prayers for complete healing!  Thank goodness for sisters!!

    We hit a deer (or the deer ran into us) one rainy night.  We weren't sure exactly where we were located.....in the country and near county lines.  We didn't get our hood fixed, but we should have at least called the insurance guy.  DH is even more of a procrastinator than I am!

     

  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Member Posts: 2,913
    edited February 2015

    Another good day. Mike has regained some of his old appetite and has actually GAINED a pound this week. His red blood cells are holding their own and he says he feels good. He even refused the wheelchair today and took the long walk from parking lot to the chemo clinic in record time. The fact that we've had gorgeous weather in the 80's doesn't hurt. Texas blue skies and plenty of sunshine makes everyone feel better. The trees are putting out their new leaves and the grass in green, green, green. 

    Mike has had absolutely no issues with chemo. I realize it's only been three days, but even his hematologist/oncologist is surprised that he is doing so well. We visited our attorney today and will go back to sign our new wills, pick up living will copies, advanced directives and powers of attorney. The contractor we hired is making progress framing the new wall (instead of the large doorway into the former dining room) and putting in a regular size door to the new "clean room." We are making progress on all fronts and it feels good for a change. 

  • IllinoisLady
    IllinoisLady Member Posts: 29,082
    edited February 2015

    Sandra, so glad that you can relate changes to the better now.  That is wonderful.  Maybe some of those constant prayers are having a good effect.  Anyway, hopefully things will find a GOOD spot and hold and you can get to the transfusion time with minimal issues and then look forward to good healing and rejuvenation then. 

    Glad the clean room is coming along well too. 

    Love and blessings

    Jackie

  • IllinoisLady
    IllinoisLady Member Posts: 29,082
    edited February 2015

    In the end, it's not the years in your life that count.
    It's the life in your years.
    - Abraham Lincoln

  • IllinoisLady
    IllinoisLady Member Posts: 29,082
    edited February 2015

    Brrrr, our cold weather is here.  The worst of it is the wind that came along.  Looks quiet outside right now, but I would imagine just a lull.  It is the kind of cold that feels just so nippy it is nearly painful to be out of doors.  It is somewhat typical I think as we can have the on and off changes this time of yr.  From a nearly summery feel to bone chilling.  In the space of a slight few hours.  We will get by as always.

    Looking forward to the week-end already.   No special reason --- I think I like time passing a little easier and faster as we work up to Spring and DST.  Doesn't hurt that summer warmth is not far behind.  Just hoping that we have a "good" one this season.  As always it does bring work in our two acre yard but I'm hoping ( from all the time I spent on the Rec Center walking track and exercise room ) that I'm a little more in shape this yr. 

    Hope you all have a great morning, good weather, and some nice sunshine too.  See you all later.

    Blessings,

    Jackie

  • mommarch
    mommarch Member Posts: 584
    edited February 2015

    sandra glad to hear the news wehave got at least 3 inches of

  • bonnets
    bonnets Member Posts: 769
    edited February 2015

    Had a few snow showers, that's all so far today. DD was here helping DH get the snow off the roof. Got a lot of ice back up this year. She was chiseling it out of the gutters. They put heat tape on their roof. Been here 23 years and never had ice like this. Appreciate her help.Supposed to get really cold tonight and the weekend. Brrrrr!

    Time for a cup O tea with DH. Have a warm day. Jean

  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited April 2015

    Bonnets,

    I am slow to reply, but got the rock formation photo from Facebook.Winking

  • MagicalBean
    MagicalBean Member Posts: 362
    edited February 2015

    Keep safe and warm, everybody. They're talking -25 windchill here tonight. I prefer cold weather over hot but this is just a bit silly. We don't have an ice problem but only because we have a steel roof and it slides off when it gets too heavy. Too bad it all lands in the driveway.

  • bonnets
    bonnets Member Posts: 769
    edited February 2015

    Yikes, just listening to the weather channel, poor Boston , got blizzard warnings out for Saturday! We are lucky, only 3-6 inches forecast for here! Amazing to see Boston with more snow than Buffalo! Think everyone wud like to flee for the SW. Hope everyone is safe this weekend. Bean, when we redo our roof I have thought of a nice green metal roof , for our log home. Have to do the roof in a year or so. Is it noisey when it rains?

    Got wired up for the next 2 weeks monitor. Wires too long for us short people and lanyard too long too. Finally decided the only place to put it is my bra! Fun. Got it easy compared to so many of you, so I really can't complain.

  • MagicalBean
    MagicalBean Member Posts: 362
    edited February 2015

    Bonnets-the roof isn't very noisy-about the same as any other. The biggest problem we have had is the snow sliding off. We had the pieces attached along the roof edge that were supposed to prevent "avalanches", but the pitch is steep and after a heavy snowfall it slid off the roof taking the brackets, gutters, and satellite dish along with it.



  • blondiex46
    blondiex46 Member Posts: 5,712
    edited February 2015

    sandra so excited for both of you.....glad he gained weight.....so you are re doing your house.....

    am doing ok, still here, went 50 ft walking with 50% weight on my foot...it is progress.

    whatcha doing this weekend,

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