Saturday, July 30, 2011
Saturday, September 20, 2008
WHOOOPSIE DAISIE!
Apparently, I confused some dear, lovely, kind, people on this blog last month by writing: "Don't send flowers; send money." Um . . . I was being a smarty pants, which is clearly inappropriate for such a wide readership. I have been relieved of my duties until I shape up (which will likely not happen any time soon). But I was allowed to write to clarify that I was being silly about sending money. What Mom loves bestest is lots of prayers and lovies. You all are doing a superb job with that. Thank you. I'm going to my room now.
Stacey
Stacey
Monday, September 1, 2008
Labor Day - 09/01/08
Can anyone tell me where summer went? Here I am in Elmo, bundled up in wool socks with a fire in the parlor furnace downstairs and rain making music on the tin roof. What a perfect time for an update.
Recovery from the surgery took longer than I had expected. It laid me low for about four of the last 6 weeks. However Stacey and Dennis and the kids encouraged me to join them in a cruise to Alaska through the Inland Passage last week and in doing so I got remarkably stronger. Now I am at home in Elmo and feel quite like the old me. Buzzing around preparing for the next trip.
A few days prior to the Alaska voyage I had another Chemotherapy treatment. Now, feeling quite ‘normal’, I’m packing my bags to go on a long planned for trip to the AARP Annual Convention in Washington, D.C. with my good friend Nadine. We are flying out of Billings, M.T. on Wednesday. It’ll be a long weekend.
Dr. Goff tells me the next four chemotherapy treatments will be even bigger and more powerful than the last six. She says I’ll be at the University of Washington Hospital for two days each time and the treatments will be spaced three weeks apart, as usual. I must say, I grit my teeth and clench my fists about this, as I did with the earlier chemo, but when the light of reality shines on the situation it’s never as bad as I expect. I hope this holds true with these super doses. Jimmie says, “Why are you allowing them to poison you with this stuff?” Dr. Goff says, “There’s a 70% chance of ovarian cancer coming back in the first year and if it does you are a goner.” She further tells me that we now have window of opportunity to keep that from happening with chemotherapy. So, what’s a girl to do? Everything!! So far, doing everything that’s been suggested by these two opposite kinds of healers has been working quite well. Jimmie says I’ll survive the chemo. He says I have a lot yet to do and he is optimistic about my survival in any case. My conflict comes with the belief that this chemo does kill healthy cells as well as cancer cells and reduces my body’s ability to heal itself, doing serious harm to my immune system. Amid the confusion, I continue to be grateful that there are ways to treat this disease successfully. I’ve met several survivors of ovarian and other cancers and have heard countless success stories about others. I believe that I am an exceptional cancer patient and mine will be added to the list of success stories in time.
It is my understanding that I’ll be done with chemo around Thanksgiving time. I have a new pair of skis to try out and two grandsons living in Bigfork to ski with…yes. Bonnie, Greg and the boys have moved here for the school year. Excuse me they’ll be snowboarding. I’ll be skiing.
Thanks for your continuing prayers and support, and patience during these long news blackouts. Love, Barbara
Recovery from the surgery took longer than I had expected. It laid me low for about four of the last 6 weeks. However Stacey and Dennis and the kids encouraged me to join them in a cruise to Alaska through the Inland Passage last week and in doing so I got remarkably stronger. Now I am at home in Elmo and feel quite like the old me. Buzzing around preparing for the next trip.
A few days prior to the Alaska voyage I had another Chemotherapy treatment. Now, feeling quite ‘normal’, I’m packing my bags to go on a long planned for trip to the AARP Annual Convention in Washington, D.C. with my good friend Nadine. We are flying out of Billings, M.T. on Wednesday. It’ll be a long weekend.
