I saw Dr. Walker for a check-up last Wednesday.  She said I was "the picture of health"!!!  That was very good to hear.  I have felt really good this past week.  I even got ready for a garage sale (with the awesome help of Candice and Abby).  I did the garage sale on Friday (with the help of mom, dad and Thomas) and it was pretty successful so I decided not to do it again on Saturday.  Instead, Emma and I slept in and stayed in our pajamas all day.  It was great!  I think I've decided that number one, I will not be having any more garage sales and number two, I'm going to quit buying stuff.  It just amazes me how much stuff we accumulate that we really don't need.  So, if I quit buying unnecessary stuff, it will quit accumulating and I will not have to have a garage sale twice a year.  That is the plan anyway.

While at the doctor on Wednesday, I found out what the plan will be as far as my care for the next few years.  Since I am on the research drug, I will still have to go for lab work every 3 weeks on Wednesdays and then go to pick up my research pills on the following Friday.   I will continue the drug for two years.  I will have a CT scan every 3 months for the first two years, every 6 months for the next three years and then once a year after that.  That's a lot of driving to SCC.  I'm just very thankful that I live right here in OKC and don't have to drive for hours like some patients.  I still have the incision wound but it is considerably smaller.  Dr. W said I had been doing a good job of caring for it myself.  I think it will completely heal within a few weeks.  I'm losing my eyelashes again....bummer.  Hopefully, though, once they grow back they will stay since I'm done with chemo.  My hair is still growing but not quite as fast as I want it to.  It does save a lot of time though as far as getting ready to go somewhere.

Speaking of going somewhere, I'm starting back to work tomorrow.  I'm excited to see my friends/co-workers/students and get back into a routine.  I just hope I have the stamina to make it all day!  I'm so used to doing very little during the day for the past 6 months and I have to say, it's been nice!  I've kind of gotten used to it!

This is Win Win week for cancer awareness at Putnam City North High School.  I have been asked to say a few words about my experience with cancer before North's football game on Thursday night.  Every year, PCN and other schools in the district raise thousands of dollars for cancer research so I am glad to do this small favor for that cause.

I'm not sure how often I'll update the blog from here on out....maybe once a month or so!  I'll post on FB when I update.

Later, Cathy

Tuesday - went in for blood work.  My levels were good for chemo on Friday.  My magnesium was low again so they decided to give me some in my IV when I get my chemo treatment.

Wednesday - went in to get my wound checked.  It's getting smaller and I'm hoping it will heal completely since I'll be done with chemo this week.  I am tired of having to deal with it every day.  I also got a pneumonia shot while I was there and they gave me a bag of fluids since I've still been experiencing light-headedness every time I stand up from a sitting position.

Friday - This is the day I've been looking forward to since my diagnosis in April.....my last day of chemotherapy!!  My weight was up several pounds today-that always makes me happy.  Thomas took me and Candice was going to meet us there.  They got me all hooked up and I was just sitting there when Candice AND Abby walked in.  Yes, Abby.  She flew in from Idaho to surprise me and I must say I was really surprised.  I got a free cupcake since it was my last treatment.  Bill, the volunteer, brought it to me.  He is the sweetest man and he is always at SCC.

Thomas, Abby and I went to the state fair this evening.  We had calzone, poncho dog, cinnamon roll and strawberry crepe.  There were a lot of people there and the weather was perfect.

I have an appointment with Dr. Walker next week so I will find out then how often I'll have to come in for blood work, port flushing, getting my trial drugs, etc.  I do know that I will continue to take the trial drugs for 2 more years.  I am very glad my chemo treatments are over with.  I'm looking forward to feeling normal again, regaining my strength and going back to work.

And once again, thanks to all of you who have been praying for me since my cancer diagnosis.  Getting the all clear CT scan on August 31 was the definitely the most exciting day of my journey so far.  Not only do I see this as a victory for me, I see this as a victory for all of those who have sent up prayers on my behalf.  God answered YOUR prayers and mine.  I know the journey will continue but for now we are celebrating our good news and praising God for his healing.

