Baldies' Blog began originally in the UK by a 26 year old journalist with a blood cancer on a mission to inform the world about bone marrow donation.

He has since died, and I took on the cause of making cancer care more transparent for everybody.

Cancer is a disease that will touch everybody through diagnosis or affiliation: 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed and 1 in 3 woman will hear those words, "You Have Cancer."

I invite you to read how I feel along my journey and
how I am continuing to live a full life alongside my Hodgkin's lymphoma, with me controlling my cancer, not my cancer controlling me.

I hope that "Baldies' Blog" will prepare you to handle whatever life sends you, but especially if it's the message, "You Have Cancer."

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Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Update From Dad

Hi all
Another big week for Hillary. Last tuesday she went to Boston Ear and Eye Hospital. She is on a clinical trial for her Eyes.  The meds she is using are doing great. Her Eyes have improved dramatically. She does not need to be seen for 4 months now. The side affects of the eye drops are noticeable. She has x-Ray vision and can see through most buildings except if lead lined!! Her eyes have always been able to see right through me. When she Batts them she always gets her way. --She got that from her mother!!. Whatever happens this side affect of the new medication only works on women, Men just get the results.

After the good report in Boston we can look forward to another Chemo treatment this week. This time Nancy played all her negotiating techniques to get her to be able to be admitted for the chemo. We are 3 for 3 with horrible results from this type of chemo. All 3 times  the chemo put her in the ER then to be admitted. So when the Doctors presumed that the same treatment would give different results this time it was time to bring out the "she Bear". Momma bear was only protecting her cubs but her arguments were ferocious. The doctors didn't stand a chance. Hillary will be admitted on tuesday and have chemo tuesday and wednesday. Hopefully with better immediate care we won't have the close calls we had the last 3 times. This chemo is just to keep the cancer from coming back. The last PET scan did not show any nodes or any signs of Cancer. Because it has come back 12 times in 5 years they are not taking any chances. 

The chemo is on a 1 month cycle. The first week has been in the hospital. The 2nd and 3rd week have been the best weeks for Hillary. Her energy levels are good. The 4 week her "counts" drop. She get easily tired and spends a lot of time resting. Then we do it all over again. 

In the mean time she has to accomplish something. She is making a lot of Jewelry. That is her newest hobby. She can do that without getting too tired and can pick it up again easily. She also is doing the " relay For life". She hope to do a lap with the survivors. Last year she made it around but I thought we would need the wheelchair.She was last by a lot and I know how competitive she is. With Her determination she will run around this time. She has already  made $700 from a volley ball tournament for the relay for life. Yes she wrangled me into walking also. The event goes from 6PM to 11 am. Who ever thought up those hours!! 

Well we feel much better about things this week. Thanks for all the love and support you have been giving us. It is very much appreciated. When I am feeling down I just look at all our friends that are pulling for us and bounce back. We could not have gotten this far without the help of our friends!!

Vic, Nancy. Patrick and Grace, Heather, Allen, Pierce and Preston, Jon Xander and especially Hillary

I should take this time to Add Frank to the List. Hillary has awarded  him a certificate to make Him part of the Family. He is this very old guy, with white hair,  that Xander met at the hospital 5 years ago while he was walking His fathers dog. He has really helped our family get through some difficult times. He doesn't have any kids, except for Big Brothers and big Sisters, So Hillary adopted him. He is a great addition to our family 

1 comment:

Loraine Ritchey said...

Pulling for you all and I check the blog everyday- hugs to Hillary - Loraine