Aunt Marilyn

Aunt Marilyn is back in the hospital. She fell Wednesday after turning off a light in her room and broke a few bones in her upper right arm. We didn't know that this happened until late Thursday, when my uncle called family. They can't do surgery to re-set the bones as Aunt Marilyn is really too weak. (She hasn't really fully recovered from her trip to the hospital in February of the year) Aunt Marilyn was in intensive care through the weekend because she was having difficulties breathing. She has recently been moved to a step down room. She is having issues with too much carbon dioxide in her system making her hallucinate. I'm getting the news second hand from my mom. I've been battling a cold for the past 2 weeks. I don't think that going to a hospital is the best thing for me or for the patients, so I'm waiting to see Aunt Marilyn. I'm sure that she will be going back to the Normandy for rehab. We'll just be waiting to see what happens. More info to come.

Race for the Cure

Yesterday was the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Cleveland. It is always a huge event and yesterday's event was the same. There was an estimate of 25,000 participants in the run and walk yesterday! It was a sea of white and pink t-shirts everywhere. This was my second time doing the walk. I walked in it in support of my friend, Barra Terrigno and her team, Barra's Backers, in 2008. Barra was in the middle of her chemotherapy and she did the entire walk. Doing the walk was emotional for me, but it felt so good to be there. I was amazed at the turnout of 20,000 people, even in the rain. I knew that I would do what I could to be in future walks in support of Barra. I didn't expect to be doing the walk in support of my Mom.

It turned out to be a gorgeous day for the walk. You can tell the excitement and emotion of event just walking in the crowd of the participants before the run/walk. Our team, Pauline's Posse, met in a great location at the start of the race. We could see all the activity going on. The team was 19 members strong-from long time friends, to family to co-workers of my dad's. I got flower leis for Mom, Dad, Sue and I and the rest of the team got pink leis. We were all getting excited for the race/walk. As we were lining up, we saw the mayor of Cleveland, Frank Jackson. Mom will talk to every and anyone. She went up to the mayor to say hello and they had a little chat!

The race started and of course the team got separated. Everyone was walking at their own pace. I walked with mom, so we walked slower. Her goal was to get to Tower City, which was about a mile from the starting line. She got there and decided to stop. We thought that there was a trolley to take people between Tower City and the starting point of the race. However, the trolley didn't show up and Mom had to walk back to the Wolstein Center to meet up with the rest of the team. She nearly walked the amount of the entire walk by walking back and forth! She probably could have walked it with us. But, that is okay. I'm proud of how far she walked. She has come so far in the past 9 months. There was a big group of people that got ahead of the pack. I stayed back and walked at a leisurely pace with Jen and Larry. Then, we all met up at the end of the race. Some of us went out to lunch and enjoyed the wonderful weather. It was a great way to end a really nice morning. Mom mentioned this evening that she has been to 3 breast cancer events in the past 3 months-a retreat with That Gathering Place, cheering on the walkers in the 3-Day Walk and then participating in the Race for the Cure. It has definitely been a big 3 months for her.

Thanks to everyone for supporting Pauline's Posse and thanks to the members of the team who walked yesterday!

Race for the Cure is Tomorrow

Tomorrow morning is the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.. Mom has been in training for a good portion of the summer. I'm so proud of her. It is going to be a very emotion- filled morning on many levels. I just watched a pre-race special and I was starting to get teary eyed, so tomorrow will be even more emotional. Mom decided not to participate in the survivor's ceremony. But next year she will.

We have 19 people on our team-family members and friends. Thank you in advance for all of your support through the past 9 months! And thanks to those who have donated to help end this disease!

Pictures to come!

Follow Up Visits

Last week, Mom had follow up appointments with her surgeon, Dr. Pratt and her oncologist, Dr. Bagai. The first appointment, last Tuesday, was the 6 month follow up for her surgery. Dr. Pratt said that everything was looking good. Mom had good mobility in her left arm and everything had healed nicely. Mom told the doctor that she was walking in the Race for the Cure. Dr. Pratt was very proud of her for doing that! Mom will have her yearly mammogram in December and then her next appointment with Dr. Pratt is in a year! That is a great milestone!

The next follow-up was on Friday with Dr. Bagai. I went to the visit with her. It was the usual routine of blood work and then doctor's visit. It was strange to be in the office so near to the chemo lab where we spent alot of time in the winter. Mom had a bone scan the previous week to see how her bones have been affected by taking the hormone drug, Arimidex. (generic version)The bone scan looked okay to the doctor. But, he did recommend mom taking more Vitamin D and Calcium. I told the doctor mom's list of side effects from the Arimidex. Mom has been having some circulation issues in her toes that could be both due to chemotherapy and her diabetes. Dr. Bagai recommended to take Vitamin B6 to help with that. He also said that some of her other side effects (nausea, bone and joint pain, hot flashes and loss of appetite) will subside as her body gets used to the drug. That is good news. Mom also told Dr. Bagai that she was walking in the Race for the Cure. He was very impressed with her doing that and encouraged her to keep up the walking! Her next appointment with Dr. Bagai is in 6 months. (another milestone)

It is really hard to believe that 9 months ago we were getting her set to have her mastectomy and whatever came along with that surgery. What a year it has been! Now, we are getting her ready to do her first (hopefully of many) Race for the Cure Walk!