Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a beautiful Christmas... no matter where you are in your hair growth!

Let's go on with the show

First off, I would like to thank my dad for the beautiful letter he wrote for the blog. From the beginning of this unexpected journey I said that only good and love were going to come from this and, as you can read, that is true.

Secondly, I'd like to thank everyone who has written me in the last month. Since returning to work I haven't had as much time to respond to your each of your notes in a timely manner. Please know that you are in my thoughts and I will write you soon.

Thirdly, I'd like to thank the person who has sent me the mystery subscription to "Glamour" magazine. Each month I have been keeping up on the lastest fashion and make-up trends and doing my darndest to keep off the "Glamour Don't" pages.

And last but never least, I'd like to thank Janis for writing the last post for me. We've both had challenging weeks with the news and her willingness to step in has been most appreciated.

I didn't feel I was in a place to write as I've been going through some of stages of grief I had not yet passed through on this journey. The news of the last couple weeks has made for brief lay-overs in Sadness and Anger. They're not bad places to visit though the people are a little remote and the food is a bit bland, but I sure wouldn't want to live there.

Two weeks ago I had a whopper of a Thursday. The results of a baseline CT scan showed two unidentified spots, one on my lung and one on my liver, as well as an ovarian cyst. What the heck?! It was supposed to be a baseline and everyone knows that baseline means clear! At least, that was what I thought. Of course, baseline means where you're at right then but in my mind it meant we would just be seeing cool pictures of my heart and lungs.

And, just prior to that appointment, I'd found out that I fall into the category of 'high risk for recurrence'. What the heck, I say? What the heck?! That is not what I wanted to nor was ready to hear. I've done everything I've been told to do- how could that be high risk? Unfortunately, having eleven of twenty-one nodes involved is too many to fall into a lower risk category.

It has been a lot to process. Nothing about my life is high risk so why should this cancer be? I might just have to take up extreme sports to show this cancer who's the boss... ooh... hmmm, sports... that's never been my gig. Extreme vocals or theatrics would suit my strengths better. Oh yeah, here we go: with the help of my theatrical friends I could do a performance art piece that would leave this cancer begging for an intermission! And that never happens in performance art.

So, that news coupled with the spots on my lung and liver- two of the three places breast cancer likes to migrate to- was too much to take in for one day. In case anyone is wondering, yes, you can still get radiation treatment while you're crying. The radiation beam is so focused that it's not like standing in an electrical storm with an umbrella or golf club.

At this point in time my radiologist said he's not concerned about the spot on my lung as half the people in the Midwest, if they had a scan, would have a spot on their lung. Why, you ask? Because, as my dear friend Renee's family was fond of saying, there's a fungus among us! Up here on the the tundra there's a fungus that causes scar tissue to form, unbeknownst to those of us who live here, until we have a scan.

He also said that the spot on my liver looks, because of its color, benign. Both of these spots are so small that there is no other test that can be done to determine exactly what they are so, in three months, I will have another CT scan to monitor their progress. You can imagine that, adding to the breast scans that I will have regularly for the next five-plus years, another test every three months is not really high on my list of 'things to do'.

The one thing we were able to run another test for was the ovarian cyst. Two weeks ago I had an ultrasound which Jan and I found out that Thursday was inconclusive. So, to follow up that very afternoon they sent me for an abdominal MRI. Janis came back with me again the next day for those results which were also inconclusive.

At this point I'm feeling like I must be from Mars, or at least the cyst is from Mars, because they cannot identify it. What do you mean it can't be identified? All three three types of imaging that can be taken- CT, ultrasound and MRI- have been done and none of those can help identify it? Please repeat with me: What the heck?!

It seems to me that we're playing that child's card game where you keep looking for the sets: the guy with the beard and hat, the grandma with the glasses and bonnet, the kid with the freckles and beanie. Only in this deck it's all different kinds of cysts and mine doesn't have a match. Oh, who likes this stupid game anyway?!!

I say that because next the option to get the best look at it is to do it the old-fashioned way: to remove it. Where is Doctor Spock when you need him?! We've come to discover that ovaries aren't biopsied (you wouldn't want a trail of unidentified cells out and floating about freely in your abdomen), they're taken out. So that, potentially, mean another surgery when I'm done with radiation.

For those of you keeping up with the hair front, it is indeed growing back. In the two months since the last chemo treatment I have grown a downy soft three-quarters of an inch which thickly covers my head. People who see it comment on its unexpected shimmery fawn color as well as the lovely shape of my head. We'll try to get a photo up here soon so you can all see for yourselves.

It continues to be an unexpected journey, this. And though at times my strength has diminished, my faith in the process has wavered and my trust is nowhere to be found I am continually astonished that offered, again and again, are reminders that my friends and family have strength, faith and trust enough to carry us through.

I hope in this season of hope and joy that you're able to find the peace that it offers as well. Wishing you a beautiful holiday-

Love, Karen

Proof Positive

From the beginning of this unplanned journey, Karen has said “Only good can come from this.” Prior to the surgery it seemed entirely plausible too. But there have been days since when it has been more challenging to believe this. Karen was having one of these days on Thursday when she asked me to write a blog entry this weekend. “I am not in the frame of mind to do it myself right now,” she said. Admittedly, I understood that frame of mind too, but I would do whatever I could to help my sister wage this war.

So I sat down this evening to write. I went to re-read Karen’s last post, but noticed instead that yesterday Dad quietly posted a comment to that post andI began reading there instead. By the time I reached the end, I knew who would be authoring this entry and once again had proof that “Only good can come from this.”

Anonymous said... December 07, 2007 4:00 PM

Hovering is not lurking. When one hovers, he holds the very large blanket of love. This very large blanket covers multitudes of people who come from all areas of the country. The blanket is heavy as well as being large. The blanket must continually be moved to ensure that it fully covers my beautiful daughter. This daughter is Karen Lynn Kelley. She is absolutely the best. This is a very proud parent, her father, who will give a glowing account of the journey.

A dad, a father, is a person who loves his family, especially his children. As a father, I have a very special spot for my girls. Girls represent many things that are the opposite of myself; i.e., soft, sweet, tender, dainty, pretty, good smelling, energetic, smart and lovable. I have come to gain a new and beautiful understanding of my daughter Karen. This new vision has opened my eyes to a side of Karen that I had failed to recognize. She has always had a smile that could light up a room and melt a glacier. This I know. What I am now realizing is that she has great strength, amazing in quantity and endurance. How could I not have known? I watched her grow and mature and yet my eyes must have been covered. Now I am able to see much better because I have taken the time to really listen and observe.

This awesome Karen knows how to always give her best. Never anything less that 110 per cent in all activities she undertakes. I watched her in the leading role in "The King and I" and it was amazing and beautiful....the pride and admiration was really there for me and so many others. Proof positive of ability combined with 110 per cent professional performance. This is the way she goes about life.

Another attribute that had come to my attention recently is Karen's unending concern for others. She will always ask friends how they are doing, what is going on in their lives and when they speak, she listens so intently and with much empathy. She always offers positive advice on situations presented to her by friends and family.

Karen has many talents. I did not know that she was such a good writer. I read the blog entries and am really impressed with her ability to put her thoughts into words. Awesome, just awesome! But this is only one area of her expertise. Karen is not the type of person to show up anyone else. In fact, she downplays her own talents. This is her style, and boy do I admire her for doing it "her way"! Karen has a certain way in dealing with people that elevates that person and brings out the very best in that person. Only positive people can elicit such responses in others.

