What an eventful week.
The Queen of England, Elizabeth II, turned 90, Prince, the flamboyant
musician/artist died and we had crazy, record-breaking high temperatures in the
Pacific Northwest this week. Seeing all the beautiful pictures and posts
about the Queen, motivates me to work hard to live as long as her (as long as I
can look that agile and elegant). She is
truly an amazing leader who has lived through multiple wars and conflicts,
watched the progression of technology including nuclear bombs dropping in Japan,
and numerous weather disasters. Through
it all, she has remained poised, steadfast, and witty. She possesses trustworthy eyes and a lovely,
cheerful smile that puts people at ease.
We may not always agree politically (I don’t actually know much about
her political views), but she has remained open-minded and malleable over time. Yet, I respect and admire her as a strong person
who is constantly in the lime light while managing huge responsibilities when
she became queen at age 26. Long live
the Queen.
Prince was a character of a different sort. While he is best known for his original music
style, fashion and name changes (even if we couldn’t pronounce his symbol
name), he appeared reserved and stayed true to himself, not seeming to worry
about the opinions of others. Like
Michael Jackson, he learned to not only speak through his music but also
expressed himself through his clothing, dance moves and hairstyles. While he wasn’t on my favorite top 10 artists
of the 80’s list, his songs and lyrics were rhythmic and meaningful and he
definitely shaped other artists and the growth in the industry. Rest in Peace, Prince.
So, how about that weather?
When you’re peri-menopausal and hot flashing 5-10 times an hour, hot
weather isn’t always your friend. However,
it justifies the wide-open window in the bedroom, which refreshes the night and
delights my mornings with the sounds of various birds and frogs along with the sweet
aroma of blooming flowers. It’s been a
very interesting ride over the past month.
The weather seems to correlate well with my infusions. For instance, it started raining this
morning, just a couple hours prior to my infusion time and it’s forecasted to
rain in the Seattle area for the next 3 days and then stay cool for 2 more days
(upper 50s-low 60s). Just about the time
when the nausea subsides and energy starts to improve, the weather turns to
sunny and 70-80 degrees, improving my mood and allowing me to enjoy the
outdoors further. This is when my blood
counts reach their lowest levels, however, so it’s better for me to venture
outside than remain indoors, where germs tend to accumulate and spread more
easily. This is just another example of
how God cares for me and how your prayers are contributing to my journey.
That being said, I have completed 2/3 of my chemotherapeutic
regimen without a glitch (i.e. without a delay or significant modification of
treatment). My ANC (absolute neutrophil
count) increased from 300 to 600 (normal range 2,100-7,000). YAY!
However, I reacted more severely to this infusion than any in the
past. After returning home, I suffered
the aches, fever/chills and nausea similar to the flu, requiring me to take
something for relief (despite all the pre-medications given to diminish these
reactions). Fortunately, the medication worked and not
only did the fever dissipate (from 99.6 back down to my norm of 97 degrees F),
but the nausea subsided so that I could enjoy the wonderful taco salad meal
created and delivered by one of our many fabulous neighbors and the gingerbread
cookies freshly made by another neighbor.
I can’t say enough about the important role of all the love, prayers and
support in keeping me upbeat and healthy throughout this journey. I am truly appreciative for the cards, gifts,
letters, notes, comments, messages, meals, treats and utmost thoughtfulness and
care. In fact, I believe this definitely
contributes to my well-being and wards off evil diseases, despite the increased
risk with my low counts. Thank you all
and a big warm hug from me (from a safe distance)!
Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone
in the light. ~ Helen Keller
I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my
friends, the old and the new. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
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