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

AhHah! Yes.... getting the Cam-miester sobered up is aNOTHER thing... She has this sort of "job" where she pretends she is running this plumbing ..... uh..... company. So I think, from what I understand, that she takes "calls" on her old-time corded telephone.... you know.... like we used to have.... And I think then she sends her guys out on calls.... so she says....

Actually, she is one of my favoritest people in the world.!!! Never met her OR Jackie, but there is just something about people, that just wiggle into your heart, and stay there, forever.

Yes, I can tease her, but she can really give it back.... Would someone please tell her we are talking to her, so she had better wake up? She'll probably sleep now, until maybe Monday morning!

The mighty hunter --- standing tall and proud !!!! Yeah.

It's been a tough fight, but it appears Mike is in remission from Acute Myeloid Leukemia. No one expected him to respond like this, especially since his recovery from the harsh chemo was derailed by three infections, two blood clots, and paralytic ileus, a serious complication. His blood counts were in the toilet for weeks, but once he started getting better, they rose quickly. A bone marrow biopsy showed the percentage of leukemia in his body was 0%. His doctor kept saying, "This is GREAT!!" After 10 days of outpatient testing, 44 days as an inpatient, and 5 more days of outpatient treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Mike got a short 5 day break. (They wanted his lab tests to show higher levels and for him to get a bit stronger before he begins more chemo on Monday.) We were allowed to come home to San Antonio as long as he got daily treatment at our hospital here. (He gets daily IV antibiotics, potassium and magnesium. It's been nice to sleep in our own bed, but we have to go to the hospital every morning (including Sat. & Sun.) at 7:30 a.m. and we don't finish until mid-day. Mike is very weak. He cannot stand by himself but once I get him to standing, he can usually manage with a rollater for a little bit. Most of the time I have him in a wheelchair. He can't get up and down from the toilet, can't get in or out of the bed, etc. It's been a stressful and worrisome few days since Mike has fallen several times. Scares me to death. He's down to 145 lbs now from his usual 220-230. BUT, he's still alive and the doc says he might stay in remission for months.

I'm physically and mentally exhausted but now is not the time to rest yet. We drive back tomorrow afternoon.

Mike's bone marrow donor, his sister Lisa, lost her husband Brian this week. He had brain cancer, diagnosed 3 months ago...he was only 45. Not fair.

Sandra, So glad to hear you get good news. It has been such a long road for both of you. Praying for you both.

You will find when you look back upon your life, that the moments when you have really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.

Henry Drummond

Sandra....so glad for the remission. I can only imagine how hard all this has been on both of you. Sending hugs and continued prayers for recovery for Mike and strength for you, dear.

Sandra, terrific news about Mike—he will get stronger. Meanwhile, best healing wishes for him getting through the next round of chemo—you know what they say about having to break a few eggs to make an omelet…

So sorry for his BIL Brian (may his memory be for a blessing), and prayers for Lisa’s comfort and consolation, as well as patience and strength for you (and for some much-needed help in caregiving).

Luvmaui, what you said about T-storms in the PNW underscores the misconceptions so much of the country has about that region. I spent 7 years in Seattle, on the “wet side of the mountains,” and the rain we had almost daily from Oct-May ran the gamut from mist to drizzle. At my bridal shower in Brooklyn, one gift I got was a big clear plastic “bubble” umbrella. I hardly ever used it. After we moved here to Chicago in summer ’78, it seemed as if there were at least one heavy-duty storm every few days; the first time I heard “tornado watch” on the radio I wondered why nobody was dashing for cover. And on my first trip up to Madison to visit my sister (w/o benefit of GPS or road map, just general directions) we were tooling along I-90 just w. of Rockford when we heard “tornado spotted near Beloit, WI.” We figured we were still in IL and thought nothing of it, till we saw a sign announcing the “S. Beloit” exit. Turned my gaze to the NW just in time to see the funnel retreat back into the dark cloud from which it came.

I lived through three small quakes in Seattle (plus another when I went back for an alumni reunion) and shrugged them off. But now 38 years after moving to Chicago, I still occasionally get nightmares about being on a high floor in a glass-walled luxury condo and seeing twisters on the horizon, with no time to get to the basement.

Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.

Frederick Buechner

Cooler this week and that is so welcome for so much of what we will be having to do. Storms seemed to have moved out and that is good. I can get busy with a lot of projects that are just un-pleasant to do in hot, humid weather.

Extra work yesterday but only a couple of hours so not bad. Still getting the over-abundance of my cousin's garden with tomatoes. Our yard, despite having lost some trees the past few yrs. remains way too shady for a garden. Glad to still have tomatoes that are fresh and home grown.

Still laboring under the need to get a walking program and regular exercise going again. It is starting into 'have too' territory. My clothes while still fitting are doing so a whole lot differently then they were two or three months ago so I can't put it off any long. Figuring the cooler weather will allow me to get out and get walking which is one of the best all round exercises for older young people to do. I have one of those stretchy bands as well --- and that works great when you are sitting watching t.v.