And what about the strength of the bond between Karen and her sister, Janis. These two women contain so many skills, techniques, wisdom and respect that it is difficult to hide my pride in this pair of children. These daughters form a pair which is best described as inseparable. When watching them solve problems or order a basket or box of vegetables, it becomes very evident that this bond is the real thing. Nothing could make a father prouder or happier than to see how successful your daughters have become. Here is that pride again, justified, I'm sure.

Friends are so important and so priceless. All Karen's friends help in so many ways. Each friend helps me move that very large blanket of love around. You know who we are showering with love.

As we move forward on this journey, we have a lot to be thankful for: THE PLAN...it is the very best and it will be successful. THE MEDICAL TEAM...all of them are the very best. THE FAMILY...John, Margaret, Karen, Janis, Kyle all on the same page, all with a single goal in mind. We can do this! Who always uses this ditty and who first coined it---I guess you know! Karen. Her strength and commitment are unwavering. I never, ever knew about this side of her. She makes others around her so much stronger. She never gives less than her best and always brings out the best in anyone around her.

The voice of the family, friends and caring others in one loud, solid voice all say "we will kick this dirty little tumor into oblivion". Having the attitude that we will not let up until we prevail is the overpowering thought process that guarantees the best outcome.

Karen, you know where I stand, and with me are many, many others who so admire you and your strength and courage. Be assured you and I, we, will prevail and succeed.

With great love and admiration,

Your dad,

John Kelley

The Odyssey

Thank you so very much for all you good wishes and thoughts as I've recuperated from surgery. Your cards, flowers, calls, care and help have made this time of transition much easier.

As you've heard, the amenities and care at Casa del Ott were outstanding and if you're able to book a room there I'm sure you'll find that you won't want your stay to end either. They have the very best staff on call twenty-four-seven and the food, for which they are well known, is delicious. Wendy and Chuck saw to it that each meal was well-balanced and tasty. A special thank you to Wendy's mom for the delectable homemade custard and apple sauce! What a treat!

My four footed friends Bella (aka Pretty Girl) and Noah (aka Big Lug) were of great comfort and amusement during my stay there, as near as I can recall through my drug-induced haze. Quite frankly, I'm not exactly sure what I did during my time at Casa del Ott other than sleep and eat. The time passed so quickly and was so pleasant. At any rate, a hearty thanks to Wendy for keeping me on my pain med schedule. Hooray for well-managed pain! It really makes life during recovery palatable.

One of the major issues during the three-day, two-night post-surgery hospital stay was getting the pain managed. During the first day-and-a-half that was not accomplished. I felt like I'd told everyone that I needed more pain meds than your average bear but, somehow, only the minimum dosage was given. It wasn't working. And when I say it wasn't working I do mean it wasn't working.

With this so freshly in my mind it is with much conviction that I say that, should you ever be in a hospital, you must have an advocate there with you at all times. Someone who will speak up on your behalf because you, the person coming out of anesthesia and recovering from surgery, are not in the best position to represent yourself... particularly if the pain meds aren't working, you're not sleeping and you end up in a sobbing heap every four hours.

Having my family there to step in and speak up for me was critical. I am so appreciative that they were able to be there with me. Once the pain was managed I was much more comfortable and became more myself... myself hopped up on prescription pain meds, but more myself.

The point of the surgery was to get rid of the cancer and indeed that was accomplished. I would like to thank my surgeon, Dr. Boughey, for her fine work and care. Having such a compassionate person and capable surgeon combined in one person is a rare and beautiful thing.

During our stay at the Methodist Hospital there were so many caring and delightful nurses who helped make our stay pleasant. One of the most memorable was a night nurse who used a flashlight to check on me in the middle of the night. How thoughtful and kind was he to be mindful of the need for sleep and to recognize how startling bright light can be in the night.

As Janis shared with you, during the surgery the lump that we could not feel for months was still, somehow, there in almost the same size as it was initially measured. There were also three sentinel nodes and eight (of eighteen) axillary nodes that contained cancer. This was a disappointment to everyone. It was not at all what we expected to find but, as Janis said in one of the last posts, we are confident that the unexpected detour we have found ourselves on will bring us back to our original destination.

For me personally, coming to terms with the reality of those pathology results was a challenge. Two weeks ago I was overwhelmed with sadness: my desire to have an out-of-the-ballpark-home run of finding no cancer at the surgery had not come to fruition. It was such a letdown to find that the cancer was still there, especially in the lymph nodes. What happened to all the work those piranhas were supposed to be doing?!

I guess if you want a job done right you need to do it yourself! Right? Or... you can trust that the work, whatever that was to be, was done. It's heady stuff for a gal who likes to believe herself in charge of her life (I have a calendar, a schedule and plans!). But what I keep running into is that it's about letting go and trusting. Oh, the trusting... what a lesson that is.

In my mind, I believed they would find no remaining cancer in the surgery thanks to the piranha power and it would mean I wouldn't have to think about it ever returning. Coming face-to-face with the possibility that I will live with the possibility that the cancer could return was difficult. In all the meetings with our doctors there has never been a 'zero chance of return' mentioned. It's about getting the lowest return rate possible, which sounds a lot like savings accounts these days.

The next week or so I was in a period of mourning not only to accept my new reality but also to acknowledge and accept that having cancer has changed my life permanently. Letting that sadness and frustration out was a part of my healing process, as overwhelming as it was. An especially heartfelt thank you to Janis and my family during that time for listening, supporting and consoling me as I worked my way through those feelings.

Going through this mourning process has not changed my positive attitude, though at the time it did feel very, very far away. My positive attitude has been instrumental in being able to deal with the diagnosis, the treatments and in facilitating the healing process. I believe that the piranhas did their good work of cleaning up the cancer. I trust that, though it may not have been as I'd envisioned, my outcome will still be what I've wanted: to be permanently cancer-free.

The removal of the eighteen axillary underarm nodes has meant a much longer recovery path and has not been without complications. As one would expect when a major route of road is removed there is some congestion and clogging (not the kind done to fiddle music). That is what I've been experiencing in my left arm since the lymph nodes were removed. The mild swelling of the arm is being managed with compression bands and daily exercises.

Another result of the surgery has been some nerve 'bruising' that occurred when the underarm nodes were taken. The surgeon moves the nerves aside to get at the nodes but in that process the nerves, which are very sensitive (as is their job), became even more sensitive. With that, the entire underside of my left arm felt like it had a severe sunburn. Fortunately, the drug I've been taking for the numbness in the fingers and feet, along with time, has improved that discomfort- so much so that on our visit to the Mayo this past Wednesday I was finally able to be fitted with a single compression sleeve to help control the swelling.

The next step for me on this journey is to begin radiation treatments and that will happen the Monday after Thanksgiving weekend. This past Tuesday we met with a Mayo-trained radiologist here in the Cities who came highly recommended. He explained the process and answered all our questions and, though he looks so young he may be someone I babysat, he will be a terrific addition to our team.

I will go in on Monday to have a body scan done so they'll know how my insides are laid out. They want to make sure that the radiation beams will miss my heart. I say that sounds terrific. We'll also then have a baseline for future reference as I've not had a body scan done yet.

