Hi readers,

Karen went through her usual tiredness and soreness from the last round of chemo and shots.  By Tuesday (06/19) this week she was feeling pretty good, so she decided to take a small token of her appreciation to the outstanding staff at the doctor's office and chemo infusion center.  Over the past two weeks Karen voiced her visions of a very special thank gift and Marghi put them into reality.  Marghi made two huge bouquets of artificial flower arrangements, and placed hand-made individual thank you cards to each staff member throughout the bouquets.  The staff at both offices were overcome with Karen 's thoughtfulness.  Karen also gave the infusion center Red Vines, Jolly Ranchers, Werthers, and a Hershey's variety packs to refill the jars of candy.  During the chemo sessions "dry mouth" is one of the side effects, and a piece of candy seems to do the trick to get the saliva juices flowing.    

On Thursday (06/21), Karen went to the chemo center for her weekly lab work.  Glad to say all of her blood numbers were where they need to be, so she was able to dodge the shots that keep them in line.  The on-duty staff were still reeling about the delightful gift Karen had given each of them on Tuesday.  They all came over to give hugs to Karen, Mom and Marghi.  They were so appreciative.  The bouquet of flowers was proudly displayed on the counter-top, and the pink thank-you ribbon had been displayed on the wall by the clock.

Karen ventured out this morning (Fri 06/22) and drove her truck to the bank and to the gas station. She did great.  While no long trips are planned for anytime within the year, I can only say "Look out world, little by little she is transforming into her old self."  LOL :o)

Karen is still coping with the neuropathy in her hands and the extreme pain in her fingernails however, the complaints are few and far between. 

Marghi is planning to go home and back to work the first part of July.  Hope to have the NoCal household back to some kind of normalcy before then.  Marghi is willing to stay or return if the situation dictates.

Your support, thoughts, and prayers over the past five months have had remarkable results.  Thank you all!  :o)

Helloooooooooooooooooo readers,

Well since the last time we blogged Karen has reached some milestones. Karen saw the doctor on Tuesday and he reiterated that Karen is doing remarkably well despite the aggressive chemo she has endured over the past 16 weeks, her weight has pretty much remained the same for the past month.  He is just amazed.  While at the doctor's office one of the chemo nurses came in with her husband, suspecting he had cancer.  On Thursday (06/14) Karen completed her last round of chemotherapy.   We found out at that time the nurse's husband did not have cancer.  We were so thankful to God for their good news.  After Karen's chemo infusion, the nurses struck up the party favors, with a tambourine, noise makers, bubbles and applause, and presented Karen with a certificate of chemo completion.  See the attached picture.

Prior to the chemo, the nurses perform routine blood test, and all of Karen's numbers were "A okay."
It was a slow day at the infusion center, as management is trying to give the nurses an extra day off. As the nurse relayed it to us, she stated, "we are trying to DISPOSE of our patients on Thursday, so more of us can have the day off."  Karen was unsure what was meant by this statement, and was glad to get out of there alive.

She went on Friday for hopefully her last Neulasta shot, the one that keeps her white blood count up.
She has to go through some more blood tests over the next two weeks, just to make sure her blood numbers are good and holding, and to check the cancer markers.  After that it, if all stays well, it will be a monthly blood test, bone enhancing shots, and the clearing of her infusion port.  She will have an entire body PET scan sometime within the next four weeks comparing the tumors prior to and after the chemo.  We are praying for the best.

After partying at the infusion center, there is no holding her back.  Karen is ready to P A R T Y. LOL :o)   Yeah right! 

Thanks for reading and your support.  May God bless you! :o)