Been a very interesting week here in the Healing Home as I call it. I have created as peaceful of an environment as I can to encourage healing.
I have been nauseated and had a constant migrainish headache that would not go away. I had to pull out all the stuff in my arsenal, and still, was feeling punky. When I saw the doc on Wednesday, he tweaked my meds that he had tweaked the week before. Today, I woke up feeling better. Hooray! The other little thing MoFo threw at me this week is my hair falling out by the handfuls, and not just where they are radiating. It feels like someone is constantly pulling my hair all over my scalp. I cut my hair last night to shoulder length, 6 inches off, hoping the extra weight loss of hair might calm things down a bit.
On the bright side, it is sunny, there is no snow, it is Friday, I am 15/30 treatments down after my treatment this morning, I am alive, I am home and I am with my pets. Yesterday, Christine surprised me when I was waiting for the cab. She dropped by real quick with some potted Gerber Daisies for me. The perfect size to put on the little table next to me when Henry and I sit on the front porch. They add that perfect little spring pop of color right next to me. I am also enjoying watching the birds come to the bird feeder out in the back yard. The cats love it too, it is cat tv for them.
So, the ketosis diet continues. It is not difficult to maintain, or stay on at all. I admit, I did fall off the wagon last night. Someone, I don't know who, but I know for sure it wasn't me, left a half eaten container of Ben and Jerry's Phish Food in the freezer. Now, everybody knows when you are having a super sucky day, Ben and Jerry are some of the best friends a person can have. Needless to say to who ever left the container in there, it is gone, but not wasted, worry not! Ben and Jerry and I had an awesome reunion. Thank you benevolent anonymous person.
But back on the keto wagon I go today! Now, I have been making some recipes from what I find on the internet, and some, I make on my own, or some I look at on the internet, and think, (yes, I used the word think) I could make it taste better, so embellish away I begin. It is good to be able to slowly get my skills back as far as speed goes. And, I can have two pots on the stove, or one pot and something in the microwave or oven, at the same time! Not something I was able to do when I first came home. One pot meals were my thing.
I made some Pad Thai this week using spaghetti squash.It was not hard to make. If a woman who had brain surgery and is undergoing radiation and chemo treatments can make it, anyone can make it, it is not difficult. It was so good, the first and second time, but it makes a lot so by the third time, I got kind of tired of it. I threw in a stripped, cooked chicken breast as well. And I did not add one of the heads bok choi, and doubled the sauce. I would triple the sauce to make it more like the original Pad Thai, and the peanuts on top and the cilantro really add to the flavor of the dish. I think the recipe could easily feed a family of 4. So, remember all my hints when you go to the link to make this recipe. http://paleogrubs.com/spaghetti-squash-noodle-recipe
For you vegetarians, add the extra head of bok choi, but still triple the sauce.
Well, off I go to fry MoFo! Damn the torpedos! Tawanda! Burn, baby, burn!
Showing posts with label hope. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hope. Show all posts
Friday, May 8, 2015
Monday, April 27, 2015
A few more introductions
I have been blessed to have surrounded by awesome people on my care team since this whole thing started in earnest on February 27th. Okay, maybe while sitting on a gurney in the Emergency Department with a security guard and a man walking around with an open wound on his hand, wondering why the guy didn't fight fair, and "Papi, I have to pee". After the diagnosis was delivered, this is the scenario that ensued. If I had been focused solely on that particular experience, I do not think I would be positively facing this disease with the forthright determination, diet, exercise, prayer, meditation, yoga, and hope.
