3/4 of the way there!

Had 3rd chemo a week ago, and nadir panels today are great. One more to go in December and I'm done with chemo! The symptoms this round were about the same as the last (meaning very few... YAY!), though with more fatigue. I wasn't able to sleep for 3 days in a row and the effects started to show in that I just wasn't functioning well cognitively. Was making stupid mistakes and really couldn't add 1+1. Plus was a wee bit emotional and erratic. OK -- more so than usual... ;)

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I just don't know how parents deal with the lack of sleep. Let's just say that that the no-kids plan was right for me. The women in my family are all champion sleepers. On a drive from Minnesota to Utah once my sister once slept the entire 24 hours. I don't think she even got up to use the restroom. She has kids now and they seem to be thriving so I guess she's using up that backlog of Zs she collected for so many years. Though I'm not sure how she survived my early years, my night-owl mother solved the problem by the time I was in kindergarten; she bought me an alarm clock and went back to bed!

And speaking of mothers, those of you who know my mom know that she has long been a fan of the bandana headscarf. It's rather a signature piece for her. Now that I have no hair I too have taken a liking to the kerchief. She's probably 10+ years younger in the photo above than I am now, but some of you with eagle eyes may be able to spot the family resemblance. I personally scare myself when I walk past a mirror... "When did Mom get here???"

Anyhoooooo, I digress... I can see the end of the tunnel, and I'm really looking forward to this process being complete. Thanks for hanging in there with me!

xoxoxoxoxo
Kerstin

Televised Distractions

Nearly a year-and-a-half after taping completed, Cafe Racer finally aired John's episode -- as the premier of the new season!

For those who may not have heard, in 2012 John assisted his buddy Patrick Bell in retrofitting a T3 Moto Guzzi into a “café racer,” a style of motorcycle with its roots in 1960s British rockers and the motorcycle series filmed them.  Last week we joined about 100 people at a restaurant in Alameda to watch the premier. And by "watch," I do mean "watch." It was nearly impossible to keep a room of 100 people quite enough to hear the dozen or so TVs,  so we had go to John's sister's house later in the week (we don't have cable TV) to see what he actually said! It was lots of fun (though they did get a bit overshadowed by the other story line, which included a Hollywood actress and an appearance by Jay Leno). You may be able to catch re-runs on the Velocity channel. Bravo, John!

And much thanks to Loretta for the photos!

(Raph) Nadir Report

Round two of chemo, complete. I'm half-way there!

Had my infusion last Monday, and still felt fine by Wednesday afternoon, when suddenly I was overcome by the need to take a 2-1/2 nap. Luckily, while the fatigue is perhaps a bit greater this time, the other side effects were so minimal that if I wasn't looking I probably would not have even noticed them. I really could not ask for anything more. Hallelujah!

This fantastic outcome may be due in part to not only the thoughts and prayers of all my dear people, but also the healing powers of the prayer shawl my dad brought me from a group at his church, the Knotty Quilters. This ol' heathen appreciates the power of prayer, and I am grateful by the generosity of these folks who don't know me from a hill of soybeans.

I had my nadir bloodwork done yesterday, and the chemo pharmacist, who monitors these things, said my Blupersophengolophies were lower then they might want, but that my Xelonphiltrodites were even better than expected. As you can tell, some of the medical terminology goes over my head and down the block (presumably finding home with someone who understands), but he ended it all with a big smile on his face saying all was great, so THAT'S what I'm taking with me this week.

In an attempt to pay forward all the love and support that is coming my way, I'm holding good thoughts for all of you and hoping that you find yourself the recipient of a lovely surprise or unexpectedly fantastic outcome all of your own. And if you find yourself in a darker place in life, know that I am sending you my thoughts and prayers for happiers times on the very near horizon.

Love,
K