For those of you that have been following Chippers Journey, Karen lost her battle to cancer on 11/28/14.  She is now in heaven with Mom and other dear family members and friends.  Karen fought strong and hard over the past 3 years, she was an inspiration to so many of us.  As recently as 10/07/14 she had cut her own yard and weeded just one day before her last chemo treatment.  She had the usual aches and discomforts from the chemo but more was brewing than she let on.  She had a constant headache, that we now know was due to swelling of her brain due to the invasion of cancer.  Thanks to all of you for your constant support and prayers.  We will miss you, Karen.  Rest in peace my friend.  Chippers Journey is now 10-10 (off duty).

It's been awhile since the last update to the blog, but a lot has happened.  Karen suffered a set back with her chemotherapy treatments, and the cancer spread to her lungs, liver and brain.  She received 10 rounds of radiation to the brain in 8 days this past October.  All other cancer treatments have been stopped as Karen is now in hospice.  Her situation digresses a little more each day.  Right now we are focused on her comfort.  She has fought a good fight over the past three years.  Please keep Karen in your thoughts and prayers as she continues on the next part of her journey.

Hello one and all,

    First and foremost, Mom (Grandma Ava) celebrated her 91st birthday this past Saturday.  Karen as usual spoiled her Mom on this special day and Mom received many cards and gifts from many family members.  Although she won't admit it, she had a great time hitting the big "91."

    Anyhow, Karen started her sixth cycle of chemo this past week.  Karen's blood counts are always well within the appropriate ranges to have the chemo.  Karen's cancer markers are decreasing but not as fast as the doctor would like.  Karen saw her oncologist yesterday and he will extend her chemo regimen for two more cycles.  So Karen will receive the same chemo treatment during the months of October and November.  He also told Karen to expect another PET scan in November.  To say the least, Karen was not thrilled about having another PET scan.  Oh well, time will tell how the additional treatments go for Karen.

   When she is not busy with doctor appointments, blood tests or chemo treatments, Karen stays busy with housework, yard work, woodworking, exercising or just "hanging out and doing NOTHING." 

    Karen and her Mom again express their heartfelt thanks to everybody for the phone calls, and most definitely your prayers and thoughts.   Thank you and may the good Lord take care each and every one of you in a very special way. 

Tip of the Blog: Whose life can you influence today with a genuine smile? Smiling back at you!!!

A gigantic hello to one and all,

First and foremost, we our sorry for not posting since June 29.  During the month of July Karen finished her fourth cycle of the chemotherapy treatment and had a PET scan.  Karen's cancer has remained the same since starting the chemo in April but she keeps an upbeat attitude about her life and treatment.  When she was not busy with blood tests, chemotherapy treatments and doctor visits, Karen stayed busy in July (even while the weather was in the 100s) completing a couple woodworking projects (rebuilt a record cabinet for her older sister, Anne, and constructed a coffee table for her younger sister, Teresa).   Both projects turned out very nice and the family members were extremely pleased with the furniture. 

During the first week of August Karen celebrated her 61st  birthday with family members and also started her fifth cycle of the chemo regimen.  Like in the past, the nurses are still scrambling and yes, the sessions are still lasting a minimum of 2 to 3 hours.  Of course Karen is thankful she is not receiving transfusions or other medications as some of the patients are in the infusion center for over 4 hours and longer.  Like in the past, something humorous always happens with Karen and the nurses.  This past month was no exception.  Karen has been dubbed "Ms. Glitchy."  Prior to any medications or chemo being administered, the patient's temperature is taken as a precautionary measure.  At the second session of the fourth cycle, the nurse (Barbara) took Karen's temperature four times orally.  The readings vary from 91 to 100.  The nurse settled on a temperature between 98 and 99.  Thinking this was an isolated incident, the following week, the nurse (Jessica) using an oral thermometer had to take it twice as the machine was not reading anything until it was taken out of the mouth.  When Karen went for her doctor visit, the nurse (Marisa) using an oral thermometer again took it twice and informed Karen that the thermometer was not indicating any temperature at all.  The nurse decided to set the machine down and advised Karen she would take it later.  While it sat on the counter, believe it or not, the thermometer flashed a reading.  It was 98.2. Believing that the medical staff had their thermometers fixed, Karen went in for her first session of the fifth cycle.  You guessed it.  When the nurse, Ivah, placed the oral thermometer in Karen's mouth, there was no reading.  She repeated the process and there was no reading.  As the nurse could clearly see, Karen was still breathing and laughing and shaking her head in disbelief.  Karen then told the nurse about the previous episodes with the nurses and the thermometers.  And  yes, after taking the thermometer out of the mouth, and waiting a few seconds, the thermometer read 98.3.  Karen did not like the nurses' backup plans of taking a "rectal" reading.  Anyhow, Karen is praying that everything will go okay this week.  Wish her luck as rectal reading are not funny. 

Anyhow, Karen and her Mom are thankful for your prayers and thoughts and likewise keep you in their daily prayers and thoughts.  May the good Lord bless you all and keep you happy and healthy.

Tip of the blog:  Everyday, we carry many crosses.  Sometimes, the cross is a little more than we can carry.  Remember, to thank the "Simon" who came along and assisted you with your cross.  Even Jesus Christ had to have a Simon help him with his cross. 