On Monday I will also be tattooed. Yes, I'm getting used to that idea myself. It will be three small dots to mark where the radiation will be focused (there's a lot of higher math used in being a radiologist). I did ask if there was a choice of color for the tattoos and my radiologist, Dr. Nisi, said he's never been asked that question but he would find out. We'll see what, other than the standard dark blue which is used to 'stand out' on the body, is available.

At the appointment I will have a treatment 'pillow' made. Pillow is in quotes because I don't believe it's meant for comfort (I still will be lying on a metal table for the radiation, people) as much as it's for proper placement during the treatments. With this deadline looming I'm working to get my left arm to raise above my head so it will not get in the way of the radiation treatments.

As with every treatment there is a cost and a benefit. The benefit of having radiation is to eradicate any remaining cells that are cancerous or pre-cancerous near or at the site. This cuts the rate of recurrence at the site by thirty percent, which is pretty appealing.

The very powerful beams of radiation will be directed at the left breast and also at the lymph nodes above the left collar bone. Because the lines of radiation are straight and my body is curved, the top of my left lung will receive radiation which will cause scar tissue to form. This is the cost of reducing the recurrence rate at the site, but, being young and a non-smoker, it shouldn't pose a problem.

There's much more to tell you but, for now, I will sign off. I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. I hope it is a restful day, spent with friends and loved ones enjoying the abundance of your lives. I will be giving thanks for all of you, for your support and for your love.

With much gratitude, Karen

Back home

On Friday evening we moved Karen from the lovely comforts at Casa Del Ott to her own home. Wendy and Chuck sent her off with a fabulous meal (featuring Chuck's amazing grilling skills) as well as with the tasty leftovers to feed her through the weekend.

Karen slept very well that first night back in her own bed and come morning was surprised to find that she was almost horizontal in the bed (instead of propped to a 45-degree angle as she had been since the hospital). She spent most of the day Saturday unpacking, doing physical therapy, collecting voicemail messages and mail. Dinner was shared with her friends Amy, Tom and Miss Anna who came to visit. Oh, and Karen asked me to cut off the rest of her hair. Strangely, ever since the surgery it has been falling out. I personally think it is from the anesthesia because in the four weeks prior to the surgery without chemo, she has tiny hair stubble regrowing on her head. Regardless the reason for the loss now, she grew tired of picking hair out of her hats and so we trimmed her up. She has a very lovely cranium. You might have to take my word for it, but she does.

Sunday was a day for returning a few of the many phone calls, more physical therapy, napping. Her friend Karen dropped off three delicious homemade soups and Lisa Roettger brought over a wonderful lasagna dinner.

Monday, Karen has a visit planned with Sara and Marcus and then choir rehearsal that evening. She was able to attend rehearsal last week and received a warm reception as well as a little playful chiding. Karen told me that one of the members joked, 'I can't believe you're here so soon after surgery! Now if I want to miss rehearsal because I have a sore throat or something I'll be asking myself 'Are you one week post-surgical? No? Well then, you're healthy enough to go!''

Hopefully there will be visits with Renee and Lori this week too. Karen is not yet allowed to drive, so if you have time during the day, please drop word and perhaps we can arrange for you to meet Karen for a short walk or a coffee so she isn't stuck inside all week!

Karen has asked me to thank everyone again for their kind support and concern. The cards, flowers, food, calls and emails as well as those sending their prayers and positive energy. She would like to contact you all to express her thanks personally, but just hasn't the energy at present. Please know that she will be in touch and post a message here as soon as she is able.

Only good things -
Janis

On the mend...

It's been a good many days since I last posted and I know many of you have wondered how Karen is doing.

Karen has been recuperating well under the watchful eyes and tender care of Wendy and Chuck. Their poodles, Bella and Noah, make sure that Karen has lots of attention and ears to scratch too. She has also had numerous voicemail messages, cards, email messages and blog posts to let her know she is loved and supported during this time.

Karen is slowly beginning to feel more like herself. Never having had a surgery like that, we didn't really know what to expect and were surprised by how taxed the body is and all the energy it takes to heal. And while the pain meds were necessary, their down side was that they are also heavy depressants. So, for a few days there Karen would cycle between being a bit loopy, tearful or overwhelmed and then knocked flat for a solid sleep. It's helped a great deal that she has been able to nearly weened herself off them.

We had a post-surgery visit to Mayo this past Tuesday at which time Karen had the drain removed from under her arm where the lymph nodes had been. We also met with the lymphadema clinic for instruction on how to check for signs of swelling, to perform physical therapy at home and to be fit for a compression sleeve and bra. Lucia, the physical therapist, sewed for Karen, right on the spot, a custom bra insert of her own design that discourages lymphadema - and it works! She also showed us several exercises to restore the strength and range of motion in the left shoulder. This is slow process and, at times, very frustrating. Karen has said that it seems that it should not be so difficult to do something so easy nor should it be so tiring to do so little. But she's keeping at it. Each day it will get a little easier and a little better. She's been taking walks outside every day and today walked for 25 minutes on the treadmill.

Lastly, we also met with Dr. P, the oncologist. She is not comfortable returning to the remaining Taxol treatments as was the plan because Karen's neuropathy is still fairly significant. She is running a couple tests to help determine the course to follow from here and prescribed a drug to help with the nerve pain. Not only is it in her hands and feet now, but as the nerves that come from the spine, under the arm and down the arm repair themselves they create an extreme sensitivity to touch and a pin-prick sensation that has been a new type of pain to navigate.

Karen said to me yesterday that she wants to try and begin to return calls to people who have kindly checked in on her these past couple weeks. Until a few days ago, she really didn't have much energy to do much beyond the basics. But just as with her body, her energy is recovering too.

I want to thank you to all of you for your quiet support and prayers, your calls and cards, as well as your offers to help. Your kindness really helped make the walk down this unknown road easier. As Karen gets back up to speed we may take you up on those offers in the coming weeks.

Wishing good things for you all -
Janis

On the bye, out of curiousity I just checked and there are now 45 people who subscribe to the blog! I'm certain there are just as many folks who just stop by to read it on their own. The blanket of love and support you all create is enormous, warm and comforting. Thank you!

Kicking Cancer Ass - Version 2.0

(Before anything else, my apologies are given to all of you who have been waiting anxiously for news of how the surgery went. Unfortunately, computer access at the hospital is not as readily available as it is at the clinic and it hasn't been easy to find time to break away to search out a terminal. Thanks for your understanding.)

Sometimes, a new, unexpected detour must be taken on the journey you have planned. A detour can be a bit startling and unsettling at first if there is no signs alerting you that it is coming up ahead. But the brilliant thing about a proper detour is that it brings you to the original destination nonetheless.

Karen's cancer conquering journey had such a detour on Monday. None of us, including the surgeon, saw any signs alerting us to the detour, but when all was said and done, we're still on track. As Karen so appropriately told Dr. Boughey, "We kicked some cancer ass!"

The tumor was removed and Dr. Boughey is pleased that the second excision she made came back from Pathology with clean margins (cancer cell-free allowances around the tumor). Unfortunately, Karen's hope that the sentinel lymph nodes would be clean and thus allow her to keep her under arm lymph nodes was not realized. But what did come from the removal is that those cancer cells were removed from her body and do not have to be contended with any longer.

