Nathan Pacheco revisited

Three years ago, I did this blog post.

Now Nathan is on his way!  I'm so excited to receive his new CD next week from Amazon.  He has also done a PBS special and it is airing all across the country.  It love it when good guys succeed.  If you hear his voice, you'll see what I mean.  Check out his website.  Way to go Nathan Pacheco!

Always remember and never forget

Last weekend my Mom and I had the opportunity to attend a scholarship dinner in honor of donors who have given scholarships to students in the College of Agriculture at Utah State University in Logan, Utah.  My sweet cousin Scott (the big guy in the blue and white stripped shirt) invited me to come a couple of months ago, right after I found out about my diagnosis.  I really wanted to be there and I'm so glad we could attend, even though I wasn't sure if my health would be good enough to travel.  Scott has endowed two scholarships at USU, one in the name of his son Dusty and another in the name of his father Dean who have both passed away.

Dusty was one of nine USU students who were killed in a horrible accident when the 11 passenger van they were driving in on a agriculture field trip, crashed and rolled, killing 9 of the 11 passengers including Scott's son Dusty.  The accident happened seven years ago today, September 27, 2005.  USU has since erected a beautiful memorial in remembrance of those 8 students and their instructor who died that day.  Two men survived the crash and of those two, one is leading a normal life and was recently married.  The other suffered severe brain damage and is alive but very disabled.

Scott chose to turn his grief into some positive.  He endowed a scholarship in the name of his son Dusty.  He also made a sizable donation to USU to help the college build an agriculture laboratory named for Dusty.  The lab is for the study of seeds and plants (Dusty's interest) as seen above.  Scott is on a first name basis with the Dean of the College and is well known and respected at USU.  I'm so proud of him!  He has taken a tragedy and turned it into an ongoing triumph! 

After my uncle Dean passed away last year, Scott decided to endow another scholarship in the name of his father.  Anyone can contribute to the scholarship and I think it would be a great way for our family to support Scott in this endeavor.  Two USU students were at the dinner and were awarded the scholarships that will help them immensely in their educational pursuits.  We enjoyed sitting by them at the dinner as well as by my cousin Lee and her husband Devon who were representing their parents (my Aunt Rhonda and Uncle Bill who were out of town.)  It was great to be there with Scott to support him and celebrate something good and worthwhile.  Again, I'm so proud of my cousin who has done some good in the world. He is a dry farmer who have worked on the family farm his entire life.  He is an amazing man and I admire him so much.

Chemo #2

Checkout my new wig

September 12. The 2nd round came along too soon.  I felt pretty good that last week, which was the third week after the 1st treatment.  I was determined to do everything in my power not to have such a hard experience.  And the good news is......I didn't!  Here are some things that made a difference:
*My oncologist gave me a prescription for some good acid reflux drugs that are time released and that helped immensely
*I had a full prescription of the anti-nausea drugs and I took them every 8 hours, right on schedule
*I ate and drank even when I didn't feel at all like eating and drinking.  My dear friends Colleen & Patsy brought us some tempting food and I enjoyed eating. 
*I got up and got dressed, every day but one
*Having my mom here helped a lot
*My husband continues to fast and pray for me along with many others and I know it helps

The first week I didn't have the terrible digestive issues like I did last time.  I still had a lot of bone pain and just a heavy feeling like my heart was pounding.  I slept pretty well.  I've gone to work all this week for a few hours.  I've lived my life.  I sewed a crib skirt for little Charlie.  I read my scriptures.  I read some good talks on trials.  I think that is important.  Get up.  Get going.  Help someone else if you can.
Days 8, 9, and 10 following chemo have been more difficult for some reason.  More digestive issues and a strange rash has appeared on my hands that is getting worse.  Hum...the uncertainties of chemo.  Just when a person thinks they are on top of it for awhile, it comes crashing down.

I want my momma!

Who do you want when you're going through a hard time?  Well, I'll tell you one thing, I want my mother dear to come and reassure me, spoil  me and just be with me.  And that is exactly what I got.  My sweet mother Mary drove herself, her sister and her brother-in-law to town for a four day visit.  She stayed with me and they stayed with their daughter Janis and her family who live in my neighborhood.  She went with me to my 2nd chemo infusion.  She sat by me in the COLD chemo room and caught a chill.  She waited with me the whole 4 1/2 hours while we talked to the doctor, got the infusion of the chemo drugs and then headed home.

~She took me back the next morning for my shot of Neulasta and she just buoyed me up and helped me get through it.
~She brought some potato soup that tasted delicious
~She brought some raspberries that my uncle Clair had picked for us and she made about 12 pints of raspberry jam.
~She took some pears my sister Lee sent and made some pear jam
~we went to visit her sister Gayla who is in a care center and had a nice visit with her
~we went to lunch with Aunt Rhonda and Uncle Bill and had a nice visit (their treat, now nice!)
~She took some old apples, cooked them up and made the most delicious home-made applesauce
~She made two fresh peach pies
~She made chicken noodle soup that was just what I wanted and needed
~She made meat loaf and baked potatoes, good comfort food
~She did dishes, cooked and helped out in every way possible.  Oh, and did I mention that she is 85 years old??

And what did we do to fill those hours when I didn't feel so good?
~we put a puzzle together
~we watched my HD movie edition of Gone With the Wind
~we watched the movie edition of Phamtom of the Opera
~we watched the movie While You Were Sleeping

And the best part of all?  She would give me a  hug and say "I'm so sorry you have to go through this" and "I love you" and "you can do this!"

She should know.  She went through the same thing herself nine years ago.  She is a example to me of courage, grit, determination and will power.  I love her so much. She fought the good fight and she won.  So can I!

The goodness of people

I've been completely overwhelmed by the kindness shown to us since we learned of this breast cancer diagnosis.  People have been so concerned, so supportive, so compassionate, so kind.  Seriously, it has made all the difference to me to have this kind of support.  It has given me courage and made me feel stronger knowing that so many people are pulling for me and Rick.  And on that note, make no mistake.  This is a journey that my husband and I are both traveling together.  His loving concern has been unparalled.  I have felt his support through thick and thin.  He is my anchor and my true love.
The faith and prayers of so many people have buoyed me up and have helped me feel calm in the face of what lies ahead.   I have felt those prayers.  I know people have fasted and prayed and have shown faith that all will be well. This means everything to me.

I have written over 50 thank you cards.  People are so good and have come up with so many ways to be helpful and to be kind.  I thought I'd make a list of some of the things friends and family members have done.  It might help to give ideas for the future if you know of anyone going through this experience or a similar one. Here's the list:

*fresh flowers (I've had a fresh bouquet almost every day since the beginning)
*plaques with uplifting verses and hopeful sayings
*bath products
*books with uplifting messages and just books that are funny
*movies on loan
*meals  
*fresh fruit and healthy treats
*See's chocolates
*Jamba Juice gift card
*a schedule meal brought on each chemo day
*an edible fruit basket
*gift cards for take out food
*essential oils
*lap blankets
*pies, banana bread, cookies, muffins
*perfumes and head scarf
*peaches, pears, tomatoes, corn
*hats
*bath and body products for SLEEP
*hard candies to suck on during chemo treatment
*cards, cards and more cards with encouraging words
*texts, phone calls, email, Facebook messages and voicemail with encouraging words

If anyone sees a cute hat somewhere while you are out and about, buy it and I'll pay you back.  A bald head can never have too many head coverings.