Sleepless in Southeastern Massachusetts

I was recently reminded by my mother that I was born at 3:02 a.m. in the morning. Know wonder I seem to be up at that time so frequently. I'm reliving my youth (birth?)

I have to laugh when some of you comment, "I've checked your blog recently, no updates". Well......... Here's an update for you blog people:

Updates: I saw my surgeon Dr. Michelle Specht at Mass General Hospital on Friday.(Young, vibrant,intelligent, great bedside manner, 30 something female). Having a consultation with her once again only reiterated my confidence in her to take good care of me. Surgery is slated for the end of May, early June. Specific date to follow.

My very last 5 hour Chemo infusion is on April 30th. I think I'll bring party hats and baloons that day!!!!!!! The week after after that is another one hour infusion and the week following that is my very official very last (any hour) infusion. Surgery and radiation to follow. Radiation will be 6 weeks long Monday thru Friday. Yes, you heard me right. Every single day for 6 weeks. Yuck!!!! Glen's going to have his hands full making me laugh in that time frame. (Hey, it's 3:02 a.m. exactly)!!

Don't forget to check out the You Tubes that My Alex has added to this blog.(Thank you my Alex, I do appreciate and love you very much)! One is of my little Alex Jr"s. year in review and the other is My Arielle and Brent singing as a duo at a pub.

Again, I challenge you to comment on my blog. If you are technilogically challenged like me, you can always leave me a message on the old-fashioned e=mail. I went from a whopping 0 comments to 5 last time. Can we break the record this time. I'd like to think so. You can do it. I have faith in you!!!!!

I remain Positive, Hopeful, and Crazy!!!!! CEO Vic-TREE Team support Group

Crazy (Medication Induced) Cancer Dream!

Thursday April 9, 2009

My 5th Chemo Round - I made it through the day thanks to Another Theresa on my right and a Nadine on my left. Yes we talked and I did listen on occasion, honest.

Up every few hours thanks to my Chemo drugs. (They added another to my protocol to help the horrific stomach pain that I endure for days after. So far, so good!

Just had a crazy cancer drug induced dream I thought I'd share.


So I'm sleeping but the phone rings: (It's a dream remember)!!

Rr--in-g-g, R-ii-ng. Hello, this it the cancer recruiter. I'm just calling to tell you the your number has been selected. (What)!! Are you kidding me????

"Congratulations, " interrupts the Cancer Recruiter. "You, Theresa have been specially selected to receive our amazing FREE offer-- no acting experience necessary. We're running some specials you'll love. We have a real deal on a rather significant tumor on your left side. With some possible spread available through the end of the month. Which credit card will you use to purchase this free offer today?"
Well, I hate to interrupt you, you're doing such a great job, but I'm really not interested at this time (or ever for that matter)!!!

I wake up shortly after and realize while that was dream, I'm living a nightmare!!
Unfortunately, cancer does not discriminate. Cancer is not polite. It has no social graces or manners. It comes uninvited. It has no prejudices. It invades young and old, rich and poor, male and female. And it wakes you up in the middle of the night and doesn't allow you to go back to sleep. Cancer Sucks!!!!

On a good note: I found another great book to read called, "Breast Cancer and Me". The hope-filled and sometimes humorous story of a B.C.survivor. So I'll go back to bed and read until I'm exhausted again and finally get back to sleep.

I hope I'm done with the dreaming phone calls for one night.

I remain insane, yet unusally positive and hopeful!! I need to (I will) get through this to help others.

CEO Theresa, Tree, Nini, SF

My First Official Blog/ Are You Kidding ME??

Tuesday April 7, 2009

For My Vic-TREE Support Group

It's True--this is my first official blog. I had my son Alex forward the last one because I couldn't figure out how to compose from the blog--DUH!!!! I can't even blame that on Chemo Brain.

Speaking of which, I have a doctor's appt. tomorrow, along with blood work. Thursday April 9th is my 5th Chemo, my 5 hour infusion--yipee-yahooewy!! (Next Thurs. is an hour infusion and the Thurs. after another 1 hr.) Basically, I'm at the Chemo Palace every week until another 5 hr. infusion commences. (This is really getting old)! Thank goodness my 6th Chemo (in 3 wks.) is my LAST CHEMO! O.k., so then I have surgery and radiation to follow, whatever! As I have said, I now know why they call this a journey.

