My ‘cancer’ blog has now become a way to share happenings in my life. Well, actually, I mostly share photos as a way to let you know what Nancy and I are doing. I am fortunate that I don’t have much to share about cancer. I am one of the lucky ones right now because the disease is not interfering with my daily life. I am choosing my words carefully because I don’t want to make cancer mad. I don’t want to give cancer a reason to come back and be angry with me. I started my journey with this disease by saying I was going to kick cancer’s ass. Now I don’t want to be so aggressive or boastful about this ordeal. I look at things differently and know it is about winning little victories – daily victories – as opposed to one big fight. With that said I want to say right away – I am fine. I have no evidence of disease!
Highlights of my cancer journey:
May 11, 2007 – found the lump
May 18, 2007 – Dr said “I wish I had better news, it is cancer”
June 5, 2007 – started chemo at KU Med
September 13, 2007 – last of eight chemo treatments
October 2, 2007 – surgery, bilateral mastectomy
December 25, 2007 –spent a week in Salina hospital with bad infection
January 18, 2008 – surgery at KU Med to clean up infection
July 2008 – clean scans
So, it has been a year since my last major ordeal with my cancer journey. I do take the drug, Femara, daily and will continue that for another 4 years. It does have side effects – mainly joint pain, sore hands, and painful feet. I can live with it. Isn’t that the point? It allows me to live.
I am still seeing my oncologist, Dr Sharma, every three months. She said if my scans are clean in July 2009, I can move to the 6 month schedule of visiting with her. At my appointment last week, I saw a woman who was obviously distraught about her visit with Dr Sharma. As Nancy and I waited to schedule our next appointment, this woman (with her support team of two other women – maybe her sisters) was scheduling all of the pre-chemo appointments. Nancy and I knew exactly what was happening, she was getting ready to start chemo – again. She was wearing a wig, so she hadn’t been off chemo too long. That is why I am hesitant to be too boastful about my current status.
I am also thinking about Kay Yow, the basketball coach at North Carolina State who died on Saturday of breast cancer. She had fought a very public battle with the disease for many years. In fact, she inspired others to give money for cancer research and to help with public awareness. College basketball teams will be involved in the Pink Zone campaign in February to raise awareness and collect research funds. I will definitely be wearing pink during the next few weeks in honor of all who have been affected by cancer.
Have a great day and Laugh, Live, and Love!
Mary Kay
Anna and Garrett in their make-shift tent
Nancy, Anna, and Garrett
Sam and Susan share a hug
Garrett, what happened?
Oh I see, you were going too fast for the corner
Anna and Nancy, you can put the swing on the chains.
Susan and grandson Sam
Anna, just go ahead and use the spatula for a fork
Matt and Mick under the 'bubble breaker' spell
Anna, her trike, and her Dora boots
Anna
Garrett
Kramer - did you enjoy your roll in the grass?
Tom Murphy helped Joey put in new windows
Joey and Tom
Joey
Joey, where are you going with that board? And, Nancy why are you laughing?
Oh, I get it, he used the board to wallop me on the behind...
Garret checked the mailbox at the feed mill
Matt loaded feed in the 'orange crush' feed truck
Matt and Garrett on the way to feed cows
Feeding cows
Matt made a conveyor system for the orange crush. Here, Matt put on a few finishing touches. Farmers are part engineer, part economist, part mechanic, part banker, part agronomist, part vet, part weather forecaster, and, of course, part general laborer.
I still have the touch with babies. This is Joshua Andrew, the son of Jackie and Di, and the brother to Jeremy. You can see more photos of Joshua and his family by clicking on the link to his blog on the right corner of my blog.
Ok, so Nancy has the touch, too. We both enjoyed our time holding Joshua.
Joshua's older brother Jeremy practiced his guitar while we were there.
Jeremy
A rock star in the making.
Di - mom to Joshua and Jeremy
We had a girls weekend at the Prairie Band Casino with Barbara, Nancy, Jane, and Sara. This photo was taken in courtyard area. I asked for a 'goofy' face from the women.
Jane, Sara, and Barbara rested a bit before dinner.
MK thinking about her casino winnings.
MK talking on her 'special agent' shoe
Barbara
Sisters Barbara, Nancy, and Jane with Jane's daughter Sara
I saved Nancy from jumping in the pool
The weather was nice, but I did enjoy the outdoor fire to warm my hands.
And, I had to warm my behind, too.
Happy Birthday Candi!
Doesn't she look surprised?
We also celebrated the transition of 'directorship' at the School of Leadership Studies. Susan marked the moment by giving Mary a bracelet that has deep meaning for Susan. She has been our leader since the inception of the program in 1997. She is going to focus her energies on getting our new building completed and then redirect her energies to writing and researching. For those of you who know Susan, you understand how much she has given to us. Susan is one of my role models in life.
The placing of the ceremonial bracelet from Susan to Mary
Anna and her grandpa John.
Anna served us popcorn. Yes, lots of popcorn ended up on the floor. You will notice in these photos that Nancy and I still have our Christmas decorations in our house. Since we spend lots of time away from Manhattan during the holidays, we like to leave the decorations up a little longer after Christmas. Are you buying that line of thinking? Actually, we just haven't put them away yet.
Garrett
Sam - notice Willie the Wildcat signed his shirt
Anna, you look guilty
Anna and Garrett built a fort out of our pillows and blankets. Then they decided to jump off the end tables onto all of the pillows.
More jumping
Nice hair Anna
Sam and his daddy Joey gave a thumbs-up to their favorite aunt - yes, that's me.
After the kids left, our dogs Kramer and Pearl settled in the pile of pillows for a nap.
Sara showed off her new Mac Book. I am officially jealous.
