Scattered Thoughts . . .

We took a day off from all medical appointments, work, and home renovations one day this week so we could take the grandchildren out on a cruise on Lake Champlain. The weather was beautiful and the kids were exceptionally excited. Kenzie was like a string bean shaped Mexican jumping bean! She was jumping and skipping the entire half mile walk to the boathouse as she pulled Gee faster and faster.  We attempted to find a parking spot close to the boathouse but found none. We saw Will and Sue (Sheila's parents) in one of these parking lots near the boathouse and Lukey wanted to get out to be with them so we dropped him off near the boathouse. Sheila, Kenzie and I headed up the hill into downtown Burlington to park in our usual lot and then walked through Battery Park and then down to the waterfront and the boathouse. Kenzie was in her new sparkly flats and Gee was in her sandals but they managed to get down a rather rough path down a steep grade that dropped us down at the waterfr

I'm taking a break for a few days while some significant spinal pain subsides. My extensive spinal injuries (two herniated disks, four bulging disks, six compressed disks, a broken up vertebra and disk in my neck, osteophytosis, and two areas of stenosis) are inflamed and screaming. The little bit of work on the house may have caused this inflammation or it is due to some other reason.  My primary illness, Systemic Mastocytosis, is known to cause inflammation throughout my body, one area at a time, so that could cause this spinal inflammation too but I'm thinking it makes more sense that perhaps I overdid it working on the house. It has been a long time, however, since having such intense spinal pain.  I still have a little bit to write about pertaining to Sheila's new cancer finding. I have a little bit to write about pertaining to our fun cruise with the grandkids and Sheila's parents. I have a little bit to write about pertaining to the home renovations. You

Although the doctor who spoke with us after Sheila's ultrasound had already told us that he was absolutely certain that what was found in Sheila's imaging was indeed cancer, we did receive word today from the Breast Care Center that the biopsy results from the other day are definitely positive. So, there are no surprises at this point. We expected the biopsy to indicate this outcome. After all, we already viewed the imaging ourselves in real time and know what we saw.  Regardless, it was still a little difficult for Sheila to hear the nurse say "the results are positive". Nobody wants to hear that even if you are already prepared for it and well versed in hearing it. What is more important in these particular biopsy results is not whether the results are positive or negative but finding out more specific information about the type of cancer and available therapies after surgery for this type of cancer. We'll be discussing these specifics with the Oncology Surg

About a year ago, Sheila and I were out browsing in a store in Burlington and came across a small sectional couch that would be great in our small home. It was on sale but the price was still a bit more than we could handle at that moment so we passed on that couch. After seeing that little sectional couch, however, our slightly larger sectional couch was looking a bit worn and out of style so we've been keeping our eyes open for other options. About a month ago, we were again in that same store in Burlington just browsing around and we found a very comfortable couch and armchair. The armchair was smaller than most so we thought that maybe it would fit in our living room. The couch was just a straight sofa-bed couch so we figured that would fit as well. Both were very comfortable and we had a large selection of fabrics to choose from so we were pretty excited. We were told that these pieces would be on sale within the next two weeks so we excitedly started looking for fabr

Liza and the grandkids came to visit Gee yesterday. It was definitely a visit that Gee needed! It was a short but sweet visit. Although short, they managed to squeeze in a few hands of Uno, playing with some trains, opening a box full of new school clothes, and Kenzie got to see her flowergirl dress for mommy's fast-approaching wedding.  We have a day set aside for the grandkids this week... no medical appointments... just fun. If the weather cooperates (a rarity this summer) then we will take the kids on a day cruise. If not, then we'll do some fun indoor activities instead. We're looking forward to it!  

Sheila was in need of a few laughs and a distraction... actually, so was I... so, yesterday, we invited Frank, Christine and Sheila's parents over for dinner, a few drinks and a few laughs in the comfort of our own home. (I had already moved all the building supplies for a new living room and kitchen to a different section of the house to make things a bit more comfortable for Sheila so we were ready for a few guests as well.) We had a great time and are very thankful that everyone could squeeze us in at the last moment. Sheila and I were definitely entertained and had a great time!  That was much appreciated. Today, Sheila is digging through her medical insurance handbooks and we are discussing each thing she comes across that may apply to us. So, I'd say a little bit of the anxiety and tension is back again today... a little bit of reality, I suppose. Liza and the grandchildren will be stopping by to see Gee sometime this afternoon so that will allow us to push aside the

The following morning after we sat down with the doctor to discuss the results of Sheila's mammogram and ultrasound imaging, we were headed back to the hospital for a biopsy. Sheila has been down this road before. Her first biopsy was 11 years ago, then surgery, radiation, chemo and the years of follow-up testing, imaging and exams. But, this morning, we were back at square one again. I have to say that it was not a pleasant feeling to be back at square one again. We both were so anxious that we thought we couldn't eat. We sat down to eat but we both commented that we had no desire for food whatsoever. The funny thing is... once we started eating, we pretty much finished our meals. I think the food absorbed some of the stomach acid being pumped into our empty stomachs due to our nerves. We felt a bit better after eating. On the drive to the hospital this morning our conversation changed from a pep talk type of thing giving positive reinforcement to someone who has already

I've said this countless times before, with my voice and on this blog, but I'll remind everyone anyway... Just because a cancer patient may appear to be cancer-free at any given moment, this in no way means the patient "beat cancer" or, an even sillier notion, "kicked cancer's ass".   The fact is... and, yes, this is a fact and not just my opinion... that cancer patients have a significantly higher incidence of a recurrence of cancer compared to the incidence of a person who has never had cancer getting cancer for the first time. Until there is a true cure for cancer, the statistics show that the cancer patient is only buying time in getting beyond the first occurrence of cancer.  Unfortunately, the time that Sheila bought (or perhaps "earned") by getting beyond her first occurrence of cancer is suddenly up.  This all started last week, Sheila and I traveled up to Burlington last week for a mammogram. This is a standard, typical, repet