Dear friends and family,
Gabrielle here. Let me share with you the good news of my day!
First, I had a brief nice visit with my mom and sister this morning right before chemo. I tried on the wig for them and they liked it. Now I am seriously thinking head shaving day might be Monday or Tuesday. It's just such a mess everywhere as it falls out so quickly now.
When I got to chemo and they checked my blood counts, they told me they were good enough to get chemo #5. Yippee! They aren't "great," that's for sure. Please pray I develop more red and white blood cells. The doc did says as my hematacrit drops (# of red blood cells...today, 27), that there will be a blood transfusion or two in my future.
Next, before the chemo started, my nurse Leah came in with more great news. My genetic testing for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes came back. I do not have either gene!!!!! These are hereditary genes that can cause breast and ovarian cancer. So I got my ovarian cancer some other "fluke" way--not by being a gene carrier. Since I don't have the gene, neither do Renee or Daniel. If I had it, there would have been 60% chance that both I and Renee would get breast cancer. Not anymore! This is a HUGE answer to prayer. I am so grateful to God for this news--particularly for Renee.
After the chemo was dripping away into my shoulder port, the doctor and my nurses Janelle and Trinity came and took ONE MORE fluid sample from my abdominal port to send to the lab and make sure it's not infected. It takes three days to culture it. If NOT infected, they will use the port two weeks from today for the two-drug chemo. If it IS infected, they have to remove the port and won't put one back in. Please pray it will be free and clear to use!
Lastly, regarding the pain on my right side, my doctor examined me and called my primary doc to discuss together. They don't think it's cancer related at all, they don't think it's a kidney stone or it would have shown up on the CT scans done a few weeks back of my organs. They think it might be a bad muscle pull as I've been overcompensating with my obliques when my center abdominal muscles have been healing at the incision site. So they are trying out a muscle relaxant for the next three days. If it hasn't improved a lot by Monday, I'll go in again and they will probably do a scan. I HOPE and pray this simple fix will work! This muscle relaxant makes one sleepy so I will probably doze right through the Oscars on Sunday!
Now I am home, tired, on a Friday night. Steve is sitting across from me, looking cute in his buzz cut, and working on his cancer journey macrame chord. Daniel just made us an appetizer of guacamole and chips (avacados are one of my top five foods in the world). Now Daniel's making noodles with pesto, parm, and pine nuts with asparagus for dinner. With all the i/v anti-nausea meds, tonight is the night to EAT. Renee is on her way home to join us. I just opened several more beautifully written cards from dear friends, as well as my third hand-knit hat from Evy in California (beautiful green one)! I also just opened a HOMEMADE nail polish color created just for me by my niece Maggie in San Diego. It's called "Gaby's Ocean" and is a beautiful turquoise sea color with some sparkles, along with a lovely card from her. I am gazing at some gorgeous flowers that arrived yesterday from my friend, Nancy, and remembering with fondness the dinner OUT we had last night courtesy of our good friends/neighbors, Laura and Jerry. It was my first meal in a restaurant since I got sick and I enjoyed it so much. Great food, wonderful conversation, and feeling like a normal person! I am so content at this moment and feeling incredibly blessed.