Dr. Goff tells me the next four chemotherapy treatments will be even bigger and more powerful than the last six. She says I’ll be at the University of Washington Hospital for two days each time and the treatments will be spaced three weeks apart, as usual. I must say, I grit my teeth and clench my fists about this, as I did with the earlier chemo, but when the light of reality shines on the situation it’s never as bad as I expect. I hope this holds true with these super doses. Jimmie says, “Why are you allowing them to poison you with this stuff?” Dr. Goff says, “There’s a 70% chance of ovarian cancer coming back in the first year and if it does you are a goner.” She further tells me that we now have window of opportunity to keep that from happening with chemotherapy. So, what’s a girl to do? Everything!! So far, doing everything that’s been suggested by these two opposite kinds of healers has been working quite well. Jimmie says I’ll survive the chemo. He says I have a lot yet to do and he is optimistic about my survival in any case. My conflict comes with the belief that this chemo does kill healthy cells as well as cancer cells and reduces my body’s ability to heal itself, doing serious harm to my immune system. Amid the confusion, I continue to be grateful that there are ways to treat this disease successfully. I’ve met several survivors of ovarian and other cancers and have heard countless success stories about others. I believe that I am an exceptional cancer patient and mine will be added to the list of success stories in time.
It is my understanding that I’ll be done with chemo around Thanksgiving time. I have a new pair of skis to try out and two grandsons living in Bigfork to ski with…yes. Bonnie, Greg and the boys have moved here for the school year. Excuse me they’ll be snowboarding. I’ll be skiing.
Thanks for your continuing prayers and support, and patience during these long news blackouts. Love, Barbara
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Thinking of you Barbara
I wish you were as close as this kitty...then I would be smooching you on your beautiful face !
I think of you so often and pray you are walking through this journey tall.
All my love to Bonnie, Stacey, husbands, kids, and YOU !
Saturday, June 7, 2008
June 7, 2008.
Hello everyone.
Barbara asked me to post an update for her.
Barbara and family (Charlie, Grandpa Chuck, Grandma Hazel, Rita, Jim, Linda, Brittney, Brett, Alice, Rhiannon and Anika are all gathered at Flathead Lake. They are all out at the table having a wonderful meal. It is cold and rainy outside but we are warm and happy inside(literally and figuratively).
Barbara looks great and feels great. She said that she wants everyone to know that she does not feel sick and that she is in fact moving in a healing direction. She will be headed to see her Mother in Missoula tomorrow. Then there will be a quick visit to Jimmie in Eureka before she heads to Seattle for her next round of chemo.
Today was the first time I have seen Barbara since she embarked on this journey. When I go to hug her today I felt reassured. I shared with her that she has led us all through many things and that I knew she would lead us all on this journey. A journey of love, and compassion in the moment.
Two days ago I was digging through photos on my computer and found a video from two summers ago. Much of our family was gathered at the Swan River, all of the kids were jumping from the bridge into the river. Soon the parents joined and then lo and behold the grandparents joined. I share this video with you. A perfect moment in time, just like this one.
Brett
Hello everyone.
Barbara asked me to post an update for her.
Barbara and family (Charlie, Grandpa Chuck, Grandma Hazel, Rita, Jim, Linda, Brittney, Brett, Alice, Rhiannon and Anika are all gathered at Flathead Lake. They are all out at the table having a wonderful meal. It is cold and rainy outside but we are warm and happy inside(literally and figuratively).
Barbara looks great and feels great. She said that she wants everyone to know that she does not feel sick and that she is in fact moving in a healing direction. She will be headed to see her Mother in Missoula tomorrow. Then there will be a quick visit to Jimmie in Eureka before she heads to Seattle for her next round of chemo.
Today was the first time I have seen Barbara since she embarked on this journey. When I go to hug her today I felt reassured. I shared with her that she has led us all through many things and that I knew she would lead us all on this journey. A journey of love, and compassion in the moment.
Two days ago I was digging through photos on my computer and found a video from two summers ago. Much of our family was gathered at the Swan River, all of the kids were jumping from the bridge into the river. Soon the parents joined and then lo and behold the grandparents joined. I share this video with you. A perfect moment in time, just like this one.
