M&Ms with a purpose!

For all of you chocoholics out there (and even those of you who are not!) -

Pink & White M&Ms





Masterfoods USA will sell specially packaged bags of dark pink and light pink M&M’S® Chocolate Candies in retail outlets nationally from approximately August 15 through October 31, 2006. For each bag sold, Masterfoods USA will make a donation to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, with a minimum contribution of $250,000. Masterfoods will donate to Komen 35 cents for each 14-ounce package and 50 cents for each 21.3-ounce package sold. For more information, visit www.mms.com.

posted by Kim @ 2:19 PM 4 comments

Back in the saddle again....

Today, I made my first solo drive! Funny how what always seemed to be an easy task, like closing the car door or reaching for the seat belt, now takes more of a true effort to accomplish!

I went to see the radiation oncologist this morning. The cancer center in Tomball is a new facility and so close to the house that it seemed effortless to get there today. What a blessing after making weekly 45 minute drives to get chemo for the past 6 months!

The doctor explained the radiation treatment process to me. Actually, he explained it again, as he had already told me most of the information during our consult back in January. However, back then, I was processing information at about 50% and only retaining that which pertained to the here and now, so I needed a review.

He did an exam and wanted to see how much mobility I had regained in my left arm. I will need to keep it immobilized above my head during treatments, so that flexibility is a must. Even after doing the exercises I was given by Physical Therapy in the hospital and the Reach to Recovery lady, I still have some work to do. He suggested I up the number of times I do the exercises, from the prescribed twice a day to three or four times. Oh joy!

My therapy schedule will be 5 days a week for 6 and one half weeks. The doctor said he is giving me another week to make progress with my arm. Then, next week, I will go back for my "planning session" where they will actually make my particular plan. If all goes well, and my incision area has healed well enough, the doctor said we could probably start sessions the following week. That means I could possibly be finished with those treatments by Thanksgiving!

So, life goes on. While I am still regaining strength after having the surgery and pneumonia, little by little I am adjusting to life outside the house again. I find it difficult sometimes finding the balance between "taking it easy" and "getting things done." However, it's amazing how the body has ways of letting you know when you've reached its limit. Thankfully, the arm and shoulder exercises don't require a lot of effort, and some can even be done lying down. So, I should be able to make my goal by next week!

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." ~Philippians 4:13

posted by Kim @ 11:41 AM 2 comments

Home again!

Well, I got my walking papers from the hospital this afternoon. To quote the doctor, "I could keep you here, but then you might catch something else!" So, armed with 4 new prescriptions, another water jug and breathing doo-hickey (now I have twin sets of each!), and without umpteen staples and a couple of stitches, I was on my way home this afternoon. I will post more in a day or two, but I did want to update for everyone who has been so diligent in checking up on me. I don't have any "oomph" right now (another doctor word), but I hope to regain it soon.

Thanks again for your love and care,
Kim

posted by Kim @ 5:57 PM 4 comments

Pneumonia

A quick update about Mom. She went in to ER this afternoon and was diagnosed with pneumonia in her left lung. Supposedly it is not surgery-related, and there's no infection. I don't know anything more than that right now, other than that she'll be spending the night at the hospital.

posted by Ryan Kelly @ 7:49 PM 5 comments

Home!

"But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.
I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me." ~Psalm 3: 3-5

Michael and the girls brought me home from the hospital just a short while ago. Since it's hard to type one handed, and I want to rest my left arm, I won't be posting much for a little while. But, I wanted to thank everyone for their prayers, phone calls, e-mails, flowers, gifts, hospital visits, and general outpouring of love. Your support has been such a great blessing to me and the family, as well as a tangible example of Christ's love to me.

I will be taking it easy this week and getting some of the staples removed by the end of the week. Nothing much else will be going on that can't be done from the recliner! The hospital stay went without a hitch but......