One Scripture verse came up twice in two different devotional books Daniel and I were reading today. So this is my verse for the day. It is perfect. "Cast all your cares on Him for He careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7
Love,
Gabrielle
Friday, February 22, 2013
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
2/20/13 Wednesday Greetings
Dear Family and Friends,
Gabrielle here. I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've had kind of a rough week since the double chemo last Friday. Aside from the terrible nausea, I've had a "mystery pain" in my right side (right where your waist goes in if you are a woman, just below your rib cage). The pain has gotten more and more severe and lasts all day/evening. Every day I would ask Steve--what in the world is going on in there? Is it my gallbladder? Is it my appendix? Is it inflammation in my intestines? Well, after the pain being at a 5 or 6 on the pain scale for days on end, I went to my oncologis'ts office yesterday. My own doctor was out but I saw her partner. He did a lot of tests to rule out anything wrong with my kidneys, lungs, etc. He said it wasn't my gallbladder or appendix or intestines. He satisfied himself that it is nothing too serious but doesn't know exactly what it is. It could be some scar tissue or adehesions tugging on the nerves by my liver. It could be a pull in my muscles or tendons in there. He said to take Tylenol, put heat on it, and the "tincture of time" should heal it. Well, after not being able to fall asleep with it hurting so bad last night, I broke down and took a pain pill left over from my surgery. This morning after breakfast, I took another, as the pain was making me cry. Long story short, I have called again and asked for my own oncologist to check me out on Friday when I go in for one-drug chemo #5 and she will do that. I don't think I conveyed adequately to the other oncologist how severe the pain actually is. So this paragraph is my "poor me" news. I would very much appreciate your prayers that whatever that pain is it will go away SOON! Thank you!
Now for happier news. Today, Wednesday (after the pain pill so I wasn't suffering all day), I have had a good day! I woke up very weak from not eating much over the past few days (lost three pounds) but after hydrating and eating organic peanut butter toast and a fruit/yogurt smoothie, I got a small burst of energy and Daniel and I went on our normal half hour walk, including the big hill. Then I did a few arm weights. It felt good! Next, my good friend Anna came for lunch. We ate Daniel's amazing lemon, faro (sp?), chicken, veggie soup, apples, and chocolate chunk cookies. We had great conversation and I modeled my wig for her. She said it looked great, which was a relief to hear. After she left, Daniel and I watched a Sandra Bullock movie (The Proposal) while munching on potato chips and a couple more cookies. I know, chips and cookies doesn't sound too healthy, but they told me to eat any snacks I am in the mood for just to gain some weight! I am just so happy to have been able to eat today. Next, Steve came home with his head buzzed! We will post a photo below. I am getting very close to doing the same as I'm tired of cleaning up hair everywhere. Stay tuned...
During our daily Bible reading today, Daniel and I read the story of the disciples being in a boat in a furious storm while Jesus slept. They were terrified of drowning. Jesus awoke and calmed the seas and reminded them to have faith. I keep telling myself that cancer is like being in a boat on stormy seas. It can be terrifying and all that rocking around can make you nauseous! But I find peace when I remember that Jesus is IN the boat with me. He is here, He can calm the stormy seas, calm my fear, and help me get safely to the shore. Here is the passage in case you want to read it:
Four out of five doctors surveyed agree: this "works"! Chilly, but that's OK! As an aside, when I asked my barber for a buzz cut, she asked why. She got a big grin on her face when I related Gabrielle's story and then she told me that her 72 year old mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer almost a year ago and is doing great! Love to hear those stories! Oh, and she battled the nausea with a marijuana cookie every night till about a month ago. Whatever it takes!
Gabrielle here. I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've had kind of a rough week since the double chemo last Friday. Aside from the terrible nausea, I've had a "mystery pain" in my right side (right where your waist goes in if you are a woman, just below your rib cage). The pain has gotten more and more severe and lasts all day/evening. Every day I would ask Steve--what in the world is going on in there? Is it my gallbladder? Is it my appendix? Is it inflammation in my intestines? Well, after the pain being at a 5 or 6 on the pain scale for days on end, I went to my oncologis'ts office yesterday. My own doctor was out but I saw her partner. He did a lot of tests to rule out anything wrong with my kidneys, lungs, etc. He said it wasn't my gallbladder or appendix or intestines. He satisfied himself that it is nothing too serious but doesn't know exactly what it is. It could be some scar tissue or adehesions tugging on the nerves by my liver. It could be a pull in my muscles or tendons in there. He said to take Tylenol, put heat on it, and the "tincture of time" should heal it. Well, after not being able to fall asleep with it hurting so bad last night, I broke down and took a pain pill left over from my surgery. This morning after breakfast, I took another, as the pain was making me cry. Long story short, I have called again and asked for my own oncologist to check me out on Friday when I go in for one-drug chemo #5 and she will do that. I don't think I conveyed adequately to the other oncologist how severe the pain actually is. So this paragraph is my "poor me" news. I would very much appreciate your prayers that whatever that pain is it will go away SOON! Thank you!
