Beanie Bits

My niece Sally came out for her 2nd consult of 5 different places. After hearing the somber news that her regular oncologist and the University of Minnesota said that there wasn't anything else they could do, we were afraid that the rest were going to follow suit. Well, Dr. Clary at UCSD couldn't have made this family ANY happier. He gave us a renewed feeling of hope and encouragement. After sitting with him for almost an hour and going over treatment options, we feel like we have a little more bounce in our step. Sally had hoped to get in to Mayo Clinic before her takedown surgery (colostomy reversal), but the soonest they told her she could get in was Nov. 10th. Well, Dr. Clary said he has a colleague and friend that works at Mayo that does the exact same type of surgery as he does and he is also HIGHLY skilled in his field and one of the best. His name is also Dr. Cleary. Pronounced the same only spelled differently. Anyway, he said let me give him a call right now and see...

Yesterday my niece Sally (I call her Sal E. Mander) arrived in town. We are heading up to UCSD today for another treatment option. We had a long talk last night over dinner when I asked her if she was anxious or excited about her upcoming appointment. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she just sat that for a moment not able to say anything. She said she did have 1 consultation already last week with the University of Minnesota's Oncology Clinic. They told her that there wasn't anything more they could do for her than what was being done or had been done in St. Paul at her current clinic. She said it's hard living with an incurable disease. I can't even imagine. Right now all they can do is keep it at "bay" until it progresses. Next week she goes to MD Anderson, the following week she and her husband will go to Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York. The 26th she's having her takedown surgery (removal of her colostomy bag). Then she'll head to Mayo Clinic ...

Yesterday, watching the early morning news, they were showing a segment from a limo accident that killed a group of young people that were going to a 30th birthday party celebration. Watching that brought back a lot of haunted images from the site of my brother's fatal accident in May. I had to eventually turn it off as it was just too raw for me to even bare. The family losing not just 1 life, but MULTIPLE! I don't even know where you would begin to even grieve. Seriously! Today is one of my WAY off days. I don't know if there is a new moon or a full moon on it's way but something is out there messing with my head. I didn't sleep well last night. My head is just full of way too much and my dreams, which never really made sense before, are really jacked up now. So, anywhoooo, I'm on my way to work this morning (GAG), and I noticed that the tire pressure was low, REALLY REALLY low at 7 psi. Yep, I pulled over and called my husband, who is currently out of town....

First day of Chemo session 1 Hooked up and wired for sound wear her Dr. Feelgood t-shirt Chilling It's a great day to do some garden shopping Mother's Day and my birthday, a perfect day with my 2 favorite ladies A feeling' Willie good moment My niece Sally was diagnosed at the age of 35 with stage IV colon cancer, meaning that it has spread. Not just to both lobes of her liver, but to her lungs and some lymph nodes as well. She had been traveling for work, she had been feeling fatigued from the travel only this time she was experiencing some abdominal pains and thought she had been constipated. She had a long flight home in excruciating pain and spent part of the time in the airport on the floor holding her stomach she was in so much pain. She finally made it home, went to Urgent Care the next morning only to be told they were out of enemas. So they sent her to the ER and from that moment on, that's when all hell broke loose. Needless t...

Robert and I after the ceremony on the beach Warren, the groom and Robert My new friend Susan. What a great soul! Prewedding photo Newly wedded couple Warren and Elycia. Warren sporting Elycia's veil Friday night shenanigans Someone forgot their shoes...Brandon? The whole gang Nancy, myself, Nancy and Tiffanie "decorating" the bridal suite. More fun with the gag gifts One final laugh before we get caught...LOL Friday night on the deck with the Maid of Honor Samanth I can't tell you what a great time we had at our friend's Warren and Elycia's wedding in Laguna Beach. We all stayed at Seven4One boutique hotel that is open for events only. It's a very quaint and cozy place that was picture perfect even if we did have a few gray clouds hanging in the background. Everyone gathered Friday evening for tacos and cocktails after the rehearsal and the excitement in the air was just exhilarating.  ...