Removal of the lymph nodes meant the surgery was more involved and Karen was kept over night. It was difficult to manage her pain, and it required she be admitted a second night. After a team meeting though, we were able to coordinate a care plan to address the muscle tightness, pain and lack of continuous sleep. She had two, solid four-hour blocks of sleep Tuesday night into Wednesday morning and has done much, much better today. The doctor hopes to discharge her this evening.

We will stay in Rochester until tomorrow, just as a precaution. Then, Karen's friends Wendy and Chuck have graciously offered to have Karen in their home while she recuperates.

There are certainly more details I could relay, but I do want to get back up to the room. But I felt it important that I not delay this post any longer either. Oh, and I understand that some of you have had difficulty posting comments on the blog recently. I'm sorry for this. I think it may have something to do with trying to preview your comments before posting instead of just posting, but, if you'd rather just email Karen, feel free to send them to me at janiskelley at hot mail dot com and I'll print them out for her and forward them to her as well.

Thank you so much to all of you who have been sending your thoughts, prayers, support and positive energy. As a family, we continue to be touched by the depth and breadth of your kindness and love. Thank you hardly seems enough, but thank you.

On Top of Your "To Do" List for Today

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.

In 1993, President Clinton proclaimed the third Friday of October to be National Mammography Day.

Chances for successful treatment and survival are greatly increased with early detection. It is therefore critical to have regular screenings.

Be proactive. Call today and simply schedule an appointment. Contact someone you care about and remind them too.

To find the nearest facility that offers mammography:
American Cancer Society: 800.227.2345 or visit http://www.cancer.org/
American College of Radiology: 800.227.5463 or visit http://www.acr.org/

It's about faith

As you may have inferred from the last post which included some of the beautiful art peppered throughout the Mayo buildings, we met with our beloved surgeon Dr. Boughey, pictured to the left, on Thursday afternoon to discuss the surgery that has now been scheduled for Monday October 22nd. We have such confidence in her and know that the surgery will go beautifully.

While it is true that the incredible shrinking spot was going to be removed eventually the plan was to complete the chemo sessions first. My oncologist Dr. P is concerned about the long-term effects of the neuropathy, numbness and tingling that effects the nerve endings, in my fingers and toes. In a pin test she did to check the level of sensitivity I didn't do as well as she would've liked. We discussed the options and decided to schedule the surgery for next Monday down at the Methodist Hospital in Rochester which is part of the Mayo system. It is an out-patient surgery and we will stay there that night and coming back later on Tuesday.

This is certainly one way to get a break from chemo for a while... hmmm, wait a minute- surgery?! Let me rethink this plan! But it will allow my feet and hands to regain feeling, let me get my strength back for the final sessions of chemo and provide some time to catch up on all those PBS shows I've taped over the last six months but haven't had time to watch. With another pledge drive around the corner I need to open up some more tape space...

The tentative plan going forward is that once I've recovered from surgery (three weeks) I'll resume chemo but at a lower dose for a longer time (six weeks of weekly sessions) with the radiation following (six weeks of daily doses M-F). This change in plans does lengthen the time for treatment but it's just a short term addition to the overall long term positive outcome. It's a plan we all feel very good about.

I will say that I have been none too thrilled about having to have surgery and really don't like the thought of being radiated- who would?! (It's not done to vegetables, milk or meat without some uproar!) But the thing with this darn cancer is that once your plan has been set you can't get any changes without huge penalty fees and paperwork galore. So, as much as I've been feeling that I don't want either surgery or radiation I will stick to the plan. And as long as I have to have surgery having Dr. B lead the team gives me great comfort.

Here is where faith comes in, not that it hasn't been a part of this process all along but it has been one of the more challenging pieces for me in the fatigued-state-of-late. I have assured Dr. B that there is no cancer left, that in the lumpectomy she will remove that darn breast cancer marker which marks where the cancer was along with some sacrificial cells and the sentinel nodes- that is all.

The doubt that arises in my brain when it's tired and worn out is what's hard to deal with. It's easy to be positive when you're well rested. And to that end I would like to thank my Aunt Verlinda and Uncle Rich for sending such a beautiful and uncannily well-timed card that I received Saturday. The quote is from Hebrews 11:1 and reads: 'What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.'

It's the 'cannot see it up ahead' part that's been tripping me up these last days but as I get farther from the last chemo session my strength and energy are returning. It's such a boost to see how quickly that happens and that just reinforces to me that I am strong and healthy.

For those of you tracking the progress of the 'ultimate in comb-overs', news on the northern front is the hair is getting thinner (how is that even possible?!) In these last five days I've had a profusion of hairs come out. Now, keep in mind there was not a profusion to start with but comparison to what remains it's still substantial.

In light of this recent exodus I may just shave my head for Halloween and be done with it. My only concern is that those few hairs do provide some R-value, however scant, and with the cold winter winds right around the corner keeping the remaining few hairs is appealing. Though with the beautiful new winter caps my dear friends Lori, Sandy and Beth have knit for me and with the ever-so-sprightly knit hat my sister had made for me I will be in good stead against those brisk breezes. Thank you to all of you for your thoughtfulness!

Many requests for pictures of the new sassy wig have been elicited from folks outside the metro area, including from those as far away as Blaine, MN which is pretty much on the way to Duluth. The wig really is charming and more styling than I'd ever do on my own. It's so easy to wear- just shake and go- try one and you'll never want to go back to the hassle of having all those hair products cluttering up the bathroom! (Back me up on this, Terry and Dave!) A hearty thank you to my Mom and Dad for making it all possible. So here it is, the state of the hair:

A photo my Dad took of Janis and me on the day my hair started to fall out in the car ride down to treatment number two. At the suggestion of my friend Maria I had just cut my hair short in case it start to come out.

These are photos from my 40th birthday/the wig preview party. Chuck and Wendy hosted the festivities at their beautiful home. They made the party for twenty plus people seem like a little intimate affair. Many thanks to them!

Mom and Dad came up for the party which was lovely. Mom said they were there for the first one and wanted to be there for the fortieth one as well. Having my family and friends around me was such a delight!

Thank you to all of you for your continued support. I have been wrapping your blanket of love and support around me and take such comfort in it. I would welcome your extra support right now and ask for your best thoughts and prayers on Monday morning for the highest and best outcome possible, a beautiful, minimally invasive surgery and a gentle recovery. Thank you!

Time on our hands

Hello everyone!

I am writing this post from the 10th floor lobby of the Gonda building at Mayo Clinic. There has been yet another change in Karen's chemo schedule this week. After meeting with Dr. Peethambraham this morning, the doctor determined that the neuropathy Karen was having in her hands and feet was too significant and that a third dose of Taxol today was not a good idea. She provided Karen with several options for how to proceed from here and I will have Karen tell you about those. However, Dr. P did recommend we meet with the surgeon this afternoon, so we have some time to kill before our 1:30 meeting with Dr. Boughey.


What does one do at the Mayo when one has time on one's hands?

There is certainly no shortage of medical information at your disposal. There are jigsaw puzzles to complete, internet access, live piano music with sing-alongs, and guided tours of the campus with the history of the Mayo Clinic. Lastly, there are daily guided art tours as well as recorded audio tours you can check out from the front desk.

Mayo is reknowned for its medical care, but its modern art collection is quietly on par with any small museum. I doubt most patients ever notice who the artist is, but there is no overlooking the amount of art throughout the campus. At first I wondered why it was all modern art, but then it occured to me that modern art reinforces that modern things take place here. Would a paintings and sculptures by Old World masters send a subliminal message of cutting edge technology and scientific breakthroughs?