Last Friday's treatment was the double dose (Carbo/Taxol) and once again it took its toll on me.  I always feel pretty good on Saturday and then start going downhill on Sunday.  Candice fixed lunch for us Sunday (Garlic Chicken Pasta, roasted broccoli and crescent rolls - YUM!) and it was ready for us when we got home from church.  Then Candice and I did our usual Sunday thing - laid on the couch and watched COPS, Fixer Upper, Bronx 9-1-1 or whatever catches our attention.  We always manage to get a short nap in there at some point too.  All I did on Monday - Wednesday was rest.  I had no energy and was still experiencing the light-headedness, probably because of my low blood pressure.  A while back, after getting some low levels on some of my blood work, one of the nurses told me to walk a few flights of stairs before I go in to have my blood drawn, so I started doing that.  It gets your blood circulating and and helps you get better results.  Well, this past Tuesday it was all I could do to do a few flights of stairs.  I just did not have the energy but somehow I managed to do it.  Blood work came back good so they cleared me for treatment on Friday.

Tuesday evening, I was honored to be asked to throw out the first pitch of the Putnam City North vs. Putnam City High softball game in honor of Cancer Awareness.  September is the official cancer awareness month for several types of cancer, including Ovarian Cancer.   Coach Tony Douglas escorted me out to the pitcher's mound where I pitched the pink softball that had been signed by the team/coaches and given to me to keep.  The ball almost made it to the catcher! LOL  I also saw quite a few PCN teachers at the game that I hadn't seen in a long time which was nice.

Wednesday I did not leave my house.  In fact I slept very late and then transferred to my chair in the living room where I spent the rest of the day.......in my PAJAMAS!!  It was awesome.  I think that was the day it rained a lot too, so that made it even better.

Thursday was a day for good food.  I went and had an awesome lunch with my mom and dad....chicken spaghetti, fried okra, corn on the cob, homemade rolls and homemade chocolate cream pie (which was still warm from the oven when we ate it).  My mom is a fantastic cook so needless to say, it was delicious.  That evening we attended the Great State Fair of Oklahoma (opening day).  The threat of rain probably kept some from going because it was not crowded at all like it usually is on the first day.  We had our usual:  roasted corn on the cob, Calzone, chocolate dipped cheesecake and a cinnamon roll on the way out.

I had chemo this morning (just Taxol).  My boss from Project HOPE, Kimberly Montrose, accompanied me.  We caught up on school stuff!  They were so busy today that all of the chairs in all of the areas were occupied so for the first time, I got a private infusion room.  It was different, I kind of missed being out there with all of the other patients.

ONE MORE TREATMENT TO GO!!  Thomas and Candice are going to go with me for the last one. I think it might be a bittersweet moment for me.  While I'm glad it's the last treatment, I will miss seeing some of my favorite nurses, receptionists, lab nurses, Bill the volunteer who is there every day and some of the patients I've met along the way.  Like I've said from day one, if you have to do chemotherapy, Stephenson Cancer Center is the perfect place to do it.  It is such a beautiful, peaceful facility and everyone there is so nice, helpful, empathetic-just good people.  Just the entire atmosphere at SCC makes why you are there easier to deal with.

We are headed to the OSU-Pittsburg game tomorrow.  If we lose tomorrow, hopefully it won't be AFTER the game is over, like it was last week.  What a bummer that was.  Oh well, it's just a game.

I went in Wednesday for my lab work.  My levels were ok for treatment but I had to go in early Friday morning and have blood re-tested to see if they needed to make some adjustments in my chemo drugs.  The levels they were testing had come up so they didn't have to make any changes.  So I had the Carbo and Taxol treatment on Friday.  My good friend from work, Carrie, took me to my appointment.  So far I have felt fine, maybe just slightly more tired than usual.

On Tuesday I got a call from Dr. Walker's office.  They wanted to know if I would be interested in being in some pictures that they were taking for the Stephenson Cancer Center website and also for some pamphlets for Dr. Walker.  So on Wednesday after my lab work a photographer took photos of me and Dr. Walker in one of the examination rooms.  I felt very honored that she picked me out of all of her patients to be in the pictures with her.

Thomas and I went to the OSU game today.  It was chilly and luckily I took a blanket into the stadium or I would have been miserable.  The game was good until the refs gave Central Michigan an extra play after the game was over, which resulted in OSU losing the game.  Oh well, I guess it's just a game.

