This week it is time to get clear about my hopes for the New Year, and do my best to put the old year to rest. On December 30th I woke up smiling- because it was 6:30 not 4:45 a.m. and for the first time in over a year there was no reason to drive to Portland for…
Category: A.C.K.
The Happy Anniversary Conundrum.
A year ago yesterday I was given a diagnosis, and got on the Pooka’s back, thereby starting my wild transformative journey. I could not even say the word mastectomy out loud then, I had lots of fear. (I now know that some of my anxiety the week of my biopsy and diagnosis was directly related to a…
Are you sure you really ever had cancer?
As I approach the anniversary of my diagnosis I have been reflecting on how far I have come. This post is perhaps a bit more in the realm of venting than usual. Details of my western medical treatments and their aftermath, along with the effects of impertinent questions. Read at your own risk. I will have my…
long time travellers
“These fleeting charms of earth Farewell, your springs of joy are dry My soul now seeks another home A brighter world on high” Wailin’ Jennys Traveling today to New Mexico, to visit my sister where she lives on a remote high altitude ranch. We will miss the last days of beautiful September in Oregon, and…
Camo for Amazons
I have been learning how to tie beaded necklaces lately. This serves several purposes, by using my fingers for fine motor skills I am improving my hand neuropathy. It also gives me something productive to do while supine in the nest-the one sunny place to lay down in our house. This feels especially important when I am not the…
Gift Economy
Our beloved and spoiled chickens lay the most beautiful eggs. Each time we travel to appointments with doctors and healers we try to bring them a dozen eggs. It is an effort to bring the transactions with my doctors closer to the gift economy- mutual benefit is the goal. I hope also that for my Portland doctors,…
Hell Yeah or No
Here is a bit of a modern proverb on how to negotiate our too busy lives by Derek Sivers, founder of CD Baby!. It is only 1 minute long and definitely worth watching if you ever find yourself saying Yes to more than you can fit on your plate. http://vimeo.com/25496723 Since my diagnosis many people have offered…
New Treatment Direction
So after seeing Doctors yesterday we have a new treatment plan. Dr. Goodbody’s Total Goodbody System™ – you can read all about it here: New Improved Treatment Plan We could not be more excited. A.C.K. Orderly Joe is particularly pleased with the prospects- so much so that he may adopt some of the regiment to improve…
Great Big Love
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…
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…
Time for a new hairdo
We’ve all seen that hair loss is a standard part of chemotherapy. Here at the Alderbrook Chemo Klinic™, (you might know us better as ACK!) the time has come to get a jump on things. Miranda came over last night and, using the barber chair that is part of our living room furniture, shortened Iris’…
Riding the Pooka 