Today is Pauline's 70th birthday! What a year it has been! It is one that I do not want to repeat! Here's hoping her 70th year is so much better than her 69th year!!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday DEAR PAULINE!!!!
Happy Birthday to you!!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving! I have so many things to be thankful every year, but even more this year. I am so thankful for my family and for my friends. This is the time of year to reflect and share those thanks. We will be joining the Beutel family for our usual large family celebration later this afternoon. There will be 24 family and friends celebrating Thanksgiving at my cousin's house this year. Aunt Marilyn is determined to make it this year. As a update, Aunt Marilyn came home from the rehab center a month ago. It is good news that she is home and rehabilitating there. Mom has been stopping by to help in things around the apartment.
Of course, the main thing that I'm thankful for this year is that my mom has been so strong and is a breast cancer survivor. The beginning of the year was so unknown and scary. We had no idea what was going to happen, but thanks to the great care of the doctors, nurses and social workers at the Moll Center, the time went by much quicker than we thought it would. Mom handled things so well, I am and will always be so proud of her. She is now in survivor mode. She has her up and down days, but that is going to happen. The good days are out numbering the bad days. Now, Mom is trying to figure out what to do now that she doesn't have to focus on her health as much. She has been helping out Aunt Marilyn and her dear neighbor, Betty as Betty recovers from hip surgery. Mom is putting the word out that she is looking for something to do part-time, either helping someone out or answering phones or what not. This is a big big step, because Mom has been out of work for 2 years now and wanting to get out to do this is HUGE! Another thing to be thankful for, that is for sure!!
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Of course, the main thing that I'm thankful for this year is that my mom has been so strong and is a breast cancer survivor. The beginning of the year was so unknown and scary. We had no idea what was going to happen, but thanks to the great care of the doctors, nurses and social workers at the Moll Center, the time went by much quicker than we thought it would. Mom handled things so well, I am and will always be so proud of her. She is now in survivor mode. She has her up and down days, but that is going to happen. The good days are out numbering the bad days. Now, Mom is trying to figure out what to do now that she doesn't have to focus on her health as much. She has been helping out Aunt Marilyn and her dear neighbor, Betty as Betty recovers from hip surgery. Mom is putting the word out that she is looking for something to do part-time, either helping someone out or answering phones or what not. This is a big big step, because Mom has been out of work for 2 years now and wanting to get out to do this is HUGE! Another thing to be thankful for, that is for sure!!
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
It's been awhile
I know, I know...it's been awhile since I have sent any updates. But, no news is good news, right? I am just getting back into the regular routine after being part of the organizing committee for my 25th high school reunion, which was last weekend. Things were really hectic for me since the last time that I posted.
First, an update on how Aunt Marilyn is doing. She bounced back from her stay in the hospital, yet again. She is now back in the rehabilitation center working on getting her broken arm to heal and to regain her strength. She is doing rehab exercises everyday, in fact she really looks forward to doing that. She is having issues with eating and digesting what she eats. She needs to eat in order to have energy to do her rehab. So, this is a constant battle. She vows to be back to her apartment. Let's all hope that she can be.
Mom is plugging along. She has her good days and she has her bad days. But, that is usual. The good days are out-weighing the bad days now. Her hair is coming back in quite nicely. It is actually a bit darker brown than it was before she lost it mixed in with gray and white. It looks like the curls came back too. She is now going out without a hat on. She is comfortable in herself and that is most important. She is still going to classes at The Gathering Place and The Moll Center at Fairview Hospital. I really think that the support groups are a godsend for her. Now that the drug situation has been resolved, the next thing is getting her payments (that weren't covered by insurance) set up with The Cleveland Clinic. This has been a back and forth process since May. She sent her financial information to two different people, who then lost the information and her files. Then, she set up a face-to-face meeting with someone at the Moll Center and she is still waiting for the outcome of that meeting. In the meantime, she was told not to pay the bills she is receiving until everything is set. She has another meeting tomorrow morning with the billing/finance person. I hope that this gets sorted for her soon. That is the one last thing that she needs to worry about right now.
I wanted to comment about an insight that I had from the reunion weekend. So many people that are my age are touched by cancer in some way. For me it has been through friends (Barra and Andi) and obviously my mom. But, I found out that one classmate is a 4 year survivor who had a double mastectomy. Other classmates are helping their parents through treatment right now. This horrible disease affects every one of us. I always knew that, but talking to classmates brought that realization home for me. It is definitely an eye opener.
First, an update on how Aunt Marilyn is doing. She bounced back from her stay in the hospital, yet again. She is now back in the rehabilitation center working on getting her broken arm to heal and to regain her strength. She is doing rehab exercises everyday, in fact she really looks forward to doing that. She is having issues with eating and digesting what she eats. She needs to eat in order to have energy to do her rehab. So, this is a constant battle. She vows to be back to her apartment. Let's all hope that she can be.
Mom is plugging along. She has her good days and she has her bad days. But, that is usual. The good days are out-weighing the bad days now. Her hair is coming back in quite nicely. It is actually a bit darker brown than it was before she lost it mixed in with gray and white. It looks like the curls came back too. She is now going out without a hat on. She is comfortable in herself and that is most important. She is still going to classes at The Gathering Place and The Moll Center at Fairview Hospital. I really think that the support groups are a godsend for her. Now that the drug situation has been resolved, the next thing is getting her payments (that weren't covered by insurance) set up with The Cleveland Clinic. This has been a back and forth process since May. She sent her financial information to two different people, who then lost the information and her files. Then, she set up a face-to-face meeting with someone at the Moll Center and she is still waiting for the outcome of that meeting. In the meantime, she was told not to pay the bills she is receiving until everything is set. She has another meeting tomorrow morning with the billing/finance person. I hope that this gets sorted for her soon. That is the one last thing that she needs to worry about right now.
I wanted to comment about an insight that I had from the reunion weekend. So many people that are my age are touched by cancer in some way. For me it has been through friends (Barra and Andi) and obviously my mom. But, I found out that one classmate is a 4 year survivor who had a double mastectomy. Other classmates are helping their parents through treatment right now. This horrible disease affects every one of us. I always knew that, but talking to classmates brought that realization home for me. It is definitely an eye opener.
Monday, September 20, 2010
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.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
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!
Friday, September 10, 2010
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!
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!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
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!
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!
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