"East, west....."Home is best!"

posted by Kim @ 1:58 PM 4 comments

Post surgery update

Just quickly... Mom went into surgery this morning around 6:30, went up to her room at 11:00 a.m. Surgery went as planned, she's resting, and is hopeful to get out of the hospital on Monday or Tuesday. Pathology report should be back on Thursday. That's what I know...

posted by Ryan Kelly @ 7:08 PM 6 comments

Counting the days on one hand......

Everything is still a go for this Friday! I just got back from taking care of pre-op details, getting more blood drawn, having an EKG and getting an exemption from a chest x-ray since I just had one last week. My surgery (a modified radical mastectomy with axillary node disection - try saying THAT 5 times quickly!) is set for Friday morning at 7:30; we have to report at the hospital at 6:30. It's really happening......seems rather surreal. Giving medical history is always interesting for me. I try to remember every small detail, but I always seem to forget something. Today, I forgot to tell the nurse about my continuing Herceptin treatments; I remembered to tell her I completed my chemo, but I forgot about the Herceptin. Oh well, I remembered on the way down to the lab, so she wrote it on a tiny scrap of paper. Hope it makes its way to my chart!

I had my "end of chemo" visit yesterday. I got clearance for surgery and we went over the MUGA results from last week. They were quite favorable, so that means I can continue on with Herceptin for a while. I also tried to get every little question I had answered, since I won't be back for another 3 weeks. As busy as that office is, I sure do think highly of all the people that work there. They are such a caring staff. I am so thankful that God brought people into my life who recommended Dr. Holmes; she and her staff have been an answer to prayer!

I finally made it back to church yesterday and was overwhelmed by the well wishes and hellos. It was good to be in familiar surroundings again and to hear God's word preached from the pulpit instead of from the computer! Even though I will be missing a few weeks after surgery, I look forward to regularly sitting in the congregation again now that chemo is completed.

Thank you again to all who have been praying throughout this ordeal and especially as surgery is nearing. While I am looking forward to getting this phase over with and moving on, part of me isn't really exciting about going through the surgery and recovery. A friend at church encouraged me yesterday when she told me that I have gone through the hardest part of treatment already, now that chemo is completed. She said that surgery and even radiation will seem easy compared to chemo. And she should know, since she is a 10 year survivor herself!

I will try to check in after surgery or ask one of the guys to post, just to keep everyone updated. Thank you again for all of your prayers, cards, e-mails, meals, and support. I treasure all of you.

God Moves in a Mysterious Way (William Cowper)

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

posted by Kim @ 1:25 PM 3 comments

Resting.....

"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." ~Psalm 55:22

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
~Matthew 11:28

What a promise! What a comfort! This past week was one of labor and burden, and I have needed to continually keep these Scripture verses in front of my eyes. My list of things I want to get done before surgery continues to grow as quickly as weeds in a garden. For every one thing I get checked off, I manage to add three or four.

Today was day 5 of my dad being in the hospital, and I still haven't really been able to pin a doctor down as to what is causing him to be so lethargic and unresponsive. He continues to receive antibiotics for the infection and pneumonia. He has been awake a bit each day, so we have seen slow improvement. But it is rather disconcerting to see him sleeping so much on a daily basis. I intend to try to meet with his primary doctor tomorrow to discuss what his current assessment is. As taxing as this has been, I am so very grateful that the hospital is right here, in town, just a few minutes from our home. When the call came in last Thursday (at 5 AM) that he was being transported to ER, I was able to be there in no time at all. I have been able to make daily trips to check on him. Today, I was able just to walk upstairs after having my heart scan done and go visit him in his room. So, God has been gracious to me again.

The heart scan actually went off today without a hitch (meaning, no rescheduling!). The tech even asked me what type of music I would like to hear while the scan was going on. I told her I didn't really care just as long as it wasn't obnoxious. So, as I had my heart scan, I listened to Barry Manilow crooning songs from the 70's....I got to relive my high school and college years through music!

Yesterday's Herceptin treatment came and went, also. The only difference this time was that the Benadryl dose they gave me made me so sleepy this time that I actually had to take a half hour nap in the van before I could stay awake to drive! That was a first for me. It was rather strange napping in a parking garage (rather hot, too!), but it was safer than heading out on the road feeling all groggy. After "sleeping it off," I ran a number of errands on the way home. My time away from home turned into 7 hours; needless to say, I was quite tired by the time I actually set foot in the house again.

