Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Wednesday Dec 13 Update

Today was hyperthermia day. Man, it’s hot in there! I came out looking like a wet mop. Go heat, go! All day yesterday I was feeling a little nauseated and thought it was a migraine coming. I had the great lymph massage, and I thought that would surely fend off a headache. It seemed to, but I was still nauseated. In the night I woke up 3 times to use the bathroom and still felt nauseated. It hit me then that maybe it was because of the treatments. I wasn’t sick enough to barf; I just felt like I did with pregnancies; just enough to notice, not enough to be miserable. I told the doctor about it this morning, just so he’d be aware, but I stressed that I didn’t want him to back off on anything we’re doing to attack this cancer. Anyway, I went into the hyperthermia chamber thinking it would surely set off a migraine if a migraine were happening. Sure enough, as soon as I got into the chamber I went right to sleep and woke up with an excruciating headache. I was relieved to recognize the headache! Normally, I hate the idea of having a migraine, but I was happier to know the cause of the nausea was a migraine! I sure didn’t want to have a problem with this treatment! I think the relief made the pain go away! No joke. I turned over on my side and it was gone! So was the nausea! I was pretty drained as a migraine leaves me, but you were all there to keep me boosted.

Today the doctor went to Costco and bought a roasted chicken and a broccoli salad for our lunch. YUM! He is really a thoughtful guy! His wife came by to meet us all, today. She is drop dead gorgeous. He’s really a nice looking guy, too. Gretta said he looks like a Mexican Ken doll; well, his wife is the Mexican Barbie. She is a chemist and teaches chemistry somewhere; I’m not sure if it’s a college or high school. They have a set of twins (a boy and a girl) who are 8 years old. The wife and kids came up to the clinic on Monday night, I think, and decorated a beautiful Christmas tree for us. They really go the extra mile to make us feel at home and comfortable.

All is good here. You all keep the faith and keep us in your prayers, please. I love your notes and you!

11 comments:

  1. Good morning Jo!! We received the pictures you sent this morning, or overnight as the case may be. Wow, you have not changed a bit since high school!! As pretty as ever and that beautiful smile... Tell Don he married a natural beauty!! I see your little wrap over your little legs and you look like you are in your own recliner at home except for the two drip bags. Every one I have mentioned your alternative treatment to has only good things to say about this choice to battle your foe, and they indicate this treatment is better that the standard treatment regimen in the states.
    On a different note, how did you ever get your Christmas shopping done early with this on your mind? The Lord provides and we only have to ask. I hope you have a great day and no more migraines. Linda Hawkersmith Smith is praying for you too!! Love you honey, Linda Knight Rose.

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  2. Thanks for the pictures. You are the only one I know who can make a cancer treatment look like you are sitting on the deck of a cruise ship! Do they serve yam jam in that drip? Love ya, Patty Copan

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  3. Oh, John, you are indeed so Precious to me! Man, you handle it alone so perfectly in my mind, just like you did when you engineered the packing of our U-Haul when we left Springville. But, if you realize the need for the rest of your unit and even the whole TN Army National Guard, then we'll just have them! Nothing makes me jump to attention any better than a guy (or a BUNCH of guys) in uniform; the military brat in me is way into the comfort zone when the military is here! I wear my red shirt (supporting the troops) every Friday and you're my number one 'troop.' Thanks so much for that great message that brings happy tears to my eyes. I love you! Aung Grammy

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  4. Linda, I'm thinking you might need to have your vision checked! That's a chubby little gray haired grammy under that blanket, but it's who she is these days. Thanks for your comments. The care here is so really top notch, and we've been blessed to have wonderful companions, right here with us and from all over the world! The Christmas shopping is on hold until we get home. You've heard of Christmas in July? Well, that might be when we do it. I had most of it done in anticipation of going to Hawaii, but I only had about 32 hours to get packed to leave to come here. There was no way to even get what I had ready to send, let alone go shop for the rest. I just had to beg forgiveness; of course everyone is happy to stretch out the celebrating, especially in view of our situation. We'll take care of Christmas when we get past this bump in the road. You celebrate for us, okay? Love you, Jo

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  5. The first two times I wrote this, I lost it. Who knows where this is going? But I was smart enough to copy it the last time so I can paste it this time. If it appears 3 times, you all please understand and pardon me!

