7490 Brompton, Apt. 442
Houston, TX 77025
713-660-7816
donshnell@sbcglobal.net
Woo Hoo!!! We finished the last day of the regular radiation today! This is my cheering picture! I’m so pleased to be done with 5 weeks. They act like next week will be simple, but I think I can take one more week even if it isn’t simple. I’m going to be concentrating on going home!
I got to rub cortisone cream on all of the top part that is so red today. Up until the last treatment I had to avoid the lines, so that meant a lot went untreated. It feels so good to be able to use the cream on all the really red part. I’m thanking God today for getting me through this 5 weeks and I know He’ll see me through the last week. Woo Hoo! I’m so pleased.
We got to walk today before it rained and we’re promised a pretty weekend. I’m walking really well these days. That’s another thing for which I give thanks. God has so taken care of me. We are so blessed; I can’t stop counting!
This is our last weekend in Houston. It’s been blessed. I thank God for so much great family here and wonderful friends to make this stay away from home so awesome. It’ll be so good to be home, and I thank Him for family and friends who make home special, too.
What?? Today is Friday!! Where is your red shirt??? I bet you wore it, and this picture was made in your "relaxing, shouting woo hoo shirt"!! I am really feeling your excitement about your upcoming trip home. I know it's going to be such a thrill for you and all your friends to have you back home..free of pain etc! I know you are scurrying around packing anything that won't be needed and every day brings you closer to saying goodbye to Houston! You'll sail through next week and be on your way before you know it! We've had a "fun trip" with you!
ReplyDeleteLove you!
Ruthie
YIPPEE!!!!!! I'M SO PROUD OF YOU AND HAPPY FOR YOU! YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY SINCE MEXICO BABY! YOU ARE SO HEALTHY, HAPPY, AND BEAUTIFUL! I LOVE YOU!
ReplyDeleteJILLY, G, E...AND JOE
Hello Jo, I am so excited for you!! You are positively Beautiful. I see in your pictures the smile that got you through all this. Sometime the smile looked a little forced but now now and you have so much to smile about. Thank you for all the pictures and updates since you have been there. It has been an uplifting time for all of us. GOD IS SO GOOD!You look like you just came from the Beauty Cut for a trim. Isn't it awesome how quickly things change. You have been so Positive througout this whole ordeal and Faith in our God and that is what has gotten you through. Our Prayers are with you always!! Keep smiling.
ReplyDeleteWe Love You
Dot and Frazier
Oh, Ruthie, I did wear a red shirt, but I soaked it with sweat when we walked. Don took this picture after I'd cleaned up and was in a lounging jumpsuit after dinner. (There was never room for boobs in this suit, btw! I've had it for years and couldn't ever wear it. I'm really enjoying a flat chest; it'll be really great when it's not itching and tender!)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for taking this trip with me! It's really be a delight to be here. It's just not home and home is so sweet. You know we travel a lot, normally, but that's our choice. This trip was not our choice, so we missed home more. Plus people worried about us while we were here, whereas when we travel for fun folks don't worry about us. It's so good to have people who care!
Usually people wish they could travel with us, but nobody wanted to come here with us. Well, Dorothy threatened to come down here if we didn't hurry home and Bob and Diana DID come down to check on us. Friends are awesome, aren't they?!
Anyway, we'll be home this time next week and be playing cards I hope! Want ot meet us there? Angela has the house all cleaned and ready for us!
Love you,
Mary Jo
Aw, Jilly, G, E, and Joe! You guys are the best and so sweet to keep an eye on me when your plates are so full! You're sweet to be so proud of me, too. I'm going to come through this and keep you proud!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Mom
Dot and Frazier, what a sweet note and how sweet it is to hear from you again. I know you are missing Jane, but time flies and she'll be back soon.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right; faith in God gets me through and what a blessing. It sure helps to keep me smiling to know that people like you love me enough to keep up with our dallying, keep us in your prayers, and even join me in praise for all our blessings.
You know another breast cancer friend wrote to me that a friend of hers encourages her by saying she's not a cancer victim, but rather a vessel of the Lord's. I think that is so true and what an honor it is to be used by Him. I feel like I've been so blessed. Thank you for being a big part in that.
You know, it's so funny that you say my smile sometimes looked forced. Sometimes I look back over the pictures to see what I've already used, etc., and I'm shocked to see some of the pictures! I look so pale and the smile does look kind of pathetic. I was always genuinely smiling, but, I realize now that sometimes I was really only registering about a 4 on a scale of 1-10. It reminds me of when we were digging a ditch for our water at Country Junction and Phil took a video of Don and I in motion. We were so sore and barely moving, and we laughed and said we were RUNNING even if it looked like we were moving in slow motion. I guess that's how I was smiling; it was with all I had, but I just didn't have much. Chemo takes a toll on everything, but if it kills the cancer, then it's a friend.
I look back and wonder that I would post all those pictures for the world to see, but I would have visited anyone I could have, so that was the best way I knew to 'visit.' I really did hope that my experience could be helpful to someone else as Mom's experience was helpful to me. I was blessed by the folks who responded with love and prayers.
Love you,
Jo