Now for happier news. Today, Wednesday (after the pain pill so I wasn't suffering all day), I have had a good day! I woke up very weak from not eating much over the past few days (lost three pounds) but after hydrating and eating organic peanut butter toast and a fruit/yogurt smoothie, I got a small burst of energy and Daniel and I went on our normal half hour walk, including the big hill. Then I did a few arm weights. It felt good! Next, my good friend Anna came for lunch. We ate Daniel's amazing lemon, faro (sp?), chicken, veggie soup, apples, and chocolate chunk cookies. We had great conversation and I modeled my wig for her. She said it looked great, which was a relief to hear. After she left, Daniel and I watched a Sandra Bullock movie (The Proposal) while munching on potato chips and a couple more cookies. I know, chips and cookies doesn't sound too healthy, but they told me to eat any snacks I am in the mood for just to gain some weight! I am just so happy to have been able to eat today. Next, Steve came home with his head buzzed! We will post a photo below. I am getting very close to doing the same as I'm tired of cleaning up hair everywhere. Stay tuned...
During our daily Bible reading today, Daniel and I read the story of the disciples being in a boat in a furious storm while Jesus slept. They were terrified of drowning. Jesus awoke and calmed the seas and reminded them to have faith. I keep telling myself that cancer is like being in a boat on stormy seas. It can be terrifying and all that rocking around can make you nauseous! But I find peace when I remember that Jesus is IN the boat with me. He is here, He can calm the stormy seas, calm my fear, and help me get safely to the shore. Here is the passage in case you want to read it:
Mark 4:35-41
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Calms the Storm
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
I want to close by thanking all of you who have sent me Valentine and birthday cards, gifts, and flowers. Though I was sick on my birthday, I was surrounded by love. Special thanks to Annie for the delicious meal on Sunday! I love and appreciate all of you and thank you for your continued prayers and support not only for me, but for my family. When I tore off the pink paper link from our chemo countdown chain last night, it read "day 100." That means as of today, we are in double digits. If I don't miss any chemos due to low blood counts, I have just 99 days to go. Thanks be to God for light at the end of this long tunnel!
Much love,
Gabrielle
Steve
Well, here's the new "do"...
Four out of five doctors surveyed agree: this "works"! Chilly, but that's OK! As an aside, when I asked my barber for a buzz cut, she asked why. She got a big grin on her face when I related Gabrielle's story and then she told me that her 72 year old mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer almost a year ago and is doing great! Love to hear those stories! Oh, and she battled the nausea with a marijuana cookie every night till about a month ago. Whatever it takes!
2/20/13 Haircut day...for Steve that is!
Steve
Well, the hair is falling out right and left at the Dudley household. Thought I would do my part to try and keep up. Off to the barber this afternoon. Here is a pre-haircut pic:
Stay tuned!
Well, the hair is falling out right and left at the Dudley household. Thought I would do my part to try and keep up. Off to the barber this afternoon. Here is a pre-haircut pic:
Stay tuned!
Monday, February 18, 2013
2/18/13 Birthday greetings to Gabrielle!
Steve
Today, Gabrielle celebrates her fourteenth 39th birthday! Many happy returns of the day! Those were the words that Pooh used in wishing Eeyore a happy birthday. Never exactly understood what “many happy returns” meant. Does it mean that when you take that ugly fuzzy sweater with sewed on pom poms back to Target because it’s just not your style, the clerk takes it back very cheerily and thanks you for coming in? Or perhaps when your husband gives you an iron for your birthday and you wrap the cord around his neck because it wasn’t something more romantic, will the clerk take it back, even though it has blood on it? Like I said, many happy returns of the day! Here's a picture of the announcement that her very artistic mother put together to signal the big event:
Isn't she a cute little tyke?