    Patty, only you could get to the exact spot on the page where I am to give me the visuals you have. I'll consider this experience my practice for the cruise Don wants to do to Alaska. That'll help me brace for that cruise. If I can do this, I can surely do a great cruise. I get so motion sick that it's hard for me to look forward to it; I keep recalling those 13 days to get to Japan on the ship! I have discovered those great discs behind my ear work; they just make me so sleepy. I'll be so grateful to get to do the cruise after this, though; plus we already have our coats bought for the cruise! Maybe there will be yam jam on the cruise! :) Thanks for being my forever friend! Love, Mary Jo

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  6. MJ,
    I can't believe you lived in Tennessee so long and never had corncob soup....it's right up there with livermush on the "Foods I have least desired in my life". It certainly does look and sound like you are in a nice place...will see you and Don in the next few years (while we can still see...Ha!)

    Love,
    Danny & Per

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  7. Danny, thanks so much for keeping an eye on me and dropping notes with hope for the future! How wonderful it is to have my oldest Pal in the 'foxhole' with me! Can't wait to see you and Per. Love and hugs, Mary Jo

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  8. hello Jo, I admire your patience while undergoing your treatments. Your positive attitude will go all the way to make you well again, that and your Faith in the Good Lord. Thanks to your wonderful Sister, Ruth, I hear from you every day and am Praying every day and night that you will soon look be back in the Good Ole USA completely healed. May God Bless you and also Don as he makes his trip to Hawaii. With our Love

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  9. Dot, is that you? I know you keep up with me through Ruthie, and I also know that you've tried to post before, so I'm guessing this is from you. Anyway, whoever, I sure appreciate your love and blessing! Please keep us in your prayers! Don is on his way to Los Angeles right now, and should be there in time to get some sleep before he leaves early in the morning for Hawaii. Our friends who we missed the first 2 weeks vacationing with are meeting him at the airport and taking him up to the house to sit. They'll pick up our friend who owns the house and all of them will go out to dinner. I hate to miss the fun, but I'm glad they can all get together. Friends are so wonderful; I'm glad they're taking care of Don. I'm counting down the days until I can head that direction! It's 10 and counting! Love you! Jo

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  10. Hello again Jo, I am learning!! Thanks to Ruthie. She is trying so hard to teach me how to send a comment and read the others. I just sent you a comment and then kept trying till I read the one you sent to me. That makes me feel so good that you take the time to answer. That was from me and I don't know why I didn't sign it. And I always call Ruth, Ruthie, so it didn't sound right to Ruthie. I just love that name and I just love the lady that it belongs to and I just love you!With Love and Prayers. Dot

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  11. Thanks, Dot, for keeping me in your prayers and for working so hard to learn about this blog and posting. It's all new to me, too, and I think many others, as well. It's a wonderful way to keep in touch, though. Everyone can read it all and so much doesn't have to be repeated. It helps me a lot. I can't tell you how much the messages mean to me. If you felt good that I answered, just imagine how good it makes me feel that so many people respond to my updates. Feeling good is a real key to my recovery, so I really appreciate all you all are doing to help me to feel good! Physically, I'm doing just great, and mentally, you all have me so pumped that I'm like David with a sling shot, 5 little stones, and GOD TO MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN!

    Thanks for loving me through Ruthie, and thanks for loving Ruthie. She's a dear for sure. When we were growing up she always fixed everything I ever broke. Now, she's fixing this with the help of all you other wonderful friends and family with God's direction. What a choir we make, whether we're singing or not. It's all a sypmphony of praise to our loving Father. Thanks for pitching in to give me so much joy along the way! I love you, Jo

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