Not surprisingly, the majority of the art is donated. It goes to show that this facility has touched so many others as it has us. We won't be able to donate a Picasso, but the amazing people here have our gratitude and appreciate all the same. What I can do is show off a bit of their amazing collection to some of you who will hopefully never have a chance to see it in person.

Here is just a little of what you will see from wandering around the buildings. I never took art history, so the information provided below the photos on the artist/work is coming from the posted placards.

Thanks again everyone for checking in on the blog and sending your supportive thoughts to Karen!





These are my favorite pieces - five wall size originals by Joan Miro - located in the lab where Karen gets her blood drawn before every appointment. I just love the titles.





Joan Miro, L'Halterophile (Dumb Bell Wielder)
La Folle Au Piment Rageur (The Mad Woman with Ill-tempered Pimento)
La Guerriere de Cents Aus (The Warrior of a Hundred Years)
Le Meneuse de Lune (The Moon Driver)
Le Grande Ecaillere (The Big Oyster Woman)

Joan Miro is a Spanish painter, sculptor and printmaker. His work, exploring worlds of fantasy and imagination, have made him one of the most important and best-known artists of the twentieth century.
Miro's bright colors and playful images earned him the epithets "childlike" and "primitive." Actually he is a Surrealist artist, attempting to capture primary human experience in a direct and forceful manner. Miro draws his subject matter from memories and irrational fantasies. The images embodied in his paintings often represent women, stars, birds, or mythical animals. Subject matter varies from figural compositions to the totally abstract.

These are in a hallway across from a cafeteria:

Andy Warhol, Flower Series, Silk Screens, 36 x 26 inches, 1970

An important development in American art, which became well known in the 1960s, was called Pop Art. Many "Pop" artists used common, everyday commercial illustrations or objects as the basis of their subject matter. Andy Warhol is one of Pop Art's most famous practitioners. He began his career in the 1950s as a commercial artist. His first Pop Art classics, overscaled sculptures of Campbell soup cans and Brillo boxes, were his attempt to take the mystery out of art. While showing the influence of the machine and of commercial products on art, Warhol believed that art could be reproduced by a machine and even called his studio, The Factory.

This is in the main lobby of the Gonda building:


Jennifer Bartlett, Four Houses, Oil on Canvas, 2001

Jennifer Barlett is an artist whose probing imagination has brought her into the ranks of today's finest painters. Her work is versatile, thoughtful and energetic. It has undergone a dramatic evolution from the hightly controlled abstract pieces of the early 1970s to the realism of her later work. To a certain extent, her career is a continual rearrangement of a limited set of motifs= the house being the most common and recognizable. Her penchant for juxtaposing images, media and points of view allows the viewer to create a whole by piece in together the many parts. In Four Houses, we see a house motif at different times of the day; morning, noon, dusk and night. We have placed this painting near the entrance of Mayo Clinic as a way to welcome patients and visitors; "Our house is your house."

These are also in the main lobby:


Dale Chihuly, Untitled, 2001
(I don't have the placard notes for this, but I have seen exhibits by Dale Chihuly whose work is truly phenomenal. This is an enormous display - perhaps 13-14 constructions that are easily 6 feet in diameter each. I can't even begin to imagine what the cost was for the single donor (!) who had them commissioned especially for this space when the Gonda building opened six years ago.)



Alexander Calder, Untitled, Lithograph
American artist Alexander Calder (1898-1976) was born into a family of artists. He received an engineering degree in 1919. He worked as an engineer and took art classes in New York before he went to Paris in 1926.
In Paris, Calder made paintings and toys. Encouraged, he turned to wire as a medium, creating portraits of celebrated people of the day as well as his friends. This was a new medium with no precedent. The wire sculptures, described as three-dimensional line drawings, brought him notoriety and recognition in Europe before America.
Under the influence of Mondrian and the Constructivists, Calder's work becomes more abstract and geometric. Calder was the inventor of the mobile, which he created as moving sculptures. He also began making stabiles, stationary works made of large sheets of metal connected by bolts.

What does one of these "mobiles" look like, you ask? Well, go to the lobby of the original Mayo building and lo and behold, you'll find one:


Alexander Calder, Fish, Painted metal and wire, 60 x 30 inches

Here's another piece in the lobby of the Mayo building:


Zophia Butrymowicz, Autumn, Wool tapestry, 8 x 13 feet, 1983
Autumn by Zophia Butrymowicz is one of the finest tapestries in the Mayo collection. Woven in wool, the warm spectrum of colors seems to glow from within, suggesting the shimmering play of sunlight on a tree-colored hillside in the fall. Subtle variations in hue and value indicate various levels of space and the interplay of light and shadow.
The tapestry Autumn was originally commissioned to conceal a weather map that used to operate in the Mayo Building lobby.

This tapestry is in the elevator bay on 10 Gonda:

Chilkat Ceremonial Dancing Blanket, Goat hair, cedar bark and wool, Circa 1870s, Tlingit Tribe, North America

The men furnished the pelt of the mountain goat, the cedar bark, the frame, the painted pattern board, and the few tools required. The women prepared and wove the materials. The finished blanket was used as a ceremonial robe by the wealthy and every chief or prominent Tlingit possessed one or more. They were used at ceremonies and dances, worn over one or, generally, both shoulders, and secured by thongs sewved to the head (top) of the blanket. Blankets might be given to the more honored guests at potlatches or ceremonial feasts.




David Hockney, Red Wire Plant, Etching, 30 x 36 inches, Edition 8/35, 1998
Chair with Book on Red Carpet, Etching, 38 x 30 inches, Edition 18/35, 1998

David Hockney is one of the most revered artists working today. For a contemporary artist of serious aesthetic purpose, he enjoys immense public visibility. Hockney's success was so rapid that he became independent very soon after leaving the Royal College of Art in London and did not have to rely on teaching in order to make a living. In 1963 he moved to Los Angeles where the lifestyle and landscape of the city became important features of his work.

Hockney's vision ranges from the grandiose to the intimate, often embracing both at the same time. His drawings, paintings, and prints are readily accessible and reflect the scope of his talents and his ebullient personality. They are brightly colored and fun to look at. Hockney's art reflects his need to communicate directly with the viewer. It is his need to be heard plainly and understood clearly that is the basis for his phenomenal popularity.



Jim Dine, Red Etching Robe, Etching 29/36, 42 x 30 inches, 1976
The Sky & Lillies, Intaglio and silkscreen with hand-coloring, 40 x 30 inches, Edition 25/25, 1998
Brite Tulips, Intaglio and silkscreen with hand-coloring, 41 x 29 inches, Edition of 25, PP, 1998

From its avant-garde beginnings in the late 1950's, Jim Dine's work has become firmly rooted in tradition. He has produced more than 3,500 works in an astonishing range of mediums - above all in painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking and photography but with occasional excursions into performance, state design, book design, poetry and even music.

He is a keen observer of nature for whom draftsmanship serves as the most precise tool of expression. The depth of expression and precision are reflected in his botanical drawings and paintings. Major decisions about the direction of his work are made subjectively rather than rationally. Dine emphasizes that his art is an expression of his sense of self, a desire to reach a profound understanding, through his own experience, of what it is to be human.