Oh! Breaking news! Got her to eat breakfast! Here it is, complete with plastic fork (hates the taste of metal these days)...
Today, Gabrielle celebrates her fourteenth 39th birthday! Many happy returns of the day! Those were the words that Pooh used in wishing Eeyore a happy birthday. Never exactly understood what “many happy returns” meant. Does it mean that when you take that ugly fuzzy sweater with sewed on pom poms back to Target because it’s just not your style, the clerk takes it back very cheerily and thanks you for coming in? Or perhaps when your husband gives you an iron for your birthday and you wrap the cord around his neck because it wasn’t something more romantic, will the clerk take it back, even though it has blood on it? Like I said, many happy returns of the day! Here's a picture of the announcement that her very artistic mother put together to signal the big event:
Isn't she a cute little tyke?
But back to Pooh and Eeyore. I just got through reading the story about Eeyore’s
birthday again. As those folks who write
movie and book reviews love to say:
SPOILER ALERT! If you don’t want
to know what Eeyore got for his birthday, stop right here and skip down one
paragraph to see how the birthday gal is doin’…Anyhow, back to Eeyore…He’s
quite sad because nobody remembered his birthday. No candles, no cake, no pink sugar. But Pooh comes to the rescue, even though he
is a bear of very little brain. He grabs
a jar of honey. Also tells Piglet who
comes up with a big red balloon. Sadly,
things don’t work out too well. Pooh
succumbs to temptation and eats all the honey and Piglet’s balloon pops. But they give the gifts to Eeyore
anyhow. Pooh tells Eeyore the empty jar
of honey is now a pot to put things in, but he doesn’t have anything to put
into the pot. Then Piglet gives him the
popped balloon, which serendipitously just happens to be the perfect thing to
put into the pot. The chapter ends with
Eeyore contentedly putting the balloon into the pot and taking it out over and
over again. He’s one very happy
donkey. And I suppose that’s what gifts
and birthdays are all about. You may not
get what you were expecting, but somehow, things just seem to work out,
possibly even for the better. After all,
a full balloon wouldn’t have fit into the pot to put things in. And what possible use could a donkey have
with a jar full of honey? Ever seen a
donkey eating honey? For that matter,
ever seen a donkey putting a balloon into a jar? But that’s beside the point.
So back to Gabrielle, and her amazing birthday. It’s not shaping up to be what we would
really like. She has horrible nausea today
and nothing that I am encouraging her to eat has any appeal to her. She is sitting across from me with a glass of
prune juice and a water chaser, hoping that it will soon work its magic (will
leave it at that). She has pretty bad
abdominal pain which is bearable much of the time till she moves or breathes
deeply, then it gets worse. This has
been going on since before the dual chemo treatment on Friday, but has gotten
more intense and is much more discouraging.
We are hoping for a big improvement today, as it is her birthday and
all.
As for birthday plans, those are up in the air. She and Daniel went to Swanson’s nursery
yesterday where Daniel bought her a yew tree in honor of the Taxol and
all. We are going to plant it
today. And I get to start asking questions
of Daniel and Gabrielle such as “what’s new with yew?” And “how are yew?” “What do yew want for your
birthday?” and wishing her a “Happy Birthday to yew!” I’m going to try to get her to eat one
pancake, but good luck with that. I
suspect the day will involve a couple of walks and lots of TV time. As we aren’t having a huge celebration
(though we will indeed find some ways to dress up that prune juice), we have
decided to postpone the festivities till all this chemo stuff is over and do a “half
birthday” bash six months from now in August.
Won’t that be fun? So today, I’ll
let her pick the card games we play, the TV shows we watch, and she can even
boot me out of my favorite chair. And I
won’t make her do the laundry, mop or scrub the toilets till her birthday is
over. After all, I am a caring and
attentive husband.
