RELAY FOR LIFE

KENNY AND I PARTICIPATED IN RELAY FOR LIFE this past weekend.  This is the first one I have ever participated in and it was a special evening.  Relay for Life rallies/walks are held by communities to raise support and awareness for cancer victims and survivors on behalf of American Cancer Society.  I was proud to see our different community groups; businesses, schools, churches and other groups sponsoring booths and walking for this great cause.  In our time when almost everyone has been touched by cancer themselves or within their families, its a great show of support by our community.  After the opening ceremonies, all the cancer survivors lined up and each came to the mic to say their name and how many years cancer free, as well as be presented a special medal.  I was set back at how emotional it made me being in that line with all those brave warriors who battled their own journey through cancer and all that it includes.  It was especially emotional to see my Aunt Joy right behind me declaring her victory, "one month cancer free"!



Then all of us were led in a "Victory Round" the first lap around the track being cheered on by kind supporters outlining the track.  SO EMOTIONAL especially to have my husband by my side who drove like a crazy person from work in Orlando stuck in traffic just because he would not let me do it alone.  I didn't realize what a big deal it was to me until that very moment.













We also purchased memory luminary sacs decorated by school children in honor of my mom and Kenny's grandfather.  The bags lined the track and were lit after dark for a very special candlelight memory lap in honor of your loved ones.  I'm THANKFUL to all the people who worked so hard to make it a success.

I'M STILL PRAYING AND CONSIDERING the support group idea for women.  Kenny and I thoroughly enjoyed talking to Lee Krauss at the Relay.  Lee loves the Lord and has an incredible testimony of healing from Esophageal cancer in 2004 where he was given about 2 weeks to live.  Lee has given back for several years now through a local support group he facilitates on the 2nd Monday of each month held at Odd Couples cafe.  Blessings to Lee for all his effort, love and concern.

I WISH I COULD SAY I'VE FELT BETTER but between the aches, the neuropathy and vomiting from nausea and acid reflux the last couple of days, its been a little rough.  But I know it will improve, just 5 more treatments to go!  I have an appt. for a medical massage tomorrow which I'm hoping will help.  Despite it all, I'm still blessed beyond measure and grateful for all the support and love from my family and friends.

NEUROPATHY

HAD CHEMO YESTERDAY - 6 MORE WEEKLY CHEMO'S TO GO AND COUNTING DOWN!  And boy was it a busy day around the clinic!  The nurses were really hustling with backed up patients, IV pumps beeping in crazy harmony all down the room as they apologetically tried to get to each one, and none of the nurses were able to take a lunch.  They were grabbing mouthfuls at best when they could - and if anybody deserves to clockout and sit down for at least thirty minutes away from the chaos, its an oncology nurse.  I have to give a shout out of appreciation, admiration, and respect to the nursing staff there at Florida Cancer Specialists in Tampa - Jean, Ginger, Jen, Linda, and Melissa.  From day one each one has been awesome, very patient, professional, kind and helpful and treat each of us like we're their only patient.  I treated them a couple of weeks ago with a Brown Sugar Poundcake I made and they were so appreciative.  It felt like such a small payback for all they do for me.  Actually the whole staff at FCS is great from my Dr. and PA, to the front desk staff, phlebotomists and even the insurance girl who has to take money from me - she's does it with a patient smile.

NEUROPATHY IS THE SYMPTOM OF THE HOUR, a side effect from the chemo causing nerve tingling and numbness in hands and feet off and on, sometimes more painful than others.  Since the neuropathy started my arms and chest wall are tighter and more uncomfortable like they had been earlier which I'm attributing to the heightened nerves.  They put me on 800 units a day of Vitamin E which takes time, but is supposed to help.  If not, there are drugs like Neurotin they can prescribe if it gets too bad.  I will try to avoid that.  The neuropathy is common and can take sometimes a year to go away - eek!  Not something I want to think about with clinicals (hopefully) starting back for me in August!  Dr. Wright wants me to skip a week next week of chemo and give my body a break especially with the neuropathy getting worse.  He's hoping that will calm it down some.  I'm grateful for the break, but know that it just delays the finish a little longer.  How about we skip the next 6 treatments and the final two surgeries too??  A girl can dream.  

MY NEWEST PAIN PILL, Tramadol, works okay.  Supposed to be better than too much Ibruprofen, and not as addictive as the hydrocodone, but gave me nausea issues last week which I'd hadn't had to deal with to that degree since I finished the A/C drug.  Besides all that...I'm doing pretty good!  Like my husband likes to say..."Besides that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"  LOL.

Cheryl and I 

ENJOYED A GOOD EASTER WEEKEND.  Helped with our church's annual Easter Egg Outreach at the football field, then enjoyed lunch with my father-in-law, Steve and his wife Dona who were in town for a few days.  Sunday service our choir performed with all of our energy and passion proclaiming the resurrection.  Then Sunday lunch was at my sister's for good food and fun with all the cousins.

Tyler, Brittni, Ashley, Derek

Cayler and Sami

A FRIEND'S FIGHT

A DEAR FRIEND AND FELLOW CANCER WARRIOR finished her battle and went home to be with the Lord on Monday.  I'm so thankful that I was able to tell Renee once again during her stay at MRMC two weeks ago that she was such a strong inspiration to me in my battle, and how I thought of her when I needed strength.  She fought liver cancer for several years now and was a beautiful 57 yr. old woman, wife, mother, grandmother, Christian, and had even received her masters in nursing in recent years.  I believe she trusted the Lord's sovereignty to the end even when she didn't understand and fought the normal fears that anyone of us would have faced in her situation.  I was inspired and emotionally moved as she continued to makes steps toward her faith in God, and desired to do ministry for Him right up until the end.  Renee had been moved to a hospice house in the Villages for the last week where loving family members surrounded her and graciously allowed friends like us, and church family to come to sit with her and them.

PLEASE REMEMBER the Juderjahn family in your prayers, praying for the peace and comfort only our Lord can bring.  I pray for only a portion of the courage she displayed.  In loving memory.