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.
2 comments:
OK, Karen, this is my Copy-Paste Text test for the Comments Section of the Blog.
I'm writing this Comment in TextEdit on a Macintosh computer, and then I will Copy All and attempt to Paste it into the Comments Section in this Blog Entry. Obviously if you're reading this, it works.
And . . . it works.
So, I'm guessing that you can actually write your Blog Entries in Microsoft Word or Notepad, and then Select All (Control-A on a Windows machine — someone please verify the 'Control' part of this for me, as I work primarily on a Mac) and do a Copy (Control-C). Click your cursor into the Add Text space on the Blog (be sure that you can see the cursor in the window and that it is blinking), and then do a Paste command (Control-V). This should all work using the Keyboard Shortcuts in addition to using the File, Edit, Format, etc. Menus.
Again, several of the shortcuts are:
Control-X = Cut
Control-C = Copy
Control-V = Paste
Control-A = Select All
[As an FYI to other readers out there, Karen had asked me for a few technical tips with regard to writing in the Blog. She was having troubles with the text feature, and wanted a way to write her Blog Entries and easily save the text.]
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.
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
Hey Karen:
I just wanted to let you know that I just had so much fun on Saturday night at your birthday celebration. I think that it was a really fun party for everyone, in spite of the attempt to rain us out (Amy, did you ever get your outfit wrung out?). It was a wide array of friends and relations — many of whom had never met, and some whom have, in interesting and silly ways. All drawn together to honor you.
Wendy & Chuck did such a great job; they are continually going 'above and beyond' throughout this trial, and opening their home to all of us [again] is just another example of how you are surrounded by love.
Janis' gift was so fun, but best of all was seeing her visage shine as she gleefully explained the set-up in the gift. "What makes you think she would like something having to do with theatre?" And her card, what she said, did move you literally to tears.
Everyone — friends, hosts, relations, best of pals, siblings, parents — everyone made it a magical night for you. Such a wonderful birthday . . .
And, true to your spirit, humor ruled the evening. The laughter continued to drown out the din of the rain outside, and warmed our hearts. Of course, the classic moment had to have been the arrival of the birthday cup cake with its multiple unextinguishable candles. Your remark was suited for posterity, but alas, with no video cameras about, will have to live in our memories.
Happy Birthday, Karen.
Mark
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