The good, the bad, and the ugly......
Hello there. I hope everyone was able to enjoy the long labor day weekend. It almost feels like Fall is in the air. Fall is my favorite time of year with the color change, the slight chill in the air, sweaters and jeans... Hopefully Winter is still a long way off. When I started this blog I said I would share the ups and downs....
Well this weekend started off cruddy. Karen, Jane and I were running errands Friday and grabbed some lunch on the way home. Unfortunately, my lunch was then left on the side of the freeway, topped off with fresh blood. Next stop was the emergency room. My oncology said that the steroids might be causing an ulcer. After arriving around 1 pm, having a tube stuck up my nose and down my throat (nasty procedure) ((no fresh blood found in stomach)), waiting 5 hours to be moved to 23 hr observation ( an open room needed), throwing up again (after a few sips of broth) and bursting a blood vessel in my right eye (lovely), waiting until 10 am to see a GI specialist ("yes, let's do a scope"), waiting until 1:30 for transport to endoscopy, waiting for scoping procedure that took place at 3:00, I was finally being released at 4:30 on Saturday. The scoping procedure stuck a camera probe down my throat (drugs were given to help ease the process) and found an ulcer in my esophageal tube. The probe took photos and two biopsies. I was prescribed some ulcer medication, my insurance does not cover, and asked to see GI doctor in a couple of weeks. (Yet another doctor to add to my list- yee haw!)
Needless to say, Chris and I were a bit cranky/sleep deprived after all that. I was fortuante enough to have him stay with me the entire time, as he slept in a lovely comfy vinyl recliner at my bedside. Thank you to Geldners and Rolfsens for adopting a child for the weekend. My family is blessed with the "village" that surrounds and supports us.
Chemo treatment #4 of 4 is tomorrow and a CT scan is scheduled for the 14th. Ahead we go. Those pacman are munching hard (wocka wocka wocka) I try to make the most of each day I am given, as we all should. If I prove that I can appreciate each day, I am sure there I will be given thousands of more days to celebrate. Enjoy this journey we are all on. Take time to appreciate what you have. Dream. And as a good man once said. " ....never, never, never, never, never....never give up!! lotsa sappiness at the end-sorry- heehee


10 Comments:
You are one of the most amazing women I know! You are in my thoughts and prayers. If I can do anything to help out, don't hesitate to let me know...I'm in fashionable Ferndale just about everyday ya know!
Love and prayers,
Amanda
Dara-
I love how you always get back up again...Your determination and drive to survive is to be admired by everyone. We love you...
Flash and T$
OK Wonder Woman. 4 is your lucky number right? (It is now)
I was in San Fran seeing Tony, Kathy and Enzo (who just turned 1). It was a party. I threw kids around in the pool.
fyi we went to Six Flags and I won a big stuffed animal (for Enzo).....not quite as big as that one from long ago.
Oh yeah, and if anyone else puts another tube down your throat.....ask for a little beer to go down there too.
And this just in as I type.....new job.....www.newhorizons.com
More on this later.
CYa
You are absolutely incredible. I/we all/everyone loves you and adores you and your whole family. Hi to Chris and Jane, Mom and Dad. You all are in our thoughts and prayers. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you. Love you - ronnie
You are still and always an amazing woman! I am so proud of what your team accomplished during the walk. You are one tough woman!!!! We haven't seen each other in so long and you are always in my thoughts. I will pray for you each and every day.....keep the faith!
Your friend, Cheryl
Dara,
I really wish I could give you a Jayson Wookiee hug right now... though it's probably best that I don't right now. They tend to be, well - exuberant.
DUDE!... Tell me about the throat-scoping thing. UGH!... I had it done last month to check for reflux n what-not... Not all that pleasant, even with the meds... "Now just relax... Please stop biting the scope, Jayson..."
Your perspective tends to realign my own back into a view that makes all this trivial work and life BS fade... My thoughts seem to drift to you quite often... and all the rest of the peeps that I love in this world, then life is great again. Thank YOU D!
My love and respect for you grows with every posting. You are as beautiful and fun as I've always remembered you to be. I've always been immensly fond of you, and my affection and admiration keeps growing.
All the best to you n yours, from me n mine!
hey babe-
i agree with adam.. tell them to put something good down there if they're going to take the time to stick a tube in ya.. a little captain morgan's maybe??
sorry, sweetie about the weekend. that just sucks! but, as always the stubborn fighter in you comes out. you are doing a beautiful job balancing the "fight" with the "YES!" that we discussed while I was out there. (can you belive that was almost a month ago already?!)
I love you, Dara. You truly are an inspiration to us all, to step back and ENJOY life, be thankful for what we have, and to see the beauty in the everyday mundane things in LIFE. Remember to take time for you, keep your energy up for your healing, and know that you have a HUGE village of support all over! LOVE TO JANE ON HER 2nd BIRTHDAY FROM HER MADRINHA!
love, Bets
Dara,'
You continue to astound and amaze me with your zest for life! I've got all the Gutrich's praying for you & believe me, that's a BIG group!
I'm glad you have "family" to help you during all the crap!
Know that if I were there, I would "adopt" Jane. Hey, what's one more when you have 4! :)
Take care of yourself and I agree with the other comments.....tequila shots anyone?
Crosser
Dara,
You remain in our thoughts and prayers daily. We love you! I am checking you blog almost daily. You are so strong and an inspiration to all of us.
Love,
Amber and all the Browns
Hi Dara,
Both Shep and I are part of your "village" out west. I have shared your story with some of my friends. Good vibes everywhere.
I love this "blog" thing; the world has changed and the technology is incredible. Thank you for sharing. I am learning too.
I am a phone call or an email away; you know we both love you oodles.
Ronni and Shep
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