11/20/2011 - Downhill Race time!

I was given unexpected GREAT NEWS today during radiation (yes, even Sunday's I'l go to keep on track) ----  I start my FINAL 8 boosts tomorrow instead of Wednesday!!! That means I'll be DONE by December 2nd!!!  I am so glad for the news and am on the final downhill race!
This truly is a wonderful Birthday gift.

1971 - sledding down Prince St. in Ramsey

11/17/11 -- no longer skating on thin ice

Radiation #23!!  2 more, then 8 boosters and the WHOLE ORDEAL IS DONE!!!  Well, except for the clearing of the side effects, but I am seeing the end of the trail and am ready to lie down in the field. I am ready to look up into the sky, feel the sun on my face, the breeze through my hair….yes, I don’t ask for much.

I am ready to celebrate Thanksgiving (which my birthday shares this year) and then throw our Neighborhood Christmas Party and then enjoy the rest of the Holidays!  I normally have great patience, but I feel like a little kid waiting for Santa to come down the chimney!!!

I’m no longer skating on thin ice – Napolitano’s Pond has the thick ice and I’m ready to learn to skate again!

11/3/2011 There's Always Tomorrow....

I thought radiation would be a breeze.  I thought “It doesn’t matter. It’s a piece of cake!”  Once again, I am taught that I don’t know everything and cannot predict everything either.

Radiation is a CONSTANT DAILY REMINDER of what I was diagnosed with 8 months ago.  It is a DAILY DRUDGERY of what I’ve had to go through, what I’ve missed, what I’m fighting, what EVERY WOMAN I go through this with is BATTLING. In the radiation waiting room:  I see them cry, I hear their stories, I see their fears…but I also help celebrate THEIR LAST DAY.  Of course, I am envious of them, but know my countdown is in action as well.  When Friday comes, I’ll be ALMOST halfway through.  Next week another woman will be done.  What do we do when we’re done?  We’ve been living, breathing, and eating this for MONTHS!  What do we do when it’s over?  Cry some more?

I still have residual chemo side effects (itching, swelling, moon face…) and don’t feel myself yet.  Will these all go away when radiation is over?  Will my body FINALLY PURGE those damned steroids!??!?!  Will I recognize myself next year?  Will my hair come back red again?  Yes, LOTS of questions that I have to await answers for.

As Clarice the Reindeer sings every year, http://www.xmasfun.com/Lyrics.asp?ID=66:

 There's always tomorrow,

                                     For dreams to come true,
                                    Believe in your dreams
                                    Come what may.

There's always tomorrow,

                                    With so much to do,
                                    And so little time in a day.

We all pretend

                                    The rainbow has an end
                                    And you'll be there my friend someday.

There's always tomorrow,

                                    For dreams to come true,
                                    Tomorrow is not far away.