Brett
Friday, May 30, 2008
A Crazy Fact About The Human Body
While the human body may appear fragile, your body is stronger than you could possibly imagine. It is possible for you to survive even after the removal of the spleen, the stomach, one kidney, one lung, 75% of the liver, 80% of the intestines, and almost every organ from the pelvic and groin area.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Baboo!
I just want to say good morning to you! I am so encouraged by all you do and so grateful that you are the kind of Mom, Woman, Person that can pack up her car and go directly into the next indicated action! Thank you for being you and continuing to learn, grow, be open and tell the truth!
I just got off the phone with your 2 grandsons! Zaq said he had a great dream last night: You and he were asleep on the grass and woke up because it was hot outside... you both got up and ran and jumped into the river and went swimming! He said "I can't wait to be in Montana with Grammie"! Then Elijah got on the phone and read me the card he had pulled: "I am taken care of! Everyone in my life supports me with love and kindness."
Life is good. We will see you soon! WE LOVE YOU!
Your Boo!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Rick T.
Hey Barbara:
Hope all of the gentle thoughts and prayers being sent to you from angels and well wishers around the country lifts your spirits like an updraft of wind catching a kite and sending it soaring into the clouds! This is my first blog (I'm at work so I must be brief), but I must tell you what I saw this morning. First off, as I left the house to do my horse chores this morning, I was greeted by a pair of Lazuli Buntings. The male birds have beautiful powder blue heads and backs and can be quite the crooners during the spring mating season. Next, I saw a lone cow elk chewing on some grass in a dense field of golden arrow leaf balsam root; sparkling from the dew of last night's rain showers caught by the first light of a bright morning sun. A short while later, as I was finally driving the 30 mile commute to work on my bike, I passed the usual group of four resting Hereford bulls chewing their cud while admiring the large herd of Hereford cows fenced off on the other side of the road. But this time, something was different... In the middle of this circle was a very big bull elk, sprouting the makings of what may soon grow to be a large pair of a possibly seven point crown of velvet-covered antlers! I slowly and quietly (for a Harley) pulled over, stopped and said a few complimentary phrases about inclusiveness and beauty to this group of relaxing, hoofed and horned bachelors, (all but the elk completely ignored me). The elk muttered something, I couldn't tell exactly what; perhaps just an annoyed grunt, but it sounded a lot like ( - I know this is quite a stretch - ), Elvis P. saying, "Thank you, ... Thank you very much." So, if I have the good fortune of a future visit, I'll have to wave and say,"Hey Elvis, whass'up?"
You will win!
Rick T.
Hope all of the gentle thoughts and prayers being sent to you from angels and well wishers around the country lifts your spirits like an updraft of wind catching a kite and sending it soaring into the clouds! This is my first blog (I'm at work so I must be brief), but I must tell you what I saw this morning. First off, as I left the house to do my horse chores this morning, I was greeted by a pair of Lazuli Buntings. The male birds have beautiful powder blue heads and backs and can be quite the crooners during the spring mating season. Next, I saw a lone cow elk chewing on some grass in a dense field of golden arrow leaf balsam root; sparkling from the dew of last night's rain showers caught by the first light of a bright morning sun. A short while later, as I was finally driving the 30 mile commute to work on my bike, I passed the usual group of four resting Hereford bulls chewing their cud while admiring the large herd of Hereford cows fenced off on the other side of the road. But this time, something was different... In the middle of this circle was a very big bull elk, sprouting the makings of what may soon grow to be a large pair of a possibly seven point crown of velvet-covered antlers! I slowly and quietly (for a Harley) pulled over, stopped and said a few complimentary phrases about inclusiveness and beauty to this group of relaxing, hoofed and horned bachelors, (all but the elk completely ignored me). The elk muttered something, I couldn't tell exactly what; perhaps just an annoyed grunt, but it sounded a lot like ( - I know this is quite a stretch - ), Elvis P. saying, "Thank you, ... Thank you very much." So, if I have the good fortune of a future visit, I'll have to wave and say,"Hey Elvis, whass'up?"
You will win!
Rick T.
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