So, here’s to you, Gabrielle! You’re strong, you’re beautiful, and you’re
gonna have a great year! You’ve done so
many amazing things since your grand entrance into the world in Yakima way back
when. Now, bottoms up with that second
glass of prune juice!
Saturday, February 16, 2013
2/16/13 Saturday after chemo #4
Dear family and friends,
Gabrielle here. Well, today hasn't been too bad! A little weary, a little nauseous, but not nearly as bad as the first time I had the two drugs. I do recall that the Sunday was the worst day that time, so extra prayers for tomorrow would be most appreciated!
I awoke to one of my favorite breakfasts from Steve--his homemade multi-grain pancakes topped with fresh blueberries and maple syrup and chicken apple sausages. I could only eat one pancake and one sausage but boy were they delicious. Around 11:45 we took off for a few errands. We dropped off a prescription for a new anti-nausea drug that might not give me headaches like my current one and picked up my new wig! Wig #2 is the one. It is a good color and style and we bought it! It's nice to know it's here when I need it. More and more hair is falling out on pillows and in the shower and when I comb it. But I'm not bald yet!
After those errands, we ate a picnic lunch in the car on the way to a movie. We saw a matinee of a very sad movie called "Amour." It was a beautiful film, wonderfully acted, about a very sad subject of the health decline of a spouse after a long marriage. But the great part about the movie is that it showed what it means to love one's spouse unconditionally, in sickness and in health. It reminded me of friends of mine who have loved in this way their spouses with Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease, and who modeled this love for me. I am thankful for a spouse who loves me this way...and children who do too!
Last night we were blessed with a fabulous dinner from our friend, Justin! Great breads, cheeses, salads, and homemade gingerbread cake that was PERFECTLY baked and hit the spot. Thank you, Justin! And thanks to everyone who sent cards yesterday and today. Just in case they are birthday cards, I am saving them to open on Monday!
I have some very good news to share. One of my oncologists called this morning to report that the fluid they drew from the abdominal port is NOT infected! Thus, they will let it rest until three weeks from yesterday and then they plan to use it for the start of round three. Hooray and thank you Jesus!
Let me close with a verse that was in my devotional, Jesus Calling, today.
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."
Cancer has put me in a position to be still and know that He is God. To be weak and completely out of control, so that I can receive His strenght and be reminded that the God who loves me and created me is in control. I am learning to keep my eyes on Jesus and to trust Him with my every breath. This is just one of the many blessings in the midst of this difficult journey. God is with me (us) every step of the way.
God bless you all with rest and good health and something fun to do on this long holiday weekend!
Love,
Gabrielle
Gabrielle here. Well, today hasn't been too bad! A little weary, a little nauseous, but not nearly as bad as the first time I had the two drugs. I do recall that the Sunday was the worst day that time, so extra prayers for tomorrow would be most appreciated!
I awoke to one of my favorite breakfasts from Steve--his homemade multi-grain pancakes topped with fresh blueberries and maple syrup and chicken apple sausages. I could only eat one pancake and one sausage but boy were they delicious. Around 11:45 we took off for a few errands. We dropped off a prescription for a new anti-nausea drug that might not give me headaches like my current one and picked up my new wig! Wig #2 is the one. It is a good color and style and we bought it! It's nice to know it's here when I need it. More and more hair is falling out on pillows and in the shower and when I comb it. But I'm not bald yet!
After those errands, we ate a picnic lunch in the car on the way to a movie. We saw a matinee of a very sad movie called "Amour." It was a beautiful film, wonderfully acted, about a very sad subject of the health decline of a spouse after a long marriage. But the great part about the movie is that it showed what it means to love one's spouse unconditionally, in sickness and in health. It reminded me of friends of mine who have loved in this way their spouses with Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease, and who modeled this love for me. I am thankful for a spouse who loves me this way...and children who do too!