In another elevator bay:

Embroidery (suzani), Silk, Early 19th Century, Lakai, Uzbekistan

This type of Uzbek embroidery is called suzani, which comes from the Persian word for needle. Suzani can take many forms, from large decorative wall hangings and curtains to small functional household items such as bags to hold tea or spices.

For weddings, pieces of embroidery formed a particularly significant part of the dowry. Tradition defined the number and type of embroideries needed for a bride's dowry. A mother began to embroider soon after she had given birth to a girl in order to finish a set of suzani in time for the daughter's wedding. When the daughter was four to six years old she learned to stitch from her mother. Eventually the daughter took over what the mother had started and went on embroidering nearly until her wedding day. The pieces she created then revealed her diligence and skillfulness as well as the wealth of the family. A small section of the suzani was traditionally left unfinished. This area represented "never-ending marriage, never-ending life, and never-ending joy."

Schedule change

I am feeling very good heading into this weekend pre-chemo: these are the good days for energy and for fewer side effects. Today my energy isn't as threadbare as it was earlier in the week and I'm intereseted to see how much of the finger and toe numbness will go away over the weekend. I sure won't miss it when it's gone!

It's a beautiful weekend here so I'm going to get out and enjoy it with my dear friends Sarah and Marcus (and their dog Suzi, who I love to bring special treats to) at their home overlooking an apple tree valley in Red Wing. Whenever I'm with them it's always a treat. They both know so much about this amazing world around us. Every trip to visit them is an adventure: Lady Slippers on a hidden hill, migrating Scarlet Tangers in the tree canopy, bird watching at their picnic table. Look out nature: here I come!

Please mark your calendars for a change in my chemo schedule: I was not able to get on Dr. P's schedule for Monday (what do you mean you're seeing other people?!?) and am now on for Thursday this coming week. Not ever having had chemo before I thought the only way the date would change was if my blood counts weren't good enough but that's just not so. Many people want to see Dr. P and who can blame them. I know she's one of the people at the top of my list!

So, I'll enjoy an extra three days off this session. Please keep me in your thoughts this Thursday as the count down to completion continues... only two left to go!

The lessons, oh, the lessons...

I am now three quarters of the way through the chemo! Woo-hoo! The second treatment with Taxol went very well and my blood counts were high enough that Dr. P said I wouldn't need the shot of Neulasta, the shot given twenty-four hours after the chemo that boosts the white blood cell count, so we got to go home that same day.

The Neulasta is a very, very, very expensive though quite-useful-when-you-need-it shot. It's about three times the cost of the chemo itself clocking in on the itemized statements from the Mayo at $3, 990.00 per shot. All I can say is buy stock, people!

Kyle was able to join us for the festivities this session. It was lovely to have my whole family there. I did have to explain to him that only I would get the wrist band and be able to ride all the rides at the Chemo Park. Each time I check in at the desk I always clarify that the wrist band is for all the rides and the water park- if you don't ask sometimes they forget to include that and it's such a bummer when you've brought your water wings.

We were fortunate enough to get a private room again for the lengthier chemo. I prefer this because then we won't disturb the other patients, who may be wanting quiet time, with our laughter as we continued to watch the hilarious Canadian comedy that Janis gave to me for my birthday, "Slings and Arrows". It's a series about a Shakespearean acting troupe that's falling apart at the seams and with lines like "The lighting designer has been working very hard these last three days and assures me that there will not be another fire" you can see why we're in stitches! Thank you to my dear friends Maria and Howard for the loan of their snazzy new portable DVD player which makes all that laughter possible.

While passing on the Neulasta shot seemed a positive thing at the time, this week has been a challenging one with fatigue. I haven't felt this kind of fatigue in weeks and I must say it is humbling: the tank is empty and there are no reserves. No kidding. Now, I'm not certain that the fatigue is from not having the shot or if it's just the cumulative effect of the chemos but in combination with the neuropathy (numbness in the fingers and toes) it has made for wobbly, weak legs and a lot- and I do mean a lot- of sitting down.

When the fatigue set in on Tuesday I thought 'Oh, this is just the day after a treatment and it will pass'. When it was there on Wednesday in force my brain said 'No worries- just push through' even when my body was saying 'Let's have a seat' and 'How about a rest?'. By Thursday I was sure sorry I hadn't sat down and taken more time to rest because I was wiped out and that has continued through the weekend.

The lesson for me here is to listen to my body. Even a week ago I had more stamina and could do things like stand for extended periods of time but that was last week and things have changed. Getting my head to accept that is the challenge. It's the driver and knows where it wants to go but the body is the vehicle and without proper maintenance and attention to things- like the gas gauge- it won't be able to carry the head anywhere.

Boy, are there a lot of lessons in this darn cancer. Not to worry, I'll catch on ...

In our meeting with Dr. P last week I said there's no more cancer for those hungry piranhas to eat because now they're nipping at my toes and fingers! I told her I was having some tingling in my finger tips and toes as well as occasionally my lips. She thought the lip tingling was unusual but a possible side-effect from the platinum (and that's really all I ever want to know about what is in the drip bag!). Platinum, my goodness! They could certainly cut down on the cost by keeping that platinum out!

The tingling and numbness I'm feeling is the nerve endings being effected by the chemo which for me will be reversed once the treatments are completed. To aid in this repair I have now added another mighty creature to the animal arsenal: the starfish. Alright, maybe not mighty but certainly hearty! I picked starfish because they can grow back their extremities if one is eaten off by a predator or lost in a tragic escalator accident (they're not as fast on land as they are in the sea). So each time I become aware of the numbness or tingling I think 'Grow on, little starfish, grow on!'

It's hard to be certain of your steps when you can't really feel the front third of your feet, so, in light of that, I made a difficult call to Janis yesterday and asked... for help (Oh curses! Has it come to that?!)... with my laundry. It's not easy to ask for help when you're used to being self-sufficient and needing help with something as mundane as carrying laundry down stairs seems ridiculous. But it isn't when you've only got a limited amount of energy, wobbly legs and a lot of laundry. So a hearty thank you to Jan for her assistance with the three loads of whites, darks and towels.

Through this experience of asking for help (not an easy task for stalwart Germans) I have come to understand more clearly why older people continue to do things themselves that they really should have help with: they were just doing the laundry/driving/cleaning the gutters on their own last week/month/year, for goodness sake, why shouldn't they be able to do it now? You think you can do it on your own- you used to be able to do it on your own- and it's hard to acknowledge that things have changed. But they have for me and I need to accept the changes, tough as that may be.

Thank you to all of you who continue to send cards and letters letting me know what's going on in your neck of the woods. It's so meaningful to know you're keeping me in your thoughts and prayers especially on days when the fatigue is so present and being positive is a challenge. On those days especially your gifts are a welcomed repose! Thank you!

A Guest Post by Margaret and John (a.k.a. Mom and Dad)

It has been a "joy" to observe Karen as this very positive, young woman who sincerely meets life head on! She has kept her marvelous sense of humor and encourages those around her to see "The Comedy Hour" moments in so many scenes of this cancer story.

We have watched her reach out with encouragement to people who are
dealing with their chemo; we have listened, while driving to
Rochester, as she continues to do her job in handling pricing,
deadlines and concerned clients all with a positive upbeat attitude;
and we have observed her with friends and family as she focuses on
their health, their day, their problems.