The other news from yesterday is that my surgery date was changed. I had just finished reminding everyone at the clinic that my surgery was set for the 15th and then the surgeon's office called me on my way home and reset it for the 18th! It seems as though the docotr has to go out of town, so he had to reschedule. Yes, I am somewhat disappointed, but I am also resting in the knowledge that God must have a reason for this delay. So, that makes it okay with me. I figure it will allow me to get more things knocked off of my "to do" list!

So, instead of 6 days until my surgery, there are 9 more days. 3 more days to practice resting.

Rest of the Weary (John S. B. Monsell)

Rest of the weary, joy of the sad,
Hope of the dreary, light of the glad;
Home of the stranger, strength to the end,
Refuge from danger, Savior and Friend!

Pillow where lying, love rests its head,
Peace of the dying, life of the dead:
Path of the lowly, prize at the end,
Breath of the holy, Savior and Friend!

When my feet stumble, to Thee I’ll cry,
Crown of the humble, cross of the high;
When my steps wander, over me bend
Truer and fonder, Savior and Friend!

Ever confessing Thee, I will raise
Unto Thee blessing, glory and praise:
All my endeavor, world without end,
Thine to be ever, Savior and Friend!

posted by Kim @ 10:56 PM 2 comments

Entering the home stretch.....

I had my final chemo treatment yesterday. Yes, I did. It's strange how quickly time seems to have gone; yet back in February, when I was just beginning, I thought this day would never come. Yesterday was an otherwise uneventful day. I drove to the doctor's office, paid my co-pay, had my blood drawn, sat in the chair and got my drugs and then left. Plain, simple and to the point. Since I'll be back next week for Herceptin, there was no big farewell. I'll still be seeing a lot of those nurses over the rest of the year.

I scheduled another heart (MUGA) scan today. The doctor wanted me to have it done before my sugery, and surprisingly I was able to get it scheduled for next Tuesday. Of course, this is Tomball Hospital, and we do have a history of rescheduling this test. But I am hoping for the best. I also need to have a chest x-ray done that day, too. Then, I will have my "end of chemo" appointment on the 14th, the day before surgery. I am certain these next two weeks will zip by.

The ladies in the clinic with me yesterday were all discussing different aspects of their treatment, as well as the different side effects we have experienced. It amazed all of us that each individual case gets such different and specific treatment. Cancer treatment is so very individualistic these days. A common thread among us, however, was that all of us considered our side effects fairly manageable. It has been such a blessing to me to have these ladies there to "share" in the experience and give their view points. It has been a real encouragement from those who are "in the trenches" with me. I will miss these new friends when I no longer see them weekly.

As I think about the upcoming surgery, the radiation treatments and the rest of the year ahead, I find myself needing to look to God more and more, otherwise everything seems so overwhelming. I found myself humming this Fanny Crosby hymn this morning - it is one to repeat over and over again:

He is All in All to Me

There is constant joy abiding
In Christ my Lord and King;
Of His love that passeth knowledge
My heart and tongue shall sing.

He is all in all to me,
And my song of songs shall be,
Hallelujah, O my Savior,
I am trusting only Thee.

When my path is veiled in shadows,
And clouds above me roll,
I can smile amid the tempest,
His glory fills my soul.

He is all in all to me,
And my song of songs shall be,
Hallelujah, O my Savior,
I am trusting only Thee.

I can see his bow of promise
Through tears and trials deep;
I can hear His voice like music,
That lulls my care to sleep.

He is all in all to me,
And my song of songs shall be,
Hallelujah, O my Savior,
I am trusting only Thee.

I shall yet behold and praise Him,
And dwell in perfect peace
In the golden land of beauty,
Where cloud and wave shall cease.

He is all in all to me,
And my song of songs shall be,
Hallelujah, O my Savior,
I am trusting only Thee.

posted by Kim @ 2:23 PM 4 comments