"Guaranteed Smile", we will get to that in a minute.
Update on yours truly. The hernia surgery went very well Friday. It was a very long day, but it is well worth it. The surgeon was not able to drain any fluids off my abdomen due to the high risk of the location of the fluid. So, it was decided not to take the chance of punching extra wholes in me at this time.
We started the day at 6:30a.m. and my last chance to take a drink of water until after the surgery at 5p.m. At 8a.m. we headed to the hospital for an infusion of 2 units of platelets. This worked great, and brought my platelets up from 33K to 71K for the surgery.
The way we found out that the fluids on my abdomen were located in high risk areas was via an ultrasound scan. Two technicians and one doctor finally decided not to remove any fluids at this time.
It was also directed earlier in the week that I stop all medications in order to get my platelets as high as possible. So much for that idea, since as I said earlier they were only 33K this past week. I’ve since started taking most of my supplements today and will start back up on the chemo pills on Monday this coming week.
Also, this coming week I have some lab work and recovery from the surgery and that’s it. Easy week fore sure. Interestingly enough I am not to just lay still for 2 or 3 days, but I’m to actually get up from time to time and take short walks in order to keep the scare tissue from building up. This is good; cuz just sitting around is tough for me to do as most of you know by now.
Now for that Guaranteed Smile!
For the past couple months now during my Vectibix infusion a gentleman brings by a little long haired dachshund into the cancer treatment room. It is a service that volunteers do everyday at the cancer center where I get my treatments.
It’s not so much that this dog is super special in his personality, but the fact that he is a dog that lights up the faces of the cancer patient’s within the center every time he is in the room. Prior to this dog or any of the volunteer dogs coming into the center you can see the pain in the faces of the cancer patient’s.
Some of these folks are holding on by a thread and others just starting their journey with cancer and are scared nearly to death. Yet when this little dog makes it to their chair and they get to pet him, a smile is guaranteed.
I don’t know what it is about pets that bring life back into us, but I know that they do. I see it at the cancer center and I see it at my own home with our dogs; Haylee and Padre.
If you know someone that is going through a tough health challenge and they need a guaranteed smile take your dog over to their house or better yet take them to the pet store to look at and hold a puppy. If nothing else take some fun photographs of your pet to share with them. Pets are amazing for your well being.
Puppy’s can make the world right if even for just a few short minutes. For me, God’s answer for a bad day are my two dogs, my family and my friends.
Currently reading a couple of books, but one I would like to share with you here is; Rethinking Cancer, Non-Traditional Approaches to the Theories, Treatments and Prevention of Cancer by Ruth Sackman. Ruth Sackman is the co-founder of the Foundation for Advancement in Cancer Therapy (F.A.C.T.).
In her book, she share’s some of her 30 plus years of knowledge on cancer and the fact that we (Americans) don’t focus on the cause of our cancer, but our “traditional” treatments are to address the “symptoms”. She also shares that there is no one fix for every cancer, in fact every cancer and every person is different and should be treated as such. What a great idea!
Her focus is to find the cause of your cancer and address it.
I would recommend that you read this book especially if you fit into one of these categories;
1. You don’t have cancer yet
2. You just complete traditional cancer treatments and you were told you are “cancer free”
3. You just learned you have cancer and do not what to follow the “traditional” route of chemotherapy or radiation.
Until next time – You Keep Fighting Cancer and ENJOY THE DAY!
Hi Lisa and Randy THANKS for the update.Good to hear things are getting better. Stay strong and keep up the great fight. We are keeping you both in our prayers.
ReplyDelete