A Beautiful Spring morning!

 What a beautiful bright day it is today!  It is especially cheerful and fresh following some days of rain and wind.  I took this picture a couple of weeks ago in a neighbor's yard.  I had hoped to take more last week to add to my collection, but that didn't happen.  There is this week. 
Thank you for the many birthday wishes and messages last week.  I appreciated each very much and the Easter eggs and baskets.  Thank your for remembering me.
Today I am feeling pretty good.  Last Wednesday night/Thursday morning I found I had a temperature.  It didn't get up to the danger point, however it did get above 100 degrees at one point, so I called my doctor's office to report.  They called in an antibiotic to take  Since then I have had temperatures most of the time.  This morning it is still more than mine usually was, but in the normal range.  I have an appointment to see the oncologist this afternoon and am scheduled to have my 3rd treatment tomorrow.  I don't know how that will work.  My first time with this experience. 
With a week ago Sunday being Easter Sunday, we heard more about our Savior Jesus Christ and His atonement.  Later in the week His atonement came to mind again and I was reminded that the atonement was not only for our sins and mistakes.  It is also for our trials-all kinds, physical, emotional, and spiritual.  I was also reminded that all we have to do is ask.  We don't have to do these things alone. I am grateful for Him.  I know our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live and love us.  All we really have to do is look around us and count our blessings to see the evidence of it.

Another Milestone-Hair Loss

Well, treatment 2 was last Tuesday.  In all I wasn't as intensely sick those first few days for which I was grateful, but the length of time is about the same.  Still not feeling great. 

The big milestone or obstacle of this week has been hair loss.  A week ago yesterday, I began noticing that I was loosing more hair than normal.  Each day there was more.  By Thursday it was coming out quite plentifully.  It was a weird sensation, I would run my hands through my hair and it seemed to just release.  I usually did this over the toilet bowl and it would be covered with dark hair.  However, the gray seemed to come out first.  For whatever reason, it wasn't hard for me to have this happen.  It seemed easier to see it getting thinner.  Thursday night Shawn shaved his head in support for me, but I wasn't ready.  By Saturday, my hair was looking pretty thin, so I wore a hat when Suzanna and family came.  Sunday morning even more was gone, so I asked Shannon to take the rest off.  I was pleasantly surprised to see me without hair, but I am not used to it yet.  I have a wig, some soft hats, and have ordered a couple more to wear outside.  So I am sure I will find what works best for me.  I will post some pictures too. 
Thank you for your prayers and support. 

Monday's Update

A quick update: 

• I am feeling really good.  More energy for longer, etc.
• Yesterday I noticed that I had a lot more hair in my brush.  It is still not the hands full of hair that I have heard about.  I notice that it is continuing today.  I have a idea the time is very near to part with my hair.  Shannon comes tomorrow.  So in the next few days, it will go.  I'll let you know how that goes.
• SE (2 year old granddaughter Sara Elizabeth) and family were here yesterday.  I showed her a wig I have, put on the stocking and then the wig, let her feel it, tried on the hats I have, and let her try them on.  We laughed and had fun with it.  It is helping me to prepare as well as her. 
• Treatment 2 is tomorrow.  A week ago.  I had trouble thinking about it.  I am ok with it now and it will be fine tomorrow.  

Thanks to all of you.  Love you,

The Blessing of Springtime!

What a beautiful day!  In fact every day this week has been so warm, sunny, and refreshing!  I was thinking a couple of days ago what a blessing for me, since I am having this chemo, to have it at this time when spring flowers are in bloom, trees are budding, and the days look so happy and bright.   I know that helps me a lot.

At my front doorstep

Treatment 1 (Treatment 2 next Tuesday) is past history.  I felt really bad through Thursday.  Those days I slept a lot-I think, made sure I was taking the medications for anti-nausea, pain, and allergy to try to avoid those side effects, ate little bits here and there.  I'm grateful Shannon could be here to make sure that happened.  I feel it helped so much.  Friday it felt like "the fog" of feeling so bad began to clear and I have felt better as the days have gone by.  I notice a lot less stamina and feel weakness.  Some of that was already there from the surgeries.  Before the chemo, I sometimes would think when I have the chemo, the wounds from the surgery won't be as tender so that discomfort will be gone.  I realize that is true.