Last night we were blessed with a fabulous dinner from our friend, Justin! Great breads, cheeses, salads, and homemade gingerbread cake that was PERFECTLY baked and hit the spot. Thank you, Justin! And thanks to everyone who sent cards yesterday and today. Just in case they are birthday cards, I am saving them to open on Monday!
I have some very good news to share. One of my oncologists called this morning to report that the fluid they drew from the abdominal port is NOT infected! Thus, they will let it rest until three weeks from yesterday and then they plan to use it for the start of round three. Hooray and thank you Jesus!
Let me close with a verse that was in my devotional, Jesus Calling, today.
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."
Cancer has put me in a position to be still and know that He is God. To be weak and completely out of control, so that I can receive His strenght and be reminded that the God who loves me and created me is in control. I am learning to keep my eyes on Jesus and to trust Him with my every breath. This is just one of the many blessings in the midst of this difficult journey. God is with me (us) every step of the way.
God bless you all with rest and good health and something fun to do on this long holiday weekend!
Love,
Gabrielle
Friday, February 15, 2013
2/15/13 Exciting News!
Dear friends and family,
Gabrielle here. Today Daniel and I got the best news as we left chemo number four. Backtracking, I'll just say that chemo number four went fine...about 5.5 hours total. Our nurse today, Leah, is the nicest person ever. We watched a rom-com movie--The Holiday. And I made many trips to the rest room since my blood pressure was too low and they kept pumping me full of extra fluids. We just got home and I'm feeling pretty good so far with all the strong i/v anti-nausea drugs in me. Tomorrow may be a different story.
Now for the encouraging news. At the start of our chemo visits they run all my blood count numbers and they come back pretty quick from the lab. The one count that doesn't come until the end, because it takes longer, is the CA125. This is the cancer tumor marker count in my blood. When I began this journey back in January, my CA125 was 142 (the top of the normal range is 35). Today, after three chemo treatments, before chemo number four, my CA125 was 32!!! Completely in the normal range! My nurse, Leah, couldn't stop smiling and was so happy to see that. So were Daniel and I! Later, after three to four of the chemo cycles are done, they will do body scans to look for any remaining cancer, but this is an incredibly encouraging sign this early in the game. Thanks be to God, our Great Physician, for this sign that the medicine is doing its job. And thanks to all of you prayer warriors out there for keeping my name and health ever before the throne of God.
To top off my happiness today, when we left chemo it was sunny and gorgeous outside, so in a few minutes, we will leave for a walk at Richmond Beach. Can't wait.
Steve mentioned a few kindnesses but let me reiterate them and add a couple. Thanks so much, Aunt Peggy, for the amazing box of Rocky Mountain chocolates! And thanks, Lisl, for the very sweet note with a bag of Dove dark chocolates! Yummo to both those chocolate gifts and to the dessert our neighbor Kevin made and shared with us last night. He's a 20-something that can truly bake Julia Child worthy desserts and we enjoyed the visit with his mom and dad, our friends Laura and Jerry, as they brought the dessert to us last night. Special thanks as well to my friend Dee who gave us a box full of pasta, Bolognese (sp?) sauce, her unbelievable homemade bread, pears, and big, delicious ginger cookies! Thanks to cousins Robbie and Becky for cute matching nike hats for Steve and me when we are both bald, and to Steve's nurse, Lynn, who sent me homemade Valentine cookies yesterday. Thanks to Shannon, who works at Steve's office, and delivers me things that people drop off there so Steve won't have to carry them home on his bike. And thanks to everyone who has sent me a note or card this week. These have come from as far north as Stanwood, to as far south as California, to an old friend in Boston whom I worked with to put on an event at the White House for major donors to children's hospitals. If I have forgotten to mention your kindness, please forgive me. They call it chemo brain and sometimes I am a little foggy. It will go away when chemo is over. But I am so, so grateful for every prayer and act of kindness!
