Just Herceptin today!!!

Hello to everyone!  Just wanted to update all of you on the “road to recovery”.  I went to Magee today for my first Herceptin only treatment.  This is the antibody medicine I will have for 10 more treatments (after today). It’s given just like the chemo is but has no side effects (only being tired for a few days).  I will have this treatment every three weeks.  It takes about 1 and 1/2 hours to get the treatment but that’s better than the entire day!  I didn’t have that sinking feeling as I got my treatment today.  

I did meet a lady there that was in her 30’s with almost the exact same cancer as I have..diagnosed at the same time as I was….had a 4 centimeter tumor…and in the lymph nodes….and has surgery next week.  The big differences between the two of us is she is so much younger than I am and she has a seven year old girl and a one…yes, one…year old boy.   My Mom used to always say that you can always look around and see someone in worse trouble than you are….I think I found that today.  We became instant friends and will keep in touch..funny thing is her name is Kim….just like one of my best friends, Kim Scott.  Maybe another sign.

Thanks so much for all of your thoughts and prayers.  All of you make my days better!!

Love to you all!  Terry

HAVE FAITH

Hello ladies,

Haven’t visited the site in a while, been caught up in my own drama. 

Some may not believe, but I sure have faith … several years ago Terry gave me a small plant called a Christmas Cactus, it was full of red flowers.  Shortly afterwards, it lost all of its beautiful flowers and I’ve never been able to get them to grow back.  This morning I went to the sunroom to water it and it’s full of blooms … 11 to be exact … Mother’s Day and the walk are on the 11th.  It’s left me feeling very hopeful for Terry.  I’m just going to believe this is a sign. 

THank you all again for all of your support,

kim scott

Hello Everyone!

I’m so sorry I haven’t sent a message in so long.  Time just seems to get away from me!

First of all I want to thank everyone for all of your thoughts and prayers.  Also, thanks so much for all of the cards, the dinners (they are all so good!), the flowers (beautiful), the phone calls and just being there for me and my family. Even though this has been a difficult time, it has been a time when all of my family has realized what great friends we have.  We are very blessed.  You all are the best!

I have a busy week starting tomorrow with a MRI and then an appointment with my surgeon, Dr. Johnson.  I am scheduled for a lumpectomy and also the removal of many lymph nodes on May 20th but have to make sure (with the MRI) that the chemo is doing it’s job before we can go to that next step.  On Wednesday of this week, I have my last chemo treatment.  The last few times I have had chemo have been pretty bad so I’m really ready for this to be over. I will probably be sick for a week but since it is the last treatment, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  As usual, my sister, Deb will be here this next weekend to take care of me and my family while I go through the “sick” days.  I don’t know what I would do without her.

 I do have to take one of the drugs, Herceptin, for 11 more treatments (every 3 weeks).  The good news is that this drug doesn’t have any big side effects (like nausea, hair loss, weight gain) and should be pretty easy to take.  

I will start radiation (hopefully) at the beginning of August.  I could start a few weeks earlier but we will be in Hilton Head then and I hope my doctor will let me wait a few weeks later so the boys (and I) can enjoy our summer.  Radiation is every weekday but I can get it at St. Clair Hospital which is only about 15 minutes from our house.

Our boys are doing well with all of these changes in our lives.  Will understands more than Bradley and Brett and has been such a great and loving son.  I know he’s worried but he also knows that I’m too mean for anything really bad to happen!  Bradley and Brett want to look at my head every day to see if my hair is growing back and they are sure it will be “yellow” when it does come back (I don’t have the heart to tell them that it will be mostly gray).  

On a much happier note, my niece, Angie (my sister, Debby’s daughter) gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Morgan Marie, last Tuesday in Maryland.  I was so lucky to be there to watch my “great” niece come into this world.  She is beautiful and I think she might look a little like our side of the family (I said I think she has our mouth, which is not a good thing!).

Again, thanks for everything!  I miss not seeing my “girlfriends” though all of this but I know the time will come soon when I will be able and ready to be out and about again.  Love to you all!

Terry

 

Chemo tomorrow

Hi to all!  Just wanted to say that tomorrow is the big “chemo” day.  It’s chemo #4 out of 6 so I’m getting a little excited!  I know the next week will not be fun so I just wanted to say hello before I’m down and out for a few days.  As always, thanks for all of your love, prayers and thoughts.  You are truly the best friends!!!Love to you all!  Terry 

“HUMP DAY”

Hello ladies, it’s been a while.