I felt bad for the male nurse last week. He asked me how I was doing as he stuck the needle into the port in my right arm. I smiled, turned my head to the left, and the tears streamed down my face. Not bad considering I've been smiling since January during Chemo. It's official, I am human.

I usually spend the time reading, listening to my ipod or talking with other patients who seem like they want to talk. (Really, I don't do all the talking.) I've made a concerted effort to listen more. (I know what you're thinking my David, but it's true).

I spent some quality time with my beautiful, almost 2 month old. grandaughter Ashlyn today. She smells so sweet. She's absolutely adorable! She, like my Alex Jr., makes my heart sing!

We are celebrating our Easter tomorrow with Alex, Alyssa and the babies. I will be down for the count on Easter due to my heavy duty Chemo on Thursday. The side effects continue to be random and insidious, however a constant is fatigue and the worse stomach ache for 2-4 days after. Go figure-- that's what toxic drugs do to your insides.

Thanks to all of you who were somehow involved in our very successful Vic-TREE fundraiser this past Sat. April 4th. I so appreciate your time, talents, love and support! I certainly felt loved, surrounded by friends and family!

I remain, Positively (Insane)!!! Hopeful (That this will all be behind me very soon.) (So I can get on with helping others)!

O.K,, so I figured out how to blog today! (Yes, my son gave me step-by-step instructions.)

I now challenge you to make a comment on my blog. You can do it, I have faith in you! Because looking at 1 comments (plural) is depressing!

CEO Theresa, Tree, SF. Nini


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A Foolish Report

For My Vic-TREE Support Group

Wed. April 1, 2009 April Fools Day!


I've never been a fan of practical joking! It's always made me uncomfortable and ill at ease. However, April 1st was a teachable moment for my kids(and
students). I had to let them know what the day was all about. Afterall, I'm a mother and a teacher.

My fondest memories are when my kids were small and just learning what the day meant. They spent all day saying, "Mommy, look, you have a bug on your head"!!!!!
Good one...

As they grew older and wiser, it was harder to come up with something before they did. A couple of my favorites:

Arielle was maybe a sophomore in high school, the boys were off to college. I went into her room and declared, no school, due to SNOW!!! She believed me! Not too
cruel, and it worked.

My other favorite, also fooling my poor daughter, she was a junior in high school??, I told her that her very kind and generous godfather, Uncle David, decided to bring
Arielle on their family vacation to help babysit there younger kids at the time. Well, of course they were going to Hawaii, and of course she was ebulliently, exuberantly all for it. And Uncle David is extremely generous, not too far a stretch. She believed me, I was starting to believe me. She shared the news all day at school with friends, at work with customers(You get the picture). When she came
home at the end of her day. I said, "OOOPS, April Fools!!" I'm not sure she's forgiven me for that one yet.


Change in subject: Story of my life!!!!!

I just finished reading yet another book on the B.C. topic. This one is about prevention of the disease.
It lists many things to stay away from:

> Don't smoke - check
> Stay away from caffiene - check (I've never drank coffee)
> Limit your alcohol - (I don't drink)(O.K., maybe a frozen magarita every 6 mo. or so)
> Eat a healthy diet - (Hello, spinach and black beans)
> Exercise - Are you kidding me, everyday of my life since I was 16!!!!!


O.K., so it may be environmental (chemicals and such). Who knew I was supposed to live in a bubble.

So, here I wait for the doctors to call me and tell me the biggest April Fools joke of my life.

"Theresa, we seem to have made a mistake, it was Tessa Herbert's pathology report we read to you, Not Theresa Hebert's. Ooops!!

So, I'm waiting for that phone call. In the meantime, I'm off for more blood work, more Chemo, More doctors appts., waiting on surgery in June (my hair to grow back)
and radiation to follow.

In spite of all that, I remain, Positive, Hopeful, Crazy (So Crazy, You could say, I'm just one raisen short of being a fruitcake)!!

Enjoy the day! I plan to.

CEO, Theresa, Tree, Nini, SF