Our daughter hasn't changed because of being thrust into the spotlight
of cancer, but rather has continued to live her life to the fullest.
For example, at her second chemo treatment Karen made the statement to
the nurse who was preparing her for the chemo injection, "I am keeping
positive thoughts that I'll be able to keep my hair". And the nurse
said, "Karen, the side effects of each of the two chemo drugs is hair
loss." Karen then said, "I guess we will be looking at wigs this
afternoon".

That, in a nutshell, is what we have come to admire about this
daughter of ours! She is keeping positive about each step of this
cancer treatment, but she is also being practical and proactive to the
many side issues of cancer.

We thought our role would be to hold her, comfort her, encourage her
but she has been the one to help us to be able to accept the journey
she is traveling through. We are proud to be able to stand with her.

We also want to thank Janis for her role in being researcher,
note taker, blogmaker and the best sister support that Karen could have
and to thank Kyle for all his concern, calls, and now being in
Minneapolis to be there for her too.

You three make us feel very proud.

The Love and Support "Posse",
Mom and Dad

Fatigue: it's not just for camoflage anymore

Here I am on the upswing of the time between treatments and I'm feeling great. It's been a challenging week this last week in that the fatigue has taken me to the mat a couple times (Pin! Ooh, that was a sneaky move!) but I am rested and ready for the next session of chemo with a new drug, Taxol.

I had the best laugh at myself on Thursday. I had my blinker on to move into the right lane when out of nowhere a black car with tinted windows breezes past on my right. I said out loud to the mystery driver in such a hurry- and I'd like to say that I don't usually talk to myself out loud- "Where do you think you're going?" and then with a tone of self-satisfaction just seconds later when I see him get boxed in up ahead "Well, I guess nowhere fast!".

Then I realized that I'd turned into a crabby person whose Driving School was holding open enrollment and laughed and laughed to the point of tears at what the lack of sleep will do to a person. Naps, with all their virtues, which I have extolled herein, are really like snacks: tasty as they are you can't make a meal out of them. Thankfully these last few nights have been good, solid sleep nights and I'm feeling myself again.

One of the things I've come to clearly understand through this unexpected journey is that sleep is critically important to my state of mind. I am myself when I've had enough sleep; without it I'm not my best me.

This week, with the cumulative lack of sleep and fatigue which set in, it was a challenge to remain positive. My positive self said 'We're going to be positive if it's the last thing we do!' and the tired self said with a grin 'Well, it'll be the last thing you do.'. When I'm tired and find the doubt and fear starting to worm their way into my thoughts I remind myself that that is the tired talking and not the real me.

A big thank you to my Aunt Verlinda and Uncle Rich for sending such a beautiful and perfectly-timed card. There have been so many lovely cards from so many people! This arrived mid-week when I was feeling unsure of myself for the coming Monday treatment which, because of the change in drugs, had brought up some fear and trepidation in me. The card stated simply: "You can do it. You have everything you need right inside of you." And how true that is! I can do it. And I will do it. I have - as we all do - everything I need right inside of me. What a powerful thought to know that is true.

This sort of synchronicity has been happening quite a bit this week. I had been thinking a lot about the story of the Little Engine that Could and its simple message of how what you believe is what you will do. It's something I believe to be true: where the mind goes the body will follow.

I ran out to do an errand one evening this week and just as I got into the car the radio program on MPR was talking about trains of some sort. They ended the segment by playing this song- and I swear it was sung by Berle Ives- from "The Little Engine that Could". It goes something like "I think I can, I think I can... da da da dat da da... if you put your mind to it you'll be doing it before long..." and then ends with "I knew I could! I knew I could!". It was such amazing timing to hear that song when it was something I'd been tumbling around in my head.

Thanks to my friends Nicole, Galen and family for the beautiful piranha finger puppet with its sharp teeth and voracious appetite who will accompany me on the journey to the Mayo this Monday. The Amazonian piranhas, imported for the first half of the sessions, have done such outstanding work and I thank them from the bottom of my heart for their tenacity and bite. Now the new piranhas which have been flown in fresh from Paraguay (boy, are they sure hungry from their travels!) will come in and do their good work. It's going to be terrific!

Thank you to all of you for all your good thoughts and prayers as I begin the last four sessions of chemo on Monday!

Appreciation and gratitude

The halfway point for the chemotherapy has been reached! Session four of the eight went very well on Monday. I am ever so grateful and appreciative that the good drugs Adriamycin and Cytoxol have done such good and thorough work shrinking the tumor so quickly for me. This session was the last time I will have these drugs in my lifetime. Next session will begin a four course treatment with our new ally, Taxol. It is the combination of these three drug treatments (thanks to all those researchers working hard in their labs!) that has the best proven outcome.

This week I have come to have a better understanding of two year olds as my energy reserves aren't what they have been. I go from fifty to zero in no time. This has given me a new insight and understanding as to how toddlers go from being friendly, fine and fun to tired, touchy and irritable at the drop of a hat. It's really been surprising how quickly the energy goes when it does.

So, in light of this halfway point change, I have started to bundle everything into little packets: little bits of food, of sleep, of exercise, of play and of work. This way I can still enjoy the things I like to do and need to do while keeping well rested and strong.

With the shortage of a full night's sleep caused by the frequent bathroom visits from the steroids I've incorporated nap time into my days. Now this is the sensible way to live, I say! Toddlers have it going on. As you can guess 'Naps for Everyone Everywhere' would be be my platform should I ever run for Miss America. Life is always a little more manageable after a good nap... nap on, Good People, nap on!

Thanks to all of you for your continued good thoughts and your support. It has been one of the most touching things about this unexpected journey: to know you are carrying me in your hearts and minds. What a powerful gift it is! As I move into the next four chemo sessions over the coming eight weeks and prepare for surgery in early November your continued thoughts and prayers for strength and peace are most appreciated.

Sleep... you can do it laying down

Last night sleep, that elusive muse, visited me! I started the night in the chair (for the heartburn) and ended it in my bed--- lying down, not on the pile of pillows I've been propped up on--- and what a treat that was!

I'm on the road to myself, it being Wednesday before a treatment, and am looking forward to having some energy back. This session had the addition of wobbly legs over the weekend which I've never experienced before in real life or chemo life- and it is really another life. It's odd to find yourself unsure of your legs when you have for your whole life been able to rely on them.

Another thing that's happening with chemo life is I'm learning to let things go mostly because I have to: I can't remember things. Now for a gal who has always been on top of keeping track that's a bit disconcerting. So, for the short term when I look at you as if I have no clue what you're talking about, help refresh my memory. Or, when I go to introduce a dear freind and cannot pull your name up from the foggy data base (so sorry Joyce!), please know that I know your name, just not right that second. It's all temporary, my memory, that is!

A hearty thank you to Ms. Kimbel J. Westerson for her poetic stylings--- which I can't locate right now on the site (a call has been placed to the Technical Services Department). All three poems brought much laughter! It was so good to hear from you!

I would like to include a little ditty that Janis and I had come up with a few days ago when the uninvited dinner guest was making its presence known: That's right! It hurts to die when you are cells that won't comply. It's hardly poetic and there isn't much style to it (for that we defer to Ms. Westerson) but that's what we came up with.

Hope you, dear friends and family, are having a great day! (Or did I say that already...?)

You've heard of Guest Hosts? Well, here's a Guest Post!

