Florida
We are still “planning” our Florida trip…LOL…I just finished my 4th or 5th version of a plan on Wednesday and David and I looked it over and think we finally have a final itinerary. We went back and forth as to whether we should quickly get to FL, or make some stops on the way; and whether we should go far down to the Keys or just stay in the mid section. As Dr. Chen told us, you want to get below the frost line! 🙂 We have set plans for the Orlando area and Cocoa Beach area and already have AirBnB reservations for both. I am trying to find unique places to stay…like a treehouse in Alabama or a 2 bedroom 5th wheel camper in the Melbourne area….or one of the OMG places in Florida! Even our leave here date has changed, but I think we finally have that agreed on too. You should see my spreadsheet with the details! And of course we have a to-do list for packing, so that will have to start soon also. We do like our lists and spreadsheets! It will just be good to go on a road trip again!
The Big “C”
With good plans ahead there are still thoughts and prayers for 2 friends. First, let’s call him Mr. Rogers….I have known him for over 30+ years. He gave me my first start in the legal assistant arena even though I did not have any real experience. He is a criminal defense attorney and really knows his stuff. He is technically retired now, but we still keep in touch once in awhile. He has a Caring Bridge site that had been inactive for a year or so because the Big “C” had also been inactive. Well this week after a PET scan he found out it has returned and into his lungs. The oncologist did not have good suggestions for treatment at this point, but is having Mr. Rogers enroll in a couple of studies that are going on. He is just waiting to hear if he gets accepted into those studies.
Last week I talked to a sister of a friend of Jason’s. She has been diagnosed with a sarcoma in her lower leg. She has had the tests, scans, etc. and had an appointment with and oncologist at the U. I won’t quote what he told her, but let’s just say his bedside manner is definitely lacking. I think sometimes doctors need to step back and assess what it is like to be in the shoes of the patient. Dr. Chen and I talked about it when I saw her last week and she agreed it is not a comfortable situation to have to come into the room and share bad news with a patient. But there is a way to do it and being as gentle, compassionate and caring as one can be with that news in hand. This sister wanted to ask me about my Mayo experience so I shared what I had gone through. There was no way that news was presented to me in a manner as she experienced at the U and she deserves so much better! I touched base with her and she got an appointment to see a specialist at Mayo today. My thoughts and prayers are with her and I hope the Mayo compassion that I experienced will also be her experience.
That Big “C” needs to go away!!! There are way too many stories! And yes, they have taken great strides in the treatments but it still is out there and for some not good news to hear.
I did have my 3 month check with Dr. Chen last week. And as you can tell we talk about a variety of things once we get past the test results. All tests looked good. I will come back in 3 months and have blood work and check in with her again. She will wait for 6 months to do another PET scan. I always ask when she tells me results are good…so does that mean we go back to our yearly checks? She just smiles and says no…3 months. This little sneaky lymphoma I have/had likes to sneak up on you and she really wants to make sure we keep it hidden or at least attack as soon as we know it has reared it’s ugly head again. Then we talk about other things: getting below the frost line in Florida, the not so fun part of being an oncologist, dogs, and my mental state (which is improving). And we wonder why she is always about 30-45 minutes late to the appointment! 🙂
Why
A couple of weeks ago, my cousin’s daughter, “V” committed suicide. She had been in treatment, checked herself out and went home and hung herself. After I heard the news from other family members, you just stop and say “why?” What level of pain someone is in that they feel this is the only answer. She has 2 little boys that will wonder that as they get older. Just after I heard the news, I turned on music and in a couple of songs, the Rascal Flatts song “Why” came on….here is a portion of the words:
Oh I, had no clue you were masking a troubled soul, God only knows
What went wrong, and why you’d leave the stage in the middle of a song
That seemed where “V” must have been…a troubled soul and we may never know what went wrong. Suicide is a mystery…and can anyone stop someone when they have reached this point? Is that pain beyond our comprehension and it seems like the only answer at that point? When someone gets to that point, can anyone stop them? I cannot imagine the pain my cousin is feeling wondering if anything could have been done. We all see the posts that there are help lines if needed, so if you know someone make sure you encourage that person to talk to someone.
Conclusion
Didn’t mean to be a Debbie Downer with those last 2 items, but just wanted to get my thoughts down. Please keep these people in your prayers, or positive thoughts, whatever you feel as your support.
Little Jaylen turned 4 this week. Oh my goodness how time flies!
Looks like he inherited Grandma’s love for music. He got that keyboard for his birthday. He always wants to sit down at my keyboard when he comes to visit, so I think he will be a natural. That little boy maybe did not have Terrible Twos but he certainly has Funny Fours, Fearless Fours, Fast-Moving Fours, Fantastic Fours, and any other F adjective you might think of. He is a bundle of joy at times…and craziness!
It was in the 50’s here in MN yesterday, so Spring is on it’s way. 🙂 Just as we experience that warmth for one day, just to tease us, it will probably snow and/or go below zero again. But it does give us a glimmer of hope for Spring!!
Take care and make someone smile!
Dandy Ventures 