pics from last treatment

They are on facebook, so many of you have seen them.  But here is the link the non-facebook site

http://photo.baldphotog.com/Other/pinkforjill/15038425_nXgJ3

 

new pics starting on page 6

The breast cancer community

I am writing this as Jill is going through her final chemo treatment.  I was with her for the first two sessions that were at the cancer center, whereas this is at the breast center.  This is my first one at the breast center.  This is sort of an all at once showing of what we have seen since 12/2 – an amazing community.  While the cancer center was nice and inspirational, being here with only breast care patients is something all together different.

It makes me think back to something that came up in a discussion a few months before we found out Jill had breast cancer.  We get together with some of my high school friends, and their families, about every 2 months.  We call this the book club, though we do not discuss books.  Or more accurately, we do not have a set book discussion.  In all our topics books do get discussed.  But I am off track.  There was a discussion about breast cancer and the community.  At any rate, Jenny made a comment that as an outsider, the community looks so amazing it almost makes you want to be a part of it.  Of course she, and everyone, would not really want to get cancer.    But what Jenny said is so true.  The people in here are amazing.  So much support.  So much hope.  I know Jill is going to miss these folks.  The staff and the other patients.  Seeing how these people generally love and care for each other makes me know why.

Our guest blogger today - Me (Jill)

As I get ready to go to my last chemo session I find myself reflecting back on the last four months.  Wow!  I have been so incredibly blessed through this entire process.  My family, friends and co-workers have really stepped up and taken care of my family and me more than I could ever imagine.  People - I have someone that comes and cleans my house once a month for free - how spoiled am I?  I have met great people at all my dr. appts from the nurses, doctors and fellow patients.  For those that have not been through something like this, I have found that the people you meet that are also going through their own journey are so supportive.  It is an amazing community to be a part of (not that I would choose it).  I have met some great women during my chemo treatments!  Every single need we had (some we did not even know about) was taken care.  Thanks to God for all of it!!!  He has put amazing people in my life through all of this and I would not change a thing.  As you can imagine, I am so excited to have these chemo treatments behind me.  I am ready to conquer the next step and get one step closer to having this whole thing behind me.  Thanks to all of you for your support and prayers!  I truly appreciate it.

Going into final treatment . . .

This Thursday will be Jill’s final chemo treatment.  She will have follow up scans in the weeks after to make sure the chemo has done its job, but we are very hopeful the scans will show the results we are hoping for.

If everything goes according to the plans, April will be a month off for Jill before surgery.

I will take pictures and maybe video from Thursday’s treatment and will post after.  I know many people are with Jill in spirit as she goes through these treatments, so I want to show what they are actually like. 

Post treatment #7

Jill felt decent through the weekend and into yesterday.  She was hurting at times and a bit tired, but felt like it was not as bad this week.  I suspect it is because she took it easy, but it could be any number of things.  We had a nice mostly quiet weekend.  Well, I went to a fundraiser dinner Saturday night where I drank and spent too much . . . but the girls were not at home so Jill was able to just relax.

Jill and I started to watch Glee, season 1 this weekend.  We are about 7 episodes in and are really enjoying it.  Funny and wonderful music. 

Thursday the 24 will be the last chemo treatment, so until then updates will be sparse. 

We can see the finish line (of part 1)!

7 chemo treatments down, 1 to go!!!  The last one will be 2 weeks from yesterday.  Jill had an uneventful chemo treatment yesterday.  Uneventful is a good thing. 

She is taking it easy today to try to keep her strength.  It seems if she pushes hard in the first two days post treatment, even while she is feeling okay, it seems to add to the negative effects. 

We are going to make sure she gets some quality downtime this weekend.

On the big picture front, we have nothing to report.  After chemo she will have tests to make sure the cancer is gone.  At that point, we will start to get the plan for surgeries. 

That is it for now. 

Another calendar Month down

Yeah, it is March.  One month closer to Jill being 100%. Jill had a rough weekend.  She felt bad starting Saturday night and quite honestly was a little down in the dumpster mentally that night too.  What was amazing to me was that this was really the first time she has let this thing get her down.  That is stunning really.  By Sunday morning she was back to herself as far as her attitude.  She was quite sore though and stayed inactive most of the day.  Sunday night (Monday morning actually) we were awaken from sleep by the sound of water alarms going off in our basement.  The floor drain was a fountain pushing water into our basement.  Jill and I ran down and started to get stuff out of the basement that could get ruined.  Had I been of full mind and had a moment to think, I would have stopped Jill as the water was insanely cold and not all that clean.  But I got it stopped in somewhat short order and Jill was able to go back to resting. 

Long story short, damage was minimum because we got down there quick and because our basement is largely able to deal with moderately small amounts of water.  We have tile floors and many things are off the ground.  It is now cleaner than it has been in a long time – some heavy duty cleaners and a lot of effort and we are better than ever. 

Jill worked from home yesterday and went in for a half day today.  She is now napping.

Weekend update, partial

Will post more later, but for now:  jill was really sore and down this weekend.  She woke up much better today.  Yeah! 
And sunday night we got woke up in middle of night when or basement flooded.  Ugh.  Things are nearly back to good today.