Anyway, off and running for the day. See you all later.

It's a lovely cool, sunny day in east central Illinois today. There is a nice breeze and it's near to perfect! I bowled this morning and then had to make a grocery run so I missed quite a bit of the day but I'm enjoying it now.

Carole, travel safely back to the south! We won't be heading south until January 1st.

Jackie, my yard is alot like your yard....to shady to grow much of anything. One of my friends gave me a lovely purple aster plant for my birthday. I have watered it faithfully and have tried it in all different spots in the yard but it is nearly dead. My neighbor tells me that I don't have enough sun anywhere in the yard to sustain an aster so.......

I'm off to enjoy the outdoors for a bit. I hope everyone is having a great day.

You cannot fail at being yourself.A cat doesn't try to be a tiger, and you shouldn't try to be something you aren't.You are a process, not a product.Your job is to discover what you are and to create that creature. You still won't be perfect, but success isn't about perfection--it is about authenticity.You are a success if you are being your real, authentic self.

I'm envious of the cool temps you have Jackie. We're still pretty warm here, around 100, and hot dry winds have been fueling the fires here in CA. It's not unusual, but I'm so very ready for cooler temps. It's heartbreaking when we see all the fires all over the state. My DSIL is a firefighter, and even if he's not out on a fire, he gets forced with overtime to cover for those who are out on the lines. with the heather here, allergies are rampant. I started taking mine again this morning. You had me drooling yesterday talking about those homegrown tomatoes. We don't have the room for a garden here so I really miss the flavors of real tomatoes!

Hope you all have a good day also.

Sandra, hope your DH continues to gain strength. Take care.

Hi everyone,

My cousin just emailed to tell me her husband is terminal- do they still use that word? He has amyloidosis. He has been sick for almost a year now, and has gone steadily downhill, regardless of any treatments. But they have never hinted that he might not recover from this. They just went to the Mayo Clinic and after a general check-up, the Dr asked how he has felt since he stopped chemo. Marshall said pretty much the same, and that's when the Dr said there is nothing else to do. He also mentioned that Marshall has melanoma as well as the amyloidosis. My cousin has asked me to ask if any of you have ever known anyone with this, and most of all wants to know if anyone has any ideas of other methods of healing this, besides conventional medicine.

I am working on trying to find grants and scholarships for my grandson. His parents can't afford to pay for college, and I can't help. It is extremely frustrating. I have had a lot of trouble getting on the sites, and now that I am on, I click on the apply button, and nothing happens.

I have also had to call back the cleaning service I had for the wedding. My house is not getting cleaned well by my daughter- she does a top cleaning, which includes vacuuming and mopping the floors, cleaning the countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms, and swiping the toilets. In her defense, she does work full time, but I did a better job when I was working and raising 5 kids.

I "picked-up" today before they came. It was a great awakening to me. The three grandchildren that have rooms here- the one that lives here and the other two that are here every afternoon have no idea what "clean your room" means. I know that my DD has no organization skills- it is part of her learning disabilities, but I guess their dad isn't interested in helping them learn how either. Cleaning up to them means take it off the floor and put it on top of any furniture, or shove it into the closet or a corner. Doug's problem is mainly not bringing his dishes, cups and wrappers out of his room.

The worst of it is that every where I tried to put something away was a total mess. I cleaned out the pantry, and Victoria, Kayden, and Alexandria's clothes, but everywhere I look, I find things that need to be cleaned, like under the sink, or a drawer in the kitchen. I guess with all the traveling, I just haven't noticed. Guess I won't be complaining about being bored for awhil

Anne

Anne, I am sorry to hear that your cousin's Dh is terminal. I think the word is still used. I am un-aware of anything else that can be done but it never hurts to look at and research ( quickly ) anything that might present. We never know when the time will come for new discoveries. I do not see it as a high possibility here as you probably don't either, but I don't believe in giving up hope because we never know which soul will be the one who comes by a miracle.

I hope you are able to figure out some way to help your grandson. Since I don't get along most of the time well at all with computers I can feel the frustration big time. Do you think it is not working because maybe they are out of funds right now?

Frustrating too that things can't get cleaned up. At least the kids rooms, but it takes a lot of energy to "keep" on checking and having the kids do their rooms. I've certainly that feat that kids have of hanging things on the floor in the corner on in the middle of an un-made beg. The young ones don't make it easy. Sounds like a case of having to clean before the cleaning lady comes. Hope it all gets better and you don't have to fret over it so much.

Woke up to rain beginning shortly after I got up. Looks calm now. I have something of a sore throat. Been fighting my sinuses and it simply could be that as I feel just fine. So, keeping my fingers crossed.

Hope you all have a good and if possible non-rainy day though we are getting those cooler temps. so I can't complain. It is easy to be outside as of late.