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Long day today. I left S.C. at 6:30AM and drove up to Dulles to pick up Tom, and then 2 hours back down to my house. More than 9 hours on the road. We had a great dinner waiting at Marianne's, and after initial internet access woes, was finally able to log on and check my guestbook and do this entry. I see I have stirred up some controversy as to what color wig to get. I should start a poll. Maybe the webmaster can come up with photo samples for people to vote on... Love, P.
Sigh. Still did not break 100, and Tammy beat me today by 5 strokes. I feel that I'm running out of time to break 100, because my cousin doesn't golf, which leaves 18 holes with my Mom on July 6th as my only chance before chemo. I guess I can make Tom (my cousin) sit in the cart and play caddy for me while I try yet again. I'm dreading the chemo so much, and I'm afraid that I won't feel up to playing golf anymore once chemo starts. We decided to skip the drive to Columbia to look at wigs, and hung out at the pool instead yesterday. With my dark eyebrows and fiery temper, I think red would be better than blond, if I do need a wig. Today is my parents' 44th wedding anniversary. I'm so glad they met and fell in love and brought us into the world. I'm lucky to have such a loving and supportive family. I love you Mom & Dad. P.
I still have not broken 100, but I DID beat Tammy today by 3 strokes WITHOUT any mulligans. Hooray!! We may drive into Columbia today to check out wigs, but it is an hour each way and will depress me. Besides, my sister Barb says that I won't lose my hair. I just can't thank everyone enough for their well wishes and prayers. I seem to be on so many prayer lists now that God can't help but cure me with only a few cycles of that nasty chemo, special thanks to all from MJH and Barb's friends at York Hospital who have never even met me!! God bless you all!!! P.
Tammy & I played 36 holes of golf today, 18 at her club and then another 18 at another course with her 8 year old son, who out-drove me on several occasions!! She had given me a birthday coupon good for unlimited mulligans (do-over shots for all you non-golfing types), and with the mulligans, I was able to beat her by 1 stroke the first round, with her beating me by one stroke on the second round. Neither of us was able to break 100, but got close (100 and 104) - more golf tomorrow!! All this fun stuff I'm doing is not making those at home doing all my work shifts very happy; after-all, I'm supposed to be SICK, not partying it up on the golf course! Remember, I am "reducing my stress to improve my immune system" under doctor's orders; besides, the way I play golf, it is NOT fun!!!! Love, P.
I made it safely down to South Carolina. My spirits are better today, possibly because Tammy let me beat her by one stroke in golf today, but more likely because I'm not alone. My state of denial ended yesterday about the same time my sister's car left my driveway. As exhausting as the boys were, they didn't allow me to dwell on my problems. Kat's note today in the guest book was sweet - Aunt Pam wants to be with those cute munchkins just as much as David believes his 9 month old brother wants to be with me! Round 2 of the golf challenge tomorrow. I'd better rest up, Tammy is pretty tough! P.
Bit of a bummer day today. The lovely state of denial I've been in is slipping. Filling out disability forms with questions like "when do you expect to return to work?" made me think that I may die before I ever return to work. Today was a low day. I very much needed and appreciated all the hugs I got today - thanks Belinda, Susan, Micah, Lois, Carlos, Julia, Mike, Kandi, Lynn, Melanie, and whoever else I missed. My sister & her family got home safely, and I head down to South Carolina in the morning. I hope I can get back to my State of Denial by heading down 95, but someone told me that Denial is a river in Egypt. Sigh. Love, Pam
Hooray! Sunny day scheduled for today. My friend Ann is coming from Richmond with her toddler, so my nephews will have someone in-between size to beat up on. P.
It is supposed to rain here today, which may screw up my plan to wear the boys out so we all can sleep at night. I may be forced to play the "run around the sofa" game ad nauseam. I'll try to get Kat (webmaster) to help me make a few changes to the calendar later today. I'm probably going to pop by the ER briefly on Monday (6/25) to take care of some disability paperwork.
Good morning! Kat arrived yesterday with my brother-in-law, Bob, and the 2 boys (35 months and almost 9 months). This is good practice for how worn out I will be from the chemo! Where do they get all that energy? We went to the beach, and Andrew participated in a clinical trial as to the medicinal properties of eating large quantities of sand. Yum!! Nothing new from a melanoma standpoint, except that my eyes are even more swollen today with fluid-filled edema blisters under them. It gives me sort of an Oriental look, though Lynn says I look like a lion. Mike sent me a photo last night from our golf tournament last month, and we've added it to the photo album. Love, P.
Well, the gamma knife people warned me that my eyelids could be swollen 2 days after the procedure. I woke up today to slitty little eyes with puffy, purple eyelids - boy, am I ever attractive!! Mom wants me to get a picture, but I'll spare you guys. I love getting my guestbook entries! Thanks for writing. Of course, I keep checking the site, so most of the registered hits on the site are just me! Kat (sister Karen) and her family arrive today, so I can play "Aunt Pam" to David and Andrew. We plan to hang out here and go to the beach. I WILL wear sunscreen, even though I told my sister Barb that it is like closing the barn door after the horse gets out. Love, P.
I have returned to Virginia this afternoon after having Gamma Knife done at UPMC (Pittsburgh) yesterday morning. Gamma Knife (for all you novices) is where they zap just the spot(s) of tumor in the brain with focused beam radiation, rather than radiating the whole brain. It was not a lot of fun (severe headache and nausea), but with a few pain pills (thanks, Jeff!) I was able to sleep almost all day yesterday and woke up feeling well enough for 18 holes of golf with my mom before returning to VA. Gamma knife is a one time deal, unless more tumors show up on follow-up scans to be performed in 6-8 weeks and 3, 6, and 12 months. We plan to get a digital camera, so we can have pictures other than the default "sunset" and "city" ones that are on the website. I had them take a few pictures of me wearing my stereotactic head-frame, which we may be able to scan into the website. Thanks to all that have sent cards, messages, and all that have put me in their prayers. I can't beat this thing ("the EVIL cells", as one of you said) alone, but with all of you routing for me, I am NOT alone and I WILL beat this!!! I love you all. Pam |