This week I am feeling better.  I can see the advantage of having work or things like that to go to daily.  On the other hand I can see the disadvantage.  A couple of days ago, I discovered some special gifts that I can enjoy when I walked to the corner.  I will take my camera today and capture their beauty.  I came home and got it out and took these gems in my front yard.  Yesterday we had a Stake Primary presidency meeting and it was a wonderful feeling to be doing normal things again with people.  It is a good week. The Lord is blessing me richly.

Week 1 - Chemo Treatment 1

Hello - This is Shannon.  I am Sara's oldest daughter and have been with Mom during this week of her first Chemo Therapy Treatment.  Just a little update on how she is doing: 

Mom is a courageous warrior but she is feeling pretty crappy.   She is resting, sleeping and drinking water like a rock star despite not feeling like eating or really even sitting up much.  She is lying still and is listening to music this morning.  She did have a little tickle in her throat and cough but I started diffusing some oils and that has seemed to help.

The shot they gave her the day after her first treatment puts a request into the bone marrow to make more white blood cells and platelets (ok - I realize this is a huge generalization, but this was my understanding of the nurse's explanation.).  This causes an allergy-like reaction and bone pain in some people.  We have kept up on the meds recommended to ease these side effects and I think for the most part they are helping.

Mom wants everyone to know the thoughts, prayers, flowers, notes, and other helps mean alot to her and she appreciates them.  They certainly help strengthen her.  Thank you all, we all love you and appreciate you.

Here is the link to the website my sister, Sheila, set up to see what needs Mom has each day or week.  This will be a long journey and just as it take a village to raise a child - it also will take a village to help and support her through this journey back to full health. Please go in and see if there is something you can do to help, we all appreciate whatever you can do big or small.  It's called "Sara's Helping Hands".

I personally would like to say thank you as I am farther away living in Southwest Washington.  It is so hard to be far away all the time, but especially now.  So bless each of you and may Heavenly Father bless you for your service, thoughts and prayers for my sweet Mom and our family.  

https://mycancercircle.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/715558/login/reset/f203b5f8cbb693bd956279cfde30f8e6/?utm_source=system-gen-20&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=engagement&utm_content=mycancercircle



If you need any help using the site, you can contact support@lotsahelpinghands.com.

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Today the Treatment Begins!

I am scheduled for my first chemo treatment today.  Another adventure!  I have been working on the tips I've heard that help with the side effects-like drinking 3-4 quarts of water a day.  I really struggle remembering to drink enough water. I am using the alarms on my phone to remind be when one should finished, two, etc.
I've had a fun weekend.  Shannon and her family from Kelso, WA came  for their spring break this week.  Suzanna and family came on Sunday afternoon. It's been fun.  I attended Stake Council Mtg on Sunday-first meeting I've attended in over a month.  That felt good.  Shannon will be staying for a few more days while the rest of the family go to John's family in Idaho.
Yesterday Shannon and I went to the American Cancer Society's office and "shopped" for hats and a wig.  I found a cute wig and some hats/scarves that I liked.  I am working on letting go of my hair.  Getting the wig and scarves has helped.  So I am moving forward. 
A private site "Helping Sara" has been set up.  The purpose is to let whoever would like to help know what I will be needing like visits, rides, maybe a meal here and there.  When the need is posted anyone who is on the site will be emailed and can sign up for it if it works or if not that's fine.  It worked really well for a friend of Sheila's, so we are doing it too.  The invites to sign up haven't been set up yet, but they will be in the next week.  I don't know what I need, but expect to know better as treatment begins.  If you want to be included, let me know.
 Thanks again for you thoughts, prayers, and acts of kindness and love.