From the nurses at UMASS, to the staff at Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital, to the staff, to the people that take care of me at home from Century Homecare. I have two nurses, one week day nurse, Janice, and one weekend nurse, Joe. I also have a physical therapist, Fran, an occupational therapist, Sue, and a speech therapist, Dave. I had an awesome experience this weekend, when Joe showed up on Saturday. I was feeling rather emotional when Joe showed up, and just plain old frustrated. My nurse Janice is a clone of me before I had brain cancer and advocated for clients when I worked at the group home. She gets things done. I love that about her. She is also compassionate, and like me, just the right amount of naughty. Sue is so supportive and encouraging. I even hear from her via text during the weekend if she runs into something she thinks I would find interesting. Fran doesn't take no for an answer and keeps me moving as per my request in the early days. Dave helps me to focus, find ways to concentrate (still working on that, thanks surgery, chemo and radiation I have the attention span of a 5 year old most times) These people are my team.
I asked Joe what he did during the week. That is when he told me he is going to school during the week. I asked what he was going to school for. That is when I found out that he was going to school to become a prison pastor. I was so impressed by his compassionate heart to go into the ministry, but prison ministry specifically. We talked and he asked if he could pray for me. I said yes. I was so glad he prayed. It was calming, it was confirming. I started the Course of Miracles Saturday night. A friend brought over the book shortly before I was diagnosed. Granted with the blurry vision right now, reading is not easy, but I am persevering. Maybe only being able to do it in small chunks at a time is good, this way I have to take it in more, be more aware, me more mindful?
Sunday, he showed up and he told me, "you know, I prayed for you all night." then he gave me a little homily if you will about being open to being in the presence of God, and when Jesus came and walked among the disciples, and sat down and ate with them and then disappeared. And it wasn't until afterward that they realized who it was walking with them. "You never know what, I want you to concentrate on your relationship with God. The miracle will happen. Concentrate on your spirit and your soul. Keep doing what you are doing with your diet and medicine. Most importantly, know you are never alone. He is here with you every step of the way, even when you lay in that radiation machine at the hospital, He is right there holding your hand." He prayed again, and assured me that we would pray for me every day. He prayed again and then he left.
From the nurses at UMASS, to the staff at Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital, to the staff, to the people that take care of me at home from Century Homecare. I have two nurses, one week day nurse, Janice, and one weekend nurse, Joe. I also have a physical therapist, Fran, an occupational therapist, Sue, and a speech therapist, Dave. I had an awesome experience this weekend, when Joe showed up on Saturday. I was feeling rather emotional when Joe showed up, and just plain old frustrated. My nurse Janice is a clone of me before I had brain cancer and advocated for clients when I worked at the group home. She gets things done. I love that about her. She is also compassionate, and like me, just the right amount of naughty. Sue is so supportive and encouraging. I even hear from her via text during the weekend if she runs into something she thinks I would find interesting. Fran doesn't take no for an answer and keeps me moving as per my request in the early days. Dave helps me to focus, find ways to concentrate (still working on that, thanks surgery, chemo and radiation I have the attention span of a 5 year old most times) These people are my team.
I asked Joe what he did during the week. That is when he told me he is going to school during the week. I asked what he was going to school for. That is when I found out that he was going to school to become a prison pastor. I was so impressed by his compassionate heart to go into the ministry, but prison ministry specifically. We talked and he asked if he could pray for me. I said yes. I was so glad he prayed. It was calming, it was confirming. I started the Course of Miracles Saturday night. A friend brought over the book shortly before I was diagnosed. Granted with the blurry vision right now, reading is not easy, but I am persevering. Maybe only being able to do it in small chunks at a time is good, this way I have to take it in more, be more aware, me more mindful?
Sunday, he showed up and he told me, "you know, I prayed for you all night." then he gave me a little homily if you will about being open to being in the presence of God, and when Jesus came and walked among the disciples, and sat down and ate with them and then disappeared. And it wasn't until afterward that they realized who it was walking with them. "You never know what, I want you to concentrate on your relationship with God. The miracle will happen. Concentrate on your spirit and your soul. Keep doing what you are doing with your diet and medicine. Most importantly, know you are never alone. He is here with you every step of the way, even when you lay in that radiation machine at the hospital, He is right there holding your hand." He prayed again, and assured me that we would pray for me every day. He prayed again and then he left.
In Perseverance, Hope, Faith and Love,
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