Radiation Begins

My radiation treatments began on Monday, April 6, 2009. I have 28 treatments and it is everyday (Monday - Friday) for approximately 10 minutes each day. So, my drive there and back is actually longer than the treatment itself.

I just go to 7th Street, across from the hospital.

I've had almost two weeks of treatment. So far, so good!

Also keeping busy with the upcoming 49th Recital details. I'm able to participate in dance classes, and starting to feel like my "normal" self. Yeah!

We'll keep you posted, and thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers.

Chemo Update

Sorry for the down time. I had a little trouble with accessing my blog to keep it updated. Here we go!

The last two chemo treatments are over and everything went pretty well. Having difficulty with my toe and fingernails lifting and nerve neuropathy. We are on the mend, feeling is coming back slowly but surely in my hands and feet. Nails will take months to fully recover.

Enjoyed the three weeks off after chemo. Went to Florida to visit with Curtis, Sulein and Jia, who was Christened on March 28, 2009. It was nice to get away, have warm temperatures and visit with family. Upon arriving home on Monday, 3/30, we left Thursday, 4/2, to visit Carrie, Jeremy and Madison in New Jersey until Palm Sunday.

6 Down, 2 To Go

Okay, we are coming down the home stretch. Things have been pretty good with the last 2 treatments. I seem to have joint discomfort on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday after the chemo(this is caused by the white blood cell booster shot that I receive on the Wed after chemo). Then I feel really good and have a good 2nd week. I finally got a prescription for pain to take to see if I am more comfortable and am able to sleep those 2 nights. I also discovered that I was losing my big toenails, a side effect of the Taxol. Other than those facts, I am doing great and looking forward to the finish line. I have been able to have more energy and dance more, yeah!!!!

Thank you all for keeping me and my family in your thoughts and prayers. I know that is what helps to keep me going. I am so thankful for my friends who go and sit with me those agonizing hours of waiting while I receive the chemo drop by drop, but YOU make the time go faster. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I believe Jim is anxious for the last one also, just so I can feel like Bettie Jane again and not have to have these strange things happen to my body. We are very grateful that we have only encountered a few side effects and have been able to function. God Bless.

Five Down, 3 To Go

Ok, we are on the downhill side. Chemo #5 went very well. This was the beginning of a new drug, Taxol. This affects the nerve endings in my hands and feet and with the white blood cell booster shot it also affected my hip and knee joints for about 2 1/2 days. This was a little more than uncomfortable for nothing gave me any relief and I had a couple of sleepless nights. This went away and everything was great, I had more energy, didn't have to take naps and I was able to put more time in the classroom teaching, both at the studio and at the Visitation Academy.

My doctor is very pleased with my treatments and how I am handling the chemo. I also did not have to have a red blood cell booster shot with this treatment. That was good news.

Thanks for all your continued thoughts and prayers. I feel that when I go to chemo, I am a player and my whole team is with me, and I hit a homerun at every game. Your support is what keeps me going and Jim and I are most grateful. Thanks again. I love you all.

YEAH, HALF WAY

Okay, 4 down and 4 to go. Chemo #4 went really well and I have had a decent 2 weeks. I did have to have a red blood cell booster shot but my white blood cell counts have been doing great.

I felt well enough to travel to New Jersey to see our daughter(Carrie) and her family this weekend and brought she and Madison back with us to spend the week. Jeremy will come down Friday so we can celebrate Madison's 4th birthday. It is so nice to have them so close for a change instead of a 5 hour plane ride. I also taught in 3 classes, it felt really great to be back on the dance floor, and I also went to the Visitation Academy last Tuesday and Wednesday, it was nice to see all the girls once again.

I start a new drug this Tuesday, and then continue with the same for the next 3 treatments. So hopefully the next 4 treatments will go as well as the last 4 and we can get this section of my journey finished and onto the next, radiation.

I thank everyone for their continued thoughts and prayers. You are my motivation and the reason to continue, together we will beat this. I love you all.

3 Down, 5 to go

Okay, we are 3/4 's the way of the first 4 treatments. Each treatment, about the 3rd, 4th, and 5th day makes me run out of gas. Each one longer. I had chemo on the 30th of Dec. and our family had a wonderful New Year's Eve. I saw 2009 come in, watched my children play Wii, held my new granddaughter, loved Madison, and had a wonderful visit with a few friends.

WOW, what Jan 1st brought was like night and day. I was flat with NO ENERGY whatsoever for the next 2 days. Saturday, I was upright more and feeling stronger. Today, (Sunday) is like a new day. I have trouble with this because I am not used to being down and not able to function, but this is what chemo does and hopefully I have only one more then on to another drug. My understanding is that it's reaction is a little different, we will see. I told my children that ole Mom would not be the same at the end of the week as she was when they arrived on Mon and Tues. I hated for them to see me this way, but it is what it is and we move on. Jim has been soooo supportive and encouraging, that's love for sure.

I wish to Thank everyone for their continuous prayers and good wishes for 2009. Please know that these prayers and good wishes keep me going and looking forward to the end of these treatments. My doctor is pleased and says everything is going well and that the chemo is doing its job. I just have to accept it.

Looking forward to seeing everyone next week. Happy New Year!