I apologize for being so tardy in posting, but it's been a busy month! We have spent the last three weeks moving into our new home! We love it!!!
Our first night spent here was with our good friends, Janis and Tom Henderson from Boston/France. They were on a West Coast trip, beginning with our daughter Jenn's wedding. We celebrated with champagne on the patio and dinner, then we were all in bed by 9:00pm!! It was wonderful to share this memory with special friends and now they will be able to relate when we talk about our home.
My last chemo treatment was Thurs. Sept 8th! We brought brownies to celebrate! All my girls there have been special and although I am glad it's behind me, I will still be receiving Avastin infusions every three weeks, so I get to see the girls!! And Al !! Special thanks to James, the receptionist! Here's some pictures of them!
Monday Sept 12th was my CT scan at PAMF Mt. View Center. It's the first time I have had any medical appt. that I was taken, the test completed and released before the time my appt was to begin!!
Tuesday Sept. 13th our new livingroom furniture was delivered! It's beautiful and I promise to post a video when the pictures get hung. Chelsea came for dinner that night. We got a phone call that her grandmother, my ex mother in law, had been diagnosed with liver/lung cancer and she was not doing well. Chelsea and I drove up to her home that night in Santa Rosa. Annabelle Caltagirone passed away the next morning with her two children, Cindy & Gary, Chelsea and myself by her side. It was so sad, but so peaceful and she didn't suffer. Here is a great picture of her with Cindy, Ryan and Chelsea at Ryan's 30th birthday in July!
Thursday Sept. 15 was my appt. with Dr Chen for my scan results!! My blood pressure was up a bit, but maybe I was nervous? Also, it's a side effect from the Avastin. Dr. Chen said my scan was clean! WOO-HOO!! I asked, does that mean I'm gonna be ok? He answered, you're not gonna, YOU ARE!!!
We will continue in the clinical trial with the Avastin (Cycle 7 after this appt) until next July. It's a failsafe and will prevent capillaries from feeding any possible tumors in the future. I am a happy girl!!!
We celebrated with a picnic lunch in the Cuesta Park before my Avastin infusion, which only took a total of one hour with pre and post port flushing and 30 min. Avastin infusion--what a piece of cake! Thank you to all my wonderful nurses at PAMF Mt. View Infusion Center. After the infusion we talked to Katie, our clinical trial coordinator. I asked if it was ok to say cancer free, she replied, your scan shows no evidence of disease, you ARE cancer free!!!
I must say, I have never slept better in the past week! I am slowly gaining more energy, celebrating everyday how lucky I am to have all you wonderful friends and family in my life!! I could not have done this without your ongoing support and cheering!
We celebrated Annabelle Caltagirone's life on Wed. Sept 21st here's a picture with my two beautiful children, Chelsea and Ryan.
I have joined the 24 Hour Fitness Super Sport and will begin some personal training sessions next week with a gal that has worked with cancer patients. I look forward to rebuilding my strength and to be back riding our tandem bicycle next summer in France!!!
I will continue to update after each Avastin treatment and keep you posted! Thanks for the love!
