There is nothing like getting a big scary death threat from your body to kick up the level of self reflection and inner listening. So when I was first diagnosed, I started asking myself questions right away. One of the questions I asked was, “What thoughts or actions have I been engaged in that make my…
Category: Cancer
Resiliency
Early on Dr. Allderdice had me fill out a whole page of questions, and sign it. One of the Questions was “How committed are you to your healing?” He was asking for a percentage. I said 100%. So when I feel whiny about taking 25 pills everyday, or doing hydrotherapy in the shower (which means…
“Quick, Look at her elbows!”
Today we travel to PDX to go to the Hai Shan clinic for more TCM mojo and acupuncture. I love acupuncture. If you have never had it, know that it is not super painful- though there are definitely sensations. I can’t begin to explain what is happening. It is in the realm of energy medicine,…
Grateful
Wow. Thank you to everyone who attended last night – we were surprised to see so many venture out in the weather. What a beautiful event. Grace Episcopal is a gorgeous church, Andrew filled the sanctuary with sweet notes, and Rex held the audience spellbound with the fascinating story of Mozart. We snuck in at…
Inspirational People
My chemo treatment in Portland went well- the 2/3 dose of Steroids seems to be working much better this week- less grumpy snarling, though I am still a bit of squirrel girl on speed. I also found a most excellent hat in the hat basket in the treatment room – the kindness of a stranger…
Pick your Poison
There are times when we all have to pick our poison. When I chose to use big Pharma medicine, I signed up to get poisoned. This is definitely a case of the ends justifying the means. From the perspective of the mainstream Oncology world, I will have a hard year that hopefully will be followed…
Orion & Mary of the Miracles
Last night we didn’t take my daily walk until after dinner, when the sky was dark and filled with stars. Orion hovered over our house as he does each winter. I have a special relationship with those particular stars. When I was a child, and knew even less about the constellations then I…
“You’re soo sensitive.”
A kind nurse at St. Vincent told me during BC Bootcamp (the first intense week of my diagnosis) that taking this journey is not about being Tough, it is about being Resilient. On Tuesday Joe and I traveled into Portland to see Dr. Allderdice, the Naturopathic Oncologist. I enjoy seeing him, as he is honest, direct, kind…
The Meanest Woman in Town
“If I hadn’t seen the light in that old lady’s eyes I’d try to be a man you would hate an’ despise I’d rave an’ I’d rant an’ I’d scream an’ yell An’ I’d chase my neighbors from here to Hell… But I can’t be this bad because my folks are too good.” Billy Bragg/Woody…
A.C.K. Road show to PDX
Here you see The A.C.K. Road Show in Portland getting some Yew and Platinum, as well as the targeted therapy infusions that are reserved for HER2+ lotto winners like myself. Treatment #2 went without any drama- no sneaky sedative this time so the full effect of the steroid they give you made me a bit…
Kinwork and Kindness
I have spent a lot of time in the last 10 years thinking about community. I put most all my eggs in the Blue Scorcher basket, working towards creating and supporting community in lots of ways. Ironically that work, with its early mornings, made me a horrid correspondent to longtime friends, and an infrequent participant…
A Cancer-ing we go…
Yesterday there were several rainbows, and today blue skies. Martin and I cleaned the house to sound of the Car Talk Boys. I go back for my second chemo treatment in Portland on Tuesday, and so I am using my current good spirits and energy to get the house in order for having a down…
Riding the Pooka 