Let me close with Psalm 118:24: "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." My heart is overflowing with gladness for the CA125 count, the sunshine, all of you on my "rope crew," and to God who is answering our prayers, giving me strength and hope to endure this, and meeting all our needs. God bless you all on this long holiday weekend!
Love,
Gabrielle
Gabrielle here. Today Daniel and I got the best news as we left chemo number four. Backtracking, I'll just say that chemo number four went fine...about 5.5 hours total. Our nurse today, Leah, is the nicest person ever. We watched a rom-com movie--The Holiday. And I made many trips to the rest room since my blood pressure was too low and they kept pumping me full of extra fluids. We just got home and I'm feeling pretty good so far with all the strong i/v anti-nausea drugs in me. Tomorrow may be a different story.
Now for the encouraging news. At the start of our chemo visits they run all my blood count numbers and they come back pretty quick from the lab. The one count that doesn't come until the end, because it takes longer, is the CA125. This is the cancer tumor marker count in my blood. When I began this journey back in January, my CA125 was 142 (the top of the normal range is 35). Today, after three chemo treatments, before chemo number four, my CA125 was 32!!! Completely in the normal range! My nurse, Leah, couldn't stop smiling and was so happy to see that. So were Daniel and I! Later, after three to four of the chemo cycles are done, they will do body scans to look for any remaining cancer, but this is an incredibly encouraging sign this early in the game. Thanks be to God, our Great Physician, for this sign that the medicine is doing its job. And thanks to all of you prayer warriors out there for keeping my name and health ever before the throne of God.
To top off my happiness today, when we left chemo it was sunny and gorgeous outside, so in a few minutes, we will leave for a walk at Richmond Beach. Can't wait.
Steve mentioned a few kindnesses but let me reiterate them and add a couple. Thanks so much, Aunt Peggy, for the amazing box of Rocky Mountain chocolates! And thanks, Lisl, for the very sweet note with a bag of Dove dark chocolates! Yummo to both those chocolate gifts and to the dessert our neighbor Kevin made and shared with us last night. He's a 20-something that can truly bake Julia Child worthy desserts and we enjoyed the visit with his mom and dad, our friends Laura and Jerry, as they brought the dessert to us last night. Special thanks as well to my friend Dee who gave us a box full of pasta, Bolognese (sp?) sauce, her unbelievable homemade bread, pears, and big, delicious ginger cookies! Thanks to cousins Robbie and Becky for cute matching nike hats for Steve and me when we are both bald, and to Steve's nurse, Lynn, who sent me homemade Valentine cookies yesterday. Thanks to Shannon, who works at Steve's office, and delivers me things that people drop off there so Steve won't have to carry them home on his bike. And thanks to everyone who has sent me a note or card this week. These have come from as far north as Stanwood, to as far south as California, to an old friend in Boston whom I worked with to put on an event at the White House for major donors to children's hospitals. If I have forgotten to mention your kindness, please forgive me. They call it chemo brain and sometimes I am a little foggy. It will go away when chemo is over. But I am so, so grateful for every prayer and act of kindness!
Let me close with Psalm 118:24: "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." My heart is overflowing with gladness for the CA125 count, the sunshine, all of you on my "rope crew," and to God who is answering our prayers, giving me strength and hope to endure this, and meeting all our needs. God bless you all on this long holiday weekend!
Love,
Gabrielle
2/15/13 Another dual chemo day!
Steve
Well, today’s another one of the biggies: a two drug chemo day, which we have all been
facing with a little trepidation. On the
plus side, it means Gabrielle has successfully completed one of the six cycles
and this is the beginning of Cycle 2 (yesterday being Day Zero again). Last go round with two drugs was complicated
by some leakage from her abdominal incision which won’t happen for two
reasons. The first is that her incision
is all healed up, and the second is that both drugs will be administered
through the portacath near her collarbone.