 Terry has been very inspirational over the rough weeks of chemo that she’s already been through, letting nothing interfere with the rigors of everyday life.  She has managed, with great spirit to keep life as normal as possible for her family and friends.  Most of the time, you would never be able to guess what all she’s been through.  Our little energizer bunny. 

Wednesday is chemo session number 4 out of 6 “HUMP DAY”.  We’re planning a small surprise, which we’ll be sure let you all in on.  Thanks again to all of you for your support.  I hope by now most of you have your Terry Towel.  We decorated and distributed about 10 dozen towels. 

 Thanks all, kim

Pink Ladies Night Out

What a wonderful evening last night.  Many thanks to Kim who hosted the embellishing of the “terry towels”.  (If you are still wondering what was happening, pictures will soon tell the story.)  I never knew there were so many creative women and sharing of ideas.  It is awe inspiring to see so many women/friends coming together for one cause.  If pouring our hearts and sole into a cause is a cure…..we are definately going to find the cure!

To top off our evening, Terry joined us for a little while.  Her courage and determination is truly inspiring.  Her smile still lights up a room!

Again many thanks to Kim for her vision and carrying it out.  We all walked away feeling like we were making a difference.  Baby steps…one day at a time.

Save the Date:  I’m gathering info on the Race for a Cure in Pittsburgh.  It’s Sunday, May 11.   We are putting together a team.  More info to come.  Until then…….

Sharon 

LET’S WEAR PINK !!

Yes, let’s wear pink to decorate the towels.  And even to those who cannot attend, wear pink anyway …. WE’LL HAVE A PINK OUT DAY.  By the time this whole thing is over we’ll have Terry so sick of the color she’ll be glad she doesn’t have any little girls in the house.  I think I’ll have a prize for the person wearing the most pink, so put some thought into ladies, don’t just show up in an old pink t-shirt!

 P.S.  Sharon you know I would never serve ONLY wine, I’m thinking pink beer and cosmos (they are pink, aren’t they).

Have a great weekend everyone, keep up the good thoughts and prayers …. I think they’re working.

Bye …. Kim

Hello All!

I just wanted to post a note to give everyone a little update on my treatment.  First of all, thanks so very, very much for everything you ALL have been doing…the meals are so nice and such a great thing to do for all of my family.  The ribbons make me cry every time I drive into Tall Trees (not to mention most of USC and are now as far as WV!!).  You all have no idea how much of a warm feeling I get every time I get the mail and receive a card.  And those towels…I’ve seen a few and how beautiful!  You all need to work for the Breast Cancer Society!  I had my second Chemo treatment this last Friday.  It was a long day, again, but went very well.  I slept most of the time and left Frank to “take charge”.  My sister, Deb, came up over the weekend and ran the house so I could take care of myself.  I sure don’t know what I would do without her!  I did find out that day that I don’t have the breast cancer gene which is great for my family!!  Anyhow, the weekend went fine but I started feeling bad on Sunday night and sure enough, yesterday (Monday) was a bad day again.  I did end up calling the doctor this morning because my back hurts so bad and then I started getting sick again….so….I’m back on decadron (the steroid) and zofran for my stomach.  Hopefully, this will get me over the hurdle the next few days and I’ll feel back to somewhat normal.   Until then, I’m kind of stuck in bed just waiting for this “sick thing” to pass.  I also have to watch for any signs of a fever since my blood level went very low with the last dose of chemo.  This will happen somewhere between 7 to 10 days after treatment and if I run a fever or get a virus, I could end up in the hospital fast.  So…guess that means you won’t see me at the mall buying new spring clothes for fear I catch some bad cold or virus!  Guess that will have to wait!Thanks so much for everything from all of you…you will never know how much it means to me to have friends like all of you.  For those of you that called me yesterday, I’m sorry that I couldn’t talk.  I was just too sick to do much more than be in bed.  I promise to be in a better mood the next time!!Thanks for caring so much!!  Love you all!! Terry 

IT’S TOWEL TIME

YOU’RE INVITED

It is time to get these towels together and pass them out.

Wednesday, February 6th at 7:00PM

My house

If you’re creative we need you, if you’re not we would still love to see you.

Please give me a call so that I can quesstimate how many bottles of white wine to chill.

Thanks, Kim Scott

PINK BOWS

WOW, Liz passed out over 50 bows!!  There are no more left, but anyone interested can call Donatis and order one.  They are $5 each.

Thanks everyone!

Kim