Hello to one and all,

      Well, this past month Karen completed her third cycle of six chemotherapy treatments.  Yippee!!!  As previously written, the hospital transitioning is still experiencing some delays with the patients.  Karen has met a new staff of nurses in the infusion center and the nurses are getting acquainted with Karen's sense of humor.  As an example, when the nurse is ready to infuse the patient with their chemo, the nurse will verify the patient's name and DOB.  Of course this question is asked while you are under the influence of Benadryl.  On the last chemo session Karen had this past Thursday, Karen decided to tell the nurse that the wrist band Karen was wearing did not have her correct name on it.  The name on the wrist band said "NERAK, KRALC." To say the least the nurse stopped and there was dead silence.  Karen started laughing and told the nurse that she was mistaken as Karen was reading the name upside down.  The nurse (Linda) began to laugh also and told Karen that it was unnecessary to verify her name and DOB.  Although the chemo sessions are to last only an hour and a half, the sessions have lasted closer to three hours because one of the medication is taking at least 40 minutes to be dispense through the IV. 
     Karen is delighted that her blood counts are well within the acceptable limits and her cancer markers appear to be decreasing instead of increasing.  Karen saw her oncologist also this month and he advised Karen that he wanted another PET scan done.  So during the month of July Karen will have a PET scan.  Karen is not experiencing any serious side effects with the chemo treatment. 
      During the month of June, Karen and her mom were treated to the services of a personal chef, who came to their home and prepared five meals.   This gift/service was paid by Karen's sister-in-law Joanne, who wanted to surprise Mom and Karen.  Yes, the food was very delicious and the chef, Perry, was a delightful and energetic character.  Additionally, Karen's niece, Lindsay, married her sweetheart, Ryne, on the 15th in San Francisco.   Although Karen and her mom did not attend the wedding, their heartfelt wishes and prayers were sent to the newlyweds via other family members.  Karen and her mom also had some family visits and calls.  Karen and her mom stay busy with yard work and other domestic duties.  Karen is completing some woodworking projects for two of her sisters.  Hopefully, the projects will be completed before the end of July.  Anyhow, Karen and her mom send big hugs and love to all the readers of this blog.  Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.
    
 Tip of the Blog:  Even though your life's journey maybe long, your angelic friends make sure you never travel it alone.  Please love God and your life. 

Hello one and all,

     Well, a belated Memorial Day greetings to all of our military people especially our veterans.  This past Thursday (May 30) Karen finished her second cycle of a six cycle chemotherapy treatment program.  As you know, a cycle is when Karen receives her chemo treatment of Taxol three weeks in a row and then has a week off.  Although the session which includes the pre-medications is supposed to last only an hour and a half, the sessions have been lasting almost three hours.  Karen as well as the other patients have discovered that the hospital has made the process more time consuming.  Even though Karen's appointment was at 3:00PM this past Thursday, the nurse did not call her name until after 3:30PM.  The week prior Karen again waited a half hour after her appointed time and after she was prepared for everything, the nurse informed Karen that she (nurse) was waiting for the medications and the Taxol to be delivered from the hospital.  The items eventually arrived almost thirty minutes later.  Karen noticed the nurses seem more upset and not happy with the new procedures.  Additionally, it is a new group of nurses so Karen is trying to get to know them better.   
     As far as side effects, Karen is only experiencing a little insomnia on the day of the chemo as one of the medications does cause temporary insomnia.  Karen still has the neuropathy in her fingertips but takes glutamine and a B-complex to help with that issue.  Karen is slowly losing (more like thinning) her hair again.  Her blood counts are okay, however, her cancer marker was elevated after this last blood draw.  Although Karen was not happy with that result, she is keeping a positive outlook and is enjoying doing some of her hobbies (yard work, woodworking, etc.).   Anyhow, Karen and her mom want to thank everybody for keeping them in your thoughts and prayers.  Thanks. 

Tip of the Blog:  Keep a smile on your face and say a little prayer for that special military person in your life (living or deceased).

Hello to all "Chippers Journey" readers,

     Well, Karen finished her first of six cycles of the Taxol chemo treatments this past Thursday (May2).  She will not be receiving any treatment this week, which she is very happy about.  Luckily, Karen's is not experiencing the harsh side effects like she did last year.  She still has the neuropathy in her finger tips and the balls of the feet.  One of the pre-meds she is given before the chemo has caused a little bit of insomnia, especially on the night of the treatment but Karen is dealing with it by sleeping in late the following day.  Overall, Karen is feeling pretty well and has a very upbeat attitude regarding this new journey.
     As reported in the last writing, the infusion center that Karen goes to will be under the auspices of the hospital.  As such, there is more paperwork that must be completed by the cancer patients before the treatment can begin or services can be rendered.  Yes, you guessed it.  All of that information is then entered into the computer by the nurses and other staff personnel.  To ensure that the computer system was operating correctly or accurately, Karen was selected, not by choice mind you, to test their computer equipment.  Being the guinea pig for this project, the new protocol requires the cancer patient to wear a hospital wrist band.  In addition to the patient's name, the band also has a bar code.  The nurse, who was carrying a portable computer with a scanning port came over to test it.  Standing by was their IT individual.  After several attempts of trying to scan the band, you guessed it, it did not work.  To say the least the IT guy was not happy.  The nurse went back and retrieved a handheld scanner and tried again.  After a couple of attempts and the sound of a beep, the nurse went back to the desk computer and replied, "You are now in the system."  Karen remarked back, "Is that better than being on a LIST?"  Of course everybody had a good chuckle except the IT guy, who was still trying to get the portable computer to work.   Karen is praying that when she starts her second cycle, the system will run a little bit smoother and not appear so chaotic.
     Lastly, Karen and her mom wanted to extend their heartfelt thanks to their East Coast cousin/niece, Jamie, who lives with her husband in North Carolina, for her participation in the Relay for Life event on May 3 and for honoring several family members (our grandmother, Jamie's father, an uncle and Karen's brother) who died of cancer.  Thank you Jamie.

Tip of the Blog:  Today and everyday, use your senses to re-discover the magnificent splendor of your life's blessings.