During our last trip to Rochester, Karen told Mom, Dad and me how truly powerful it has been to learn of all the people who are pulling for her in so many varied ways. Every pebble and stone dropped in the water creates a wave and its impact is being felt! We thank each one of you for the encouragement and love you have shown to date and for helping to maintain the positive momentum and energy in the months of this journey that remain.

Karen's friend, Mark Neukom, added this comment a couple days ago. I thought it warranted a spot as a "Guest Post."

I would like to take a moment to encourage everyone who reads this Blog to add comments to it. A few people have already added comments, and they have been quite wonderful. Don't stop! They mean so much to Karen. And I don't think that they have to be deep and meaningful — isn't there some guy who writes strange wise-cracks all the time? It is his way of telling her that she is not alone; she is being heard. This Blog is not a one-way communication tool; it works in two directions. Not only can Karen talk to you, telling you the things — important and mundane — that are happening in this moment of her life, but you can talk back to her as well. You can both talk with each other, in a public forum.


There are several reasons that this two-way communication is very important to Karen. The first reason that your comments are important to Karen is that she will know that you are there listening to what she is saying. In Blogging there can be a very unfortunate and empty feeling that there is no one there. You can let Karen know you are out there, listening, by leaving comments in her Blog Entries. And again, if you are unsure of how to do this, please see Janis' wonderful tutorial below about Lurkers (August 16th).

The other reason that your comments are so important is that this is Karen's record of what is happening in her life. This is her history being written before her — and our — very eyes. And when she has kicked this thing's ass, she is going to be able to come back and see all of this; to have a physical, living memory of these dark days when she held her head high and refused to be beaten down, and to be able to hold in her arms the words of those who love and support her in this battle.

That having been said, my intent is not to lecture you on how to support Karen's fight. I understand that we all support Karen in the ways that we can. And many of us, being Midwesterners of Scandihoovian decent, have a tendency to stoically go about our lives, not wanting to draw attention to ourselves. But I do believe that this is an incredible way for us to interact with Karen with frequency, even when we cannot be with her, or speak with her. And the fact that she can have this as her own personal history is very important as well: Karen can open her Blog and see the words any time of the day our night, and find in them the solace and strength that we offer.

So, please take a moment to write a comment to Karen . . . it means more than I think you or I can imagine.

Mark


Thanks Mark for showing your support by taking such an active role in the blog and sharing your thoughts on the impact of comments!

If you would like to "Guest Post" a blog entry, just let me or Karen know.

Photo opps

This is my beloved Oncologist, Dr. Peethambaram, and me at the end of our last meeting. She's given me the green light to continue with the third round of chemo as my blood work came back within the normal ranges.

I'm sporting one of my beautiful new head wraps given to me by Mark and Shirley... thank you so much for such a thoughtful gift! They are easy to wear and ever so comfortable!



Here is the elusive photo my dad captured for us on this last trip: The Treat Lady!! It took quite some doing for him to get this photo- she's used to the paparazzi hounding her- but my dad got the shot!

She makes her rounds on Monday afternoons, my treatment days, plying her wares of Lorna Doones and other cookies and crackers to the patients and their families. Please take the treats! She earnestly wants you to take the treats!

We've really enjoyed seeing her each time and are so thankful that she and the rest of the staff are there caring for all of us. That has been one of the most impressive things about the Mayo: the consistency of care across the board.

The incredible shrinking spot!

Well the good news continues to be that the lump is shrinking! My dear friend Char has been calling it 'The Incredible Shrinking Spot', hence the title for this post. We've just completed treatment number three and found out that I am one of the few people for whom chemo works so quickly. It's amazing: my doctors are feeling it's now more of a thickening than a lump! Go to it you sassy piranhas, I say!

And speaking of piranhas, thank you to my dear friends who are helping me cheer on those hard working fish with all their beautiful gifts! Joe, I was so touched by your homer hanky from the Twins, who are known as Piranhas because of their tenacity and bite. And to Amy and Tom who found a sweat suit that has piranhas silk screened on the left side! Eat 'em up, I say! And take the uninvited dinner guest with you when you leave!

The side effects from the treatments remain quite manageable. And no, Mark, there has been no puking. Not now, not ever. I decided that very first night after the first treatment that I would not get sick and I haven't. Now that didn't stop my very pragmatic side from suggesting that having a bucket by the bed would sure be a comfort should I need it in the middle of the night and, only as as way to quiet this side of me- one that at times feels incongruous with the positive side- did I put the bucket by the bed --- and didn't use it.

This time around the nausea and heartburn have been a little more prevalent but I'm working with my acupuncturist to assist with the nausea and heat- wow do I feel toasty sometimes!- and I'm taking the extra anti-nausea medication when I need to. There is no buy-back or rebate program for unused pills at the end of all of this so I'm using them.

And thank you to those fine folks at Prilosec OTC for making such a good and useful product. Having never had heartburn before I have much sympathy to those who have dealt with it in their lifetime. It's no wonder you think you're having a heart attack because it feels like you're having a heart attack and/or a core sample of your body removed. Yipes!

Janis and I went last night to Merle Norman and bought a beautiful new hairdo for me. It's the perfect style for me: shake and go! And it's got more styling and volume than I could or would ever achieve with my own hair. I previewed the new 'do tonight and it was met with many accolades.I even got a "hello" from the doorman! What do you know?!

Thanks to everyone who continues to send their love and support in all the many ways you do. It's almost unbelieveable to me that so much progress is possible so quickly but I do believe that the combination of your support and love and my stregth and positive attitude are what are pulling me ahead. That and the two orders of nuns in South Dakota and Minnesota that are praying for me- thanks to my dear freind Mary! It never hurts to have nuns on your side...

Treatment 3 and Summer Events Not To Be Missed!

Karen has more details to share about this last trip to Rochester, but just to update you all quickly, things continue to go very well. The doctors are impressed with how quickly they are are seeing results from the chemo. Karen's blood counts are still within normal ranges and she is managing the side effects easily.

The oncologist was able to give us an idea of what to expect from the second round chemo drug (Taxol) and that was encouraging. The meeting with the surgeon went well and more than anything, we are just so appreciative that she is willing to consider Karen's concerns and that she honestly never wants to see Karen there again. One of the few times in one's life when 'I never want to see you again' is a good thing.



Throughout this entire surreal journey, we continue to discover humor in the most unlikely places. While waiting for chemo treatment #3, I would read in the August issue of Rochester magazine that humor could be found August 3-5, just east of Rochester in LaCrescent, MN at the "Crucifixion Summer Fun Fest." I am NOT making this up. SEE!

What I love about this listing of community events is that the following two events are just as hilarious, albeit less shocking. I'm not sure how a Swiss festival is deemed more authentic than any other in the entire western hemisphere, but with offerings like the fahnenschwingen and the "ever-popular sackgumpen" how could Mantorville's Swissfest be challenged?

As for "Pickle It" Day at Historic Forestville, well, I think a misplaced pickled hen's egg are the least of their worries. This event is a recipe for disaster in my book! Consider the set-up here. 1) Farm staff - typically overworked and underpaid. 2) Farm staff dressed in costumes. 3) Picking vegetables in a costume in August. 4) The public. 5) Acidic kitchen ingredients. 6) Boiling water. Oh yeah, you'll find a pressure cooker there to be sure.

Can I tell you how bummed I am that I missed these gems? Next year, next year.