This is because the abdominal one is still being a bit persnickety. Two days ago, she went in for another
ultrasound of the abdominal port which also included an attempt to aspirate fluid
from the area around it. It was a long
day, what with ultrasound, talking to the radiologist, then Dr. M. and the
aspiration. You might say that her
aspirations were that she wouldn’t have to stay so long, and that when she was
all done, she was exaspirated (just giving punster Daniel a run for his money).
But she’s most likely in good spirits, as far as I
can tell. Am not sure exactly as I haven’t
seen hide nor hair of her yet this morning.
There is a strange sound akin either to the sawing of logs or a lyre bird
calling from the bedroom (see Daniel’s amazing entry on birds and watch the
video on the lyre bird…just not when your boss is watching if you check this at
work). A quick update on Valentine’s
Day. It went OK. I know she said that she just didn’t feel up
to going out to Canlis, but the truth of the matter is that she knows that her
husband is a bit of a cheapskate and she said she wanted to stay home just to
help me save face and a few bucks (though we did miss being waited on by
Kyle). We had a great dinner of baked
potatos (is that how Dan Quayle spells it?) with all the trimmings and the most
amazing steak from Omaha Steak Company…a birthday gift from my mom that had
been just itching for the right occasion.
Dessert was courtesy of our next door neighbor, Kevin. I don’t know what it was, but it was
chocolaty and gooey and really really good.
So good, in fact, that I was only able to eat one of the three pounds of
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Candy flown in courtesy of Aunt Peggy (oh, was
it supposed to be for Gabrielle? My
bad!).
Now for a little aside. I personally am feeling a little left out by
all this talk of chemo for Gabrielle.
What most of you don’t know (and probably would rather not know…especially
if you’re one of my patients) is that I have just completed a round of “chemo”
myself. As we used to do in junior high,
I will compare and contrast our chemo treatments for you, so you will be fully
up to speed on the goings on at the Dudley household. Here, in table form is all the skinny:
Gabrielle’s chemo
|
Steve’s chemo
|
|
What it’s for
|
Stage 3 ovarian cancer
|
Toenail fungus
|
Regimen
|
Once a week, 18 weeks…126 days overall
|
120 days of pills...a horribly long time for this non pill person
|
Means of administration
|
By kindly nurses accompanied by
snacks, warm blankies, a devoted son, in a comfy chair
|
A pill hastily thrown back with nary a
swig of water
|
Side effects
|
Nausea, weight loss, hair loss
|
Nasty taste in my mouth if I don’t
swallow the pill fast enough. Weight
gain (how else can I explain gaining 5 pounds this past month?).
|
Purpose
|
To kill those nasty cancer cells
|
To give my toenails that “fresh from
the pedicure look”
|
Other benefits
|
Tell the folks at Canlis you are on
cancer drugs and you get a reservation, no questions asked.
|
Tell the folks at Luisa’s Mexican
Restaurant you’ve got toenail fungus and they put you at a table by the
dumpster and make you jump on the trash when it gets too full.
|
Cost
|
This where the Visa commercial would
say “priceless”!
|
Ten buck co-pay
|
Current spokesperson for specific
disease
|
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition: Nani
E. Vinken, German TV celebrity
|
Nail fungus: a cartoon blob that makes
that green slime on the Mucinex commercial look downright stunningly
attractive
|
Chance of being spokesperson for said
disease
|
Very high. Gabrielle has the “it” factor: charisma,
charm, wit, grace, beauty.
|
What would happen if Slim Whitman
married the Flying Nun: Slim and Nun
|
What happens when people find out you
are on chemo
|
Amazing outpouring of warmth and love
that is hard to fathom
|
The neighbors pull their cats indoors
so they won’t get infected with claw fungus.
|
Well that’s it, folks! We’ll let you know how round two of dual
drugs goes later on. Thanks for all your
prayers, support, goodies, Oregon Dux caps (you know who youse is), candy,
dinners, and so much more. Blessings to
all.
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