Today was a good day.  I went in at 10:30 for my CT scan and then went back at 2:30 to meet with Dr. Walker.  The CT scan shows my chest, abdomen and pelvis are all CANCER FREE!!  Dr. Walker said the results are better than she would have expected.  I will continue with the last 3 chemo treatments and after that will continue with the research trial drugs.

My lab work this morning showed my WBC and my platelets were too low for the chemo treatment this week (Carboplantin and Taxol-the big one).  So, it will be postponed until next week.  That's ok, I don't mind taking a week off!!

We could not be more pleased with today's news.  We know that it is due to all of the prayers that so many people have sent up for us.  We are so lucky in that we have so many friends and family that have kept me in their prayers for the past 5 months.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Emma had a little "party" planned for me when we got home which included balloons, confetti, whistle blowers, etc.  She made Thomas take her to Dollar General on Sunday to get supplies for the celebration.  She had a check list so she wouldn't forget anything.

Once again, thanks for all the prayers said on my behalf.  It worked!!!!

Love, Cathy

Waiting to see Dr. Walker!

Last Friday was a very busy day.  Tessa (my friend from work) picked me up at 8:00 a.m.  I had to be there by 8:30 so the nurse could do my wound care.  It was fun to hang out with her for a while and catch up on school stuff.   She had to go back to work so Chenee, (another friend from work) came to relieve her.  Chenee stayed with me during chemo, which started at 9:30 a.m.  We had fun catching up since I hadn't seen her since school was out in May.

If you are doing chemo during lunch, you get free food.  I ordered the chicken salad sandwich and side salad.  The lady sitting next to me had ordered the same thing and it came about the time she was finishing up her treatment so she kindly offered hers to Chenee.  So we both got a free lunch and it was really good.

My chemo was done about 12:30 so Chenee dropped me off at the building I had to go to for my blood transfusion.  I got 2 units of blood and finished up there at 3:30.  Thomas and Emma came and picked me up but couldn't get there until 4:30.  Needless to say, I was pooped by the time I finally got home that evening.

After the fluids I got on Thursday and the blood I got on Friday, I definitely feel better.  I have not been dizzy or light-headed every time I get up so that is nice.

Saturday marked the 50th anniversary of when Thomas and his mom, Heidi,  moved to the United States from Germany.  So that evening she cooked German food for all of us.  It was delicious!!

Tomorrow is another busy day and a very important one.  I go in for blood work and then I have a CT scan at 10:30.  We are praying that the chemo is doing its job and that the cancer is no longer there.  We meet with Dr. Walker at 2:30 for a check-up and scan results.  We feel really positive about it.  We appreciate your prayers for good results!

Chenee, me and Tessa!

Blood transfusion!

Getting new blood!

I have definitely felt better this week than I did last week.  Tuesday I went in for blood work and they called me in the afternoon and said my hemoglobin was low.  The nurse asked if I had been dizzy and light-headed or short of breath.  I told her definitely dizzy and light-headed for several weeks.  So, she scheduled me for a blood transfusion on Friday after chemo.

Then today I went in to doctor's office so they could do my wound care.  I am currently out of home health visits until they approve some more for me so I have to get it done at the dr. office.  Anyway, Whitney (nurse practitioner) took care of my wound and then when she saw how low my blood pressure was, she had them take it lying, sitting and standing to see if it was going down when I stood up.  Sure enough, it was definitely lower when I stood up - 70/40.  No wonder I almost pass out every time I stand up!!!!  So, she decided I needed some fluids.  I went up to the 3rd floor and received a bag of fluids.  My blood pressure was a lot better after the fluids.  And they left me hooked up to my port so I don't have to get stuck again tomorrow!!  It's the littlest things that thrill me!

After all that, I had to go to a different building to get my blood typed/cross-matched for my transfusion tomorrow.  So I left this morning at 9:00 a.m. and got home at 3:30 p.m.  I was craving Long John Silvers so when I picked Emma up from violin at 6:00, we drove to Edmond to eat!

Tomorrow will be a long day too.  Have to be at dr. office for wound care at 8:30......chemo infusion at 9:30....and then blood transfusion at 1:00!!

And, to top the day off, Biscuit got sprayed by a skunk tonight.  Thomas had to give him a bath with peroxide, baking soda and Dawn!  He smells better but our house still smells like burned garlic (skunk)!

Getting my "fluids" today!!!